Film News Today — August 9, 2026
Naseeruddin Shah, Gurvinder Singh Turn a Village’s Real Grief Into Locarno Competition Title ‘Rehmat’: ‘It’s Important That These Films Get Made’ and more — today's film signal.
The world of film is abuzz with exciting developments, from the unveiling of Mahesh Babu's look in S.S. Rajamouli's highly anticipated 'Varanasi' to Gina Prince-Bythewood's insightful discussion on the worldbuilding of 'Children of Blood and Bone', a project that showcases her admiration for author Tomi Adeyemi's genius. Meanwhile, Naseeruddin Shah and Gurvinder Singh are making waves with their Locarno competition title 'Rehmat', a film that tackles real grief in a village, highlighting the importance of such stories being told on the big screen. These diverse projects demonstrate the power of film to capture the human experience, whether through fictional worlds or real-life inspirations.
As the film industry continues to push boundaries, we're also seeing innovative marketing strategies, such as Warner Bros.' use of an AI dog podcast to promote 'The End of Oak Street', which features Ewan McGregor and has already generated buzz. On the other hand, Olivia Wilde's experience working on 'The Invite' has had a profound impact on her, making her 'so much more romantic' and melting the cynic out of her. Similarly, Dominic Sessa's portrayal of Anthony Bourdain in 'Tony' was influenced by his own ability to tap into his inner 'liar', allowing him to foreshadow the late chef's later struggles. These stories not only showcase the talent and creativity of the individuals involved but also highlight the enduring impact of film on both the artists and the audience.
Today's signal:
• Naseeruddin Shah, Gurvinder Singh Turn a Village’s Real Grief Into Locarno Competition Title ‘Rehmat’: ‘It’s Important That These Films Get Made’ (variety.com)
• Mahesh Babu’s Look in S.S. Rajamouli’s ‘Varanasi’ Unveiled (variety.com)
• Gina Prince-Bythewood Discusses the Worldbuilding of ‘Children of Blood and Bone’ and Praises Author Tomi Adeyemi as a ‘Genius’ (variety.com)
• Warner Bros. Uses AI Dog Podcast to Promote ‘The End of Oak Street’: ‘Ewan McGregor Was Excellent With Treats’ (variety.com)
• Olivia Wilde Says She’s Become ‘So Much More Romantic’ Because of ‘The Invite’: ‘It Melted the Cynic Out of Me’ (variety.com)
• ‘Tony’ Star Dominic Sessa on How Being a ‘Liar’ Helped Him Portray Anthony Bourdain and Why the Film Foreshadows His Later Struggles (variety.com)