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By Hanna Rantala LONDON (Reuters) -American actress Sydney Sweeney transformed into former professional boxer Christy Martin for the biopic "Christy", which chronicles her life in and outside the ring. Directed and co-written by David Michod, the film tracks two decades of Martin's life. During that time, she stumbled into the sport and, by virtue of her raw talent, turned into one of the most successful female boxers of the 1990s. The film also portrays her relationship with her coach-turned-husband Jim Martin, played by Ben Foster, who takes control of her career and her life, with harrowing consequences. Martin went on to found "Christy's Champs", a non-profit supporting family abuse victims, and telling her story came with responsibility, Sweeney said at the movie's premiere at the London Film Festival on Friday. "Honestly, it's a really heavy weight to carry," she said. "I feel the importance of her story and what it means to other people. And she's such a huge advocate, and she inspires me to also be an advocate as well." Known for her aggressive fighting style and powerful punches, Martin, now 57, was the first woman to sign with boxing promoter Don King and competed from 1989 to 2012. She was closely involved in the production and visited the set often during the film shoot. "Euphoria" and "Anyone But You" star Sweeney spent some three months preparing for the role, working with a boxing coach, a weight trainer and a nutritionist. "I put on 35 pounds (around 16 kg) and it was definitely a very intense physical transformation. But I felt so strong," she said, adding that the fighting scenes in the film were very realistic. "I got a concussion. I might have broken someone else's nose." The movie celebrates Martin's boxing achievements and also touches on themes of domestic violence and sexual identity. "We set out to make a film that's about many things, not just boxing," said co-writer Mirrah Foulkes. "I realised there was a larger story to tell about how these kind of coercive-control relationships work, the one that she has in this film with her husband-slash-trainer," added Michod. "I wanted to understand how they function, because they function all too commonly all over the world and often with horrific consequences." "Christy" begins its global cinematic rollout on November 7. (Reporting by Hanna Rantala; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Paul Sandle, Michael Kahn, Byron Kaye and Dawn Chmielewski LONDON/PRAGUE/SYDNEY/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -"Star Wars: Starfighter" is filming in Britain, soundstages in Hungary are packed and post-production houses in Australia are humming, as the global film industry keeps rolling despite U.S. President Donald Trump's renewed threats to impose tariffs on movies made outside of the United States. Trump has proposed levying a 100% tariff on films produced overseas to stem the loss of film jobs to production hubs around the world, reviving an idea he first broached in May. The initial call for tariffs jolted the film world, and temporarily halted projects and international movie finance deals as producers evaluated the potential impact of the levy on each project’s financial viability, two sources familiar with Hollywood motion-picture financing told Reuters.  This time around, the reaction has been more muted. "Other than the initial flurry of 'Oh, he's said it again,' people are not taking it as seriously as they did the first time around," said Lee Stone, a partner at London law firm Lee & Thompson, who worked on the Emmy-winning Netflix show "Adolescence." Trump initially called for a 100% tariff on movies produced outside the country in early May, to stave off the "very fast death" of the American film industry as incentives lured filmmakers to production hubs around the world. The announcement – just weeks before the Cannes Film Festival – caused a panic. "It was terrible timing. Everyone was saying, 'What's going to happen?'" said Stone, noting that Trump's threat resulted in temporary paralysis. "I'm not getting the impression that there's the same pause this time." Newly released data from industry researcher ProdPro reveals that while overall spending is down 15% from last year, amid a pullback in scripted television series and big-budget feature films, there is no evidence that Hollywood is abandoning global production hubs. "We’re not seeing anything in the data that suggests studios are opting to film more of their production in the U.S. because of concern about the tariffs," said ProdPro CEO Alexander LoVerde. The U.S. remains the industry's largest production hub, accounting for $16.6 billion in spending over the last 12 months, according to ProdPro. However, Hollywood studios and streaming services spent even more – $24.3 billion – on film and television projects produced outside the U.S. over that same period,  ProdPro reported, as they took advantage of tax credits, lower labor costs and world-class