For Tony Award nominees, the next 37 days will be the usual long slog of interviews, parties, nerves and anticipation. But for producers of the ceremony’s June 11 broadcast on CBS, the date carries a new cause for insomnia: Who will write the thing?
17.04.2023 - 11:21 / variety.com
Leo Barraclough International Features Editor The trailer (below) has debuted for “An Owl, a Garden and the Writer,” which is having its world premiere as part of the Burning Lights Competition of Visions du Réel, the documentary film festival, which runs April 21-30 in Nyon, Switzerland. Sara Dolatabadi’s film previously won the Works in Progress Post-Production Development Award at Karlovy Vary Film Festival in 2021, and was presented at the IDFA Forum that same year. The film is produced by Dolatabadi and Farhad Mohammadi for Dolatabadi’s production outfit Petit Duc Doc, in association with Fondation Jan Michalski. The film is executive produced by Iranian filmmaker Amir Naderi (“Vegas,” “Manhattan by Numbers,” “The Runner”), who received the Jaeger-LeCoultre Glory to the Filmmaker award at the Venice Film Festival in 2016, an award dedicated to a personality who has made an original contribution to innovation in contemporary cinema.
In 2016, Dolatabadi began documenting her visits to her family’s garden outside of Tehran. Here, she spends her days with her father Mahmoud Dowlatabadi, one of the most prolific contemporary Iranian novelists. He is a man who has lived through poverty, imprisonment, revolution, war, political repression and censorship. As they share memories, Dolatabadi counters her father’s version of events by narrating her own perspective as a child. Having been inspired throughout her life by Dowlatabadi’s ability to create a completely fictional universe within their daily lives, Dolatabadi incorporates her daughter’s imaginary adventures along with narration of passages of Dowlatabadi’s writings, blurring the line between fiction and reality. “From when I was little, I was aware that Mahmoud is a
For Tony Award nominees, the next 37 days will be the usual long slog of interviews, parties, nerves and anticipation. But for producers of the ceremony’s June 11 broadcast on CBS, the date carries a new cause for insomnia: Who will write the thing?
Around 19.2 million families and 39.8 million individuals across Scotland, England and Wales currently in receipt of State Pension or benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will see their payments go up this month following the annual uprating in April.
A newly released film reveals what Piccadilly Gardens and other Manchester city centre landmarks looked like in a bygone era.
Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer The Writers Guild of America West held a rally Wednesday night to demonstrate solidarity with the other Hollywood unions in their collective contract battles against Hollywood’s major employers. About 1,800 guild members attended the meeting at the Shrine Auditorium, and heard from WGA leaders about the reasons behind the two-day old strike. One of the stars of the show, however, was Lindsay Dougherty, the 39-year-old leader of Teamsters Local 399. “We’re all sticking together,” Dougherty told Variety outside the event. “We have an opportunity to change things in this industry, and the only way we’re going to do that is if we’re together.”
Eric Braeden is sharing details about his health battle. In an interview with ET's Kevin Frazier, the 82-year-old star reveals that he was «misdiagnosed at first,» before doctors attributed his prostate problems to cancer.That misdiagnosis inspired Braeden to publicly reveal his health information, in hopes of raising awareness for other men.«The reason that I'm going public with this is to inform people,» he tells ET.
Louis Arthur Charles - or Prince Louis of Wales - was born on the 23rd April 2018. He is the youngest child of Prince William and Kate Middleton, but was also the heaviest baby, weighing in at 8lb 7oz - three more lbs than his older brother, George. But while we’ve gotten to know the cheeky Prince over the last five years, there was a brief time where we didn’t even know his name.
Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Paul Sng’s “Tish,” an intimate portrait of British documentary photographer Tish Murtha, will open the 30th edition of Sheffield DocFest on June 14. Iranian filmmaker Rakhshan Bani-Etemad will be the guest of honor. In his film, Sng – whose work includes “Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché” and “Dispossession” – both celebrates the vision and humanism of a gifted artist, and follows Murtha’s daughter Ella as she fights to preserve her mother’s legacy. “’Tish’ is a powerful tribute to a vital artist, activist and social chronicler, and a rallying call to all whose engagement with art questions who gets seen and heard, who doesn’t, and why,” the festival said in a statement. “This is a story of contemporary Britain, of the fight for culture, as well as the life of a mother and activist.”
Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Berlin sales agency M-Appeal has come on board to handle world sales for “Let Me Go” (“Laissez-Moi”), the debut feature by Swiss director Maxime Rappaz, which will world premiere as the opening film of the Cannes ACID sidebar. Set in a Swiss mountain village, “Let Me Go” follows Claudine, a dedicated mother whose life revolves around her son. Every Tuesday, according to her careful schedule, she goes to a nearby mountain hotel to meet men who are passing through. When she meets Michael and he decides to extend his stay for her, Claudine is confused and finds herself dreaming of another life. French actress Jeanne Balibar stars in the lead role of Claudine, an elegant woman in her early 50s, who, although living a traditional life, pursues her desires in an unconventional way. She unexpectedly finds a romantic connection with Michael (Thomas Sarbacher).
