PASSAGE TO INDIA
Dream pop outfit Cigarettes After Sex is set to embark on the India leg of their X’s World Tour, supporting their new album “X’s.” The Texas-formed band consisting of Greg Gonzalez (lead), Randall Miller (bass) and Jacob Tomsky (drums), will play Delhi-NCR on Jan. 24, Mumbai on Jan. 25 and Bengaluru on Jan. 28, 2025.
Produced by Laqshya Media Group and curated by BookMyShow Live, the tour promises a mix of fan favorites and tracks from “X’s,” which blends the band’s signature sound with ’90s pop and ’70s dance influences.
The group’s Lollapalooza India 2023 performance demonstrated their appeal in the market. Tickets go on sale July 19 via BookMyShow.
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Cigarettes After Sex has amassed 2.5 million record sales, 3 billion Spotify streams and 800 million YouTube views, cementing their status in the ambient pop scene.
PASSAGE FROM INDONESIA
Jakarta Film Week is set to unspool its fourth edition Oct. 23-27, showcasing emerging filmmakers and industry-building initiatives. The festival’s Jakarta Film Fund has selected three winners: “If You’re Happy, I’m Happy” (Lanyah Films, dir. Mauliya Maila R.), “Piknik Bersama Maut” (Kapsul Waktu Studio, dir. Nara Nugroho) and “Followers” (89 Films, dir. Kevin Rahardjo). Each project receives a IDR50 million ($3,100) grant and production support.
The event’s Producers Lab program notched an international win, with “The Heirlooms” landing a spot at South Korea’s Goedam Residency. Two other Indonesian projects, “Virgin Bash” and “Dancing Gale,” scored awards at BiFaN’s NAFF Project Market 2024.
Festival director Rina Damayanti touted the event as a platform for Jakarta’s rich storytelling. Program manager Novi Hanabi expressed hope that the fund will continue to launch films onto national and international stages.
The lineup will include screenings, masterclasses, talks and an awards night, building on last year’s edition which drew thousands of attendees.
SHAKESPEARE AND CO
The Royal Shakespeare Company has named Bailey Lock as its new executive producer for Stratford-upon-Avon. Lock, currently co-executive director at London’s Unicorn Theatre, will join co-artistic directors Tamara Harvey and Daniel Evans, along with executive director Andrew Leveson, in leading the RSC’s producing team.
At the Unicorn, Lock launched an award-winning digital theater program during the pandemic and fostered collaborations with major U.K. arts organizations. Her previous experience includes roles at the Donmar Warehouse and Lyric Hammersmith.
WRITING ON THE WALL TO WALL
The Royal Exchange Theatre, Wall to Wall North and Warner Bros. Discovery Access have unveiled the quartet of scribes selected for the 2024 WBD Access Northern Writers Program. Joe McNally, Kamal Kaan, Katie Mulgrew and Natalie Beech will participate in a six-month scheme designed to elevate their stage and screen writing skills.
Now in its third year, the program aims to create opportunities for underrepresented Northern English writers transitioning from theater to television. Participants will engage in workshops and sessions led by industry pros, including writer Mike Bartlett, agent Matt Connell and editorial teams from various networks.
The program concludes with each writer penning a one-hour TV pilot spec script, guided by a professional script editor and Wall to Wall North executive producer. Additionally, writers will receive one-on-one mentorship from Royal Exchange Theatre dramaturg Suzanne Bell to hone their playwriting skills.