soundstages. The United Kingdom has become a major beneficiary of the Hollywood exodus, attracting $8.7 billion in film and scripted TV spending over the past year, including major film productions like "Star Wars: Starfighter," the much-buzzed-about next entry in the "Star Wars" saga set for release in May 2027. Canada comes in a close second with $6.4 billion, according to ProdPro's most recent report on production trends. Other regions – Australia, Ireland, Hungary and Spain – together accounted for nearly one-quarter of all production. COVID-19 SUPERCHARGED PRODUCTION EXODUS The COVID-19 pandemic and the Hollywood strikes by U.S. writers and actors supercharged the exodus that began years earlier. "Australia became a bit of a production bubble where particularly in Queensland, productions could continue even as the rest of the world shut down," said University of Melbourne film expert Kirsten Stevens. Prague increased its tax breaks from 20% to 25% in January, while Britain offers relief of 25.5% on qualifying films and TV productions, with a higher rate for animated films and a new credit for smaller independent films. In places like Central Europe, a deep filmmaking tradition and lower labor costs have attracted a long list of Hollywood films including the Russo brothers' "The Gray Man," Netflix's Oscar-winning "All Quiet on the Western Front" in the Czech Republic, and Warner Bros Studios' "Dune: Part Three," which began shooting this summer in Hungary. "Hungarian soundstages are currently operating at full capacity with both international and domestic productions," Csaba Kael, government commissioner for the development of the Hungarian Motion Picture Industry, told Reuters.  Any change in U.S. trade policy would take time to implement, Kael said. Hollywood studios have found that distributing work across multiple locations can accelerate the production timetable, allowing films to be completed faster and cheaper. "It's not uncommon at high-end films that a bunch of work would come to Australia, but a bunch of work also might go to New Zealand and to London and to somewhere else," said Mike Seymour, Emmy-nominated visual effects specialist and lecturer at the University of Sydney. "Sometimes the film is being worked on literally 24 hours a day because of all the time zones," he said. STUDIOS PUSH FOR U.S. TAX INCENTIVES INSTEAD For the moment, it is business as usual for filmmakers, said Stephen Weizenecker, an entertainment lawyer with Barnes & Thornburg in Atlanta. They are hoping to avoid any interruption that throws off the schedule of a production, which can result in actors, directors or even a filming location being unavailable. "The film industry dislikes uncertainty," Weizenecker said. "Once it starts to hesitate, it means a project stops altogether." A coalition of American film industry unions and guilds, joined by veteran actor Jon Voight, has asked Trump to consider implementing a federal tax incentive to put domestic film production on a more competitive footing with incentives offered in other countries. "What we really want is a national tax incentive that would be more effective than any tariffs," one studio executive said. Meanwhile, a bill with bipartisan support, known as the CREATE Act, was introduced in the U.S. Congress this past summer. It would extend a tax deduction for U.S. productions, which is set to expire in December, and increase the cap on deductible costs. The looming threat of tariffs raises concern about the potential impact on the economy and livelihoods in production hubs around the world, if Trump follows through.  "It is hard for anyone here to understand the likelihood of this coming into effect, but if it did, it would have a huge impact," said a visual artist in the industry who declined to be named over fears of losing financing. "It would be devastating." (Reporting by Paul Sandle in London, Mike Kahn in Prague, Byron Kaye in Sydney and Dawn Chmielewski in Los Angeles; Additional reporting by Lisa Richwine in Los Angeles; Editing by Kenneth Li and Matthew Lewis)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Hanna Rantala LONDON (Reuters) -American actress Sydney Sweeney transformed into former professional boxer Christy Martin for the biopic "Christy", which chronicles her life in and outside the ring. Directed and co-written by David Michod, the film tracks two decades of Martin's life. During that time, she stumbled into the sport and, by virtue of her raw talent, turned into one of the most successful female boxers of the 1990s. The film also portrays her relationship with her coach-turned-husband Jim Martin, played by Ben Foster, who takes control of her career and her life, with harrowing consequences. Martin went on to found "Christy's Champs", a non-profit supporting family abuse victims, and telling her story came with responsibility, Sweeney said at the movie's premiere at the London Film Festival on Friday. "Honestly, it's a really heavy weight to carry," she said. "I feel the importance of her story