Latest news with #TheIsland
Mint
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Good news for WWE 2K25 fans: The game is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on July 23, pre-orders now live
2K has officially announced thatWWE 2K25 will be launching on the Nintendo Switch 2 later this month. The popular wrestling simulation title, which debuted across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms in March, is scheduled to arrive on the new Nintendo console on 23 July. Pre-orders for the game are now live on the Nintendo eShop, accompanied by a fresh trailer tailored for the Switch 2 version. Much like its counterparts on other platforms,WWE 2K25 for the Switch 2 will be available in three editions: Standard, Deadman, and The Bloodline. Players on Nintendo's latest hardware will have access to the full suite of game modes and match types, including the open-world experience 'The Island', which had previously been limited to the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. You may be interested in In addition to 'The Island', fan-favourite modes such as 2K Showcase, MyGM, MyFaction, MyRise, and Universe will also be included in the Switch 2 release. The Standard Edition is priced at $69.99 and includes the base game. Those who pre-order this edition will also receive the Wyatt Sicks Pack, featuring five playable superstars and themed items for 'The Island'. Moreover, the Deadman Edition, retailing at $99.99, expands on the base offering with extra content including persona cards for Mattel Elite 'Greatest Hits' Undertaker and Original Undertaker ('90), an interactive Urn object, Undertaker's '95 Mask for in-game use, and Brother Love as a manager. It also comes bundled with the Season Pass for post-launch DLC and 15,000 in-game VC. At the top end, The Bloodline Edition is priced at $129.99 and includes all content from the previous editions, as well as the Ringside Pass and The Rock Nation of Domination Pack. This premium version also includes exclusive persona cards for Mattel Elite Series 114 Jey Uso and Roman Reigns, additional cosmetic items, and the forthcoming WrestleMania 41 Pack, which will add new playable superstars and the WrestleMania 41 arena at a later date. The arrival of WWE 2K25 on the Switch 2 continues Nintendo's efforts to strengthen the console's third-party game library. Since its release on 5 June, the hybrid handheld has seen key titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Hogwarts Legacy, and Split Fiction make their debut. Later this month, Nintendo is also set to launch the console-exclusive Donkey Kong Bananza. The wrestling title had been confirmed for the Switch 2 earlier this year during Nintendo's full reveal of the console in April, following growing demand for more AAA titles on the platform.
News24
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
Athol Fugard remembered at National Arts Fest with stellar performance of ‘The Island'
Athol Fugard, John Kani, and Winston Ntshona's classic play The Island was performed at the National Arts Festival in Makhanda. The actors and director of the play said it was an honour to put on the production in memory of Fugard, especially with Kani present in Makhanda. The festival takes place from 26 June to 6 July 2025 in Makhanda, Eastern Cape. Fifty years ago, theatre legends Athol Fugard, John Kani, and Winston Ntshona were honoured at the prestigious Tony Awards. Their double-bill The Island and Sizwe Banzi is Dead received nominations for Best Play and Direction of a Play, with Kani and Ntshona jointly winning the Best Actor award. The Island takes place in a prison inspired by Robben Island. Two cellmates prepare for a performance of Sophocles' Antigone. One cellmate learns that his sentence has been reduced from 10 to 3 years, with only a few months left to go. The other cellmate still has a long sentence ahead of him. The Island was performed at this year's National Arts Festival with Sizwe Banzi is Dead also on the programme. In light of Fugard's death, this felt like a very necessary programme inclusion, especially since he, Kani and Ntshona all hail from the Eastern Cape. READ | Aldo Brincat's 'The Moon Looks Delicious From Here' dazzles once again Director Xabiso Zweni and actors Fiks Mahola and Anele Penny brilliantly brought Fugard, Kani, and Ntshona's text alive once again and said it was an honour to perform it this year at NAF. Zweni said they originally wanted to do the play in commemoration of the Tony Award, not for Fugard's death. Kani was also in attendance at this year's arts festival. 'When he passed away, it gave the production such a boost that we wanted to commemorate him, his memory and the work he, John Kani and Winston Ntshona did during apartheid,' Zweni said. The director praised Fugard for being able to 'go into the township, work with talent and go overseas when the country's laws did not permit it.' 'That's why it's such a great honour to pay tribute to Athol Fugard.' Joel Ontong/News24 Zweni believes that though The Island is an apartheid-era play, the themes still resonate with modern audiences because of the brilliant storytelling. 'The work is timeless; they've written such a beautiful work. The themes of economy and equality will always resonate with younger people as well.' Zweni also said that Fugard was foundational to his theatre education, as with many other theatre makers in SA. 'He's always going to be there in the shadows as one of the fathers of South African theatre.' Actor Anele Penny, who plays Winston in The Island, said, 'Nobody fills anyone's shoes in theatre,' but they wanted to continue the legacy of their artistic predecessors. 'We feel very much honoured to do The Island, as well as Sizwe Banzi Is Dead next week,' he added. 'These doctors [referring to Fugard, Kani and Ntshona] are the pioneers of theatre,' Penny said. 'They represent us even today because some see the change, but others are still in the dark, looking for the change that was promised.' 'So it's a double celebration for the 50 years of the Tony Award and also saying farewell to Doctor Fugard,' Penny added. Actor Fiks Mahola, who plays John, also said being in the production is more than an honour. He continued: 'I left the entertainment industry, and I thought I successfully retired. Then someone said to me, 'I know your work ethic, I know your capabilities, I know what you can do, and I think you would be just right for this historic, monumental production'.' For him, it's particularly special to play John Kani's character. 'To now be portraying the character that he portrayed - it's almost overwhelming for me.'
