Category: Uncategorized

  • ‘The Brutalist’ sparks controversy after film’s editor reveals use of AI

    ‘The Brutalist’ sparks controversy after film’s editor reveals use of AI

    “The Brutalist” is expected to be a frontrunner in the Oscar race, which kicks off Thursday when the nominees are announced.

    Days before the Oscar race officially kicks off, one of the expected frontrunners sparked controversy when the film’s editor admitted using AI to enhance Hungarian accents in “The Brutalist.”

    Director Brady Corbet’s post-World War II epic stars Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones and follows an architect who survives the war and escapes Europe to America to rebuild his life.

    Controversy began stirring over the weekend after editor Dávid Jancsó shared in an interview with tech magazine Red Shark News that AI was used to enhance the Hungarian accents of the lead actors.

    The debate over the use of the technology is heating up just ahead of Thursday’s announcements of the Academy Award nominations, leading some to question whether “The Brutalist” should be considered for some of the biggest awards. The film is fresh off a host of big wins at the Golden Globes, including best picture, drama.

    Jancsó said that the film’s production utilized Ukrainian software company Respeecher to enhance Brody’s and Jones’ Hungarian accents when they are speaking Hungarian.

    The AI technology was not used to enhance the English language dialogue, which is used in most of the film, the filmmakers said.

    “I am a native Hungarian speaker and I know that it is one of the most difficult languages to learn to pronounce,” Jancsó told Red Shark News. “It’s an extremely unique language. We coached [Brody and Jones] and they did a fabulous job but we also wanted to perfect it so that not even locals will spot any difference.”

    Certain sounds and letters in Hungarian are hard to speak, according to Jancsó. He said the filmmakers first tried to “ADR these harder elements with the actors.”

    (ADR, or Automated Dialogue Replacement, is a post-production process used to re-record dialogue.)

    When that didn’t work, Jancsó said the team “tried to ADR them completely with other actors but that just didn’t work.”

    “So we looked for other options of how to enhance it,” Jancsó told Red Shark News.

    Brody and Jones recorded their voices with the AI software, as did Jancsó, who said “Most of their Hungarian dialogue has a part of me talking in there.”

    “We were very careful about keeping their performances. It’s mainly just replacing letters here and there,” Jancsó said.

    The editor said AI was also used at the end of the film to create “a series of architectural drawings and finished buildings in the style of” Brody’s character.

    “It is controversial in the industry to talk about AI, but it shouldn’t be,” Jancsó said. “There’s nothing in the film using AI that hasn’t been done before. It just makes the process a lot faster.”

    In response to the online discussion over the AI usage in the film, Corbet, who nabbed a Golden Globe for best director for “The Brutalist,” said his lead actors’ performances are “completely their own” and that they worked “for months” with a dialect coach to perfect their Hungarian accents.

    “Innovative Respeecher technology was used in Hungarian language dialogue editing only, specifically to refine certain vowels and letters for accuracy. No English language was changed. This was a manual process, done by our sound team and Respeecher in post-production,” Corbet said in a statement. “The aim was to preserve the authenticity of Adrien and Felicity’s performances in another language, not to replace or alter them and done with the utmost respect for the craft.”

    Corbet said that AI was not used to create or render any of the buildings seen in the film, and that all images seen are hand-drawn.

    “To clarify, in the memorial video featured in the background of a shot, our editorial team created pictures intentionally designed to look like poor digital renderings circa 1980,” Corbet added.

    “The Brutalist is a film about human complexity, and every aspect of its creation was driven by human effort, creativity, and collaboration. We are incredibly proud of our team and what they’ve accomplished here,” Corbet said.

    Brody and Jones did not respond to requests for comment Monday.

    When asked if Jancsó had further comment, representatives for the movie pointed to Corbet’s statement.

    “The Brutalist” isn’t the only Oscar frontrunner to employ AI.

    “Emilia Perez,” a musical about a Mexican cartel boss who transitions into a woman that also won big at the Golden Globes, also used Respeecher, the software company said in a post on Facebook.

    It wasn’t clear from the Facebook post exactly how Respeecher was used in “Emilia Perez.”

    The use of AI in Hollywood films isn’t completely new, but the technology has caused a sense of whiplash in the wake of the dual 2023 writers and actors strikes. AI was a sticking point during negotiations between the respective unions and studios, with creatives seeking assurances that their work would not be replaced by the technology. As Hollywood continues to try and return to normalcy following the strikes that went on for months, many remain concerned that the industry has not, and may not fully rebound.

    Last year, two AI-related deals made by two Hollywood companies also drew scrutiny from people online who expressed concern about the repercussions.

    In September, the studio Lionsgate, behind franchises such as the “Hunger Games,” said it would allow filmmakers to “augment” their work with AI in an effort to save money, Variety reported at the time, prompting online disappointment from people who questioned what this would mean for filmmakers.

    In October, Blumhouse Productions garnered backlash online after it announced it had partnered with Meta to make short films using the company’s AI tools.

    Blumhouse founder and CEO Jason Blum defended the move, saying his company “enables artists” and that “artists always come first.”

    “Artists want tools. And to me, it would be irresponsible if we didn’t at least know about the tools, and I think, also for me, it would be irresponsible to not learn about the tools,” said in a statement.

    Blum added: “I know nothing about AI, but I wanted to do this to learn about it.” He said he wanted to enlist this partnership so when filmmakers come to him in the future to ask about using AI, he can at least have a “reasonable answer.”

    “It’s here to stay. So I want to understand it and I don’t understand it yet,” Blum said.

  • Here’s what Carrie Underwood mouthed to inauguration staff over music…

    Here’s what Carrie Underwood mouthed to inauguration staff over music…

    Carrie Underwood had a quick response to the technical difficulties that preceded her performance at Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday.

    The “American Idol” winner, 41, was slated to sing “America the Beautiful” at the ceremony inside the US Capitol with the accompaniment of the Armed Forces Chorus and the United States Naval Academy Glee Club. However, she was ultimately left without a band or an instrumental track.

    The moment Underwood learned the bad news was caught on camera. In a clip from the ceremony shared on social media, someone with a headset approaches the “Before He Cheats” singer as she waits for music to begin playing.

    As she’s seemingly told of the major hiccup, Underwood appears to ask, “just sing?”

    She then adds, “I can just sing it.”

    The “Jesus, Take the Wheel” chanteuse then addressed the assembled guests, saying, “You know the words — help me out here.” She went on to sing few verses of the patriotic song with the help from the crowd.

    Underwood received reassurance after the song ended from former President Joe Biden, who mouthed “great job” as Underwood shook his hand. She then greeted President Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

    The awkward silent moment, during which Underwood waited for music to play, lasted for nearly a minute. At one point, a track started but then quickly cut out.

    After the incident, “Today” host Savannah Guthrie weighed in during NBC’s broadcast.

    “We just have to mention an unplanned part of the ceremony that took place a few moments ago. There was a pause right before Carrie Underwood was meant to sing. It seems as though there was some kind of problem with the accompaniment of the band that was supposed to play along with her,” Guthrie told viewers. “So yes, spontaneously she sang a cappella with a few scattered voices.”

    The star spoke about her decision to perform at Trump’s inauguration in a statement to The Post last Monday.

    “I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the Inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event,” Underwood said at the time. “I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future.”

    Underwood has not revealed whether she voted for Trump in the 2016, 2020 or 2024 elections. She has previously said she tried to remain publicly apolitical.

    “I try to stay far out of politics if possible, at least in public, because nobody wins,” she told The Guardian in 2019.

    “It’s crazy,” she added. “Everybody tries to sum everything up and put a bow on it, like it’s black and white. And it’s not like that.”

    Trump’s inauguration featured two other musical acts in addition to Underwood. Lee Greenwood sang “God Bless the USA” and opera singer Christopher Macchio belted out the national anthem.

  • The Brutalist Director Clarifies Use of AI in Post Production for the Stars’ Accents

    The Brutalist Director Clarifies Use of AI in Post Production for the Stars’ Accents

    Epic period drama The Brutalist had a positive reception and has received a series of important award nominations and other accolades. It’s also one of the films expected to gain several nominations at the upcoming Academy Award ceremony, which is set to reveal the nominations on Jan. 23.

    The three-time Golden Globe-winning film has also reportedly used artificial intelligence in post-production. However, although the use of AI in the entertainment industry is often a no-no, as it often leads to eliminating jobs, this wasn’t the case for the film. Per Deadline, director Brad Corbet highlighted the use of AI was only for refining the Hungarian dialogue, and it featured a manual process.

    Related

    ‘Would’ve Been Such a Dream Role’: Adrien Brody Was Up to Play Major Batman Villain in Beloved DC Film

    The Oscar-winner says he was in the running to play an iconic DC role but admits he didn’t even come close to landing it.

    Posts

    “Adrien and Felicity’s performances are completely their own,” Brady Corbet clarified in a statement. “They worked for months with dialect coach Tanera Marshall to perfect their accents.”

    The Brutalist is a film about human complexity, and every aspect of its creation was driven by human effort, creativity, and collaboration.

    He explained, “Innovative Respeecher technology was used in Hungarian language dialogue editing only, specifically to refine certain vowels and letters for accuracy. No English language was changed. This was a manual process, done by our sound team and Respeecher in post-production.”