and what it means to other people. And she's such a huge advocate, and she inspires me to also be an advocate as well." Known for her aggressive fighting style and powerful punches, Martin, now 57, was the first woman to sign with boxing promoter Don King and competed from 1989 to 2012. She was closely involved in the production and visited the set often during the film shoot. "Euphoria" and "Anyone But You" star Sweeney spent some three months preparing for the role, working with a boxing coach, a weight trainer and a nutritionist. "I put on 35 pounds (around 16 kg) and it was definitely a very intense physical transformation. But I felt so strong," she said, adding that the fighting scenes in the film were very realistic. "I got a concussion. I might have broken someone else's nose." The movie celebrates Martin's boxing achievements and also touches on themes of domestic violence and sexual identity. "We set out to make a film that's about many things, not just boxing," said co-writer Mirrah Foulkes. "I realised there was a larger story to tell about how these kind of coercive-control relationships work, the one that she has in this film with her husband-slash-trainer," added Michod. "I wanted to understand how they function, because they function all too commonly all over the world and often with horrific consequences." "Christy" begins its global cinematic rollout on November 7. (Reporting by Hanna Rantala; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Alan Baldwin AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) -Apple's five-year deal for Formula One's U.S. broadcast rights, announced on Friday, gives both brands a major opportunity for growth in new directions and could ultimately lead to something bigger. The agreement, with Apple replacing Walt Disney's ESPN from 2026, will see Apple TV host all live action from grand prix weekends and has the potential to bring more people to Formula One through mobiles and apps. Select races, and all practice sessions, will be freely available in the Apple TV app. Apple TV subscribers can also access Liberty Media-owned Formula One's premium content without extra cost. No details were given of how much Apple paid to add F1 to Major League Baseball and soccer in their existing sports offering. "Thanks to Apple we are going to be ready to get into more houses and more in the culture of the American fans," Formula One chief executive Stefano Domenicali told reporters in a video briefing. "This is something that will represent a big step change in our approach in the media landscape. But we know the power of Apple … we know the technology that they have." DEAL BUILDS ON F1 MOVIE'S BIG BOX OFFICE SUCCESS Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice-president of services and a Ferrari board member, said he hoped the deal became "what we're doing forever". "I think there's a huge opportunity for both of us," he added. "There's more opportunities to go. But we're focused on this, make this a success and then it'll be easier to keep growing and doing more." Liberty Media recently acquired MotoGP owners Dorna Sports while Liberty Global controls the all-electric Formula E championship. There could also be further opportunities worldwide as other rights deals expire. "We're going to bring everything that Apple has to offer from our retail stores to all of our apps, including our sports app, podcasting, music, obviously Apple TV, books, all the capabilities," said Cue. "Our websites, all the touch points, Apple News. "We have so many touch points with our customers and we're going to bring the brunt of that, like we did with the movie, to the races and to qualifying." Apple's "F1 The Movie", starring Brad Pitt, was a runaway success this year and has grossed more than $628 million worldwide, according to IMDb's Box Office Mojo. Some 47% of new U.S. Formula One fans, those who have followed the sport for five years or less, are aged 18-24 and more than half are female, according to a 2025 Global F1 Fan Survey. "Though Formula One has grown tremendously, it still has a huge opportunity to grow so much more," said Cue. "And it's not just racing, it's culture here. These are incredible athletes, whether it's fashion, music, all of the things that we will partner with them on gives us huge opportunities to expand." The United States now has three grands prix and the Netflix docu-series 'Drive to Survive' has turbocharged engagement in a country that the sport had failed to crack in previous decades. Cue said Apple would also be broadcasting all races in Spanish. Ian Holmes, Formula One's director of media rights, said the deal gave the sport access to the broadest possible audience and employ the innovative Apple camera technology used in the movie. "It's very much a relationship across technology as it is content," he said. (Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Peter Rutherford)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