The Herald Scotland
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
BBC Alba to expand into Gaelic feature film production
A new feature film development fund is being created months after the Scottish Government agreed to put an additional £1.8 million into MG Alba, which operates the Gaelic channel in partnership with the BBC, to 'build on the success' of An t-Eilean (The Island) since the launch of the murder mystery series in January. Read more: MG Alba also wants to emulate the success of Cine4, a groundbreaking Irish language film development scheme, which has produced eight feature films since it was launched in 2017 by broadcaster TG4, Screen Ireland and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. The Herald can reveal that a second series of An t-Eilean, which starred Sorcha Groundsell, Sagar Radia, Iain Macrae and Meredith Brook, is already in development. The four-part drama, which was commissioned by BBC Alba, was snapped up by international distributors All3Media International before filming had even started in Lewis and Harris, and had a budget of more than £1 million per episode. Sorcha Groundsell starred in the Gaelic drama series An t-Eilean, which was launched in January. The show, which followed an investigation into the murder of the wife of a wealthy islander at their historic mansion, was later acquired by BBC Four and was described as the UK's first major Gaelic language drama when it premiered. An t-Eilean, which was described as a 'game-changer' by BBC Alba when it was commissioned, went on to win two major honours at the European broadcasting awards, Prix CIRCOM, in Barcelona in May. Meredith Brook and Sorcha Groundsell starred in the BBC Alba series An t-Eilean. At the time, Screen Scotland hailed its popularity and recognition as "an incredible vote of confidence in the strength of Gaelic language drama.' The collaboration between BBC Alba and BBC Scotland on the new short-form dramas, which is expected to see successful projects go into production this year, was announced last November. Kate Forbes met BBC Alba staff at the BBC's Pacific Quay headquarters in February when she announced additional funding of £1.8m for Gaelic broadcasting. (Image: BBC Alba) The Scottish Government subsequently approved an additional £1.8m for MG Alba, which was announced weeks after the launch of An t-Eilean. At the time, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said the show's success "demonstrates how supporting a thriving Gaelic broadcasting sector can bring international interest to Scotland." She added: "This extra funding will enable Gaelic broadcasters to build on existing high-quality content and attract new audiences." The BBC's recently-published annual plan states that BBC Alba will be working with BBC Film to develop feature film ideas. Margaret Cameron, director of content at MG Alba, told The Herald: "We have had really positive discussions so far with BBC Film and Screen Scotland. Everybody is very keen to make it happen. "Off the back of An t-Eilean, this is the next natural step for BBC Alba. It punched through at a level that was just amazing for us and the BBC really got behind it. "We would be crazy if we weren't already considering how to take the next natural step forward from An t-Eilean. "Films can travel even more than TV, they are economic generators and they are also a sign of confidence." Read more: The BBC Alba feature film initiative, which is expected to be backed by BBC Film and the government agency Screen Scotland, will also be promoted at the Edinburgh TV Festival in August. It has been developed after BBC Alba and BBC Scotland joined forces to launch a new two-year partnership worth £800,000 to make new 'digital first' short-form Gaelic dramas aimed at younger viewers. Ms Cameron said: "We are hugely encouraged by what our Irish cousins are doing with the Cine4 feature film development scheme. "It's all about drawing together different partners these days - no-one can do feature film production on their own these days. Everybody has to work in partnership with someone else. "From an absolute zero start, developing a script, getting a film funded and made, and then released you are talking about at least a three-year cycle. "The first stage when we launch this will be a call-out for feature film development ideas. "We will be looking for ideas that are relatable, but also sellable. The thing that we're really keen on is that Gaelic talent is at the heart of it. "The writer must have Gaelic and we will want the majority of the script to be in Gaelic. "If we are very lucky and we have sufficient funding from our partners then we may find we are able to develop more than one film. It would be fantastic to have more than one horse on the field." Glasgow-based Black Camel Pictures, producers of the marine crime drama Annika and queer romance series Float, secured the BBC Alba commission for An t-Eilean, which was written by Nicholas Osborne and Patsi Mackenzie. Ms Cameron said: 'A second series of An t-Eilean is in development. It's looking very positive and we are very confident that something will come from it. "We would love to have another series of An t-Eilean and we have plans for some other new dramas as well."
