Liz Shackleton
@lizshackleton.bsky.social
Asia-based film and TV industry analyst. Founder & editor of Streamlined: www.streamlined.news
Suchin Mehrotra has the inside scoop on the best Indian web series of 2025. Makes me wanna fire up some of my recently cancelled subscriptions. SonyLIV PLEASE release an international app so we can watch your excellent shows on our smart TVs in the rest of Asia....
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streamlined.news/best-indian-...
Best Indian Web Series 2025: From Crime Dramas & Horror To Inventive Mockumentary
It may be a challenging time for the Indian (and global) entertainment landscape – the threat of AI, consolidation, declining theatrical footfalls, lower budgets on streaming, fewer shows getting gree...
streamlined.news
December 24, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Suchin Mehrotra has the inside scoop on the best Indian web series of 2025. Makes me wanna fire up some of my recently cancelled subscriptions. SonyLIV PLEASE release an international app so we can watch your excellent shows on our smart TVs in the rest of Asia....
streamlined.news/best-indian-...
streamlined.news/best-indian-...
Streamlined's wrap piece on Red Sea film festival & market, and how both are reaching out to Asia; along with intell on the major Saudi film funders...
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streamlined.news/red-sea-fest...
Red Sea Fest & Souk Wrap; Saudi Film Funders; MENA Box Office
This edition of Streamlined is looking at Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF, December 4-13) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and its industry platform, Red Sea Souk; as well as a Souk Talks panel on ...
streamlined.news
December 18, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Streamlined's wrap piece on Red Sea film festival & market, and how both are reaching out to Asia; along with intell on the major Saudi film funders...
streamlined.news/red-sea-fest...
streamlined.news/red-sea-fest...
Last panel out of Red Sea, and one of the most interesting, about how collaboration is bringing changes to African cinema, and some of the infrastructure challenges faced. "We don’t necessarily have to tie our fates to legacy systems.” Too right !!
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streamlined.news/cj-fiery-oba...
CJ ‘Fiery’ Obasi, Akuna & Durban FilmMart Execs On How African Cinema Is Evolving
Industry execs and filmmakers, including Nigerian director-producer CJ ‘Fiery’ Obasi, discussed how African cinema is evolving through collaboration, as well as some of the challenges it faces, on a S...
streamlined.news
December 17, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Last panel out of Red Sea, and one of the most interesting, about how collaboration is bringing changes to African cinema, and some of the infrastructure challenges faced. "We don’t necessarily have to tie our fates to legacy systems.” Too right !!
streamlined.news/cj-fiery-oba...
streamlined.news/cj-fiery-oba...
If you're ever feeling depressed about the state of cinema, just take a look at this year's Oscars Best International Features shortlist. A selection of 15 incredible films, nine of which are stories about Asia & Middle East.
deadline.com/2025/12/osca...
deadline.com/2025/12/osca...
International Feature Oscar Shortlist Sees Iraq Advance For First Time Ever As ‘The President’s Cake’ Makes Cut
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has whittled down a field of 86 eligible pics for the 2026 Best International Feature Film Oscar to shortlist of 15.
deadline.com
December 17, 2025 at 12:50 AM
If you're ever feeling depressed about the state of cinema, just take a look at this year's Oscars Best International Features shortlist. A selection of 15 incredible films, nine of which are stories about Asia & Middle East.
deadline.com/2025/12/osca...
deadline.com/2025/12/osca...
The inspiring story of a filmmaker born in a refugee camp in Ethiopia who has just premiered his debut feature at Red Sea film festival. And yup, I don't to politicise his debut, but if it was up to Trump, this filmmaker would never have been able to make the film.
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streamlined.news/barni-direct...
‘Barni’ Director Mohammed Sheikh On Inspiring A New Generation Of Somali Filmmakers
Minnesota-based Somali filmmaker Mohammed Sheikh has just held the world premiere for his debut feature, Barni, which he filmed in Djibouti, at Red Sea International Film Festival.
Born in the Kebrib...
streamlined.news
December 16, 2025 at 8:02 AM
The inspiring story of a filmmaker born in a refugee camp in Ethiopia who has just premiered his debut feature at Red Sea film festival. And yup, I don't to politicise his debut, but if it was up to Trump, this filmmaker would never have been able to make the film.
streamlined.news/barni-direct...
streamlined.news/barni-direct...
New initiative in the Philippines to support filmmakers from rural and working class communities..Wraps today in San Pablo, Laguna.