    Corbet continued, “The aim was to preserve the authenticity of Adrien and Felicity’s performances in another language, not to replace or alter them and done with the utmost respect for the craft.”

    Related

    ‘Happy to Work Myself to Exhaustion’: Adrien Brody on His Golden Globe-Nominated Role in New A24 Film

    Adrien Brody discusses his disappointment to have originally missed the lead role of The Brutalist, only for the opportunity to come back around.

    Posts

    The critically acclaimed director further highlighted that they used AI to conjure a series of architectural blueprints for the film’s closing scene. “Judy Becker and her team did not use AI to create or render any of the buildings. All images were hand-drawn by artists. To clarify, in the memorial video featured in the background of a shot, our editorial team created pictures intentionally designed to look like poor digital renderings circa 1980.”

    The director concluded, “The Brutalist is a film about human complexity, and every aspect of its creation was driven by human effort, creativity, and collaboration. We are incredibly proud of our team and what they’ve accomplished here.”

    The Brutalist’s editor Dávid Jancsó told RedShark News that the two actors’ pronunciation of the “difficult” language was amazing, but that they wanted all to be perfect “so that not even locals will spot the difference.”

    About the use of AI, Jancsó explained that, “It is controversial in the industry to talk about AI, but it shouldn’t be. We should be having a very open discussion about what tools AI can provide us with. There’s nothing in the film using AI that hasn’t been done before. It just makes the process a lot faster. We use AI to create these tiny little details that we didn’t have the money or the time to shoot.”

    The Brutalist Is an Awards Favorite

    The movie was filmed in Hungary and was independently financed with a limited budget of under $10 million. A24 picked up the film for distribution in the U.S., and the movie was released on Dec. 20, 2024. Internationally, Universal Pictures and Focus Features will release the film on Jan. 24, 2025. The Brutalist follows Adrien Brody’s László Tóth. The official logline describes him as “a Hungarian-born Jewish architect who survives the Holocaust and immigrates to the United States, where he struggles to achieve the American Dream until a wealthy client changes his life.”

    Close

    The Brutalist received stellar reviews and currently boasts a 93% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, paired with the expected Certified Fresh badge. The audience also shared positive reviews for the 215-minute-long film, reaching an approval rating of 83% on the Popcornmeter.

    So far, The Brutalist has received many important nominations, including at the BAFTA Awards, the Critics Choice Awards, the SAG Awards, and more, and won three Golden Globes, including Best Drama, Best Director, and Best Lead Male Actor.

    Source: Deadline, RedShark News

    7

    10

    The Brutalist

    R

    Drama

    Director Brady Corbet

    Release Date December 20, 2024

    Cast Adrien Brody , Guy Pearce , Felicity Jones , Joe Alwyn , Raffey Cassidy , Stacy Martin , Emma Laird , Isaach De Bankole , Alessandro Nivola , Michael Epp , Jonathan Hyde , Peter Polycarpou , Salvatore Sansone , Ariane Labed , Jeremy Wheeler , Jaymes Butler , Matt Devere , Natalie Shinnick , Stephen Saracco , Peter Linka , Robert Jackson

    Writers Brady Corbet , Mona Fastvold

    Expand

  • Nelly’s inauguration ball drama as he’s blocked from performing hit

    Nelly’s inauguration ball drama as he’s blocked from performing hit

    LISTEN: Welcome to MAGAland, our podcast on the latest inside the White House

    Nelly’s controversial decision to perform for Donald Trump at his inauguration ball has not only landed him in hot water with fans, but also his former collaborator – and it could even threaten to shake his marriage.

    The rapper, who along with Snoop Dogg agreed to take part in the celebrations, faced fierce criticism when he was unveiled as part of the line-up, and later revealed he had accepted the offer out of ‘respect’ for the office.

    Now, sources have told DailyMail.com that Nelly, 50, had an ‘overnight drama’ when Kelly Rowland refused to grant him permission to perform their 2002 smash hit single Dilemma.

    ‘Kelly has blocked Nelly from performing Dilemma at the inauguration to stand in solidarity with her Presidential choice Kamala Harris,’ an insider said.

    The source noted that the Destiny’s Child star, 43, had no knowledge of Nelly’s decision to perform, and that her team will issue a ‘take down notice’ if he defies her.

    ‘She was stunned when she learned that Nelly was to perform and informed his camp that he does not have her consent to perform the song,’ the insider continued. ‘Her team is absolutely prepared to issue a takedown notice if he defies her order.’

    Nelly has been blocked from performing his smash single, Dilemma, by his collaborator Kelly Rowland, insiders have told DailyMail.com

    The news comes amid continued backlash over the rapper’s decision to perform at Donald Trump’s inauguration ball on Monday

    ‘She doesn’t want any song of hers to be performed at a Trump inauguration.’

    Dilemma topped the charts for 10 non-consecutive weeks after its release in June 2002 and won Nelly and Rowland the Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Performance. It was also nominated for Record of the Year.

    The single, about a man who is infatuated with a woman in a relationship, replaced Nelly’s hit, Hot In Herre, at the top of the charts and went on to sell over 7 million copies worldwide.

    In 2020, Dilemma became one of the first rap music videos ever to rack up a billion views on YouTube.

    There are fears that the controversy surrounding the Ride Wit Me rapper’s inauguration performance is also having a negative impact on his wife, Ashanti.

    The couple, who first dated from 2003 until 2013, reconnected in 2023 and secretly wed in December that year.

    They welcomed their first child, son Kareem Kenkaide Hayes, in July 2024.

    Fans of his wife, 44, have been vocal about their disdain towards Nelly since he was first announced to perform.

    ‘Kelly has blocked Nelly from performing their hit single Dilemma to stand in solidarity with her Presidential choice Kamala Harris,’ the insider said (pictured in 2002)

    There are fears that the controversy surrounding the Ride Wit Me rapper’s inauguration performance is also having a negative impact on his wife, Ashanti (pictured in June 2023)

    ‘Nelly isn’t afraid of the criticism he is receiving,’ a second source noted. ‘He will earn more money off the back of the gig than he has from his record sales in recent years.

    ‘But those close to Ashanti are concerned about the repercussions for her.

    ‘Her musical career is in a better place and she could alienate her core fan base.’

    Indeed, the backlash is already impacting the Foolish singer, with the Ashanti News fan account on Instagram, revealing on Sunday that it will no longer be active.

    ‘In light of recent news about Nelly and the decisions he has made… I can no longer run @AshantiNews or support The Haynes in the direction they are going,’ read a statement to the accounts 110,000 followers. ‘It’s beyond disappointing.

    ‘For over 20 years it’s been amazing connecting Ashanti fans around the world and sharing news, videos and photos. I will miss a lot of you! Take care.’

    Others shared similar reactions, with one fan writing on X: ‘Ashanti needs to sit her man down. He’s about to ruin her image/career alongside his own.’

    Another wrote: ‘I was looking forwards to Nelly and Ashanti’s little reality show… now I have to cancel him and even her association. Sigh.’

    The couple, who first dated from 2003 until 2013, reconnected in 2023 and secretly wed in December that year

    Fans of Ashanti, 44, have been vocal about their disdain towards Nelly since he was first announced to perform with one fan account revealing on Sunday that it will no longer be active

    Nelly fuelled the growing fury when he attempted to explained his reasons for accepting the invitation on Sunday night.

    ‘I’m not doing this for money, I’m doing this ’cause it’s an honor,’ he told right-wing journalist Officer Lew on X. ‘I respect the office. It don’t matter who in office.’

    Nelly, who sold 50 percent of his catalogue, including Dilemma, to investment firm HarbourView Equity Partners for a cool $50 million in 2023, went on to compare himself to members of the military.

    ‘The same way our men and women, our brothers and sisters who protect this country have to go to war and have to put their life on the line for whoever in the office,’ he continued.

    ‘So, if they can put they life on the line for whoever in office, I can damn sure perform for whoever in office.’

    Lew then asked him what he would say to those who believe he is ‘propping up a white supremacist,’ to which he replied: ‘I would ask them to show me where he’s a white supremacist.’

    He acknowledged that Trump is problematic and denied he was trying to tell people how to vote.

    ‘I’m not saying that he aint got some f**ked up ways, that’s not what I’m saying at all, that’s why I’m not telling you who to vote for,’ he said.

    Nelly has responded to the backlash he’s received, stating that he accepted the offer because ‘it’s an honor.’ ‘I respect the office. It don’t matter who in office,’ he said

    When asked about the accusation he was ‘propping up a white supremacist?’ Nelly replied: ‘I would ask them to show me where he’s a white supremacist’

    ‘But what I’m saying is that he’s the president of the United States. He’s not the candidate for the United States, He’s the president. He won.’

    His comments come eight years after he made public his dislike for Trump as President during his first term in the White House back in 2017.

    ‘You know the thing about Donald Trump is that I liked Donald Trump, I did, I just don’t like Donald Trump as my president,’ he told PageSix at the time.

    ‘He doesn’t surprise me as a person, he surprises me as a president because you don’t expect certain things, certain attitudes.’

