Exiting Hot Docs Programmers Cite “Toxic Workplace” For Mass Exodus In Open Letter

Stormy Daniels Doc Finds Global Distribution

The daughter of a woman who appeared on Channel 4's First Dates Hotel was 'already dead' when her father drove into a lorry in a suspected murder-suicide, an inquest has heard.Two year old Oria passed away last year, when she was killed by her father Ashley Henry in a suspected murder-suicide.The tragic death of Oria occurred in Anwick, Lincolnshire, and was first thought to have been an accidental collision, until police launched a murder investigation two days later. Police initially treated the tragedy, which took place on Father's Day last year, as a straightforward collision but later launched a murder investigation after 'careful consideration'.

Good afternoon Insiders, thanks for always sticking with us. Max Goldbart here talking you through a packed week in the global entertainment world. Read on, and sign up here.

“I’m Just Ken” at this year’s Oscars, but was persuaded to do so because of his daughters’ love for Barbie.The Canadian actor, who starred alongside Margot Robbie in the summer hit film, initially told the Academy he wasn’t interested in the live performance because anything could happen.“100 percent no,” Gosling said during his appearance Thursday night on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.“There’s a lot of ways that could go wrong.”Gosling, 43, eventually agreed to put on the show, complete with backup dancers, musician Mark Ronson, and a surprise appearance by legendary “Guns N’ Roses” guitarist Slash.The performance has garnered hundreds of millions of views on social media, Spotify and Apple Music.Gosling earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the Greta Gerwig film.The father of two later shared what his daughters thought when he brought them to the dress rehearsal for his now-viral performance.“Dad’s Ken-ning again,” Gosling joked. The Golden Globes winner shares the two girls with “The Place Beyond the Pines” co-star Eva Mendes.Gosling brought his daughters, 7 and 9 years old, to set to watch him play the Mattel doll-inspired character to give them context for what their father had been up to.“It was their interest in Barbie and their disinterest in Ken that sort of started all of this,” the Ken actor admitted.“It’s really been a team effort, and they were on the film and they came to set when I filmed the number,” Gosling said.

Romeo & Juliet.Following the announcement of the cast, which also includes Tom Holland, Amewudah-Rivers was subject to a “barrage” of online abuse.In response, The Jamie Lloyd Company made a statement condemning the “barrage of deplorable racial abuse online directed towards a member of our company.”They continued: “This must stop. We are working with a remarkable group of artists.

Naman Ramachandran Over 800 Black women and non-binary actors have signed an open letter condemning the online racial abuse of Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, who was recently cast as Juliet in a London West End production of “Romeo & Juliet” alongside Tom Holland. The letter, published in The Guardian on Wednesday, was the initiative of “Enola Holmes” actor Susan Wokoma and “Crowning Glory” playwright Somalia Nonyé Seaton. It reads, “When news of Francesca Amewudah-Rivers’ casting in Jamie Lloyd’s production of ‘Romeo & Juliet’ was announced so many people celebrated and welcomed this news.

Avatar actress CCH Pounder and Academy Award-nominated producer Paul Garnes will attend the inaugural Cross Continental International Co-production Forum (CCF) in Barbados.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor French broadcaster M6 has greenlit a French-language adaptation of Turkish crime drama “Persona,” to be titled “Mémoire Vive.” Instead of a male protagonist, as in the Turkish version, it will have a female main character, Esther Lefevre, to be played by Clementine Celarie, whose credits include “Six Women,” “Betty Blue” and “Two Is a Family.” “Mémoire Vive,” which will comprise four hour-long episodes, is being produced by Calt Studio. It is written by Laurent Burtin (“Astrid: Murder in Paris”), Anne-Gaëlle Daval (“Ladies”) and Hélène Lombard (“Call My Agent!”).

Drake Bell revealed on Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV that Brian Peck, a former Nickelodeon dialogue coach, abused him.

Ellise Shafer Joaquin Phoenix, Elliott Gould, Chloe Fineman and more than 150 other Jewish creatives have signed an open letter in support of Jonathan Glazer’s Oscars speech. The list of 151 signees obtained by Variety also includes Phoenix’s sister Rain, three-time Oscar nominee Debra Winger, “May December” director Todd Haynes, “Sorry to Bother You” helmer Boots Riley, acclaimed filmmaker Joel Coen, “Room” director Lenny Abrahamson, “Arrested Development” star David Cross, documentarian Amy Berg, “Barbie” actor Hari Nef, legendary playwright Tom Stoppard, former Focus Pictures CEO James Schamus, comedian Kate Berlant, “You Hurt My Feelings” director Nicole Holofcener, “Secrets & Lies” auteur Mike Leigh, “Passages” filmmaker Ira Sachs, “Gossip Girl” actor and writer Tavi Gevinson, “The Princess Bride” actor Wallace Shawn, “Bottoms” director Emma Seligman, “Mistress America” star Lola Kirke, “Zola” helmer Janicza Bravo, “Broad City” stars Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson and IndieWire film critic David Ehrlich.

roar against AI. More than 200 artists, including Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj, Bon Jovi, Billie Eilish, Kacey Musgraves and the Jonas Brothers, have signed an open letter drawing attention to the danger that artificial intelligence poses to the music industry.