Leo Barraclough International Features Editor The 57th edition of Karlovy Vary Intl. Film Festival, which runs June 30-July 8, has planned a retrospective program focused on Iranian cinema with a selection of films made in the past four years. The festival will also celebrate the work of Japanese filmmaker Yasuzo Masumura. Commenting on the Iranian cinema program, the festival said in a statement: “Collectively these works offer an insightful testimony of the burning creativity of Iran’s artists in face of the challenging reality. Nine mostly young filmmakers – urgent, unheard voices – who palpably bear a spiritual connection to the previous generations of their country’s greats, tackle the current reality with a remarkable sensitivity and great inventiveness.
Leo Barraclough International Features Editor The trailer (below) for “Draw for Change!” – which was named best documentary series at Canneseries this week – has debuted. The feature film version of the first of its six episodes, “Behind the Lines,” will world premiere at Visions du Réel Film Festival on April 28. The series, from creators Guillaume Vandenberghe and Vincent Coen, profiles six female cartoonists working in six geographic areas of the world, in six individual films and broadcast episodes. Female directors with close connections to each of the societies represented were chosen to tell the stories. Autlook Film Sales is handling international sales.
Leo Barraclough International Features Editor The trailer (below) has launched for documentary “Planet B,” which will have its world premiere at Visions du Réel film festival as part of its Grand Angle strand. In the film, director and climate activist Pieter Van Eecke follows 13-year-old Bo, who has a seemingly perfect life: She lives in a peaceful neighborhood in Belgium, has a loving family and lots of friends, and is doing well at school. Like many young people, Bo questions everything and has a rebellious streak. As she follows the news, she becomes increasingly aware of the perilous state of the planet. She decides to take up the fight against climate change and joins Extinction Rebellion, along with her close friend Luca.
Vanderpump Rules continues with the drama caused by Raquel Leviss and Tom Schwartz’s kiss and shows several co-stars questioning Tom Sandoval’s relationship with Leviss. The episode starts with the cast home from Scheana Shay and Brock Davies' wedding in Mexico. Scheana and Brock are writing thank-you notes while James Kennedy and Ally Lewber are unpacking and discussing Schwartz and Raquel's wedding make-outs.
Selome Hailu Goodbye, Tanya — Belinda’s back! Natasha Rothwell will return to “The White Lotus” for Season 3, Variety has learned from multiple sources close to the production. Rothwell was a fan favorite in Season 1 as spa manager Belinda Lindsey, who was strung along by wealthy resort guest Tanya McQuoid (Jennifer Coolidge) with promises of an investment to open her own practice. Plot and character details remain under wraps for the new season, but creator Mike White teased after the Season 2 finale that he envisions “a satirical and funny look at death and Eastern religion and spirituality” — potentially aligning with Belinda’s wellness background.
Tom Sandoval’s mom Terri reportedly knew about his affair with Raquel Leviss while he was still dating Ariana Madix.
Tom Sandoval is looking to move forward.
Netflix Orders Season 2 Of ‘Rana Naidu’
Anna Marie de la Fuente Paramount+ has bowed the trailer and key art of Colombian actor-producer Manolo Cardona’s directorial debut, “Death’s Roulette” (“Uno para morir”) ahead of its May 5 launch. The Spanish-language suspense thriller will stream on Paramount+ in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia and Latin America. It will also be available to stream in Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and South Korea. Based on the original script “La Terminal” by Frank Ariza, “Death’s Roulette” is written by Julieta Steinberg, Gavo Amiel and Cardona. The story revolves around seven kidnapped strangers who wake up in an isolated mansion to find that they are part of a deadly game. They are given 60 minutes to select one person to die but he or she has to agree to be sacrificed. The grim alternative is for all of them to lose their lives. As the clock winds down, their darkest secrets are revealed and they realize they are all somehow connected to a shadowy past.
Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Eco-thriller “The Swarm,” which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival, has been acquired in the U.K. by pay-TV operator Sky. Negotiations with a U.S. partner are in the final stages. The show, produced by multiple Primetime Emmy award winner and “Game of Thrones” executive producer Frank Doelger and NDF IP’s managing director Eric Welbers, is set to play on the Sky Max channel in the U.K. later this year. “The Swarm” scored huge ratings in Germany on ZDF and on Austria’s ORF. In Germany, it attracted up to 10 million views per episode (linear and catch-up combined), multiple prime time wins, and big successes within the younger target group (between the ages of 14-49).
“Vanderpump Rules” star Raquel Leviss has checked into a mental health treatment facility, ET has learned.
Vanderpump Rules star Raquel Leviss has checked into a mental health treatment facility, ET has learned.A source tells ET, «Raquel and her family decided before the relationship was discovered that she would enter a voluntary facility for mental health counseling.»The source adds that Leviss had planned to admit herself before the reunion was taped on March 23. «She was scheduled to go in pre-reunion but decided she wanted to finish her filming commitment,» says the source.