Lebanon Showbiz Latest News and Updates

Lebanon is a country with a complicated political situation and a deep history and culture. However, it’s not a country known for its heavy metal music.

Since tying the knot in 2014, George Clooney and Amal Clooney have made the world their own personal runway. The lovebirds make red carpet style look easy, stepping out in coordinated looks that serve up timeless fashion inspiration.

"America's Got Talent" judge Howie Mandel gushed over the Mayyas' semifinals performance after the show on Tuesday, while contestant Kristy Sellars said the judges' reactions to her pole dance act were "amazing." On the red carpet, Sellars told Fox News Digital that judge Simon Cowell, 62, had talked to her after the show about "an opportunity," but didn't disclose any further details.  During the show, Cowell also declared that the Lebanese all-female dance group, the Mayyas, "is a performance that changes the world." Mandel expressed his enthusiasm for the Mayyas as well while speaking with Fox News Digital.  "That was my favorite moment of the night," the 66-year-old television personality said on the red carpet at the Sheraton Pasadena Hotel in Pasadena, California. 'America's Got Talent' judge Howie Mandel gushed over the Mayyas' semifinals performance after the show on Tuesday.

"America's Got Talent" judge Howie Mandel gushed over the Mayyas' semifinals performance after the show Tuesday, while contestant Kristy Sellars said the judges' reactions to her pole dance act were "amazing." On the red carpet, Sellars told Fox News Digital that judge Simon Cowell, 62, had talked to her after the show about "an opportunity" but didn't disclose any details.  During the show, Cowell also declared that the Lebanese all-female dance group, the Mayyas, "is a performance that changes the world." Mandel also expressed his enthusiasm for the Mayyas while speaking with Fox News Digital.  "That was my favorite moment of the night," the 66-year-old television personality said on the red carpet at the Sheraton Pasadena Hotel in Pasadena, California. "America's Got Talent" judge Howie Mandel gushed over the Mayyas' semifinals performance after the show Tuesday.

“America’s Got Talent” dance group the Mayyas awed the judges and audience during Tuesday night’s semifinals.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Cairo-based film marketing and distribution outfit MAD Solutions has acquired rights for Arab territories to Venice competition entry “Les Miens” (“Our Ties”), directed by French actor and filmmaker of Moroccan descent Roschdy Zem. “Our Ties” is co-written by Zem with actor/director Maïwenn (“Polisse,” “Mon Roi”), who co-stars. Zem is a French cinema fixture, having starred in pics including “Other People’s Children” and directed several films including 2019’s “Persona Non Grata.” “Ties” is a drama about family dynamics centered around a man played by Sami Bouajila whose personality changes radically after he suffers a head injury. Zem plays his TV presenter brother.

Marta Balaga Final Cut, a workshop supporting films in post-production from African and Arab countries – launched by the Venice Film Festival’s industry section, Venice Production Bridge – celebrates its 10th anniversary this week. Its goals have remained the same, however, as it continues to provide emerging filmmakers with concrete assistance as well as visibility, all the while strengthening Venice’s role as “bridge builder,” says Alessandra Speciale, its curator. The final selection features titles made by directors from nine different countries: Algeria, Jordan, Guinea, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Central African Republic and Tunisia.

Gregg Goldstein Becoming Nicholas Sparks’ literary agent and then film production president might not seem like the best preparation for making a romantic drama about cannibalism, but Per Capita Prods. founder Theresa Park is transitioning to a wider, edgier range of projects with ease.  Park is producing an animated children’s show based on Michael Buckley’s bestselling fantasy novel series “The Sisters Grimm” for Apple TV+. And she arrives in Venice for the Sept. 2 world premiere of “Bones and All,” Luca Guadagnino’s adaptation of Camille DeAngelis’s novel about a couple (Timothée Chalamet and Taylor Russell) whose tastes run more towards hand eating than the hand holding found in Sparks’ works. The MGM/UA feature follows two other offbeat projects in Per Capita’s first year of releases: A24’s robot drama “After Yang” starring Colin Farrell and the Apple TV+ female-centered series “Roar” with Nicole Kidman. 

