The 31-year-old stars are reported to be tying the knot in northeastern Scotland, with co-stars Emilia Clarke, who played Daenerys Targaryen, and Peter Dinklage, who played Tyrion Lannister, arriving at nearby Aberdeen on Friday.

The couple, who met on set in 2012, announced the engagement in the Times newspaper last September, and the wedding date was submitted to the local registry office last month.

The ceremony is to be held at the remote Wardhill Castle in Aberdeenshire, which has been in Leslie’s family for 900 years, according to the Daily Mail.

She left the show in 2014, but Harington’s iconic character has appeared in every episode.

Harington told L’Uomo Vogue that the on-screen romance contributed to the pair getting together, after filming in Iceland in 2012.

“The country is beautiful … the Northern Lights are magical … it was there that I fell in love,” he said.

“If you’re already attracted to someone, and then they play your love interest in the show, it becomes very easy to fall in love.”

Destination Mekong has announced the launch of the inaugural Asia Film Destination Conference next Tuesday up in Nakhon Phanom in Northeast Thailand as part of the Mekong Mini Movie Festival, which runs in parallel with the 2018 Mekong Tourism Forum.

Emceed by storyteller and early “Lonely Planet Book” author Joe Cummings, and chaired by Pongpanu Svetarundra, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Thailand, the conference sets out to explore the power of movie productions and user-generated videos and how they can be integrated with destination marketing.

The first edition of the Asia Film Destination Conference is dedicated to the late Anthony Bourdain, a visionary storyteller who in many ways was a trailblazer in how we create travel content today, video in particular. His work with the CNN brought remote spots of the globe into peoples’ homes and inspired many to travel and explore the world with a new sense of curiosity.

Tourists today, the organisers note, are always on the lookout for new destinations and new experiences and movies, as well as social media clips, often inspire them to visit destinations for the very first time.

Recent research suggests that movies can have a strong influence on tourist decision-making and that films do not only provide short-term tourism revenue but can build long-term prosperity in a destination.

Rob Holmes, chief executive of award-winning destination film production company GLP Films, will kickoff the conference with an overview of the power of film to tell the story of a destination.

In the Greater Mekong Sub-region, various films have put destinations in the region on the map in recent years, starting with the “Tomb Raider” movies with Angelina Jolie in Cambodia, “The Beach” with Leonardo DiCaprio in Thailand, “Rambo” in Myanmar, “Kong” in Vietnam to the hit Chinese comedy film “Lost in Thailand”. “Lost in Thailand” in particular, has resulted in large numbers of Chinese tourists flocking to Thailand.

Deepak Ohri, chief executive officer of Lebua Hotels & Resorts, will present a case study of “Hangover 2”, which was filmed at the Bangkok property and put the hotel in movie theatres worldwide.

Sirinart Theenanondh, chief of Thailand Department of Tourism’s film business promotion, will explain how countries like Thailand compete for movie productions, while Titiporn Manenate, director of Tourism Authority of Thailand’s international advertising, will demonstrate how Thailand has used film and video to attract visitors to visit Thailand.

Gopinath Parayil, chief executive and founder of The Blue Yonder from India, shows how his award-winning films have introduced community-based tourism projects in his country, while Lao-based filmmaker Cyril Eberle, who directed films like “A Day in a Buddhist Temple” as well as the upcoming documentary “A Little Land of Mines”, explains how visual storytelling can make a positive impact and create positive change.

Video bloggers also have the power to influence consumers on where and how to experience a destination, especially in a world where user-generated content receives increased trust from consumers. Video blogger Art Thomya shows how brands can work with travel bloggers and what kind of content can promote destinations.

The Mekong Mini Movie campaign is a clear example of how film can promote destinations. In just four months, people have shared and tagged more than 300 mini movies of 60 seconds or less with #MekongMoments and #Minis on their own social media platforms, including Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

These films, which inspire people all over the world with shared experiences to visit the member countries of the Mekong Region, have already reached more than 6 million people worldwide.

“Today, video is a powerful medium in promoting a destination. It has the chance to awaken wanderlust in the viewer by showing the essence and uniqueness of a place in a just a few short moments. But the power of inspiring people via film goes beyond promoting destinations; it can also drive change. In partnership with WWF and Khiri Travel, the Mekong Mini Movie Festival is creating awareness of sustainable tourism and conservation, focusing on the festival’s mascot, the endangered Mekong Dolphin,” comments Jens Thraenhart, executive director of the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office and chair of Destination Mekong, the initiator of the Mekong Mini Movie Festival and the 1st Asia Film Destination Conference.