    He then added: ‘You know, I’m more or less mad at him because I can’t stay at his hotels now … I’ve been staying there for 15 years, and now you pull this? Get it together, homie!’

    Time will tell if Nelly performs his 2000 hit, Country Grammar, in which he gave Trump a shout out.

    The lyrics for the track included: ‘Now I’m knockin’ like Jehovah, let me in now, let me in now/Bill Gates, Donald Trump, let me in now.’

    Nelly’s performance on Monday will follow Snoop Dogg’s headline set at the pro-Trump, pre-inauguration Crypto Ball event in Washington on Friday.

    Social media users accused the rapper of hypocrisy for his appearance, referencing his past opposition to Republican Trump

    Snoop’s involvement reflects a broader shift, as he joins a growing list of public figures who have seemingly softened their stance toward Trump, including Amber Rose (right)

    The rapper was accused of hypocrisy as fans referenced his past opposition to Republican Trump.

    In 2017, Snoop made headlines for a controversial music video in which he targeted a Trump-like clown character.

    Seemingly unbothered by the criticism, Snoop Dogg – who targeted a Trump-like clown character in his 2017 music video – wasted no time responding to fans.

    Just hours after they aired their grievances, he re-posted an Instagram story from fellow performer Rick Ross.

    ‘Got a real Crip up in the Crypto Ball, bang bang,’ Snoop added in the video.

    The event also featured a performance by Soulja Boy and Nelly, who joined Snoop and Rick Ross on the lineup.

    Despite the uproar, Snoop’s involvement reflects a broader shift, as he joins a growing list of public figures who have seemingly softened their stance toward the incoming President.

    In July, Amber Rose, who said she would move to Canada if Trump got elected in 2016, faced a backlash after choosing to endorse him when she made a speech at the Republican National Convention.

  • 00s music legends Black Eyed Peas cancel concerts over ‘current circumstances’

    00s music legends Black Eyed Peas cancel concerts over ‘current circumstances’

    The Black Eyed Peas have been forced to cancel their upcoming Las Vegas residency, weeks before they were due on stage.

    The Where Is The Love? stars announced they would be kicking off a string of dates at PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino next month, titled Black Eyed Peas: 3008 The Las Vegas Residency.

    However, the group, made up of Will.i.am, Apple de Ap, Taboo and J Rey Soul – who joined the fold after Fergie’s departure – confirmed their performances will no longer go ahead as planned.

    ‘To our dearest Peabodies, it is with a heavy heart that, in light of current circumstances, our Las Vegas shows will not be moving forward as planned,’ a statement on their official Instagram page read.

    ‘Ticket providers will issue full refunds automatically. Stay tuned for updates on future performances by following us – we can’t wait to see you again.

    They did not expand further on the ‘current circumstances’ that led to the cancelation.

    The group sent fans into a spin when they announced the Vegas residency at the end of last year, with tickets going on sale in September.

    At the time, the Black Eyed Peas shared that the 15-date run will begin on February 15 with a string of performances also in March and May.

    Teasing what to expect, it was revealed that the four-piece would be joined by AI presence Vida, with Will.I.Am insisting to USA Today that Vida is ‘not a hologram’.

    ‘With a hologram, you have to experience it with a hologram projector, so you could only do that when the show is in Vegas,’ he said.

    ‘When we have an AI member of the Black Eyed Peas, you can engage and communicate 24/7 … our member of the group will be patched into every band member, stage hands and the audience, if they want to engage with her.

    ‘J Rey will have songs with Vida and Vida will be singing. Taboo and I will be rapping and singing and so will Vida.

    ‘It’s going to be the most interactive pre, during and post-show experience and if there is a place to have that experience, it’s going to be in Vegas.’

    The Black Eyed Peas were formed in 1995, with Will.I.Am, Apl.de.ap and Taboo joined by original singer Kim Hill, before she left the band in 2000.

    Fergie then joined the fold two years later, and they shot to superstardom the following year, thanks to their hit, Where Is The Love?

    The track, taken from their third album, Elephunk, was the first single to feature Fergie as an official member and soared up the charts around the world, including the UK and Australia.

    They went on to drop Shut Up, Let’s Get It Started, Don’t Phunk With My Heart, My Humps, I Gotta Feeling and Boom Boom Pow together over the years.

    Fergie then took a backseat from the group before bowing out altogether in 2018, in a bid to focus on her son Axel.

    Got a story?

    If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

  • Wayne Bridge releases statement explaining why his boxing match with KSI is ALREADY OFF

    Wayne Bridge releases statement explaining why his boxing match with KSI is ALREADY OFF

    This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.

    One of the most bizarre boxing matches of 2025 is seemingly off just hours after being announced, as Wayne Bridge took to social media on Monday to announce that he was pulling out of a planned bout with YouTube sensation, KSI. The pair had been due to meet on a Misfits Boxing card on the 29th of March.

    Promotion for the now-scrapped bout began on Saturday night as the two men went face-to-face in the middle of the ring at a card in Manchester. Things soon turned nasty as KSI got into the face of the former Chelsea, Manchester City and England defender and goaded him about John Terry’s alleged affair with his ex-partner Vanessa Perroncel.

    Tempers quickly flared and security were called in to separate the two men as KSI shoved the 44-year-old former Premier League star. It now appears that is the closest the pair will get to exchanging blows after Bridge took to Instagram stories to confirm that he was withdrawing from the fight due to concerns over how personal the promotion had already become.

    Close Wayne Bridge Reveals Why He Won’t be Fighting KSI The fight was only announced on Saturday

    He wrote: “I’m sure a lot of you have seen what happened on Saturday night at the Misfits Boxing event. Firstly, I think it’s important that I explain my reason for accepting the fight. I always like to challenge myself. This felt like a good opportunity to go up against an interesting opponent on a big stage. I have always loved boxing as part of my everyday training routine.

    Related Why KSI Chanted ‘Vanessa’ at Wayne Bridge as Boxing Match Confirmed

    The pair will square off in March…

    Posts

    “I was fully prepared to train hard and have some fun. Of course, I expected to face some criticism, but I feel like what was said on Saturday crossed a line. The comments that were made were disrespectful and I would like to think that anyone reading this would agree. I want to make it clear that I am not upset about the comments that were made about me personally, but I am extremely disappointed by the comments that were made about my family. As a parent, I would never want to expose my children to something like this.

    “I have a lot of respect for the boxing community and I don’t want to detract from those who have worked hard to get where they are. I want to thank Misfits for the opportunity but I think it’s best if I step away from this event. I will no longer be fighting on the 29th March. I wish everyone involved all the best.”

    Bridge concluded: “I want to say thank you to everyone who has supported me through this and I want to remind everyone that words can have an impact.”

    While the announcement of the fight seemingly came out of nowhere, Bridge does have previous boxing experience, having beaten ex-Made In Chelsea star Spencer Matthews in a 2018 charity bout. However, he seemingly won’t be adding to his boxing resume out of concern for his young family.

    Bridge has two young children with his wife, Frankie, formerly of girl band The Saturdays. In addition, he also has a son, Jaydon, from his prior relationship with Perroncel. Eager that they not be exposed to more x-rated material in the build-up to a contest with KSI, Bridge may well have hung up his gloves for good.

  • Rose d’Or Latinos Awards: Eugenio Dérbez, Daniel Burman, Natalia Beristáín Among 2025 Nominees

    Rose d’Or Latinos Awards: Eugenio Dérbez, Daniel Burman, Natalia Beristáín Among 2025 Nominees

    Announced Jan. 21 at Miami’s Content Americas, the Rose d’Or Latinos Awards are “held during a period of great creative fervor, change, major challenges and arguably the greatest transformation the entertainment industry has ever experienced,” says jury chairman Marcos Santana, former president of NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises and current CEO of Mas Ros Media.

    That creative fervor is well on display in nominations for the two biggest categories, Drama and Comedy/Dramedy. Variety profiles the nominees below. Some high-profile titles might seem missing: For example, Netflix’s “One Hundred Years of Solitude” and “Senna,” its biggest TV productions to date in Latin America. Voting, however, began before either title was released.

    Twenty years after the events of “City of God,” Buscapé, now Rio’s most in-demand shutterbug guilty at making a living shooting the favela dead, is dispatched to Cidade de Deus to snap a war between rival drug lords, militias, and corrupt politicians. But the community unites around a daring new leader; he finds himself torn between exposing the truth and becoming a part of the resistance. Directed by rated art pic and series helmer Aly Muritiba (Rust, Private Desert, “The Evandro Case”) and Bruno Costa (“Mirador”) with “Betinho” scribe and Lower City director Sergio Machado serving as head writer, a series which has a strong sense of Cidade’s community and which can still pack punch: Catch, for example, the climax of Ep. 1.

    “I decided to produce the series when Paulo Lins brought me the idea to tell the story 20 years later, bringing back the same characters. Before this idea, it was very hard to find a way to tell this history in a different way,” says Andrea Barata Ribeiro, who produces with Fernando Meirelles. “After ‘City of God,’ many films were produced with the subject. It was a big challenge. But bringing back the characters looked like a fresh way. So, I decided to go ahead with the development. The film is a reference, and we could not do anything that would harm the film. When I told Warners the idea of bringing back the characters, they loved it and joined the project.”

