The Mix

In an historic move, the Oscars are raising the inclusion bar for best picture nominees starting with the 96th Academy Awards in 2024.

HALIFAX — Actor and director Taylor Olson hadn't imagined when he set out to make a film that depicts isolation and broken hopes that his final cut would emerge during a pandemic when many are experiencing similar emotions.

TORONTO — Canadian Shawn Mendes is bringing his pop star swagger to the Toronto International Film Festival. The eight-time Juno Award winner is set to perform at the annual TIFF Tribute Awards next week.

TORONTO — The Toronto International Film Festival will now require guests to wear masks or face coverings at all times at its downtown headquarters, TIFF Bell Lightbox, even when seated in a cinema.

VENICE, Italy — Restricted travel, quarantine and positive COVID-19 tests meant that Majid Majidi’s appearance at the Venice Film Festival for Iranian drama “Sun Children” (Khorshid) was an achievement in itself.

LOS ANGELES — Kevin Hart will host the return of a popular telethon once spearheaded by the late Jerry Lewis to fight muscular dystrophy. The Muscular Dystrophy Association announced Wednesday that Hart will host the MDA Kevin Hart Kids Telethon.

Rome fashion house Fendi announced Wednesday that Kim Jones is taking over from the late Karl Lagerfeld as creative director of haute couture, ready-to-wear and fur collections.

LOS ANGELES — Who do we keep up with now? After more than a decade, “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” will be ending its run next year.

LOS ANGELES — Ellen DeGeneres says she'll be ready to talk when her daytime show returns this month after a staff shake-up prompted by allegations of a toxic workplace. “I can’t wait to get back to work and back to our studio.

LOS ANGELES — Lupita Nyong'o has written a stirring tribute to her late “Black Panther" co-star Chadwick Boseman, calling him a man whose power will ”reverberate for generations.