The annual campaign that continues until the end of the year is giving out the first set of country and category prizes right after the Film Destination Conference. The Mekong Mini Movie Festival Award Ceremony is chaired by Weerasak Kowsarut, minister of Tourism and Sports of Thailand. One of the prizes is the Industry Choice Award, which allows Mekong Tourism Forum delegates to vote for their favourite Mekong Mini Movie during the screening. Other prizes include the Editors Choice Awards, judged by an expert jury and the respective Tourism Ministries of the Mekong member countries.

Winners will receive the specially designed Dolphin Trophy created by Thai designer Thanwin Kamyeam in addition to once-in-a-lifetime trips in the region worth up to $16,000 each.

Submissions to the next set of prizes will close in October 2018. The final prizes of the 2018 Mekong Mini Movie Campaign will be announced at the 2019 Asean Tourism Forum in Halong Bay, Vietnam on January 15.

Go a little deeper

– Find out more about the Mekong Minis and how you can participate at http://www.MekongMinis.com.

– Information on the Asia Film Destination Conference can be found at http://MekongTourismForum.org

– Registration is free at https://www.zipeventapp.com/e/MekongTourismForum2018.

“White Sun” is a stark film that discusses complex social, political, personal issues, with simple ease and startling honesty. The movie opens with the death of the head of a remote village, and traces his steep funeral journey down the picturesque mountainside.

Among the chief pallbearers, are his two sons who have become estranged due to political differences – Suraj, who lived with his father and worked in the army, and Chandra, who left home and joined the Maoist rebels.

The funeral brings the latter back to his village, after a decade away. But the differences are still deep with his brother, and the older villagers. There is also Durga, the woman Chandra married before he left, and who ran the whole household until the death, when her gender made her an outsider.

Finally, there are the two children Badri and Pooja, who get caught in the maelstrom of the funeral drama. Even as the radio-report of the country’s first Constitution brings hope to the people, it is obvious that at the individual level, the scars of the long Civil War still remain.

The director, who took four years to make the film, uses the metaphor of death to bring alive many burning issues, among them political unity, social castes, women’s rights and children’s education.

Whether he deals with Maoist guerillas, Nepali police, Civil War, social weddings or funerals, the director’s sharp eye and clever vision are impeccable. The performances are another highlight of the film, not just from the superstar protagonist Chandra, but the many nonprofessionals, among them the old villagers and the two kids.

Entry is Bt20. For reservations, please filmforum17@gmail.com or visit https://goo.gl/forms/ur87ZdgE5B9nT9FJ2 and http://www.TKPark.or.th.

From Wednesday, iflix member can stream and download all six episodes of the docu-series on any device, iflix said in a press statement.

Among other things, the series exose the world of Miss Tiffany’s, where transgenders-women open up about their battles for acceptance in Thai society.

The series let views learn about an app designed for sugar babies searching for their sugar daddy. Views can also meet the fisherman in Malaysia who reveal a shocking truth about their community.

Views will be allowed to dive into a culinary world where the main course is bugs, Coconuts TV on iflix takes an in depth, uncensored look at the most fascinating and undiscovered phenomena in Southeast Asia.

iflix Global Director of Short Form Content, Craig Galvin said: “Both iflix and Coconuts share a common passion for bringing unconventional, compelling and deeply relevant stories about Asia to our audiences. The series showcases real people and places overlooked or even shunned by traditional news media, taking an unfiltered and youth-oriented approach to news and subculture – offering a perspective on the region you don’t often get to see.”

Coconuts Media Founder and CEO, Byron Perry added: “Our goal with Coconuts TV on iflix is to knock your socks off with weird and wondrous documentary stories that you can’t get anywhere else… and we humbly hope we’ve achieved that. Not only did we want to shed light on these untold people and phenomena, we also wanted our audience to give a damn about them. It’s been tremendous to partner with iflix, and we can’t wait for the world to see this show.”

Now available to over one billion consumers across 27 territories throughout Asia, the Middle East and Africa, iflix has established itself as the clear market leader in video streaming. Offering consumers a vast library of top Hollywood, regional, and local TV shows and movies, including many first run exclusives and award-winning programs, each subscription allows users to access the service on up to five devices, including phones, laptops, tablets, and television sets, for viewing wherever, whenever.