    “Midnight Family,” (“Familia de Mediaoche,” Fremantle/Fabula/Apple TV+) Mexico

    One of Apple TV+’s first Spanish-language shows, inspired by the 2019 Sundance prize-winning doc-feature, “Familia de Medianoche” is a fiction deep dive into the chaos and paltry public sector health service where little 100 governmental ambulances serve a population of 10 million.

    Unlike the documentary, the series is centered on a woman, which is in keeping with modern times, notes director Natalia Berinstain (“Noise,” “The Mosquito Coast”). Marigaby Tamayo, the family daughter, attempts to juggle her ambitions to qualify as a medic with night shifts on her bootleg family ambulance, saving lives that the parlous state service cannot handle. A pre-ER thriller and in the hands of director Natalia Berinstain, a take on a family turn between their individual dreams and humanistic vocation to serve their community, made with high production values by Fabula and Fremantle.

    “Women in Blue” (“Las azules,” Lemon Studios/Apple TV+) Mexico

    Since it debuted on Apple TV+ last July, “Las Azules” has gained recognition for its authentic portrayal of women in law enforcement, with strong performances and compelling narratives that have made it a standout series in the crime drama genre.

    Set in 1970 and inspired by true events, it tells the story of four women who defy their ultraconservative surroundings to join Mexico’s first all-female police force, only to discover that it’s only a publicity stunt to distract the media from a serial killer. As the body count rises, María (Bárbara Mori), whose determination to catch the criminal becomes an obsession, Gabina (Amorita Rasgado), the daughter of a renowned police officer, Ángeles (Ximena Sariñana), a brilliant fingerprint analyst, and Valentina (Natalia Téllez), a rebellious young woman, launch a secret investigation to do what no man on the force has been able to do and catch the killer. The series’ narrative mixes intense crime-solving with emotional depth, exploring themes of gender equality, resilience, and solidarity among women.

    Created by longtime TV veterans Pablo Aramendi and Fernando Rovzar and written by Aramendi, the series is produced by Mexico’s Lemon Studios.

    “Memento Mori,” (Zebra Producciones (Grupo iZen)/Newen Co/Prime Video) Spain

    Adapted from the novel of the same name by Spanish author César Pérez Gellida, “Memento Mori” takes place in Pérez’s hometown of Valladolid. It kicks off, like so many great crime thrillers do, with the discovery of a body. Upon the grisly find, Inspector Sancho teams with “Carapocha,” an expert in serial killers, to follow a trail of dead bodies left by Augusto, a Lecter-like sociopath with refined tastes. The investigative duo soon realizes their killer commits his crimes to a soundtrack, leaving poetic calling cards on the corpses.

    “Memento Mori” is produced by Zebra Producciones and Newen Co for Prime Video España. Luis Arranz, Germán Aparicio and Abraham Sastre adapted the show’s screenplay. Marco A. Castillo and Fran Parra directed. Yon González (“El internado”), Francisco Ortiz (“Amar es para siempre”) and Juan Echanove (“Madregilda”) play the show’s three protagonists.

    “Memento Mori’ has stood out and differentiated itself from others for several reasons: its memorable characters, complex and deep narrative, visual style and direction, realistic setting, psychological tension, and philosophical approach to life and death,” says Pérez. “The series is for the public that demands psychological thrillers, mystery and action.”

    “Rapa,” (Portocabo/Movistar Plus+ International/Movistar Plus+) Spain

    The Galicia-set procedural’s third and final season, created by Jorge Coira and Fran Araujo, one of Spanish TV – and Movistar+’s – finest and most popular assets. Here, Tomás (Javier Cámara), now in a power chair, his LGD advanced, negotiates his assisted suicide with his doctor, until police officer Maite (Mónica López), his partner in local crime solving, is assigned to a kidnapping and a once close friend is accused of murder, giving him reason to live, if only just a few weeks.

    Once more, Araujo and Coira take a well-known genre, the rural crime mystery, and as Araujo once put it, tear up the rule books. Everybody has their reasons, even for murder, which vary across the seasons. Thomas admits in Season 3, he might have even encouraged a murderer to commit a second homicide. The rural setting is not just beautiful but bucolic to die for, with shots of Galicia’s coastline constantly present to counter darker scenes and contrast with Ferrol’s dockyards. Also, “We thought it was really interesting to put at the center of a crime story a character who, from the beginning, is conscious of his closeness to the corpses he investigates,” says Araujo. Movistar Plus+ produces with Alfonso Blanco’s Portocabo (“Hierro,” “Rapa” and now “Weiss & Morales”).

    “Yosi, the Regretful Spy,” (Oficina Burman/Prime Video), Argentina

    Reckoned by many as the best title at the 2022 Berlinale Series and showrunner Daniel Burman’s most consummate TV work aired to date, Amazon Original “Yosi, the Regretful Spy,” produced by Oficina Burman, part of The Mediapro Studio, sees Burman use his deep knowledge of Buenos Aires’ Jewish community to create a classic espionage thriller.

    The originality of “Yosi, the Regretful Spy” lies not in its genre but in context: the two biggest acts of terrorism committed on Argentine soil, against the Israeli Embassy in 1992 and the building of the Argentine Zionist Organization, AMIA in 1994. In Season 1, Yosi, a young Argentine Federal Police agent, infiltrates the Jewish community. In Season 2, raising the stakes, aghast at having supplied information about the two buildings’ security measures that could have aided the attacks, Yosi becomes a double agent working for Mossad. Buoyed by excellent production standards, thanks to service company Cimarrón, a tense, involved and compelling rewriting of history. The official explanation of the attacks lays the blame on Irán. Burman – as well as co-writer-director Sebastián Boresnztein (“Chinese Take-Away”) and co-scribes Andrés Gelos (“Kdrabra,” “2091”) and Natacha Caravia (“Kdabra,” “Camp Crasher”) – beg to differ.

    “Acapulco,” Season 3 (3Pas Studios/Lionsgate Television/The Tannenbaum Company/Apple TV+) Mexico

    Máximo Gallardo (Eugenio Dérbez), a financial mogul with a large Malibu estate, recounts to his young nephew how he got his big break in 1984 as a cabana boy at Acalpulco’s hottest resort, Las Colinas, as “Acapulco” flashes back to Max, his teen self. In Season 3, Max is promoted to manager, as Max looks to not only recount but reconnect with his past and is greeted by a young woman who calls him “Dad.”

    Bilingual, retro with eye-popping period detail, ingratiating, sometimes laugh-out-loud and, significant for a Latino show, now renewed for Season 4. “It’s a heartfelt story that showcases our culture with humor and heart. Seeing the love and support for this project reminds me why storytelling that bridges cultures is so important, “Eugenio Derbez tells Variety. Created by Austin Winsberg, nominated in 2022 for a Primetime Emmy Award for “Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas,” Eduardo Cisneros, a co-writer on “Instructions Not Included” and Jason Shuman, producers of “To Leslie.”

    “Consuelo,” (The Mediapro Studio/TelevisaUnivision/ViX) México

    Mexico City, 1955: Consuelo (Cassandra Sánchez Navarro), a prim and proper upper-middle-class housewife, is abandoned by her husband and, to bring up her children while downing in debt, forced to sell sex toys on the side. It could be the makings of her, and she becomes an empowered sex counselor. A comedy-drama co-created by screenwriter-turned-executive Juan Carlos Aparicio, head of development at The Mediapro Studio, and Mateo Stivelberg, and co-produced by TMS and ViX. A hit on ViX, where it bowed last April, another genre blender yoking the period chic of classic melodrama, its pressures and frustrations of a central female figure with the naughty but diced zap of modern-day comedy and today’s TV’s embrace of female empowerment. The series is directed with verve by Mexico’s Kenya Márquez (“Asfixia”).

    “Notwithstanding its complexity and budgetary limitations, the market is beginning to return to what it was, opening the door to co-production, licensing and new models, taking an idea from Daniel Burman and making it in Mexico, for example,” Aparicio said at Iberseries & Platino Industria. His own “Consuelo” is another case in point of cross-border creativity.

    “Coppola, el Representante,” (Star Original Productions/Pampa Films/Disney Media Distribution/Star+/Disney+) Argentina

    Produced by Pampa Films and Gloriamundo Producciones, Disney+’s “Coppola, el representante” is a ’90s-set fictional comedy series that tells the story of a world-famous soccer agent. Written by Emmanuel Diez and directed by Ariel Winograd, the ensemble series stars Juan Minujín as the titular Guillermo Coppola, Mónica Antonópulos, Mayte Rodriguez, Joaquín Ferreira, Santiago Bande and Alan Sabbagh.

    In the show, Coppola tries to reconcile his chaotic private life with a high-pressure full-time job in which he is often left to deal with the consequences of his representative’s actions. The job is difficult, but not impossible when his client is playing like one of the best in the world. As the player’s on-field performances decline, things become untenable. In addition to receiving praise for its comedic chops, the series has been lauded for its authentic, if sometimes overdone, portrayal of the world of the 1990s. Its colors, hairstyles and outfits, mixed with the chaotic nature of ’90s professional soccer, have won over nostalgic fans.