(Corrects name of group in first paragraph to Belgian National Orchestra from Belgian National Opera) By Milan Berckmans BRUSSELS (Reuters) -A 300-year-old Stradivari violin valued at around $16 million will take centre stage on Friday at a concert in Brussels performed by Armenian Sergey Khachatryan with the Belgian National Orchestra. The violin, renowned for its extraordinary tonal range and historical importance, was made around 1724 by Italian craftsman Antonio Stradivari in his hometown Cremona, and was recently bought by a benefactor of the philanthropic Stretton Society, which loans out exceptional instruments. "It is a huge joy to be able to create that relationship between me as an artist and the instrument … such an incredible instrument with such a beautiful sound and complexity," said Khachatryan, who is entrusted with the Stradivarius for the next 10 years. At the Brussels Palais des Beaux-Arts on Friday, he will interpret the technically demanding Brahms Violin Concerto. "Brahms' music is such a reflection of beauty, in nature and also in human feelings," Khachatryan told Reuters. "If you have such an incredible violin, you can show that." The instrument is among the highest valued of several hundred remaining Stradivari violins, which can sell for millions of dollars, with the most sought-after coming from Stradivari's 1700-1720 "Golden Period". Known as the "Kiesewetter" – after 19th-century German violinist Christoph Gottfried Kiesewetter – it has been played by leading violinists, including Augustin Hadelich and Maxim Vengerov, who used it at the Grammy Awards ceremony in 1996. "There's actually a very beautiful photo with Maxim Vengerov, Sting and Elton John next to the instrument," said Stephan Jansen, co-founder of the Stretton Society. (Reporting by Yves Herman, Milan Berckmans and Tierney Kugel; Writing by Alessandro Parodi; editing by GV De Clercq and Ed Osmond)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

PARIS (Reuters) -Former French movie star Brigitte Bardot, 91, is recovering at home in Saint-Tropez, southern France, following minor surgery that went well, Bardot's office said in a statement to French news agency AFP on Friday. The actress thanked staff and the surgical team at the Saint-Jean Private Hospital in Toulon and said she is now resting at home. Bardot became world famous in the fifties and sixties for her free-spirited performances in movies such as "And God Created Woman". As a singer, she also released several records during that time.  She stopped acting in the seventies, permanently moved to the French Riviera town of Saint-Tropez, and dedicated herself to the animal welfare cause through a foundation in her name. (Reporting by Inti Landauro and Alessandro Parodi; Editing by GV De Clercq and Peter Graff)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Alan Baldwin AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) -Apple's five-year deal for Formula One's U.S. broadcast rights, announced on Friday, gives both brands a major opportunity for growth in new directions and could ultimately lead to something bigger. The agreement, with Apple replacing Walt Disney's ESPN from 2026, will see Apple TV host all live action from grand prix weekends and has the potential to bring more people to Formula One through mobiles and apps. Select races, and all practice sessions, will be freely available in the Apple TV app. Apple TV subscribers can also access Liberty Media-owned Formula One's premium content without extra cost. No details were given of how much Apple paid to add F1 to Major League Baseball and soccer in their existing sports offering. "Thanks to Apple we are going to be ready to get into more houses and more in the culture of the American fans," Formula One chief executive Stefano Domenicali told reporters in a video briefing. "This is something that will represent a big step change in our approach in the media landscape. But we know the power of Apple … we know the technology that they have." DEAL BUILDS ON F1 MOVIE'S BIG BOX OFFICE SUCCESS Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice-president of services and a Ferrari board member, said he hoped the deal became "what we're doing forever". "I think there's a huge opportunity for both of us," he added. "There's more opportunities to go. But we're focused on this, make this a success and then it'll be easier to keep growing and doing more." Liberty Media recently acquired MotoGP owners Dorna Sports while Liberty Global controls the all-electric Formula E championship. There could also be further opportunities worldwide as other rights deals expire. "We're going to bring everything that Apple has to offer from our retail stores to all of our apps, including our sports app, podcasting, music, obviously Apple TV, books, all the capabilities," said Cue. "Our websites, all the touch points, Apple News. "We have so many touch points with our customers and we're going to bring the brunt of that, like we did with the movie, to the races and to qualifying." Apple's "F1 The Movie", starring Brad Pitt, was a runaway