COCONUTS TV EPISODIC OVERVIEW

SEXY TIME

Let’s talk about sex baby. Explore the many facets of how sex has shaped South East Asia’s modern culture, music, and society. Conventional, consensual, or condescending?

MARGINALIZED

True grit, survival, adaptation, & passion – the formula to cultivate greatness. Follow the rise of superstars from historically marginalized groups within society, exposing the difference between who we are and who we want to be.

NEEDLES ‘N’ KNIFES

Dive under the skin and into the depths of needle-sharing fisherman and unfold the deadly razor-sharp thrill of the famed balisong butterfly knife. Two different stories, two different kinds of highs.

ANIMALS AND US

Unveil spirituality, mindfulness, and healing with a legendary horse riding, kickboxing, drug-fighting monk. Then explore a volcanic active region where nature knows no kings nor gives no mercy to the wildlife around it.

WHEELS OF CHANGE

The only assurance in life is change. Follow the rise of gender equality in Malaysian motorsports and the demise of the iconic Filipino jeepney. Witness the evolution and how steadfast communities adapt to these fast times.

BIRDS AND BUGS

Has anyone told you about the birds and the… bugs? Access the underbelly of Asia’s fascination for cockfighting, songbirds, and the renaissance of mainstream insect-eating culture.

According to their PR department, the decision to proceed with the project stems from Cartier’s history of empowering women with the boldness to be themselves.

“Ocean’s 8”, which opened in Thailand last week, is the newest entry in the successful “Ocean’s” franchise. It’s directed and co-written by Gary Ross and stars Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina, with Rihanna and Helena Bonham Carter. Set partly at New York City’s star-studded annual Met Gala, the target of the con is the Toussaint – a legendary diamond necklace, made by Cartier, to be worn by actress Daphne Kluger (played by Anne Hathaway).

The refined jewellery brand was a challenge and a thrilling venture for the jeweller, which was asked to create a very specific parure for the film’s ultimate heist.

For this very special order, Cartier mobilised the resources of its High Jewellery workshops situated rue de la Paix in Paris. The best jewellers were required to accomplish this feat in no more than eight weeks, a demanding task on top of their everyday assignments. This is how, for a dreamlike creation designed for cinema, Cartier dedicated the best of its trade and resources and flew the necklace from Paris to New York.

Cartier was also the exclusive on-site jeweller during filming at the Metropolitan Museum. For five consecutive nights, jewellery was loaned to those making cameo appearances in the movie with pieces ranging from Cartier Collection to current New or High Jewellery, as well as watches and accessories.

Prominently featured in the film, the Cartier Mansion, a New York City landmark, became the location of major scenes. For two days, the Mansion was closed to enable filming and its Salons were transformed into cinema sets. The exterior of the Mansion on 52nd Street is also featured in the film.

The necklace, known as the Jeanne Toussaint, is a tribute to Jeanne Toussaint, Cartier’s Creative Director in the 1930s whose role was decisive in establishing the Maison’s stylistic identity. Above anyone else, she was the first woman to embody Cartier’s bold and fearless spirit. Throughout her career, she favoured Indian style as a source of inspiration amongst others, paying homage to the splendour and opulence of the Maharajas.

The original necklace was designed in 1931 for the Maharaja of Nawanagar by Jacques Cartier. Described as “the finest cascade of coloured diamonds in the world,” it included the Queen of Holland, a blue-white diamond weighing 136.25 carats. For Jacques Cartier it was “a superb realisation of a connoisseur’s dream.”

This jewel no longer exists; however, Cartier preserved in its archives a design drawing and photographs of the piece and its owner. The creation sketch was used as a reference for the realisation of the Toussaint necklace, which plays a pivotal character in the story.

The necklace was adjusted to Anne Hathaway’s measurements and reduced by 15 to 20 per cent of the original size, as it was initially designed for a man. Dismountable bezels were devised to successfully adapt the jewel to match Hathaway’s proportions. Thanks to their expertise, when the actress wore it for the first time in New York, the necklace fit her perfectly.

For the film – in which the Toussaint is comprised of flawless, colourless diamonds – the coloured diamonds were replaced with zirconium oxides, a natural material, mounted on white gold.

The necklace had to be solid enough to withstand frequent manipulations during filming. Meticulous attention was paid to the finishing of the settings and polishing, as close-ups would not allow for any imprecision. The Jeanne Toussaint Necklace meets in all aspects the Cartier High Jewellery requirements in terms of craftsmanship and excellence.

