“News Roundup: Stormy Documentary Acquisition, Film Festival Winners, Gaming Reinstatements, and Taiwan Documentary Showcase”

Blue Ant Studios has acquired “Stormy,” a documentary centered on former adult film actress Stormy Daniels, for international distribution. The announcement coincided with the commencement of a criminal trial against former U.S. president Donald Trump in New York, accused of concealing payments to Daniels.

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Stormy

Produced by Emmy-nominated Erin Lee Carr (“I Love You,” “Now Die: The Commonwealth v. Michelle Carter”) and producer-director Sarah Gibson (“Orgasm Inc: The Story of One Taste”), “Stormy” offers either two one-hour episodes or a two-hour feature. The executive producers include Judd Apatow of Apatow Productions (“George Carlin’s American Dream,” “The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling”), alongside Sara Bernstein and Meredith Kaulfers from Imagine Documentaries (“The Super Models,” “Judy Blume Forever”). Emelia Brown serves as producer. “Stormy” is currently available for streaming on Peacock in the U.S.

In other news, “The Gospel of the Beast,” directed by Sheron Dayoc, secured the Golden Star Award for Best Southeast Asian Film at the inaugural Ho Chi Minh City International Film Festival. Nicole Midori Woodford’s “Last Shadow At First Light” received multiple awards including the jury prize, best cinematography, best screenplay, and best visual effects. Malaysia’s Chia Chee Sum won Best Director for “Oasis of Now,” while Vietnam’s Ti Thi Diu claimed Best Actress. Singaporean drama “Wonderland” earned recognition for Best Actor (Mark Lee) and Best Supporting Actor (Peter Yu). Rawipa Srisanguan received the Best Supporting Actress award for “Solids by the Seashore.”

NetEase, a major Chinese gaming company, announced the reinstatement of “World of Warcraft” and other Blizzard Entertainment titles in mainland China after a one-year hiatus following a dispute. The Taiwan International Documentary Festival, scheduled from May 10-19, will showcase Taiwan’s cinematic history, including the “Floating Islands” project by Firefly Image Company and Zero Chou, which challenges traditional documentary aesthetics. The festival’s “Untitled Reel: Amateur, Small-Gauge Films, and Others” section will feature amateur films from the 1920s to the 1970s.