Scotsman
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
How new legislation would strengthen the rights of parents to ask for a Gaelic school
The Scottish Languages Bill will be debated on Tuesday, and Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes has written about the legislation's importance. Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Having been immersed in Gaelic medium education since the age of three, I recognise the immense benefits Gaelic brings to communities around Scotland. Living in the Highlands, I've seen how the language is a unique selling point for Scotland when exporting products, like whisky, or inviting visitors to the country. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture, is based in Sleat, on the Isle of Skye | Sabhal Mòr Ostaig The language also benefits the economy, with our thriving Gaelic broadcasting supporting 340 jobs across Scotland. The success and talent of the sector has been showcased to the world through BBC ALBA's recent crime thriller series An t-Eilean, or 'The Island'. The programme, which debuted earlier this year, has had tremendous success, attracting a record number of viewers on BBC ALBA. It has also been sold to several European broadcasters and was recently named Europe's best regional programme at the CIRCOM Awards. To accelerate Gaelic's growth, the Scottish Government has introduced the Scottish Languages Bill, which MSPs will consider on Tuesday. I am honoured to take forward this Bill into its final stage as a Gaelic speaker and Scotland's first Cabinet secretary for the language. It presents us with a significant opportunity to protect and restore our treasured languages of Gaelic and Scots. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad New powers within the Bill would strengthen the rights of parents to ask for a Gaelic school to be set up in their area. Under the plans, local authorities would be required to assess if the request was practical and affordable. After taking advice, ministers could direct local authorities to proceed with the establishment a new Gaelic school if the authority's assessment considers it to be viable. We know that Gaelic medium schools offer good value for money as they frequently demonstrate above average performance despite costs being no greater than English medium schools. Research also indicates that children who are bilingual tend to perform better in school and have access to more jobs when they grow up. The Scottish National Party's (SNP) Kate Forbes. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire Other measures include introducing educational standards for Gaelic and Scots and bringing forward targets on the number of people speaking and learning Gaelic. This would ensure that ministers are accountable to MSPs on progress made in growing Gaelic throughout Scotland. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Bill would also establish Scots and Gaelic as official languages and support the creation of areas of linguistic significance in Gaelic communities, so that we can better target policies to support the language's growth These provisions aim to build on the encouraging progress made in the most recent census in 2022, which found an increase in Gaelic use for the first time since 1971. However, I recognise that more needs to be done to grow Gaelic in communities where it is traditionally spoken following a drop in speakers in the Outer Hebrides. That's why the Scottish Government is working with partners to support more economic and social opportunities in Gaelic communities so that more people who speak the language continue to live in those areas. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Scottish Languages Bill would also play a vital role in restoring Gaelic's place in these communities. The significance of Gaelic medium education to the language's resurgence is reflected through my own family. My grandparents, who lived just south of Inverness, spoke the language, but this was not passed on to my parents. But through Gaelic medium education I had the privilege to become fluent in Gaelic. I am optimistic that, with the passage of this Bill, the privilege of Gaelic medium education will become more widely available to children and young people in all parts of Scotland.
