Latest News from Broadcast Pro
Broadcast Pro
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Inter Medya licenses Turkish drama ‘Heartstrings' to Romania
The series has 125 episodes available for international licensing. Turkish content distributor Inter Medya has announced that its acclaimed drama Heartstrings has been licensed to Romania, marking another international sale for the series. Since its debut at Content Americas in January, Heartstrings has gained increasing traction among global buyers, solidifying its status as a standout in Turkish television exports. Romania, a consistent consumer of Turkish drama, remains a strategic market for Inter Medya, and the addition of Heartstrings reinforces the company's strong presence in the region. The series tells the emotionally charged story of Mahinur and Aras, two parents whose worlds collide after discovering their daughters were accidentally switched at birth. As they come together in a marriage of convenience to save a child's life, they unexpectedly find love amid life-altering challenges. Heartstrings weaves a narrative of fate, sacrifice and the enduring ties that connect families.
Broadcast Pro
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Animotion Media partners with HappyKids to expand access to children's content
Through this collaboration three of Animotion's series are now available to millions of families via the HappyKids platform. Animotion Media Group, a production and distribution company known for its children's animated content, has announced a strategic partnership with HappyKids, a free AVOD streaming platform for kids. The collaboration brings three of Animotion's beloved animated series — Beardy Bodo (Travel Season), The Fixies (Seasons 1–4) and BabyRiki (Season 4) — to millions of families via the HappyKids platform. HappyKids has earned a reputation as a trusted destination for safe, family-friendly entertainment. With a vast catalog of curated shows, movies, music, educational vlogs, stories and DIY content, the platform is completely free and parent-approved. Accessible across Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and major mobile devices, HappyKids currently serves over 24m parents globally. Valeria Korotina, Chief Commercial Officer at Animotion Media Group, said: 'We're proud to partner with HappyKids – a platform that shares our values of safe, enriching, and accessible content for families. It's a joy to know that more kids across North America will now be able to discover our stories, laugh with our characters, and learn through play.' Korotina added: 'We are excited to bring our unique and educational animated content to a wider audience through HappyKids. Our mission has always been to deliver entertaining content with depth, shows that spark curiosity, encourage discovery, and stay with kids long after the screen turns off.' Among the titles now available, The Fixies is a globally recognised animated series that introduces children to basic science and technology concepts through engaging storytelling. Beardy Bodo (Travel Season) combines humor and life lessons with a journey through global cultures, while BabyRiki offers music-driven educational content designed to support early childhood development. Soma Sengupta, Head of Partner Relationships at HappyKids, stated: 'At HappyKids, we're always looking for exceptional content that is both safe and enriching. Animotion's IPs align perfectly with our mission , The Fixies spark scientific curiosity, Beardy Bodo celebrates global exploration, and BabyRiki supports early childhood development in a joyful and gentle way.' The partnership reflects a shared commitment to delivering meaningful and accessible children's entertainment — content that's not only fun and educational but also free for families to enjoy.
Broadcast Pro
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
MAD Solutions brings six short films to Rotterdam Arab Film Festival
Each of these six films is represented internationally by MAD World, with MAD Distribution handling sales across the Arab World. MAD Solutions is showcasing a lineup of six short films at this year's Rotterdam Arab Film Festival, which runs through June 1. The selected works—Last Nights of Summer, Love Bites, Madonna, Upshot, Nya and Born a Celebrity—hail from across the Arab region and delve into themes of family, identity, freedom and memory. Opening the slate is Last Nights of Summer, a story following three cousins—Farah, Rana and Leila—who reunite at their childhood home in Jordan two years after their grandfather's death. Written and directed by Yasser, the film examines the subtle transformations in relationships over time and distance. It stars Tara Emad, who also serves as executive producer, alongside Shahd El Shater and Farah Aboughattas, with cinematography by Mohamed Ashraf Koushi and music by Donia Wael. Following is Love Bites, a tense family drama centered on two brothers who struggle to agree on how to prepare their deceased sister's body after discovering unexpected marks that could spark scandal among waiting mourners. The cast includes Sedky Sakhr, Mahmoud Zain, Sohila Alanwar, Nadia Hassan, Mahmoud Yehia, Sara Alaaeldin and Rowan Alaa Eldin. The film features cinematography by Moamen Alameldin and editing by Mohamed Mamdouh. In Madonna, the action shifts to a monastery in Egypt, where the theft of an archaeological artifact puts the abbots under pressure. Tensions rise between Father Maurice and Francis, and suspicion falls on Suad, the chef, who is struggling to secure surgery for her daughter. A dramatic turn shifts the stakes entirely. Directed by John Fareed Zaki and co-written with Abanoub Nabil, the film stars Karim Kassem, Abd El-Aziz Makhyoun and George Sassine, with visuals by cinematographer Filopater Morad and editing by Sara Abdullah. The psychological drama Upshot unfolds on a secluded farm in Gaza, where Suleiman and Lubna have isolated themselves in the aftermath of personal tragedy. Their fragile peace is disrupted by the arrival of a stranger, triggering a descent into unresolved grief and memory. Directed by Maha Haj, the film is a co-production between Palestine, Italy and France, and features performances by Mohammed Bakri, Areen Omari and Amer Hlehel. Offering a child's-eye view of conflict, Nya tells the story of seven-year-old Anya, living in a 1994 Algerian suburb. As civil unrest creeps closer, her carefree world begins to fray. Directed by Imene Ayadi, the film features a standout performance by Melissa Benyahia and captures the quiet erosion of childhood innocence against a backdrop of war. Closing the selection is Born a Celebrity, a thoughtful character study of Kamel, a 25-year-old Palestinian man overwhelmed by the attention of his tightly-knit community. As he seeks space to define his own identity, his quiet rebellion becomes a moving meditation on freedom and social pressure. The film is written, directed, edited and co-produced by Luay Awwad with Nour Abukamal, and stars Munther Bannourah and Khaled Masso. All six films are represented internationally by MAD World, with MAD Distribution handling Arab world sales.
