Iranian Filmmakers Face Fight or Flight Amid Political Turmoil

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Kuwaiti-born writer-director Zeyad (also known as “Z”) Alhusaini, whose action movie with comedic undertones “How I Got There” recently won the audience award at Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival, has joined United Talent Agency for representation in all areas. The groundbreaking film about two best buddies from childhood, named Salem and Asad, who stumble upon a gun shipment and try to seize this opportunity to get rich quick is set entirely in the Persian Gulf. “How I Got There” provides a relatively realistic glimpse of Kuwait’s present-day melting-pot of cultures, and its underworld of gun-running mercenaries, gangs, and terrorists, plus the local rap scene.

Bindi Irwin has taken to Instagram to share the news of her diagnosis after suffering in silence for a decade.

Bindi Irwin opened up on her decade-long struggle with endometriosis to help tackle the stigma around the condition. The Australian TV star and daughter of late wildlife expert Steve Irwin, said she has undergone surgery after suffering from “insurmountable fatigue, pain and nausea” for 10 years.

Bindi Irwin has revealed she’s struggled with endometriosis for ten years and recently underwent surgery to treat the condition. "Dear Friends, I battled for a long time wondering if I should share this journey with you in such a public space.

Bindi Irwin has shared her experience of suffering endometriosis for the past decade to help tackle the stigma around the condition. The TV star, 24, the daughter of late wildlife expert Steve Irwin, said she has undergone surgery, which found 37 lesions and a cyst, after suffering from “insurmountable fatigue, pain and nausea” for 10 years. Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes, according to the NHS website.

From social justice to adolescent romance, this year’s Oscar-nominated shorts filmmakers don’t take long to make their points. The 2023 field of nominees include films from virtually every corner of the world, including Ireland, Iran, India, Norway, Italy and, of course, the U.S.

Popular TV presenter Jonnie Irwin made a surprise return to A Place In The Sun as he appeared at A Place In The Sun Live in Manchester on Sunday. The TV star, 49, was initially given six months to live when first diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in 2020, but has outlived doctor’s predictions with the help of medication, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Bindi Irwin has offered fans a glimpse into her exotic home Down Under. Bindi is based on-site at Australia Zoo, Queensland, where she lives with her husband Chandler Powell, her daughter Grace Warrior, her mother Terri and her brother Robert.Terri, the wife of the late Steve Irwin, owns the famous zoo. Zookeeper Bindi, who welcomed her daughter in March 2021, occasionally gives glimpses inside the unique home on social media.

Sharareh Drury administrator “Woman. Life. Freedom.” “Zan. Zindagi. Azadi.” These words have been chanted around the world for months in support of Iranian women who are demanding freedom of expression and an end to the country’s oppressive rules for women. This inspiring female-led movement was sparked by the death of Jina “Mahsa” Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman who died while in custody of morality police for allegedly wearing a loose headscarf. Iran is now experiencing its biggest wave of demonstrations in decades, with acts of protest by female demonstrators including publicly removing their hijab or cutting their hair. The cry for change has even won awards. Shervin Hajipour’s “Baraye” – Iran’s unofficial protest anthem – made history by becoming the first award-winner for a new Grammy Award category, “Best Song for Social Change.”

The Berlin Film Festival has made one of its highest priorities this year to stand with “the courageous protesters in Iran as they defend themselves against a violent, undemocratic regime.”

Angelina Jolie and her family are raising awareness for the women in Iran. Jolie took to Instagram to raise awareness for the humanitarian crisis that’s affecting Iran, sharing that her and her children Shiloh and Zahara cut a strand of their hair for an art exhibition.Angelina Jolie takes her daughter Zahara Jolie-Pitt shopping in New York CityAngelina Jolie accessorizes her look with Princess Diana’s favorite Dior bag: See photosA post shared by Angelina Jolie (@angelinajolie)The post is made up of a video and some photos that show Jolie’s daughter’s getting some of their hair cut.

Bindi Irwin is remembering her father, Steve Irwin, on what would have been his 61st birthday. On Tuesday, the wildlife conservationist took to her Instagram to celebrate her father and share a piece of advice he passed down to her during their time together.«Happy Birthday, Dad,» the 24-year-old star wrote.

Filmmakers Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis were inspired to make The Flying Sailor from a small blurb about a sailor they found while researching the Halifax explosion of 1917. As they were captivated by the flight aspect, their animated short takes a slowed down look at life flashing before a man’s eyes as his “balletic” movements are underscored by a beautiful piano. The animation style blends 2D and 3D elements, which Forbis says created a “cartoony” opening sequence that contrasts the tragedy of the situation.

Naman Ramachandran For Indian filmmaker Sreemoyee Singh, world premiering her Iran documentary “And, Towards Happy Alleys” at the Berlin Film Festival’s Panorama strand is the culmination of a journey that began in 2015. Singh completed a masters degree in film studies at Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India and went on to pursue a PhD on The Exiled Filmmaker in Post Revolution Iranian Cinema, with the objective of understanding the source of “impossible hope” in Iranian films. The filmmaker was also introduced to the poetry of Iran’s Forogh Farrokhzad during the course and “connected deeply” to her verses. A desire to read Farrokhzad’s verses in the original Persian led Singh to learn Farsi.

A UK-based Iranian TV channel has had to stop broadcasting from its headquarters in London, after British police warned staff that it could not protect them on UK soil. 

England started their Arnold Clark Cup title defence with a 4-0 win over Korea Republic on Thursday night. Georgia Stanway, Chloe Kelly, Alessia Russo and Lauren James found the net for the Lionesses in their convincing victory over the side ranked 15th in the world.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Paris-based Italian director Giacomo Abbruzzese says making the Berlin Film Festival competition cut with his first feature, “Disco Boy,” which toplines German star Franz Rogowski (“Passages,” ”Undine”), is “certainly a dream come true.” But he also points out that his remarkable debut was a long time coming.  A graduate of several film schools, including France’s prestigious Le Fresnoy, Abbruzzese started developing “Disco Boy” in 2013 following an encounter in a French disco with a classical dancer who had been a soldier.  

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent The Berlinale red carpet on Saturday became a protest platform against Iran’s repressive regime when a group of Iranian filmmakers and talents, joined by jury president Kristen Stewart, chanted “Women, Life, Freedom!” and demanded the release of imprisoned journalists and an Iranian rapper. Actress Golshifteh Farahani, who is also on the jury; “Holy Spider” actress Zar Amir Ebrahimi; and “The Siren” director Sepideh Farsi were among dozens of Iranian film professionals participating in the protests hosted by Berlinale co-directors Mariette Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian. Protesters with signs demanded freedom for female Iranian journalists Niloofar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi who are behind bars, accused of “conspiring against national security” for being the first to report on Mahsa Amini’s death, and for the release of dissident Iranian hip hop artist Toomaj Salehi who has been accused of spreading propaganda and could face the death penalty.

Kristen Stewart joined Iranian filmmakers in a demonstration showing solidarity for Iran’s Women Life Freedom protests on the red carpet of the Berlin Film Festival on Saturday.

A Place In The Sun presenter Jonnie Irwin has given fans a health update, after sharing the tragic news of his lung cancer diagnosis in November last year. He was first diagnosed in 2020 and was initially given just six months to live, but has outlived doctor’s predictions with the help of medication, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.