    “Dating in Barcelona,” (Arca/Filmax/Prime Video/3Cat (TV3) Spain

    Produced by Filmax’s Arca, Catalan public broadcaster 3Cat and Prime Video in Spain, the first season of “Dating in Barcelona” debuted in 2023 in Spain to significant ratings, both on its first-window debut on 3Cat and on Prime Video, where it became one of the streaming service’s most-watched debuts. A second season aired in 2024 and was met with similar good vibes from linear and streaming audiences.

    A contemporary take on romance and sex in an online age, “Dating in Barcelona” also reflects a swing in TV towards a lighter, more episodic fare, whether in crime thrillers or other categories. Each episode features two dates that play off each other. Powered in creative terms by Pau Freixas, behind the oft-adapted series “Red Band Society,” “I Know Who You Are” and “Todos Mienten,” – all Produced By Filmax – “Dating In Barcelona” features a big-name cast. For Season 2, the ensemble is led by Spanish stars such as Anna Castillo (“Nowhere”), Natalia Tena (“Harry Potter”), Óscar Casas (“The Orphanage”), Leonor Watling (“Talk To Her”) and Verónica Echegui (“Fortitude”).

    “Six is Not a Crowd,” (“Felices los 6,” Kapow/Warner Bros. Discovery/Max) Argentina

    Pushing the envelope on sex, director Diego Kaplan scored a huge hit and Strand Releasing pick-up with swinging comedy “2+2” in 2012. A decade on, he gets up to six. Damián (Nico Furtado) is so romantic that he weeps during his best man’s speech at a friend’s wedding. Caro (Delfina Chaves, famed now for “Máxima”) is, by her early admission, polyamorous. She might as well as she’s a serial murderer from Damian’s shock-horror reaction. But as Damían tries to loosen up, getting to know her four lovers who live with her in what looks like a Disney version of a gothic mansion, Caro discovers feelings for him, which could be love. A gentle satire of prejudice effectively structured romcom with a few gross-out lashings, from Argentine powerhouse Kapow (“El Presidente,” “The Bronze Garden”), developed by Marcelo Tamburri and Monica Albuquerque when both were at WBD reporting to Tomás Yankelevich.

    “‘We were interested in telling how the new bonds [in love relationships] are, to show a reality that exists and that is becoming more and more present every day. The crisis of monogamy, the possibility of having more honest, effective relationships, but without judging anyone. One of the characteristics that differentiate this project from the rest is the combination of humor/comedy and eroticism. And above all, starring a cast that is super relevant in the region,” says exec producer Diego Ventura.

    “Land of Women,” (Bambú Producciones/UnbeliEVAble/Hyphenate Media Group/Apple TV+) Spain

    A stacked production in terms of on-screen and behind-the-camera talent, “Land of Women” is produced by Spanish scripted giant Bambú, Eva Longoria’s UnbeliEVAble and Hyphenate Media Group for Apple TV+.

    The series follows Gala Scott (Longoria), a New York socialite whose life is thrown into upheaval when she is abandoned by her husband who leaves town to avoid a tremendous debt. Scraping by with limited resources, the show’s protagonist teams with her eccentric mother Julia (Carmen Maura) and her 17-year-old daughter Kate (Victoria Bazua), to relocate to La Muga, Grandma’s small hometown in the North of Spain. Gala is hopeful that the three women can escape her husband’s debt collectors, but decades-old secrets about her mother create a whole new set of problems for the trio.

    “City of God: The Fight Rages On,” (O2, Warner Bros. Discovery, Max, Brazil)

    “Midnight Family,” (Fremantle, Fabula, Apple TV+, Mexico)

    “Yosi, The Regretful Spy,” S2, (Oficina Burman (The Mediapro Studio), Prime Video, Argentina)

    “Women in Blue,” (Lemon Studios, Apple TV+, Mexico)

    “Memento Mori,” (Zebra Producciones (Grupo iZen), Newen Co, Prime Video, Spain)

    “Rapa,” S3, (Portocabo, Movistar Plus+ Intl., Movistar Plus+, Spain)

    Comedy or Dramedy Series

    “Acapulco,” S3, (Lionsgate Television, 3Pas Studios, The Tannenbaum Company, Apple TV+, Mexico)

    “Consuelo,” (The Mediapro Studio, TelevisaUnivision, ViX, Mexico)

    “Coppola, the Agent,” (Star Original Productions, Pampa Films, Disney Media Distribution, Star+, Disney+, Argentina)

    “Dating in Barcelona,” (Arca (Filmax), Filmax, Prime Video, 3Cat (TV3), Spain)

    “Six is Not a Crowd,” (Kapow, Warner Bros. Discovery, Max, Argentina)

    “Land of Women,” (Bambú Producciones, UnbeliEVAble, Hyphenate Media Group, Apple TV+, Spain)

    Miniseries or Limited Series

    “Anderson Spider Silva,” (Prodigo Films, Paramount+, Brazil)

    “Cris Miró (She|Her|Hers),” (Nativa, EO Media, Max, TNT, Flow, Argentina)

    “La Mesías,” (Suma Content, Movistar Plus+, Spain)

    “Past Lies,” (DLO Producciones (Banijay Iberia), Disney+, Spain)

    “Allende, the Thousand Days,” (Parox, Onza Distribution, TVN, RTVE, Chile)

    “Desperate Lies,” (A Fábrica (Banijay Americas), Netflix, Brazil)

    Telenovela

    “Broken Promise,” (SP Television, SIC Intl. Distribution, SIC, Portugal)

    “Cacao,” (Plural Entertainment, Onza Distribution, TVI, Portugal)

    “Love of My Life,” (Caracol Televisión, Netflix, Colombia)

    “Renacer” (Globo, Brazil)

    “Secretos de familia” (Canal 13, AGTV, 13Sudmedia, Prime Video, Chile)

    “Dreams of Freedom,” (Diagonal (Banijay Iberia), Atresmedia, Spain)

    Documentary

    “From Dreams to Tragedy: The Fire That Shook Brazilian Football,” (A Fábrica (Banijay Americas), Netflix, Brazil)

    “The Daughter of God: Dalma Maradona,” (Infinity Hill, Nativa, Warner Bros. Discovery, Max, Argentina)

    “An Invisible Victim: The Eliza Samudio Case,” (Boutique Films, Netflix, Brazil)

    “Los 43 de Ayotzinapa: Un crimen de estado,” (PAR Media, Warner Bros. Discovery, Max, Mexico)

    “Luz en la oscuridad,” (True Crime Factory, Goroka, Movistar Plus+, Spain)

    “People’s Cup: A Street Symphony,” (Pampa Films, Disney Media Distribution, Disney+, Argentina)

    TV Movie or Streaming Film

    “The Rescue: The Weight of the World,” (Paramount, Infinity Hill, Rei Cine, Paramount+, Argentina)

    “Traces of Love,” (Framboesa Filmes, Warner Bros. Discovery, Max, Brazil)

    “Intercambiadas,” (The Mediapro Studio, TelevisaUnivision, ViX, Mexico)

    “The Backlands Shall Sea,” (Cesar Produçao Cinematográfica, Globo, Brazil)

    “Radical,” (3Pas Studios, The Lift, Videocine, Participant, ViX, Mexico)

    “Ahora caigo,” (Boxfish, ITV Studios, El Trece, Argentina)

    “Canta Conmigo Teen,” (Endemol Shine Brasil (Banijay Americas), Banijay, Record TV, PlayPlus, Brazil)

    “Desafío 20 años,” (Caracol TV, Colombia)

    “La caza: Nada es lo que parece,” (Secuoya Studios, Grupo Proyección, Secuoya Studios, EITB, Spain)

    “Mental Masters,” (Warner Bros. Intl Television Production Spain, Warner Bros. Intl. Television Production, Telecinco (Mediaset España) Spain)

    “Top Chef VIP,” S3, (RCN Estudios, NBCUniversal, Telemundo, U.S.)

    Docu-Reality or Factual

    “100% únicos,” (Shine Iberia (Banijay Iberia, Telecinco, Cuatro (Mediaset España), Spain)

    “Checo Pérez: ¡No te rindas, cabr#n!,” (Star+ Original Productions, Rola Entertainment, Disney Media Distribution, Disney+, Mexico)

    “De viaje con los Derbez: Buscando a Santa,” (Lionsgate, Amazon MGM Studios, 3Pas Studios, Visceral, Ais Ais Baby Media Corp, Prime Video, ViX, Mexico)

    “Generación click,” (Shine Iberia (Banijay Iberia), Banijay, EITB, Spain)

    “The Montaners,” S2, (Star+ Original Productions, Ntertain, Disney Media Distribution, Disney+, U.S.)