Broadcast Pro
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Red Sea International Film Festival opens submissions for fifth edition
During the early bird period, entries can be submitted free of charge, with standard submission fees beginning on July 7. Red Sea International Film Festival (Red Sea IFF) has opened submissions for the fifth edition. The festival is set to take place from 4–13 December 2025 in the vibrant historic district of Al Balad, Jeddah. The Red Sea International Film Festival (RedSeaIFF) has opened submissions for its fifth edition, which is set to take place from December 4 to 13, 2025, in the historic district of Al Balad, Jeddah. The festival invites filmmakers, producers and distributors from Saudi Arabia, the broader Arab world, Africa and Asia to submit their projects for consideration, with the final deadline set for August 17, 2025. An early bird submission window is available until July 7, 2025, offering participants the opportunity to apply at no cost. Submissions are now being accepted across several key sections of the festival, including the Red Sea: Competition and Red Sea: Shorts Competition, as well as the New Saudi/New Cinema section, which is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of Saudi filmmaking talent. Celebrating its fifth year, the Red Sea IFF continues to expand its influence and cultural significance, having already screened over 520 films from 85 countries and hosted more than 160 global premieres. With more than 130 Saudi films featured since its launch, the festival remains committed to showcasing homegrown narratives while promoting international cinematic dialogue. The selected films will be in contention for the Yusr Awards, including the coveted Golden Yusr for Best Feature Film, which carries a grand prize of $100,000. Other honours include awards for Best Director, the Jury Prize, and the Golden Yusr for Best Short Film. Shivani Pandya Malhotra, Managing Director of the Red Sea Film Foundation, said: 'This year, we take great pride in marking the fifth anniversary of the Red Sea International Film Festival – a journey through which the Festival has firmly established itself as a distinctive force within the cinematic landscape, both locally and internationally. Having showcased over 520 films from 85 countries, the Festival stands today as a vital platform for cultural exchange and compelling storytelling. As we open submissions for our fifth edition, we warmly invite filmmakers from Saudi Arabia, the Arab world, Africa, and Asia to present their work and contribute to this growing cinematic dialogue.' During the early bird submission period, projects can be submitted at no cost, with the regular price for submissions starting on July 7, with 100SAR (VAT inclusive) for shorts and 200SAR (VAT inclusive) for Features.
Broadcast Pro
16 hours ago
- Business
- Broadcast Pro
Northrop invests $50m in Firefly Aerospace to advance Eclipse launch vehicle
The vehicle is being built on a hybrid foundation that draws from Northrop Grummans Antares platform and Fireflys Alpha rocket technology. Northrop Grumman Corporation has invested $50m into Firefly Aerospace to further advance production of their co-developed medium launch vehicle, now known as Eclipse. The companies continue to make progress in the development of Eclipse flight hardware, with qualification testing underway and more than 60 Miranda engine hot fire tests performed to date. Jason Kim, CEO of Firefly Aerospace, said: 'Firefly is incredibly grateful for Northrop Grummans investment that further solidifies our first-of-its-kind partnership to build the first stage of Antares 330 and jointly develop Eclipse. Eclipse represents two powerful forces coming together to transform the launch market with decades of flight heritage, a rapid, iterative approach, and bold innovation. With a 16 metric ton to orbit capability, Eclipse is a sweet spot for programs like NSSL Lane 1 and a natural fit to launch proliferated constellations in LEO, MEO, GEO and TLI.' Built upon Northrop Grummans Antares and Fireflys Alpha rocket, Eclipse offers a significant leap in power, performance, production cadence and payload capacity. The launch vehicle retains the flight-proven avionics from the Antares programme with additional upgrades, including a larger 5.4 meter payload fairing. Eclipse also utilises the same first stage Firefly is developing for Antares 330 and retains scaled-up versions of Alphas propulsion systems and carbon composite structures, allowing the team to rapidly build and test Eclipse with significant production efficiencies and economies of scale. Firefly utilised the same patented tap-off cycle architecture from Alphas Reaver and Lightning engines for Eclipses Miranda and Vira engines, and completed mission duty cycle with a 206 second Miranda hot fire, matching the longest time the engine will burn during a flight. Following several development test campaigns, flight hardware has been manufactured for the common dome propellant tanks, engine bay and interstage. Wendy Williams, Vice President and General Manager, Launch and Missile Defense Systems, Northrop Grumman, added: 'Eclipse gives customers the right balance between payload capacity and affordability. Our partnership with Firefly builds on our capacity to provide crucial spaced-based communication, observation, and exploration for civil and national security customers.' Filling a void in an underserved market, Eclipse is equipped to deliver 16,300 kg of cargo to low Earth orbit or 3,200 kg of cargo to geosynchronous transfer orbit. Eclipse will first launch from Wallops Island, Virginia, as early as 2026 and is able to support space station resupply, commercial spacecraft, critical national security missions and scientific payloads for the domestic and international markets.
