Malcon Pierce’s Disney animated short Versa is a beautiful non-verbal exploration of the intense experience of losing their baby, and the grief that followed, expressed through cosmic imagery and stars. It made a huge impact at the Animation Film Festival in October, and will hopefully appear on Disney+, though no formal plans have been announced.
Isabelle Huppert (The Piano Teacher) is now an EP on the provocative short Two People Exchanging Saliva from filmmaking duo Natalie Musteata and Alexandre Singh (2019’s The Appointment). The live-action Telluride premiering title is now streaming on The New Yorker. Full short here.
Daniela Vega (A Fantastic Woman) joins the cast of Pink Desert, a film about a young trans woman in 1970s Chile who discovers her identity while traveling with a theater troupe. Vega will also EP.
Saudi Arabia has opened PlayMaker Studios in Qiddiya City, a major new production hub spanning over 50 acres. The complex will launch alongside preproduction on Game of Thrones director Alik Sakharov’s new historical action feature Unbroken Sword.
Mexico’s Sin Sentido Films is remaking The Last Laugh (Muerto de risa), a hit 2023 Peruvian comedy for Mexican audiences. The critical and box office success follows a lost talk show host who refines himself with the help of an alcoholic comedian.
Veteran filmmaker Rachid Bouchareb (Days of Glory) is tackling a dark chapter of colonial history with Reggane, a feature‑length drama centered on France’s 60s nuclear tests in the Sahara. The story follows an Algerian shepherd thrust into the toxic fallout. With Reggane, Bouchareb returns to familiar territory, blending overlooked history with deeply human experiences.