    “Acoustic Home,” S3, (Sony Music Entertainment España, Kalicon Media, Acoustic Home Bizkaia AIE, Max, Spain)

    “Congela,” (Fremantle Portugal, TVI, Portugal)

    “Escape perfecto VIP,” (Sony Pictures, TV Azteca, Azteca Uno, Mexico)

    “La revuelta,” (Encofrados-Encofrasa, El Terrat (The Mediapro Studio), RTVE, La 1 (RTVE), Spain)

    “Me caigo de risa,” S9, (EndemolShine Boomdog (Banijay Americas), Televisa, Mexico)

    “Sonríe, te estamos grabando,” (Saeta TV Canal 10, Uruguay)

    Kids

    “Franjito y Milena en busca de la ciencia,” S1, (Biônica Filmes, Mauricio de Sousa Produções, Warner Bros. Discovery, Discovery Kids, Max, Brazil)

    “Pictoline: The Secret Life of Your Mind,” S1, (Warner Bros. Discovery, Mighty Animation, Max, Mexico)

    “Marcelo Marmelo Martelo,” (Paramount, Coiote, TIS Distribution, Paramount+, Brazil)

    “Daddies on Request,” S2 (The Walt Disney Company Latin America, BTF, Disney Media Distribution, Disney+, Mexico)

    “The Kitchen Stand,” (The Walt Disney Company Latin America, Non Stop, Disney Media Distribution, Disney+, Argentina)

    “Perfekta,” (Mixer Films, Imagem Filmes, Globo, Brazil)

    “The Sandbox,” (Atresmedia, Buendía Estudios, MKTG Spain, Atresmedia, Spain)

    “The Secret Score,” (The Walt Disney Company, Estudios Teleméxico (TIS), Disney Media Distribution, Disney+, Mexico)

    “Luz: The Light of the Heart,” (Floresta (Sony Pictures Television), Netflix, Brazil)

    “Raising Voices,” (DLO Producciones (Banijay Iberia), Netflix, Spain)

    “DMG: El sueño de la hormiga,” (Spotify Studios y La No Ficción, Spotify, Colombia)

    “Caso 63: Enigma,” (Spotify Studios y Emisor, Spotify, Mexico)

    “HUMO: Murder and Silence in El Salvador,” (Sonoro Media, México)

    “Quemar tu casa,” (Spotify Studios, Fabula, Spotify, Chile)

  • After Tech Issues, Carrie Underwood Performs A Cappella at Inauguration Ceremony

    After Tech Issues, Carrie Underwood Performs A Cappella at Inauguration Ceremony

    Country singer Carrie Underwood was forced to pivot to an a cappella performance during Monday’s inauguration of President Donald Trump due to audio problems.

    The former American Idol winner took the stage following Trump’s inaugural address to perform a rendition of “America The Beautiful” with the Armed Forces Chorus. Standing on stage in silence for over a minute, it became clear there were audio problems in the room. A beat of music began before quickly cutting out.

    Underwood told the crowd “if you know the words help me out here” before opting to sing the song a cappella. The crowd, including outgoing President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, joined her, singing along to the patriotic song. Following her performance, Underwood greeted both Biden and Trump, who both appeared to share encouraging messages.

    It was announced last week that Underwood would perform at the inauguration, sparking shock, and some cases outrage, from a portion of her fans on social media. Disappointed comments flooded posts from aggregator accounts like Pop Base, with a few posts of support sprinkled in.

    The shock from fans seems understandable given the “Before He Cheats” singer has a history of not being political and previous digs against Trump. In 2017, Underwood mocked Trump onstage during a performance at the CMA Awards as part of a parody song with Brad Paisley.

    Underwood is not the only performer facing heat for taking part in inaugural events. Rapper-turned-mogul Snoop Dogg faced heavy criticism from fans for performing at the Crypto Ball, an event in Washington D.C. preceding Trump’s inauguration. Snoop had a long history of speaking out against Trump and previously released a video for his “Nightfall Remix” of BADBADNOTGOOD’s “Lavendar,” in which he shoots a toy gun at a Trump impersonator.

    Trump was sworn in Monday at noon local time during an inauguration ceremony that was moved inside the Capitol Rotunda, due to extreme weather in D.C.

  • First Act for Eurosong 2025 has been announced

    First Act for Eurosong 2025 has been announced

    Bobbi Arlo has today been announced as the first act bidding to represent Ireland at the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest.

    Singer Bobbi Arlo will be one of six acts vying to represent Ireland in the contest, which is taking place in Basel, Switzerland in May this year.

    Bobbi Arlo’s song is entitled Powerplay.

    Bobbi Arlo’s sound is vibrant and enigmatic, drawing inspiration from artists such as Shygirl and Sega Bodega, blending club-ready beats with deeply personal, soul-baring lyrics.

    In a short time, she has captured the attention of the Irish music scene, earning notable support from streaming platforms and even a place on Irish sensation Niall Horan’s personal playlist.

    Her songwriting is unique and passionate, and her anthemic track Feel It was nominated for Song of the Year at the prestigious RTÉ Choice Music Awards.

    We need your consent to load this YouTube contentWe use YouTube to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences

    Beyond this, Bobbi has sold-out shows in Dublin, received widespread airplay, and graced the stage at key festivals, including Spain’s Primavera.

    In 2024, her rising prominence was further cemented when she was named Gay Times & Coca-Cola Artist of the Year.

    This honour led to performances at numerous festivals across the UK and Ireland, solidifying her place as one of the most exciting emerging artists.

    Tune into The Ray D’Arcy Show on RTÉ Radio 1 from 3pm today (Monday) to hear her first interview and the very first play of her Eurosong entry.

    Five further hopefuls will be unveiled on Ray’s daily afternoon show this week, with listeners getting to hear each entry for the first time and get to know the performing acts.

    The six Eurosong finalists will compete on February 7th on The Late Late Eurosong Special to determine who will go on to represent Ireland at the 69th Eurovision Song Contest.

  • Rose d’Or Latinos Awards: Eugenio Dérbez, Daniel Burman, Natalia Beristáín Among 2025 Nominees

    Rose d’Or Latinos Awards: Eugenio Dérbez, Daniel Burman, Natalia Beristáín Among 2025 Nominees

    Announced Jan. 21 at Miami’s Content Americas, the Rose d’Or Latinos Awards are “held during a period of great creative fervor, change, major challenges and arguably the greatest transformation the entertainment industry has ever experienced,” says jury chairman Marcos Santana, former president of NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises and current CEO of Mas Ros Media.

    That creative fervor is well on display in nominations for the two biggest categories, Drama and Comedy/Dramedy. Variety profiles the nominees below. Some high-profile titles might seem missing: For example, Netflix’s “One Hundred Years of Solitude” and “Senna,” its biggest TV productions to date in Latin America. Voting, however, began before either title was released.

    Twenty years after the events of “City of God,” Buscapé, now Rio’s most in-demand shutterbug guilty at making a living shooting the favela dead, is dispatched to Cidade de Deus to snap a war between rival drug lords, militias, and corrupt politicians. But the community unites around a daring new leader; he finds himself torn between exposing the truth and becoming a part of the resistance. Directed by rated art pic and series helmer Aly Muritiba (Rust, Private Desert, “The Evandro Case”) and Bruno Costa (“Mirador”) with “Betinho” scribe and Lower City director Sergio Machado serving as head writer, a series which has a strong sense of Cidade’s community and which can still pack punch: Catch, for example, the climax of Ep. 1.

    “I decided to produce the series when Paulo Lins brought me the idea to tell the story 20 years later, bringing back the same characters. Before this idea, it was very hard to find a way to tell this history in a different way,” says Andrea Barata Ribeiro, who produces with Fernando Meirelles. “After ‘City of God,’ many films were produced with the subject. It was a big challenge. But bringing back the characters looked like a fresh way. So, I decided to go ahead with the development. The film is a reference, and we could not do anything that would harm the film. When I told Warners the idea of bringing back the characters, they loved it and joined the project.”

    “Midnight Family,” (“Familia de Mediaoche,” Fremantle/Fabula/Apple TV+) Mexico

    One of Apple TV+’s first Spanish-language shows, inspired by the 2019 Sundance prize-winning doc-feature, “Familia de Medianoche” is a fiction deep dive into the chaos and paltry public sector health service where little 100 governmental ambulances serve a population of 10 million.

    Unlike the documentary, the series is centered on a woman, which is in keeping with modern times, notes director Natalia Berinstain (“Noise,” “The Mosquito Coast”). Marigaby Tamayo, the family daughter, attempts to juggle her ambitions to qualify as a medic with night shifts on her bootleg family ambulance, saving lives that the parlous state service cannot handle. A pre-ER thriller and in the hands of director Natalia Berinstain, a take on a family turn between their individual dreams and humanistic vocation to serve their community, made with high production values by Fabula and Fremantle.

    “Women in Blue” (“Las azules,” Lemon Studios/Apple TV+) Mexico

    Since it debuted on Apple TV+ last July, “Las Azules” has gained recognition for its authentic portrayal of women in law enforcement, with strong performances and compelling narratives that have made it a standout series in the crime drama genre.

    Set in 1970 and inspired by true events, it tells the story of four women who defy their ultraconservative surroundings to join Mexico’s first all-female police force, only to discover that it’s only a publicity stunt to distract the media from a serial killer. As the body count rises, María (Bárbara Mori), whose determination to catch the criminal becomes an obsession, Gabina (Amorita Rasgado), the daughter of a renowned police officer, Ángeles (Ximena Sariñana), a brilliant fingerprint analyst, and Valentina (Natalia Téllez), a rebellious young woman, launch a secret investigation to do what no man on the force has been able to do and catch the killer. The series’ narrative mixes intense crime-solving with emotional depth, exploring themes of gender equality, resilience, and solidarity among women.