Scotsman
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Grand Prix win for Gaelic language drama An t-Eilean at Prix CIRCOM 2025
MG ALBA has achieved a major international milestone, taking home the coveted Grand Prix at last night's Prix CIRCOM 2025 awards – the highest honour in the prestigious European television awards. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Grand Prix win was awarded to Black Camel Pictures' acclaimed Gaelic-language crime thriller An t-Eilean (The Island), which had already been named winner of the Drama and Entertainment category earlier in the evening at the gala award ceremony in Barcelona. In a surprise announcement, the series was also revealed as the overall winner across all genres. Set against the elemental landscape of the Outer Hebrides, An t-Eilean (The Island)is a compelling crime story that follows a family caught up in a murder investigation very close to home. When their mother is found murdered in the family castle, four adult children return to the Scottish island of their birth as their father is questioned over her death. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Commissioned by BBC ALBA and produced by Black Camel Pictures, with funding from MG ALBA, Screen Scotland, Black Camel Pictures and All3Media International, the drama premiered in the UK on BBC ALBA in January 2025, becoming the best performing Gaelic programme since the channel's inception. A further broadcast window was also secured on BBC Four earlier this year. Drama and Entertainment category award accepted by (L-R) actor Sorcha Groundsell (who plays lead Kat Crighton in An t-Eilean), Black Camel Pictures' Arabella Page Croft, and MG ALBA director of content, Margaret Cameron The Grand Prix 2025 accolade crowns a year of renewed momentum for the Prix CIRCOM awards, which saw a 22 per cent rise in entries and an influx of new broadcasters joining the competition for the first time. Judging took place in April with winners selected by a panel of industry professionals from across 15 European regional public service outlets. John Morrison, Chair of MG ALBA, said: 'Winning the Grand Prix is an incredible achievement for a Gaelic show, placed at the pinnacle of Europe's regional television industry by our peers. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'MG ALBA has been working with a tight and diminishing budget for years and it was a calculated gamble by the Board of MG ALBA to invest all of our drama budget for a whole year in one short box set. But we were confident in the story, the cast and the production team. So were our funding partners and the BBC. An t-Eilean has already broken audience records for a Gaelic show, and it is very rewarding for everyone involved to win two awards in this prestigious ceremony. High quality drama needs a serious budget and increased investment by the Scottish Government would allow us to build on this success.' An t-Eilean / The Island David Swetman, SVP scripted content at All3Media International, added: 'We're so pleased that the appeal of Black Camel's wonderful drama has been recognised with the top award from the CIRCOM jury of European broadcasters in Barcelona.' Arabella Page Croft, Executive Producer at Black Camel Pictures, said: 'Thanks so much to the jury! Wonderful to win the Grand Prix at the CIRCOM awards celebrating European television drama production. We share this award with our hugely talented cast, crew and creative commissioners and financiers who adventured with us!' David Smith, Director at Screen Scotland, said: 'This is a fantastic win for the An t-Eilean team. The popularity of this ambitious series and the recognition it has received, including this award, is an incredible vote of confidence in the strength of Gaelic language drama.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Chosen from across all category winners, the Grand Prix recognises the single most outstanding programme of the year. While regional winners receive prior notice, the winner of the Grand Prix is announced live on the night, at the CIRCOM Annual Conference. Grand Prix award accepted by (L-R) Chair of MG ALBA, John Morrison, Black Camel Pictures' Arabella Page Croft, and actor Sorcha Groundsell (who plays lead Kat Crighton in An t-Eilean) Commending the diverse offering within the entries for the Prix CIRCOM 2025, Chair Marina Ramos of RTP, Portugal, said: 'We found many very good stories, great productions, and specially commissioned content that let us see and enjoy beautiful landscapes and regions all over Europe and different kinds of culture. All that is very important for public service media to offer to consumers. 'Our selection for Grand Prix was the drama An t-Eilean (The Island). And the reason is simple: we have all seen murder series from all over the world but this is a very great production, high quality, good story, great actors, beautiful landscape and, above all made in the Gaelic language, showing us a region in Scotland, with magnificent natural features. Livestock, castles and so on.' The Prix CIRCOM 2025 jury report noted: 'There is beautiful scenery, imposing castles and wonderful views of natural beauty. The drama matches well to this specific scenery and setting. The acting is splendid: it's intense and you don't want to stop watching. The production values are high and this is an ambitious production. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It is very fascinating and impressive that the drama is produced in the Gaelic language. This will help spread knowledge of the language when making such quality entertainment for a wider audience. Good dramas are made all over the world – but this is special.'