Billie Eilish, Robert Smith, Stevie Wonder and Nicki Minaj are just a handful of artists who have signed an open letter warning against the “predatory” use of artificial intelligence (AI) in music.Yesterday (April 2), non-profit organization Artist Rights Alliance issued an open letter titled ‘Stop devaluing music’ about the rise of AI in music, signed by over 200 prominent names in the music industry. Read the full letter here.Through the letter, the artist-run nonprofit organization asks that developers, technology companies, and platforms and digital music services “pledge that they will not develop or deploy AI music-generation technology, content, or tools that undermine or replace the human artistry of songwriters and artists or deny us fair compensation for our work.”The letter states: “Make no mistake: we believe that, when used responsibly, AI has enormous potential to advance human creativity and in a manner that enables the development and growth of new and exciting experiences for music fans everywhere.”“Unfortunately, some platforms and developers are employing AI to sabotage creativity and undermine artists, songwriters, musicians and rightsholders.

Selena Kuznikov The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for the Hollywood Walk of Fame Class of 2025. The deadline for submissions is May 31. There is a $250 application fee, and applications can be obtained starting April 15 at walkoffame.com.

The future of Kate Ford's character on Coronation Street has been confirmed. Tracy Barlow has been a central figure in the ITV soapfor many years but in surprising scenes on Monday night, she decided she wanted to follow her love interest Tommy Orpington to Spain.

Carly Rae Jepsen, Elliot Page, Neil Young and Alanis Morissette have signed the letter, titled Artists Against Anti-Trans Legislation In Canada.Led by indie pop siblings Tegan and Sara, the letter highlighted how “far right groups are tapping into fear and pitting us against each other so they can create a Canada where we’re afraid of difference”, while using trans people as their “punching bag” and “convenient scapegoat”.The letter, published on Trans Day of Visibility, continued: “For those outside of Canada, the country is often seen as a human rights haven. However, the reality is that Canada is not immune to the global attack on the trans community and their access to inclusive spaces, healthcare and freedoms.”It went on to outline specific measures that have targeted transgender youth, including premier Danielle Smith’s proposed bans on hormonal treatment, puberty blockers and gender-confirmation surgery.Additionally, New Brunswick and Saskatchewan previously announced that parental consent will be required before schools will honour the chosen names and pronouns of children under 16.A post shared by The Tegan and Sara Foundation (@teganandsarafoundation)It continued: “The anti-trans policies taking root in Canada go beyond discrimination – they present a clear risk to the mental and physical well-being of trans individuals throughout the country.“As artists, we know the danger of a social and political environment that restricts expression, exploration, individuality and self-determination.

Manchester United are back in Premier League action this weekend when they travel to Brentford on Saturday night.

Bonjour and hello, Insiders. This was the week in which the end of the historic MIPTV Cannes confab was confirmed after six decades. Jesse Whittock with you. Let’s begin, and sign up for the newsletter here.

The ownership of the £27 million Perth Museum will hand over to the people of Perth this Saturday when it opens its doors to the public for the first time.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor European Film Promotion has unveiled the seventh edition of the Changing Face of Europe, a section that runs as part of Toronto documentary festival Hot Docs, which runs April 25 – May 5. The section features nine European documentaries, selected by the Hot Docs programming team, that “illustrate and examine a new and contemporary Europe from a cultural, social, geo-political and economic perspective.” In addition to attending the screenings and the festival’s industry program, the directors and producers of the films will be part of on-site and online events organized by EFP, including networking sessions and one-on-one meetings with distributors, buyers and festival programmers from North America. “Kelly – Someone Else’s Dream” follows Estonian freestyle skier Kelly Sildaru.

Naman Ramachandran Artistic director Hussain Currimbhoy and several programmers have stepped down ahead of this year’s edition of Hot Docs, North America’s largest documentary festival. Festival director Heather Haynes will now lead the programming department. A statement from the Toronto-based event said: “Hot Docs has announced that Hussain Currimbhoy stepped down from his role as Artistic Director on March 20th due to personal reasons.