success this year and has grossed more than $628 million worldwide, according to IMDb's Box Office Mojo. Some 47% of new U.S. Formula One fans, those who have followed the sport for five years or less, are aged 18-24 and more than half are female, according to a 2025 Global F1 Fan Survey. "Though Formula One has grown tremendously, it still has a huge opportunity to grow so much more," said Cue. "And it's not just racing, it's culture here. These are incredible athletes, whether it's fashion, music, all of the things that we will partner with them on gives us huge opportunities to expand." The United States now has three grands prix and the Netflix docu-series 'Drive to Survive' has turbocharged engagement in a country that the sport had failed to crack in previous decades. Cue said Apple would also be broadcasting all races in Spanish. Ian Holmes, Formula One's director of media rights, said the deal gave the sport access to the broadest possible audience and employ the innovative Apple camera technology used in the movie. "It's very much a relationship across technology as it is content," he said. (Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Peter Rutherford)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Milan Berckmans BRUSSELS (Reuters) -A 300-year-old Stradivari violin valued at around $16 million will take centre stage on Friday at a concert in Brussels performed by Armenian Sergey Khachatryan with the Belgian National Opera. The violin, renowned for its extraordinary tonal range and historical importance, was made around 1724 by Italian craftsman Antonio Stradivari in his hometown Cremona, and was recently bought by a benefactor of the philanthropic Stretton Society, which loans out exceptional instruments. "It is a huge joy to be able to create that relationship between me as an artist and the instrument … such an incredible instrument with such a beautiful sound and complexity," said Khachatryan, who is entrusted with the Stradivarius for the next 10 years. At the Brussels Palais des Beaux-Arts on Friday, he will interpret the technically demanding Brahms Violin Concerto. "Brahms' music is such a reflection of beauty, in nature and also in human feelings," Khachatryan told Reuters. "If you have such an incredible violin, you can show that." The instrument is among the highest valued of several hundred remaining Stradivari violins, which can sell for millions of dollars, with the most sought after coming from Stradivari's 1700-1720 "Golden Period". Known as the "Kiesewetter" – after 19th-century German violinist Christoph Gottfried Kiesewetter – it has been played by leading violinists, including Augustin Hadelich and Maxim Vengerov, who used it at the Grammy Award ceremony in 1996. "There's actually a very beautiful photo with Maxim Vengerov, Sting and Elton John next to the instrument," said Stephan Jansen, co-founder of the Stretton Society. (Reporting by Yves Herman, Milan Berckmans and Tierney Kugel; Writing by Alessandro Parodi; editing by GV De Clercq and Ed Osmond)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

PARIS (Reuters) -Reclusive former French movie star Brigitte Bardot, 91, has been hospitalized for the past three weeks in Toulon, near her home in Saint-Tropez, local newspaper Var-Matin reported on its website on Thursday. She underwent surgery related to a "serious illness", the newspaper said, citing unidentified sources. Her condition is "worrying", it added. Bardot became world famous in the fifties and sixties for her free-spirited performances and sexual magnetism in a series of movies. As a singer, she also released several records during that time.  She stopped acting in the seventies, permanently moved to the French Riviera town of Saint-Tropez, and dedicated herself to the animal welfare cause through a foundation in her name. The Brigitte Bardot Foundation did not immediately respond to requests for comment. (Reporting by Inti Landauro and Alessandro Parodi; Editing by GV De Clercq and Toby Chopra)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

PARIS (Reuters) -Reclusive former French movie star Brigitte Bardot, 91, has been hospitalized for the past three weeks in Toulon, near her home in Saint-Tropez, local newspaper Var-Matin reported on its website on Thursday. She underwent surgery related to a "serious illness", the newspaper said, citing unidentified sources. Her condition is "worrying", it added. Bardot became world famous in the fifties and sixties for her free-spirited performances and sexual magnetism in a series of movies. As a singer, she also released several records during that time.  She stopped acting in the seventies, permanently moved to the French Riviera town of Saint-Tropez, and dedicated herself to the animal welfare cause through a foundation in her name. The Brigitte Bardot Foundation did not immediately respond to requests for comment. (Reporting by Inti Landauro and Alessandro Parodi; Editing by GV De Clercq and Toby Chopra)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)