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Philippines’ SineMaya Fest Wraps Fourth Edition; Hands Awards To ‘Alab’ & ‘Light By The Sea’
Funded by micro financing platform CARD MRI, the initiative aims to support storytellers from rural and working-class communities.
streamlined.news
December 15, 2025 at 2:45 AM
New initiative in the Philippines to support filmmakers from rural and working class communities..Wraps today in San Pablo, Laguna.
streamlined.news/philippines-...
streamlined.news/philippines-...
Box office growth in two MENA markets dominated discussions during the Souk Talks at Red Sea fest. Saudi’s box office picked up this year, after a slump in 2024, while Egypt is on course to surpass pre-Covid levels. Local films are big in both markets..
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Saudi & Egypt Emerge As Box Office Bright Spots In MENA Region
Box office growth in two MENA markets dominated discussions during the Souk Talks at this year’s Red Sea International Film Festival. Saudi’s box office picked up this year, after a slump in 2024, due...
streamlined.news
December 11, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Box office growth in two MENA markets dominated discussions during the Souk Talks at Red Sea fest. Saudi’s box office picked up this year, after a slump in 2024, while Egypt is on course to surpass pre-Covid levels. Local films are big in both markets..
streamlined.news/saudi-egypt-...
streamlined.news/saudi-egypt-...
Playing in competition at Red Sea International Film Festival, Zippy Nyaruri's 'Truck Mama' follows a woman who drives articulated lorries across East Africa, sometimes into war-torn countries like South Sudan.
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streamlined.news/kenyan-filmm...
Kenyan Filmmaker Zippy Nyaruri On The Ten-Year Journey Behind Red Sea Competition Title ‘Truck Mama’
If you’ve ever struggled in your career as a woman in a man’s world, spare a thought for Evaline Wambua Mutuku, the subject of Zippy Nyaruri’s documentary Truck Mama, whose job used to involve driving...
streamlined.news
December 11, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Playing in competition at Red Sea International Film Festival, Zippy Nyaruri's 'Truck Mama' follows a woman who drives articulated lorries across East Africa, sometimes into war-torn countries like South Sudan.
streamlined.news/kenyan-filmm...
streamlined.news/kenyan-filmm...
Upcoming projects from Palestinian filmmaker Maha Haj, Thailand’s Anocha Suwichakornpong, Sudanese director Mohamed Kordofani and Saudi Arabia’s Dania Altayeb were among the winners at the close of Red Sea Souk project market.
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streamlined.news/playhouse-fi...
‘Playhouse’, ‘Fiction’ & ‘Dhel’ Among Winning Projects At Red Sea Souk
'About Love & September Laws' from Sudan's Mohamed Kordofani was also among the most awarded projects.
streamlined.news
December 11, 2025 at 6:37 AM
Upcoming projects from Palestinian filmmaker Maha Haj, Thailand’s Anocha Suwichakornpong, Sudanese director Mohamed Kordofani and Saudi Arabia’s Dania Altayeb were among the winners at the close of Red Sea Souk project market.
streamlined.news/playhouse-fi...
streamlined.news/playhouse-fi...
Kerala Film Market has announced the 25 projects selected for this year's edition, including new projects from Devashish Makhija (Joram), Abu Shahed Emon (Jalal’s Story) and Nikhil Mahajan (Godavari).
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streamlined.news/kerala-film-...
Kerala Film Market 2025: Full Line-Up
India's Kerala Film Market has selected 25 projects across two sections, Project Market and Curators’ Pick, for its 2025 edition.
streamlined.news
December 9, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Kerala Film Market has announced the 25 projects selected for this year's edition, including new projects from Devashish Makhija (Joram), Abu Shahed Emon (Jalal’s Story) and Nikhil Mahajan (Godavari).
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streamlined.news/kerala-film-...
KC Global Boards ‘Laya’ With Andrea Brillantes & Singapore-Thai Series ‘Decalcomania’
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KC Global Boards ‘Laya’ With Andrea Brillantes & Singapore-Thai Series ‘Decalcomania’
US-based outfit is also co-producing 'Lost And Found', starring Shawn Thia, and Taiwanese comedy 'A Controversial Entertainer'.
streamlined.news
December 9, 2025 at 8:29 AM
KC Global Boards ‘Laya’ With Andrea Brillantes & Singapore-Thai Series ‘Decalcomania’
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Is there a silver lining in the Netflix-WB deal? Speakers at Red Sea Souk agreed on the need to protect the theatrical window, but some said it may provide opportunities for independent filmmakers...
