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META Film Fest to Return to Dubai in November

The annual festival showcases the best of international films. WAM
The annual festival showcases the best of international films. WAM
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META Film Fest to Return to Dubai in November

The annual festival showcases the best of international films. WAM
The annual festival showcases the best of international films. WAM

META Film Fest, the star-studded, four-day international motion picture gala, will return to Dubai for its second edition from November 9 to 12, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.

The annual festival, which showcases the best of international films, promises an extraordinary celebration of cinema for filmmakers, industry professionals, and movie lovers alike, WAM said.

The META Film Fest 2023 will focus on delivering an unparalleled experience through its emphasis on quality content, workshops and masterclasses tailored for budding filmmakers, premieres of cutting-edge independent and studio-produced films, and a prestigious, high-profile judging panel.

With the support of content partners such as the Royal Film Commission – Jordan, Papillon Creative, Frontrow Entertainment, and MAD Solutions, and Festival Partners including Cinema Akil, the META Film Fest is set to bolster Dubai’s Creative Economy and support the UAE’s National Strategy for the Cultural and Creative Industries. The four-day celebration of films will take place at VOX Cinemas, Wafi City.

“This year’s META Film Fest will cement Dubai’s position and capability as a hub for filmmakers and creatives to congregate, share knowledge, and promote their own and their peers’ work. The festival garners immense appreciation from movie enthusiasts and industry professionals, and this year’s edition will see significant growth in the number and caliber of films being shown,” said Founder of META Film Fest Leila Masinaei.

The META Film Fest adopts an independent, objective approach in its shortlisting process, ensuring the best of the regional industry is spotlighted at the event. Over the four days, it will show more than 70 movies from 20+ countries, host 10+ workshops, and welcome more than 50 global celebrities and 15,000 attendees. The incredible roster of shortlisted films will be announced in the coming weeks, WAM said.

This year's awards will span 12 categories, covering feature films, short films, documentaries, debut works, student projects, films with a sustainability focus, and newly introduced special categories to celebrate home-grown UAE talent.

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Entertainment

Deezer Launches Free AI Music Detector for Users of Major Streaming Platforms

FILE PHOTO: The logo of French music streaming platform Deezer is seen at La Defense business and financial district in Courbevoie near Paris, France, July 5, 2022. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The logo of French music streaming platform Deezer is seen at La Defense business and financial district in Courbevoie near Paris, France, July 5, 2022. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo
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Deezer Launches Free AI Music Detector for Users of Major Streaming Platforms

FILE PHOTO: The logo of French music streaming platform Deezer is seen at La Defense business and financial district in Courbevoie near Paris, France, July 5, 2022. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The logo of French music streaming platform Deezer is seen at La Defense business and financial district in Courbevoie near Paris, France, July 5, 2022. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo

French music platform Deezer has launched a free online tool to detect AI-generated tracks in playlists, available to users of all major streaming platforms, it said on Thursday.

The company is also licensing its AI-detection technology to the wider music industry, building on earlier deals like the one it signed with France’s royalty agency Sacem in January, Reuters reported.

The free detector allows users of ⁠around 20 of the ⁠most common streaming platforms to scan their playlists for synthetic music.

Company data shows that 43% of users joining Deezer from rival services already have AI-generated music in their playlists.

On its own platform, ⁠Deezer tags AI-generated songs and automatically removes them from algorithmic recommendations and editorial playlists.

"This is a first step in making sure that these tracks don't dilute the royalty pool in any significant way," Deezer said.

It cited a 2024 Cisac study that showed 25% of artists’ revenue, or €4 billion ($4.6 billion) per year, could be at risk of ⁠being siphoned ⁠off by AI-generated songs by 2028.

Deezer receives nearly 75,000 AI-generated tracks daily, making up more than 44% of its new music delivery, up from 60,000 tracks reported in early 2025.

A recent Deezer and Ipsos survey found that 80% of respondents wanted AI-generated music to be clearly labelled on streaming platforms.

Entertainment

Taylor Swift Surprises with Performance at ‘Toy Story 5’ Premiere in Hollywood

13 November 2022, North Rhine-Westphalia, Duesseldorf: American singer Taylor Swift poses on the red carpet of the MTV Europe Music Awards. (dpa)
13 November 2022, North Rhine-Westphalia, Duesseldorf: American singer Taylor Swift poses on the red carpet of the MTV Europe Music Awards. (dpa)
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Taylor Swift Surprises with Performance at ‘Toy Story 5’ Premiere in Hollywood

13 November 2022, North Rhine-Westphalia, Duesseldorf: American singer Taylor Swift poses on the red carpet of the MTV Europe Music Awards. (dpa)
13 November 2022, North Rhine-Westphalia, Duesseldorf: American singer Taylor Swift poses on the red carpet of the MTV Europe Music Awards. (dpa)

Pop superstar Taylor Swift made a surprise appearance in Hollywood on Tuesday at the premiere of animated movie "Toy Story 5."

Swift sat at a piano in a full-length gown on stage at the Dolby Theatre and sang "I Knew ‌It, I Knew ‌You," the song ‌she wrote ⁠for the new "Toy ⁠Story" installment. The singer said she has been a longtime fan of the movie franchise.

"It means the world to me to be ⁠a small part of ‌these films," ‌she said.

Swift then introduced another unexpected ‌guest - Randy Newman, composer of ‌the musical scores and many of the breakout songs from the "Toy Story" movies. The pair sang ‌a duet of "You've Got a Friend in Me," ⁠one ⁠of Newman's hits from the first "Toy Story" in 1995.

Earlier, Swift posed on the red carpet with Tom Hanks, Joan Cusack and other members of the "Toy Story" voice cast.

"Toy Story 5" will be released by Walt Disney's Pixar Animation Studios on June 19.

Entertainment

Hollywood Directors Reach Tentative 4-Year Deal with Studios and Streamers

Christopher Nolan arrives at the Oscars on March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP)
Christopher Nolan arrives at the Oscars on March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP)
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Hollywood Directors Reach Tentative 4-Year Deal with Studios and Streamers

Christopher Nolan arrives at the Oscars on March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP)
Christopher Nolan arrives at the Oscars on March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP)

Hollywood directors on Tuesday reached a four-year tentative contract agreement with studios and streaming services.

The deal struck between the Directors Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers came four weeks after talks began.

The talks were the first under new DGA President Christopher Nolan, who took the job in September.

Along with similar four-year deals — longer than the industry three — ratified in recent weeks by unions representing writers and actors, the DGA agreement adds to the likelihood of long-term labor peace despite many other industry upheavals.

The collective bargaining agreement must still be approved by the guild’s national board, and no details on the terms will be released until then, the DGA said in a statement. It then must be ratified by the guild membership. But tentative agreements generally win approval at both stages.

The directors' previous contract had been set to expire June 30.

The AMPTP said in a statement that it was pleased to help achieve “a fair deal that helps advance a stable and successful entertainment industry.”