Filmmaker Shyam Benegal, a giant of Indian cinema and one of the guiding lights of the Parallel Cinema movement, passed away due to kidney-related ailments in Mumbai on December 23. He was 90.

Sadia Islam Mou will be seen in a special drama celebrating the diamond jubilee (60th anniversary) of Bangladesh Television (BTV). The actress will be seen playing a dual role in the drama titled “Shonar Shinduk.”

Although filmmaking in the Chittagong Hill Tracts began in the 1990s, the region continues to produce a limited number of films. Due to the lack of regular screening platforms, these works often remain unfamiliar to both the local hill communities and the mainstream audience. The festival aims to bridge this gap, providing a stage for Indigenous films and introducing them to wider audiences.

Indian filmmaker Aniket Dutta is directing a film titled “The Clouds Wake No Clocks,” centred on the journey of a refugee family. The screenplay, co-written by Aniket Dutta and Roshni Sen, features Bangladeshi actors Mostafa Monwar and Deepanwita Martin in leading roles. 

As the year comes to a close, several films are set for theatrical release, with “Nakshikanthar Zamin” (“A Tale of Two Sisters”), directed by Akram Khan, scheduled to premiere on December 27.  

Renowned actress Azmeri Haque Badhan, celebrated for her stellar performances in films and web series, will no longer be a part of Lamia Chowdhury's highly anticipated film, “Meyeder Golpo.”

This year, Bangladeshi director Rajib Rafi’s short film “Once Upon a Time in Wari Bateshwar” has secured a spot in the competition category of the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival.

With the film “Chalchitra”, Dhaka-based actor Ziaul Faruq Apurba has marked his debut in Kolkata’s film industry as well as on the global cinematic stage.

Oscar winner Jared Leto has been roped into playing Skeletor, the skull-faced nemesis of He-Man, in the upcoming “Masters of the Universe” movie, according to Variety. 

Puja Cherry plays a glamorous role in the web-series “Black Money”, directed by Raihan Rafi. The show has finished filming and is expected to premiere on Bongo in the new year.

Lively also alleges that Baldoni's actions have resulted in "severe emotional distress.”

The decision to give Swinton the Honourary Golden Bear prize was taken in recognition of her "breathtaking" range and status as "one of our modern filmmaking idols", Berlinale director Tricia Tuttle said in a statement.

On December 20, “Priyo Maloti” graced 20 cinema halls nationwide. Featuring Mehazabien Chowdhury in the titular role of Maloti Rani Das, the film marks a significant milestone for both the actress and its director, Shankha Dasgupta, as their silver screen debut.

This comes after the Film Federation of India chose Kiran Rao’s “Laapataa Ladies” as the country’s Oscar submission. However, Rao’s satirical take on patriarchy in rural India failed to make it to the recently revealed Oscar shortlist.

In his Instagram post, Obama wrote, “Here are a few movies I’d recommend checking out this year,” accompanied by a photo creative listing his top picks. The list includes titles such as “Conclave”, “The Promised Land”, “The Seed of the Sacred Fig”, “Didi”, and “A Complete Unknown” alongside Kapadia’s critically acclaimed work.

Films have long served as a mirror to society, and the event titled “Stories Untold: A Short Film Showcase” seeks to ignite meaningful dialogues about overlooked social realities on December 26.

West Bengal-based news outlet Anandabazar has recently published a report claiming that Ziaul Faruq Apurba, despite holding a valid Indian visa, missed the premiere of “Chalchitra” due to alleged death threats.  

Dropping by The Daily Star’s 36 “Days of July: Saluting the Bravehearts” exhibition, Nusrat Imrose Tisha, the co-producer of “840,” and Marzuk Russell, the iconic poet-turned-actor who helmed an important role in the film, talked about their uphill battle to release the film.

The teaser trailer for James Gunn’s “Superman” unveiled the first glimpse of Nicholas Hoult as the infamous Lex Luthor, a role previously portrayed by Oscar nominee Jesse Eisenberg in Zack Snyder’s 2016 blockbuster “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice”. In a recent appearance on the “Armchair Expert” podcast (via The Playlist), Eisenberg discussed the challenges and drawbacks of his brief stint as the iconic DC villain.

Over his two-and-a-half-decade-long career, CB Zaman directed several acclaimed films, including “Jhorer Pakhi”, “Ujan Bhati”, and “Puroskar”. His film “Puroskar” won five categories at the National Film Awards in 1983.