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Netflix-WB Deal Threatens Cinemas But May Help Indie Filmmakers, Say Red Sea Souk Speakers
Netflix’s planned acquisition of Warner Bros poses a huge potential threat to global theatrical infrastructure, but on the other hand may provide opportunities for independent filmmakers, said speaker...
streamlined.news
December 8, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Is there a silver lining in the Netflix-WB deal? Speakers at Red Sea Souk agreed on the need to protect the theatrical window, but some said it may provide opportunities for independent filmmakers...
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streamlined.news/netflix-wb-d...
Chinese Documentary ‘Always’ Wins Best Asian Feature At Singapore Fest
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Chinese Documentary ‘Always’ Wins Best Asian Feature At Singapore Fest
Sri Lanka's Riverstone picked up two awards, while Thailand's A Useful Ghost was awarded a Special Mention.
streamlined.news
December 7, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Chinese Documentary ‘Always’ Wins Best Asian Feature At Singapore Fest
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Palestinian-American filmmaker Cherien Dabis shared her filmmaking journey and the logistics behind making her latest film, multi-generational family drama All That’s Left Of You, in the Souk Talks at Red Sea Fest.
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Cherien Dabis Talks Palestinian Drama ‘All That’s Left Of You’: “Maybe We Have A Responsibility To Heal Our Trauma”
Palestinian-American filmmaker Cherien Dabis shared her filmmaking journey and the logistics behind making her latest film, multi-generational family drama All That’s Left Of You, in the Souk Talks at...
streamlined.news
December 7, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Palestinian-American filmmaker Cherien Dabis shared her filmmaking journey and the logistics behind making her latest film, multi-generational family drama All That’s Left Of You, in the Souk Talks at Red Sea Fest.
streamlined.news/cherien-dabi...
streamlined.news/cherien-dabi...
JAFF wrapped in Jogja last night. Here's Reza Mardian's report on all the winners, including top honours for Cambodia's Becoming Human and multiple awards for Better Off Dead in the Indonesian cinema competition.
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streamlined.news/becoming-hum...
‘Becoming Human’ Wins Top Prize At JAFF; ‘Better Off Dead’ Sweeps Indonesian Screen Awards
Cambodia's Becoming Human took the Golden Hanoman award in the main competition, while Better Off Dead won in five out of ten categories in the competition for Indonesian films.
streamlined.news
December 7, 2025 at 8:18 AM
JAFF wrapped in Jogja last night. Here's Reza Mardian's report on all the winners, including top honours for Cambodia's Becoming Human and multiple awards for Better Off Dead in the Indonesian cinema competition.
streamlined.news/becoming-hum...
streamlined.news/becoming-hum...
My reaction last night on hearing about the Netflix acquisition of Warner Bros. Not really! The latest edition of Streamlined looks briefly at the deal as well as a longer recap of the recent JAFF Market and Indonesian industry.
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JAFF Market & Indonesia’s Booming Industry; Netflix-Warner Bros Deal
Before we dive into updates on what’s happening in Indonesia, a few thoughts on the Netflix deal to acquire Warner Bros for $83bn, announced yesterday, which happened a lot faster than anyone was anti...
streamlined.news
December 6, 2025 at 8:23 AM
My reaction last night on hearing about the Netflix acquisition of Warner Bros. Not really! The latest edition of Streamlined looks briefly at the deal as well as a longer recap of the recent JAFF Market and Indonesian industry.
streamlined.news/jaff-market-...
streamlined.news/jaff-market-...
Quick update on the Philippines market, following a trip to QCinema, along with news out of Doha Film Festival about Qatar's ambitions to become a regional content hub with a 50% cash rebate and slew of deals with Hollywood companies.
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Autumn Markets Part Three: Philippines Updates & Doha Film Ambitions
There’s been a flood of news out of the second half of the autumn festival circuit from events including the Philippines’ QCinema, India’s Film Bazaar, Indonesia’s JAFF Market, Cairo Film Connection a...
streamlined.news
December 3, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Quick update on the Philippines market, following a trip to QCinema, along with news out of Doha Film Festival about Qatar's ambitions to become a regional content hub with a 50% cash rebate and slew of deals with Hollywood companies.
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streamlined.news/autumn-marke...
Indonesian Filmmaker Garin Nugroho Receives France’s Order Of Arts & Letters
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Indonesian Filmmaker Garin Nugroho Receives France’s Order Of Arts & Letters
France’s Ministry of Culture has bestowed the title of Officier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, one of France’s highest cultural distinctions, on Indonesian filmmaker Garin Nugroho.
The decora...
streamlined.news
December 2, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Indonesian Filmmaker Garin Nugroho Receives France’s Order Of Arts & Letters
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Park Kiyong’s Ghost Island, Loeloe Hendra Komara’s A Life Full Of Holes and Netanya Yemina’s To My Dearest, My Dear... were all multiple award winners at the close of JAFF Future Project on Monday night.