An Apple statement Friday offered few details about the role for Winfrey, who hosted a hugely popular talk show before leaving to start her own production company and devote time to philanthropic efforts.

“Together, Winfrey and Apple will create original programs that embrace her incomparable ability to connect with audiences around the world,” the statement said.

Terms of the deal were not announced.

The news suggested Apple — which reportedly is investing $1 billion in content — is push forward as part of its effort to create a platform to challenge rivals like Netflix and Amazon in internet-based video.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the deal includes films, television shows, smartphone applications and books that can be distributed through Apple.

Apple has deals with other stars including director Steven Spielberg and actresses Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon.

The move comes after Netflix signed a deal with former US president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle to produce shows for that platform.

It also comes as traditional TV operators scramble to bolster their position against an expected online onslaught.

AT&T on Thursday closed an $85 billion deal for media-entertainment giant Time Warner, giving the telecom-broadband group a strong position in both content and delivery.

The story centres on 25-year-old Thomas who loses his legs while deployed in Afghanistan. At the local rehabilitation centre, he is angry, bitter and desperate to get back on his feet. He meets Sofie, an ascending ballerina from the Royal Danish Ballet who is helping a relative regain strength after a long-term sickness. Thomas desperately wants to get back into the field and feels a growing impatience as he fails to progress as fast as he would like. When Sofie offers to help him with a more intense rehabilitation plan, he accepts. Despite their differences they develop a special bond and a mutual affection. Thomas’ spirit is uplifted. Sophie’s dream is achieved when she is selected to dance in New York. She now has to make a tough decision between the rehabilitated Thomas and her promising ballet career. The movie created waves at many international film festivals, and was one of three movies nominated by the country for the Oscars in 2017.

The film is in Danish with English subtitles and rated 18+.

The screening is supported by the Embassy of Denmark, who will serve drinks and snacks, after the screening. Danish ambassador Uffe Wolffhechel will introduce the film.

The screening will be held at River City Forum room on the second floor of River City Bangkok. Book a seat by emailing rcbfilmclub@gmail.com or fill in the form at https://goo.gl/forms/dRsMIbNZgp9rNhcr1

For more information, please call (02) 237 0077-8 extensions 622 and 701 or Facebook: River City Bangkok.

The move by Comcast, which is the largest US cable provider and also owns the NBCUniversal media group, opens up a new round of competition for the prized assets being shed by the Murdoch family empire.

The deal, if approved, would merge Comcast-owned Universal Studios and the NBC television network with Hollywood rival 20th Century Fox, Fox’s cable entertainment networks and international TV businesses.

“These are highly strategic and complementary businesses and we are in our minds the right buyer,” said Comcast chairman and chief executive Brian Roberts in a conference call.

Roberts said Murdoch had built “one of the world’s great media and entertainment companies,” and that its history is similar to that of Comcast’s.

With the deal, Roberts said Comcast would stay on track “to build the entertainment company of the future.”

Roberts said the all-cash bid is nearly 20 percent richer than the $52 billion stock offer from Disney, and said Comcast would match the Disney offer of a $2.5 billion fee if the deal fails to win regulatory approval.

“We are highly confident in our ability to finance the transaction, and our offer includes no financing-related conditions,” Comcast said in a letter to Rupert Murdoch and his sons Lachlan and James.

The statement pointed out that Comcast and Fox had been in talks before the Murdochs reached the deal with Disney, which is being submitted for a shareholder vote July 10.

The new offer is likely to prompt a response from Disney, and force the Murdochs to review their position on the tie-up with Disney, which owns the ABC television networks ESPN and is a major Hollywood player.

– The new landscape –

The news comes a day after a federal judge approved a massive $85 billion takeover by telecom-broadband giant AT&T or media-entertainment conglomerate Time Warner that could reshape the media and communications landscape.

The court approval ended a heated antitrust battle, and suggested Comcast would be able to clear any regulatory hurdles to a deal with Fox.

Comcast said any antitrust concerns should be eased by Tuesday’s court ruling on AT&T and that its offer “should be as or more likely to receive international approvals, given our relatively small presence outside the US.”

“We believe yesterday’s decision in the AT&T case supports our confidence,” Comcast chief financial officer Mike Cavanagh said on the conference call.

