TAXING SITUATION
The Philippines is to impose a 12% value-added tax on overseas digital service providers operating in the country, including Netflix, HBO and Disney. The measure was signed into law on Wednesday by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“If you are reaping the rewards of a fruitful digital economy here, it is only right that you contribute also to its growth,” Marcos said in a speech during the signing event. The new law will level the taxes paid by local businesses and international digital platforms, he added, according to reporting by Bloomberg.
The new law covers online search engines, media, advertising, platforms as well as digital marketplaces and goods and cloud services. The tax is forecast to generate 79.5 billion pesos ($1.4 billion) in revenue in the next four years, according to the country’s finance department.
JURY HEAD
Chinese indie director Jia Zhangke (“Caught by the Tides,” “Ash Is Purest White”) has been set as the head of the competition jury for next year’s Festival International des Cinemas d’Asie in Vesoul, France. The festival will also program a retrospective of Jia’s films and two seasons of films from Hong Kong and Myanmar. It will be held Feb. 11-18, 2025.
CONVERSION THERAPY
The trailer for “Holy Curse,” a short film directed by Snigdha Kapoor, has been released, offering a look into its exploration of unacknowledged forms of conversion therapy in Indian culture. The film will make its world premiere at the 68th BFI London Film Festival, followed by its North American debut at the Oscar-qualifying 19th Tasveer Film Festival, and its Asian premiere at the 21st MAMI Mumbai Film Festival.
The film follows 11-year-old Radha, an immigrant in America, who faces orthodox rituals during a family visit to India. The story examines Radha’s struggle with gender identity amid familial beliefs and societal expectations, shedding light on cultural practices that function as conversion therapy.
The coming-of-age drama stars newcomer Mrunal Kashid alongside Adithi Kalkunthe (“Monkey Man”), BAFTA Breakthrough star Shardul Bhardwaj (“The Scavenger of Dreams”), Anup Soni (“Crime Patrol”) and Prayrak Mehta (“Ziddi Girls”). The project is co-produced by Neeraj Churi and Shweta Bolakani.