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‘Ghost Island’, ‘A Life Full Of Holes’ Lead Awards At JAFF Future Project
Park Kiyong’s Ghost Island, Loeloe Hendra Komara’s A Life Full Of Holes and Netanya Yemina’s To My Dearest, My Dear... were all multiple award winners at the close of JAFF Future Project (November 30-...
streamlined.news
December 2, 2025 at 4:08 AM
Park Kiyong’s Ghost Island, Loeloe Hendra Komara’s A Life Full Of Holes and Netanya Yemina’s To My Dearest, My Dear... were all multiple award winners at the close of JAFF Future Project on Monday night.
streamlined.news/ghost-island...
streamlined.news/ghost-island...
We had an interesting chat in JAFF Market about how Asian animation is evolving - and how it can compete with Pixar and Japanese anime. Thanks to Anggia at Visinema, Izham at Komet and Youngjoo at Finecut for the great insights...
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JAFF Market: How Storytelling & Social Media Are Driving Asian Animation
Asian animation is evolving beyond simple children’s stories towards more complex and culturally authentic storytelling, said leading producers and sales agents from Indonesia, Malaysia and South Kore...
streamlined.news
December 2, 2025 at 2:24 AM
We had an interesting chat in JAFF Market about how Asian animation is evolving - and how it can compete with Pixar and Japanese anime. Thanks to Anggia at Visinema, Izham at Komet and Youngjoo at Finecut for the great insights...
streamlined.news/jaff-market-...
streamlined.news/jaff-market-...
'Agak Laen 2' Producer Imajinari Unveils Three-Picture Slate at JAFF Market, Including Debut Action Film, ‘Bandits Of Batavia’
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Imajinari Unveils Three-Picture Slate Including Debut Action Film, ‘Bandits Of Batavia’
Agak Laen 2 producer Imajinari unveiled a three-picture slate today at JAFF Market, including the company’s first action film, Bandits Of Batavia, created by Bryan Valenza, a comic book artist who has...
streamlined.news
December 1, 2025 at 10:50 AM
'Agak Laen 2' Producer Imajinari Unveils Three-Picture Slate at JAFF Market, Including Debut Action Film, ‘Bandits Of Batavia’
streamlined.news/imajinari-un...
streamlined.news/imajinari-un...
Hot cast, production team and novel combination: Indonesia’s Pal8 Pictures Producing Adaptation Of ‘The Sea Speaks His Name’, Starring Reza Rahadian
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Indonesia’s Pal8 Pictures Producing Adaptation Of ‘The Sea Speaks His Name’, Starring Reza Rahadian
Indonesian production house Pal8 Pictures unveiled its debut feature at JAFF Market today, an adaptation of best-selling novel The Sea Speaks His Name (Laut Bercerita), set to star Reza Rahadian, Eva ...
streamlined.news
December 1, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Hot cast, production team and novel combination: Indonesia’s Pal8 Pictures Producing Adaptation Of ‘The Sea Speaks His Name’, Starring Reza Rahadian
streamlined.news/indonesias-p...
streamlined.news/indonesias-p...
JAFF Market: What Factors Are Holding Back Further Indonesian Box Office Growth?
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JAFF Market: What Factors Are Holding Back Further Indonesian Box Office Growth?
Indonesia’s box office has been relatively healthy since the pandemic, mostly driven by the success of local films, but speakers at JAFF Market discussed several factors that are slowing down further ...
streamlined.news
December 1, 2025 at 6:17 AM
JAFF Market: What Factors Are Holding Back Further Indonesian Box Office Growth?
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Indonesia's Magma Entertainment is producing a major piece of Bumilangit IP, The Blind Warrior From The Phantom Cave: Angel Eyes, announced today at JAFF Market & reported by Reza Mardian..
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Magma Entertainment To Adapt Bumilangit Comic ‘Blind Warrior: Angel Eyes'
Indonesia’s Magma Entertainment is producing a feature adaptation of best-selling Bumilangit comic The Blind Warrior From The Phantom Cave: Angel Eyes (Si Buta dari Gua Hantu: Mata Malaikat).
The st...
streamlined.news
November 30, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Indonesia's Magma Entertainment is producing a major piece of Bumilangit IP, The Blind Warrior From The Phantom Cave: Angel Eyes, announced today at JAFF Market & reported by Reza Mardian..
streamlined.news/magma-entert...
streamlined.news/magma-entert...