    Created by longtime TV veterans Pablo Aramendi and Fernando Rovzar and written by Aramendi, the series is produced by Mexico’s Lemon Studios.

    “Memento Mori,” (Zebra Producciones (Grupo iZen)/Newen Co/Prime Video) Spain

    Adapted from the novel of the same name by Spanish author César Pérez Gellida, “Memento Mori” takes place in Pérez’s hometown of Valladolid. It kicks off, like so many great crime thrillers do, with the discovery of a body. Upon the grisly find, Inspector Sancho teams with “Carapocha,” an expert in serial killers, to follow a trail of dead bodies left by Augusto, a Lecter-like sociopath with refined tastes. The investigative duo soon realizes their killer commits his crimes to a soundtrack, leaving poetic calling cards on the corpses.

    “Memento Mori” is produced by Zebra Producciones and Newen Co for Prime Video España. Luis Arranz, Germán Aparicio and Abraham Sastre adapted the show’s screenplay. Marco A. Castillo and Fran Parra directed. Yon González (“El internado”), Francisco Ortiz (“Amar es para siempre”) and Juan Echanove (“Madregilda”) play the show’s three protagonists.

    “Memento Mori’ has stood out and differentiated itself from others for several reasons: its memorable characters, complex and deep narrative, visual style and direction, realistic setting, psychological tension, and philosophical approach to life and death,” says Pérez. “The series is for the public that demands psychological thrillers, mystery and action.”

    “Rapa,” (Portocabo/Movistar Plus+ International/Movistar Plus+) Spain

    The Galicia-set procedural’s third and final season, created by Jorge Coira and Fran Araujo, one of Spanish TV – and Movistar+’s – finest and most popular assets. Here, Tomás (Javier Cámara), now in a power chair, his LGD advanced, negotiates his assisted suicide with his doctor, until police officer Maite (Mónica López), his partner in local crime solving, is assigned to a kidnapping and a once close friend is accused of murder, giving him reason to live, if only just a few weeks.

    Once more, Araujo and Coira take a well-known genre, the rural crime mystery, and as Araujo once put it, tear up the rule books. Everybody has their reasons, even for murder, which vary across the seasons. Thomas admits in Season 3, he might have even encouraged a murderer to commit a second homicide. The rural setting is not just beautiful but bucolic to die for, with shots of Galicia’s coastline constantly present to counter darker scenes and contrast with Ferrol’s dockyards. Also, “We thought it was really interesting to put at the center of a crime story a character who, from the beginning, is conscious of his closeness to the corpses he investigates,” says Araujo. Movistar Plus+ produces with Alfonso Blanco’s Portocabo (“Hierro,” “Rapa” and now “Weiss & Morales”).

    “Yosi, the Regretful Spy,” (Oficina Burman/Prime Video), Argentina

    Reckoned by many as the best title at the 2022 Berlinale Series and showrunner Daniel Burman’s most consummate TV work aired to date, Amazon Original “Yosi, the Regretful Spy,” produced by Oficina Burman, part of The Mediapro Studio, sees Burman use his deep knowledge of Buenos Aires’ Jewish community to create a classic espionage thriller.

    The originality of “Yosi, the Regretful Spy” lies not in its genre but in context: the two biggest acts of terrorism committed on Argentine soil, against the Israeli Embassy in 1992 and the building of the Argentine Zionist Organization, AMIA in 1994. In Season 1, Yosi, a young Argentine Federal Police agent, infiltrates the Jewish community. In Season 2, raising the stakes, aghast at having supplied information about the two buildings’ security measures that could have aided the attacks, Yosi becomes a double agent working for Mossad. Buoyed by excellent production standards, thanks to service company Cimarrón, a tense, involved and compelling rewriting of history. The official explanation of the attacks lays the blame on Irán. Burman – as well as co-writer-director Sebastián Boresnztein (“Chinese Take-Away”) and co-scribes Andrés Gelos (“Kdrabra,” “2091”) and Natacha Caravia (“Kdabra,” “Camp Crasher”) – beg to differ.

    “Acapulco,” Season 3 (3Pas Studios/Lionsgate Television/The Tannenbaum Company/Apple TV+) Mexico

    Máximo Gallardo (Eugenio Dérbez), a financial mogul with a large Malibu estate, recounts to his young nephew how he got his big break in 1984 as a cabana boy at Acalpulco’s hottest resort, Las Colinas, as “Acapulco” flashes back to Max, his teen self. In Season 3, Max is promoted to manager, as Max looks to not only recount but reconnect with his past and is greeted by a young woman who calls him “Dad.”

    Bilingual, retro with eye-popping period detail, ingratiating, sometimes laugh-out-loud and, significant for a Latino show, now renewed for Season 4. “It’s a heartfelt story that showcases our culture with humor and heart. Seeing the love and support for this project reminds me why storytelling that bridges cultures is so important, “Eugenio Derbez tells Variety. Created by Austin Winsberg, nominated in 2022 for a Primetime Emmy Award for “Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas,” Eduardo Cisneros, a co-writer on “Instructions Not Included” and Jason Shuman, producers of “To Leslie.”

    “Consuelo,” (The Mediapro Studio/TelevisaUnivision/ViX) México

    Mexico City, 1955: Consuelo (Cassandra Sánchez Navarro), a prim and proper upper-middle-class housewife, is abandoned by her husband and, to bring up her children while downing in debt, forced to sell sex toys on the side. It could be the makings of her, and she becomes an empowered sex counselor. A comedy-drama co-created by screenwriter-turned-executive Juan Carlos Aparicio, head of development at The Mediapro Studio, and Mateo Stivelberg, and co-produced by TMS and ViX. A hit on ViX, where it bowed last April, another genre blender yoking the period chic of classic melodrama, its pressures and frustrations of a central female figure with the naughty but diced zap of modern-day comedy and today’s TV’s embrace of female empowerment. The series is directed with verve by Mexico’s Kenya Márquez (“Asfixia”).

    “Notwithstanding its complexity and budgetary limitations, the market is beginning to return to what it was, opening the door to co-production, licensing and new models, taking an idea from Daniel Burman and making it in Mexico, for example,” Aparicio said at Iberseries & Platino Industria. His own “Consuelo” is another case in point of cross-border creativity.

    “Coppola, el Representante,” (Star Original Productions/Pampa Films/Disney Media Distribution/Star+/Disney+) Argentina

    Produced by Pampa Films and Gloriamundo Producciones, Disney+’s “Coppola, el representante” is a ’90s-set fictional comedy series that tells the story of a world-famous soccer agent. Written by Emmanuel Diez and directed by Ariel Winograd, the ensemble series stars Juan Minujín as the titular Guillermo Coppola, Mónica Antonópulos, Mayte Rodriguez, Joaquín Ferreira, Santiago Bande and Alan Sabbagh.

    In the show, Coppola tries to reconcile his chaotic private life with a high-pressure full-time job in which he is often left to deal with the consequences of his representative’s actions. The job is difficult, but not impossible when his client is playing like one of the best in the world. As the player’s on-field performances decline, things become untenable. In addition to receiving praise for its comedic chops, the series has been lauded for its authentic, if sometimes overdone, portrayal of the world of the 1990s. Its colors, hairstyles and outfits, mixed with the chaotic nature of ’90s professional soccer, have won over nostalgic fans.

    “Dating in Barcelona,” (Arca/Filmax/Prime Video/3Cat (TV3) Spain

    Produced by Filmax’s Arca, Catalan public broadcaster 3Cat and Prime Video in Spain, the first season of “Dating in Barcelona” debuted in 2023 in Spain to significant ratings, both on its first-window debut on 3Cat and on Prime Video, where it became one of the streaming service’s most-watched debuts. A second season aired in 2024 and was met with similar good vibes from linear and streaming audiences.

    A contemporary take on romance and sex in an online age, “Dating in Barcelona” also reflects a swing in TV towards a lighter, more episodic fare, whether in crime thrillers or other categories. Each episode features two dates that play off each other. Powered in creative terms by Pau Freixas, behind the oft-adapted series “Red Band Society,” “I Know Who You Are” and “Todos Mienten,” – all Produced By Filmax – “Dating In Barcelona” features a big-name cast. For Season 2, the ensemble is led by Spanish stars such as Anna Castillo (“Nowhere”), Natalia Tena (“Harry Potter”), Óscar Casas (“The Orphanage”), Leonor Watling (“Talk To Her”) and Verónica Echegui (“Fortitude”).

    “Six is Not a Crowd,” (“Felices los 6,” Kapow/Warner Bros. Discovery/Max) Argentina

    Pushing the envelope on sex, director Diego Kaplan scored a huge hit and Strand Releasing pick-up with swinging comedy “2+2” in 2012. A decade on, he gets up to six. Damián (Nico Furtado) is so romantic that he weeps during his best man’s speech at a friend’s wedding. Caro (Delfina Chaves, famed now for “Máxima”) is, by her early admission, polyamorous. She might as well as she’s a serial murderer from Damian’s shock-horror reaction. But as Damían tries to loosen up, getting to know her four lovers who live with her in what looks like a Disney version of a gothic mansion, Caro discovers feelings for him, which could be love. A gentle satire of prejudice effectively structured romcom with a few gross-out lashings, from Argentine powerhouse Kapow (“El Presidente,” “The Bronze Garden”), developed by Marcelo Tamburri and Monica Albuquerque when both were at WBD reporting to Tomás Yankelevich.

