Global Flicks: Bong Joon-Ho’s 'Mickey 17' set to release, Rungano Nyoni returns with 'on becoming a guinea fowl'
Richard Spiropoulos - X
Africa: African animation studio Triggerfish has partnered with UNESCO to launch The Creator Labs, an initiative to women in the African animation industry. Despite the African film and audiovisual industries contributing $5 billion to the GDP and employing over 5 million people, women of color have remained underrepresented in leadership roles. The Creator Labs offers two tracks: a Director Lab for aspiring directors and an Animation Art Lab for artists. Participants will gain access to masterclasses, mentorship, and networking opportunities designed to elevate talent to leadership positions. Supported by renowned African creators, the labs will provide training materials to be freely available online via the Triggerfish Academy. Applications are open until January 5, 2025, with online sessions running from March to May 2025.
In an article by Faredeet Taofeeq he discusses Nollywood, Nigeria’s booming film industry that faces a growing dilemma: should it prioritize viral marketing or focus on quality storytelling? He states that with the rise of social media, many filmmakers are turning to viral tactics, using sensational marketing strategies to attract attention, even at the cost of storytelling. This has led to an influx of films that rely more on social media buzz than on strong narratives. Industry insiders argue that while viral marketing can bring immediate success, it often doesn’t sustain long-term growth or help build a lasting legacy for Nigerian cinema. Some filmmakers worry that the emphasis on virality over storytelling may erode the art of filmmaking, as audiences become more interested in spectacle and social media trends than in quality narratives. There’s a call for the industry to find a balance between harnessing the power of marketing and delivering compelling stories that can stand the test of time.
Additionally, Richard Spiropoulos, a film industry professional, advocates for better cultural translation in Nigerian films to ensure global audiences can fully understand and appreciate them. He emphasizes the importance of bridging cultural gaps without compromising the authenticity of the stories. Spiropoulos believes that while Nollywood films have made significant strides internationally, more effort should be made to refine the portrayal of Nigerian culture, especially for non-African viewers. He suggests that incorporating cultural consultants and improving subtitling and localization practices can enhance the global appeal of Nigerian films, allowing them to resonate with a wider audience while preserving their roots.
Bong Joon-ho - jun santo
Asia: Siddharth Roy Kapur, one of India's leading entertainment executives, reflected on the Indian film and television industry's performance in 2024. Despite a challenging year, with several high-profile releases underperforming, the industry has seen growth in streaming and regional content. Kapur highlights the success of regional films, which have resonated strongly with audiences, while global streaming platforms continue to expand their footprint in India. This is also based on Hollywood’s performance in India which was down in 2024, with Roy Kapur observing that successful Western releases did not resonate with the Indian audience stating, “The ones that work in the West, or have worked in the West, I think this year, have tended not to be the kind that work in India,”. He also emphasizes the increasing demand for diverse, high-quality storytelling. As the industry faces evolving challenges like audience fragmentation and competition from global platforms, Kapur remains optimistic about India's creative potential, stressing the importance of innovation and adaptability in a fast-changing market.
Maddock Films is expanding its cinematic universe with sequels to Stree and Munjya and introducing a new superhero franchise. The studio, known for its success with films like Stree (2018), is focusing on building a connected universe across genres, including horror-comedy and superhero films. The upcoming Stree sequel will continue the popular supernatural storyline the comedy-drama film Munjya is set to receive a follow-up. Additionally, Maddock is launching a superhero universe, tapping into the growing demand for Indian superhero content. This expansion aims to further establish Maddock Films as a key player in India's evolving film industry.
Bong Joon-ho’s highly anticipated sci-fi film Mickey 17, starring Robert Pattinson, will hit theaters in Korea on March 28, 2025, and worldwide on March 29, 2025. Produced by Warner Bros., the film marks Bong’s return to English-language cinema following his Oscar-winning Parasite. Mickey 17 is set in the future and follows a man assigned to a dangerous colonization mission on a distant planet who becomes a clone after each death.
Additional films from Korea are being distributed worldwide as CJ ENM has sold Harbin, a film starring Hyun Bin, to 117 territories worldwide ahead of its upcoming release. Set in the 1920s the historical action film follows a Korean independence fighter in Harbin, China. Directed by Woo Min-ho, Harbin has drawn significant international interest and is poised for a major global release.
The Filipino historical drama film Sisa will feature veteran actress Hilda Koronel and will be directed by Jun Robles Lana. The film is set during the Philippine-American War, and centers on the story of Sisa, a character inspired by the 19th-century Filipino novel Noli Me Tangere, which explores the impact of the war on Filipino families. Hilda is expected to showcase personal and national struggles during this tumultuous period in Philippine history.
Thai studio GDH has set a February 6, 2025 release for its new coming-of-age film, Flat Girls. The story follows two teenage girls, Jane and Ann, whose close friendship is tested as they navigate love, growth, and adulthood in a police flat complex. The film stars Earnearn Fatima Dechawaleekul and Fairy Kirana Pipityakorn, with Pakorn 'Boy' Chatborirak and Namfon Pakdee. Directed by Jirassaya 'Claire' Wongsutin, Flat Girls is produced by Jira 'Keng' Maligool and Vanridee 'One' Pongsittisak. The film was introduced at a launch event in Bangkok, where the lead actresses performed a duet. This marks GDH's first release of 2025, with other films like Project Red and Beauty and the Beat also set to debut this year.
Rungano Nyoni - Pierre Suu
Europe: After a seven-year hiatus, British-Zambian filmmaker Rungano Nyoni returns with her darkly comedic sophomore film, On Becoming a Guinea Fowl. Set in Lusaka, Zambia, the story follows Shula (Susan Chardy), who discovers her uncle Fred's dead body after a costume party. As funeral proceedings unfold, Shula and her cousins uncover long-hidden family secrets that alter their understanding of one another. Guinea Fowl premiered at Cannes, following Nyoni's 2017 debut I Am Not a Witch, which earned her recognition as a rising auteur. Picturehouse began the UK rollout late last year, and A24 will release it in the U.S. on March 7.
Middle East: The Palestinian-Israeli documentary No Other Land highlights the Israeli government's efforts to force Palestinians from their homes in Masafer Yatta, located in the southern West Bank. The film portrays the gradual destruction of Palestinian villages and homes by Israeli military bulldozers. Directed by Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, and Basel Adra—the documentary won the Best Documentary award at the Berlin Film Festival and top honors from the New York Film Critics Circle and the International Documentary Association. Despite its success at prestigious events like the New York Film Festival and being picked up for distribution in 24 countries such as the UK and France, No Other Land has struggled to secure a distributor in the U.S. Nevertheless, it is set to open theatrically through Cinetic Media on January 31.