The deal became possible when Rupert Murdoch, 87, and his sons decided to slim down the media empire, leaving them with a “New Fox” that includes the Fox News Channel, the Fox broadcast network and sports cable operations.

Comcast if successful would be able to expand beyond US borders to new markets in Europe and India.

Included in the sale is Fox’s 39 percent stake in the British pay TV operator Sky. Murdoch has sought full control of Sky but has faced opposition from regulators in Britain.

Comcast earlier this year made an offer of $30.7 billion in cash for Sky, in a move welcomed by the British firm.

The dealmaking comes with traditional media pressured by new business models from Netflix, Amazon and others. During the AT&T antitrust trial, executives maintained they need more scale and better data to compete with online services.

Whoever wins the battle for Fox assets would also get its 30 percent stake in Hulu, the online platform created by media groups to challenge Netflix and Amazon.

Comcast and Disney each own a 30 percent stake in Hulu and Time Warner holds 10 percent.

John Bergmayer of the consumer group Public Knowledge said any Comcast deal should face scrutiny, especially in light of the expiration of provisions from its 2011 takeover of NBCU.

“Without the protections of the consent decree, Comcast will already have the ability to harm its rivals, raising prices for consumers,” Bergmayer said.

Bergmayer said the deal raises “significant antitrust and regulatory concerns” and added that “further consolidation is the last thing consumers need.”

The 36-year-old Bamba, who most recently appeared in “Black Panther,” is one of 700,000 “Dreamers” — immigrants brought illegally to America as children who were protected by the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

“For a while, I wanted to share my story but I was paralyzed in fear,” he said in an interview with AFP as he picked up a human rights award in Los Angeles from the American Civil Liberties Union.

“I just didn’t want to ruffle any feathers. I didn’t want to put my career on the line, and even my family on the line.”

Bamba’s family fled political instability in the west African state of Ivory Coast in 1993 and he arrived in the US when he was 10.

Bamba then spent his teenage years between New York’s South Bronx and Richmond, Virginia.

The young French speaker learned English quickly and got into New York’s Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, driving taxis to pay the fees.

It was during the college applications process, when Bamba was thinking about financial aid, that his parents revealed they had no legal status in the United States.

They were eventually granted political asylum, but Bamba was 21 by then — too old to share the new rights they had won.

– ‘A lot of fear’ –

Despite his undocumented status, the aspiring star began picking up acting jobs and has appeared in more than two dozen television shows such as “Law and Order,” “ER” and “Grey’s Anatomy.”

In 2016, he secured a recurring part as a human rights activist and secret celestial torturer in NBC sitcom “The Good Place,” and has since appeared in small roles in two comic book blockbusters — “Black Panther” and “Suicide Squad.”

Like thousands in his situation, Bamba felt like his world had collapsed when President Donald Trump canceled the DACA program last year, leaving Dreamers vulnerable to deportation at any moment.

The court system has ordered that the scheme continue, but the uncertainty surrounding their status remains.

“It has really been volatile. There’s so much uncertainty in our communities. There’s a lot of fear and we don’t know what’s going to happen next,” he told AFP.

“Most of us have families, degrees, have careers, have made our lives here, and we really don’t know what’s going to happen month to month.”

Bamba had told very few people of his citizenship status but decided to speak out in an interview with the Los Angeles Times in November of last year.

“I have a wife and a daughter. She’s one-and-a-half years old. Back in November, that really spurred my decision,” Bamba told AFP.

“I looked at her and I wanted her to know her father stood for something and stood for her, especially right now when families are being torn apart at the border.”

– Black cloud –

Bamba says friends and colleagues have been incredibly supportive since he “came out,” and his fears that it would nix his career turned out to be unfounded.

He told the LA Times his biggest worry was being hauled off set by immigration officials during a shoot. He works a lot in Canada or elsewhere abroad but always worries about getting back into the United States.

The Republican-led Congress failed earlier this year to pass immigration reform proposals, including one championed by Trump that would have resolved the legal status of 1.8 million migrants.

Lawmakers are working on a new solution that would include measures to boost border security and reform legal immigration but, for the time being, the uncertainty is a black cloud hanging over the Dreamers.

“I’m still being vocal but, to my surprise — I guess this was a little naive of me — I thought we would have a solution by now. I thought we would have a Dream Act passed by now,” said Bamba.

“I thought, with the government shutdowns and all those things that happened, that we would have something on the table. So the fact that we don’t have anything helps me know that the fight continues and that I have to continue to do my part.”