    “‘We were interested in telling how the new bonds [in love relationships] are, to show a reality that exists and that is becoming more and more present every day. The crisis of monogamy, the possibility of having more honest, effective relationships, but without judging anyone. One of the characteristics that differentiate this project from the rest is the combination of humor/comedy and eroticism. And above all, starring a cast that is super relevant in the region,” says exec producer Diego Ventura.

    “Land of Women,” (Bambú Producciones/UnbeliEVAble/Hyphenate Media Group/Apple TV+) Spain

    A stacked production in terms of on-screen and behind-the-camera talent, “Land of Women” is produced by Spanish scripted giant Bambú, Eva Longoria’s UnbeliEVAble and Hyphenate Media Group for Apple TV+.

    The series follows Gala Scott (Longoria), a New York socialite whose life is thrown into upheaval when she is abandoned by her husband who leaves town to avoid a tremendous debt. Scraping by with limited resources, the show’s protagonist teams with her eccentric mother Julia (Carmen Maura) and her 17-year-old daughter Kate (Victoria Bazua), to relocate to La Muga, Grandma’s small hometown in the North of Spain. Gala is hopeful that the three women can escape her husband’s debt collectors, but decades-old secrets about her mother create a whole new set of problems for the trio.

    “City of God: The Fight Rages On,” (O2, Warner Bros. Discovery, Max, Brazil)

    “Midnight Family,” (Fremantle, Fabula, Apple TV+, Mexico)

    “Yosi, The Regretful Spy,” S2, (Oficina Burman (The Mediapro Studio), Prime Video, Argentina)

    “Women in Blue,” (Lemon Studios, Apple TV+, Mexico)

    “Memento Mori,” (Zebra Producciones (Grupo iZen), Newen Co, Prime Video, Spain)

    “Rapa,” S3, (Portocabo, Movistar Plus+ Intl., Movistar Plus+, Spain)

    Comedy or Dramedy Series

    “Acapulco,” S3, (Lionsgate Television, 3Pas Studios, The Tannenbaum Company, Apple TV+, Mexico)

    “Consuelo,” (The Mediapro Studio, TelevisaUnivision, ViX, Mexico)

    “Coppola, the Agent,” (Star Original Productions, Pampa Films, Disney Media Distribution, Star+, Disney+, Argentina)

    “Dating in Barcelona,” (Arca (Filmax), Filmax, Prime Video, 3Cat (TV3), Spain)

    “Six is Not a Crowd,” (Kapow, Warner Bros. Discovery, Max, Argentina)

    “Land of Women,” (Bambú Producciones, UnbeliEVAble, Hyphenate Media Group, Apple TV+, Spain)

    Miniseries or Limited Series

    “Anderson Spider Silva,” (Prodigo Films, Paramount+, Brazil)

    “Cris Miró (She|Her|Hers),” (Nativa, EO Media, Max, TNT, Flow, Argentina)

    “La Mesías,” (Suma Content, Movistar Plus+, Spain)

    “Past Lies,” (DLO Producciones (Banijay Iberia), Disney+, Spain)

    “Allende, the Thousand Days,” (Parox, Onza Distribution, TVN, RTVE, Chile)

    “Desperate Lies,” (A Fábrica (Banijay Americas), Netflix, Brazil)

    Telenovela

    “Broken Promise,” (SP Television, SIC Intl. Distribution, SIC, Portugal)

    “Cacao,” (Plural Entertainment, Onza Distribution, TVI, Portugal)

    “Love of My Life,” (Caracol Televisión, Netflix, Colombia)

    “Renacer” (Globo, Brazil)

    “Secretos de familia” (Canal 13, AGTV, 13Sudmedia, Prime Video, Chile)

    “Dreams of Freedom,” (Diagonal (Banijay Iberia), Atresmedia, Spain)

    Documentary

    “From Dreams to Tragedy: The Fire That Shook Brazilian Football,” (A Fábrica (Banijay Americas), Netflix, Brazil)

    “The Daughter of God: Dalma Maradona,” (Infinity Hill, Nativa, Warner Bros. Discovery, Max, Argentina)

    “An Invisible Victim: The Eliza Samudio Case,” (Boutique Films, Netflix, Brazil)

    “Los 43 de Ayotzinapa: Un crimen de estado,” (PAR Media, Warner Bros. Discovery, Max, Mexico)

    “Luz en la oscuridad,” (True Crime Factory, Goroka, Movistar Plus+, Spain)

    “People’s Cup: A Street Symphony,” (Pampa Films, Disney Media Distribution, Disney+, Argentina)

    TV Movie or Streaming Film

    “The Rescue: The Weight of the World,” (Paramount, Infinity Hill, Rei Cine, Paramount+, Argentina)

    “Traces of Love,” (Framboesa Filmes, Warner Bros. Discovery, Max, Brazil)

    “Intercambiadas,” (The Mediapro Studio, TelevisaUnivision, ViX, Mexico)

    “The Backlands Shall Sea,” (Cesar Produçao Cinematográfica, Globo, Brazil)

    “Radical,” (3Pas Studios, The Lift, Videocine, Participant, ViX, Mexico)

    “Ahora caigo,” (Boxfish, ITV Studios, El Trece, Argentina)

    “Canta Conmigo Teen,” (Endemol Shine Brasil (Banijay Americas), Banijay, Record TV, PlayPlus, Brazil)

    “Desafío 20 años,” (Caracol TV, Colombia)

    “La caza: Nada es lo que parece,” (Secuoya Studios, Grupo Proyección, Secuoya Studios, EITB, Spain)

    “Mental Masters,” (Warner Bros. Intl Television Production Spain, Warner Bros. Intl. Television Production, Telecinco (Mediaset España) Spain)

    “Top Chef VIP,” S3, (RCN Estudios, NBCUniversal, Telemundo, U.S.)

    Docu-Reality or Factual

    “100% únicos,” (Shine Iberia (Banijay Iberia, Telecinco, Cuatro (Mediaset España), Spain)

    “Checo Pérez: ¡No te rindas, cabr#n!,” (Star+ Original Productions, Rola Entertainment, Disney Media Distribution, Disney+, Mexico)

    “De viaje con los Derbez: Buscando a Santa,” (Lionsgate, Amazon MGM Studios, 3Pas Studios, Visceral, Ais Ais Baby Media Corp, Prime Video, ViX, Mexico)

    “Generación click,” (Shine Iberia (Banijay Iberia), Banijay, EITB, Spain)

    “The Montaners,” S2, (Star+ Original Productions, Ntertain, Disney Media Distribution, Disney+, U.S.)

    “Acoustic Home,” S3, (Sony Music Entertainment España, Kalicon Media, Acoustic Home Bizkaia AIE, Max, Spain)

    “Congela,” (Fremantle Portugal, TVI, Portugal)

    “Escape perfecto VIP,” (Sony Pictures, TV Azteca, Azteca Uno, Mexico)

    “La revuelta,” (Encofrados-Encofrasa, El Terrat (The Mediapro Studio), RTVE, La 1 (RTVE), Spain)

    “Me caigo de risa,” S9, (EndemolShine Boomdog (Banijay Americas), Televisa, Mexico)

    “Sonríe, te estamos grabando,” (Saeta TV Canal 10, Uruguay)

    Kids

    “Franjito y Milena en busca de la ciencia,” S1, (Biônica Filmes, Mauricio de Sousa Produções, Warner Bros. Discovery, Discovery Kids, Max, Brazil)

    “Pictoline: The Secret Life of Your Mind,” S1, (Warner Bros. Discovery, Mighty Animation, Max, Mexico)

    “Marcelo Marmelo Martelo,” (Paramount, Coiote, TIS Distribution, Paramount+, Brazil)

    “Daddies on Request,” S2 (The Walt Disney Company Latin America, BTF, Disney Media Distribution, Disney+, Mexico)

    “The Kitchen Stand,” (The Walt Disney Company Latin America, Non Stop, Disney Media Distribution, Disney+, Argentina)

    “Perfekta,” (Mixer Films, Imagem Filmes, Globo, Brazil)

    “The Sandbox,” (Atresmedia, Buendía Estudios, MKTG Spain, Atresmedia, Spain)

    “The Secret Score,” (The Walt Disney Company, Estudios Teleméxico (TIS), Disney Media Distribution, Disney+, Mexico)

    “Luz: The Light of the Heart,” (Floresta (Sony Pictures Television), Netflix, Brazil)

    “Raising Voices,” (DLO Producciones (Banijay Iberia), Netflix, Spain)

    “DMG: El sueño de la hormiga,” (Spotify Studios y La No Ficción, Spotify, Colombia)

    “Caso 63: Enigma,” (Spotify Studios y Emisor, Spotify, Mexico)

    “HUMO: Murder and Silence in El Salvador,” (Sonoro Media, México)

    “Quemar tu casa,” (Spotify Studios, Fabula, Spotify, Chile)