Gayathri Kallukaran is a Junior Journalist with Eastern Eye. She has a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from St. Paul’s College, Bengaluru, and brings over five years of experience in content creation, including two years in digital journalism. She covers stories across culture, lifestyle, travel, health, and technology, with a creative yet fact-driven approach to reporting. Known for her sensitivity towards human interest narratives, Gayathri’s storytelling often aims to inform, inspire, and empower. Her journey began as a layout designer and reporter for her college’s daily newsletter, where she also contributed short films and editorial features. Since then, she has worked with platforms like FWD Media, Pepper Content, and Petrons.com, where several of her interviews and features have gained spotlight recognition. Fluent in English, Malayalam, Tamil, and Hindi, she writes in English and Malayalam, continuing to explore inclusive, people-focused storytelling in the digital space.
Harry Styles, the Grammy-winning musician, was spotted at the Vatican during the election of Pope Leo XIV, making an unexpected appearance at one of the most significant events in the Catholic Church.
Styles, 31, was in the crowd in Saint Peter's Square on Thursday, 8 May 2025, as the papal conclave elected Pope Leo XIV as the successor to the late Pope Francis, who passed away in April at the age of 88. The sight of the British singer among the spectators quickly went viral on social media, with fans expressing their surprise and amusement at his presence.
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The former One Direction member was dressed casually, wearing a blue jacket, sunglasses, and a grey baseball cap that read “Techno is My Boyfriend.” The cap, which had been sold by IDEA, is now sold out following its appearance at the Vatican. One fan shared an image of Pope Leo XIV, commenting, "Little did the pope know he was waving to Harry Styles," while another fan remarked, "One thing about Harry Styles, he’s always going to accidentally serve cinema somewhere in Europe."
This spontaneous appearance in the Vatican is just the latest in a series of global adventures for Styles. Following the conclusion of his record-breaking "Love On Tour" in 2023, which featured a 15-show residency at Madison Square Garden and a sold-out performance at Slane Castle in Ireland, Styles has continued to explore new experiences around the world. In March 2025, he participated in the Tokyo Marathon, where he finished with a sub-3:30 time, outrunning more than 20,000 participants.
Styles’ international travel also included a memorable moment when a ride-share driver, known as Pink London Taxi on Instagram, shared their encounter with the singer. The driver, who picked up Styles during a late-night shift, later posted about the encounter, captioning it, “Picked up this young fella on my way home tonight. We got chatting and I said, ‘You really sound like Harry Styles.’ He said, ‘That’s because I am Harry Styles!’”
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More recently, in April 2025, Styles made an appearance at a London run club, wearing jeans and loafers. His diverse activities have sparked widespread interest, with fans excited to see where his next adventure will take him.
However, Styles wasn’t just in the Vatican for the spectacle of the conclave. Pope Leo XIV, the newly elected pope, made history as the first American pontiff in the Catholic Church’s long history. Born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, the 69-year-old pope was educated at Villanova University and is a member of the Augustinian Order. The Order, founded in Italy in 1244, has long been dedicated to aiding the poor and has historically served as missionaries throughout the world.
With his ascension to the papacy, Pope Leo XIV becomes a key figure in the future of the Catholic Church, and the Vatican's papal conclave remains a focal point of global interest. For Harry Styles, the event was another of his many unique experiences, blending his fame with a surprising involvement in one of the world’s most ancient traditions.
Forum brings UK and Chinese film professionals together to explore collaborations.
Emerging British-Asian talent gain mentorship and international exposure.
Small-scale dramas, kids’ shows, and adapting popular formats were the projects everyone was talking about.
Telling stories that feel real to their culture, yet can connect with anyone, is what makes them work worldwide.
Meeting three times a year keeps the UK and China talking, creating opportunities that last beyond one event.
The theatre was packed for the Third Shanghai–London Screen Industry Forum. Between panels and workshops, filmmakers, producers and executives discussed ideas and business cards and it felt more than just a summit. British-Asian filmmakers were meeting and greeting the Chinese industry in an attempt to explore genuine possibilities of working in China’s film market.
UK China film collaborations take off as Third Shanghai London Forum connects British Asian filmmakers with Chinese studios Instagram/ukchinafilm
What makes the forum important for British-Asian filmmakers?
For filmmakers whose films explore identity and belonging, this is a chance to show their work on an international stage, meet Chinese directors, talk co-productions and break cultural walls that normally feel unscalable. “It’s invaluable,” Abid Khan said after a panel, “because you can’t create globally if you don’t talk globally.”
And it’s not just established names. Young filmmakers were all around, pitching ideas and learning on the go. The forum gave them a chance to get noticed with mentoring, workshops, and live pitch sessions.
Which projects are catching international attention?
Micro-dramas are trending. Roy Lu of Linmon International says vertical content for apps is “where it’s at.” They’ve done US, Canada, Australia and next stop, Europe. YouTube is back in focus too, thanks to Rosemary Reed of POW TV Studios. Short attention spans and three-minute hits, she’s ready.
Children’s and sports shows are another hotspot. Jiella Esmat of 8Lions is developing Touch Grass, a football-themed children’s show. The logic is simple: sports and kids content unite families, like global glue.
Then there’s format adaptation. Lu also talked about Nothing But 30, a Chinese series with 7 billion streams. The plan is for an english version in London. Not a straight translation, but a cultural transformation. “‘30’ in London isn’t just words,” Lu says. “It’s a new story.”
Jason Zhang of Stellar Pictures says international audiences respond when culture isn’t just a background prop. Lanterns, flowers, rituals, they’re part of the plot. Cedric Behrel from Trinity CineAsia adds: you need context. Western audiences don’t know Journey to the West, so co-production helps them understand without diluting the story.
Economic sense matters too. Roy Lu stresses: pick your market, make it financially viable. Esmat likens ideal co-productions to a marriage: “Multicultural teams naturally think about what works globally and what doesn’t.”
The UK-China Film Collab’s Future Talent Programme is taking on eight students or recent grads this year. They’re getting the backstage access to international filmmaking that few ever see, including mentorship, festival organising and hands-on experience. Alumni are landing real jobs: accredited festival journalists, Beijing producers, curators at The National Gallery.
Adrian Wootton OBE reminded everyone: “We exist through partnerships, networks, and collaboration.” Yin Xin from Shanghai Media Group noted that tri-annual gathering: London, Shanghai, Hong Kong create an “intensive concentration” of ideas.
Actor-director Zhang Luyi said it best: cultural exchange isn’t telling your story to someone, it’s creating stories together.
The Shanghai-London Screen Industry Forum is no longer just a talking shop. It’s a launchpad, a bridge. And for British-Asian filmmakers and emerging talent, it’s a chance to turn ideas into reality.
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