Updated every Friday 12:00 PM
April 10 - April 16

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Apple TV was recognized with five nominations for the 86th Annual Peabody Awards, with category nods for "Pluribus," "Come See Me in the Good Light," "Mr. Scorsese," "Vietnam: The War That Changed America" and "Shape Island." The Peabody Awards honor excellence in storytelling that reflects the social issues and the emerging voices of our day, and this year's winners will be announced on April 23, and celebrated on Sunday, May 31, at the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills...

Sundance Institute is hosting a group in Santa Fe, New Mexico, for the latest installment of its Native Lab. Four fellows selected include three U.S.-based participants Taylor Foreman-Niko (Samoan), Miles T. RedCorn (Osage/Caddo) and Sabrina Saleha (Navajo) with Canadian participant Ashley Qilavaq-Savard (Inuk/Inuit), the latter of whom was selected in partnership with the Indigenous Screen Office. Also joining this year are two artists-in-residence: Sayun Simung (Tayal) and Taylour Chang (Kanaka Maoli). The lab, taking place April 6-11, is the signature program of the institute's Indigenous program and it offers filmmakers "a nurturing, immersive environment to develop their projects and refine their artistic voice" under the guidance of creative advisors. Over five days, the group will refine scripts for feature and episodic projects through feedback sessions, readings and roundtable discussions. Creative advisors for this year include Patrick Brice, Bernardo Britto, Alex Lazarowich (Cree) and Graham Foy. The Native Lab is overseen by Adam Piron, director of the institute's Indigenous program, alongside Ianeta Le'i, the program's senior manager, and Katie Arthurs, coordinator. Sundance Institute's Indigenous program is supported by Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, the 11th Hour Project, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Crystal Echo Hawk, Merrell, Indigenous Screen Office, SAGindie, Susan Friedenberg and Indigenous Media Initiatives. "The Native Lab is grounded in storytelling development and how that can progress when it's approached in community through a lens of Indigeneity," said Piron in a statement...

The live-action adaptation of The Legend of Zelda, directed by Wes Ball, has been spotted filming in Otago, New Zealand. The name may sound familiar, as it was also the backdrop to Peter Jackson's fantasy epic The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The stunning backdrop is a good sign for fans hesitant to watch an adaptation of their beloved franchise, as it has clearly been successful for other adaptations also filmed there. Otago is located in the southeastern region of New Zealand's South Island. Its terrain consists of snow-capped mountains, glacial lakes, and sandy beaches. Recent productions that were also filmed in the Glenorchy area include Mission: Impossible - Fallout, Mulan, Alien: Covenant, and The Power of the Dog. Of course, the LOTR trilogy remains the location's favorite franchise, where New Zealand celebrates its legacy many years after its release...

Cannes Film Festival general delegate Thierry Fremaux and president Iris Knobloch unveiled an Official Selection lineup for the event's 79th edition that will be heavy on returning auteurs, English-language indies and, as always, a flock of fresh faces on the international scene. Knobloch, now in her fourth year as president, kicked off the anticipated unveiling by addressing the current tense geopolitical climate during a press conference in Paris."We know that the news around the world is anything but reassuring," she began, and referenced the festival's 1939 debut, saying it was "born during a period of uncertainty. It's precisely for this reason it was created." She added: "In this moment, assembling films and artists from all over the world isn't a luxury – it's a necessity." She said the festival is tasked with "defending what humanity holds to be the most precious, namely the capacity to think and express freely" and added: "Cinema doesn't ask us to be in agreement – it asks us to be present."...

Cannes festival watchers and Cannesologists will be looking for the contemporary relevances and the now familiar talking points. The festival, under director Thierry Frémaux, has stuck to its refusal to admit streamer-only movies and won the argument by seeing its films do well at the Oscars. On the AI debate, perhaps Cannes is less purist. Steven Soderbergh's documentary John Lennon: The Last Interview is based on John and Yoko's final three-hour interview for RKO Radio shortly before Lennon's murder, and for the visuals Soderbergh has reportedly used AI to reconstruct and reimagine the encounter. Some are intrigued, others uneasy...

On the eve of CinemaCon in Las Vegas, Cinema United has launched a council to champion film-going and appointed Jerry Bruckheimer chair and Emma Thomas vice-chair. Ryan Coogler, Brad Bird, Jason Reitman and Celine Song round out the inaugural membership of the group, which will work alongside Cinema United to provide feedback and recommendations on key theatrical exhibition talking points such as consolidation, sustainable windows, promoting the cinematic experience, and showcasing innovation and technology. Bruckheimer and Thomas will attend the conference running April 13-16. Industry veteran Greg Foster helped establish the council and serves as executive director. Additional council members are expected to be announced shortly...

Does David Zaslav deserve to receive more than half a billion dollars in connection with the sale of Warner Bros. Discovery to David Ellison's Paramount Skydance? Influential shareholder advisory services firm ISS believes the WBD CEO's "golden parachute" payout package is unwarranted — because it includes "problematic" tax reimbursements and accelerated stock vesting for the exec — and has recommended that WBD investors vote against the measure at the media company's April 23 special shareholder meeting. The Warner Bros. Discovery shareholder vote on the severance agreements with Zaslav and other executives is only an advisory measure — meaning the board has the final say about whether to approve the payouts. But a "nay" vote on the golden parachute payouts would be a symbolic gesture representing unhappiness by WBD investors...