Manori Ravindran International Editor Hilary Clinton and Chelsea Clinton’s HiddenLight Productions is co-producing a new feature documentary with the team behind Sundance 2019 title “Gaza.” “In the Shadow of Beirut” is a cinematic portrait of modern-day Lebanon as seen through the eyes of four families living in the impoverished Sabra and Shatila neighbourhoods of the city, the scene of an infamous massacre in 1982. The film will be executive produced by Hillary Clinton, Chelsea Clinton and Siobhan Sinnerton for HiddenLight. The doc is filmed over four years with unique access to the families within these largely restricted areas and co-directed by Stephen Gerard Kelly, in his debut, and Garry Keane (“Gaza,” 2019). Kelly built up his relationship with the families over a six-year period.

Naman Ramachandran The BFI London Film Festival has revealed eight titles that will be in official competition. The films include Santiago Mitre’s political drama “Argentina, 1985” (Argentina); Clement Virgo’s brotherly love tale “Brother” (Canada); Marie Kreutzer’s irreverent period drama “Corsage” (Austria-Luxembourg-Germany-France); Fyzal Boulifa’s atmospheric domestic drama “The Damned Don’t Cry” (France-Belgium-Morocco); Mark Jenkin’s folk horror tale “Enys Men” (U.K.); Hlynur Palmason’s historical epic “Godland” (Denmark-Iceland-France-Sweden); Soudade Kaadan’s poignant family film “Nezouh” (U.K.-Syria-France); and Alice Diop’s courtroom drama “Saint Omer.”

Anna Marie de la Fuente Breaking Glass Pictures has snagged North American rights to “Blood-Red Ox,” the first genre pic by award-winning Bolivian director-producer Rodrigo Bellott, now playing at the 18th Santiago International Film Festival (Sanfic) sidebar Visions of the World.“A mind-bending trip into the depths of myth and madness, Bellott has crafted a haunting tale that pays homage to classic horror films while offering commentary on contemporary environmental and social issues,” said Scott Motisko, Breaking Glass VP of acquisitions, business development and sales, who together with Breaking Glass CEO Rich Wolff negotiated the pact with Ida Martins, CEO of Media Luna.“We have a longstanding business relationship with Breaking Glass Pictures and couldn’t think of a better outlet for “Blood-Red Ox,” said Martins, adding: “They have been doing an excellent job with all Media Luna previous titles, and we are honored to have one more title in their care.” Shot on location in Bolivia and upstate New York, “Blood-Red Ox” centers on Amir, a Lebanese American journalist, and his partner Amat. The two visit Amir’s environmentalist friend in the town of Tarija, which is being harassed by an oil company bent on exploiting the Bolivian rain forest.

A day after Salman Rushdie was stabbed Friday by a man who rushed the stage as the author was about to give a lecture in western New York, authorities announced the suspect was arrested on an attempted murder charge.

Salman Rushdie was stabbed Friday by a man who rushed the stage as the author was about to give a lecture in western New York, authorities announced the suspect was arrested on an attempted murder charge.Rushdie, 75, was flown to a hospital and underwent surgery after the attack.  His agent, Andrew Wylie, said Friday night the author is currently on a ventilator and cannot speak. He said Rushdie will likely lose an eye, adding that the nerves in his arm were «severed» and his liver was «stabbed and damaged.» Police identified the attacker as Hadi Matar, 24, of Fairview, New Jersey.

A Lebanon man who was "intercepted" in the English Channel last June was found dead in Manchester Ship Canal just over a year later.

EXCLUSIVE: Universal Pictures International is forming a new partnership with Emirates-based Majid Al Futtaim Distribution which will see the latter release Universal movies in Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, UAE) and Egypt. In Lebanon and Cyprus, Uni will retain its longstanding distribution relationship with Four Star Films.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentStrand Releasing has acquired all North American rights to Maryam Touzani’s “The Blue Caftan,” which world premiered at Cannes and won the Fipresci prize. The film, which is represented in international markets by Films Boutique, will have its North American premiere at Toronto in the Special Screenings section.Touzani’s follow-up to Un Certain Regard title “Adam,” “The Blue Caftan” tells the story of Halim and Mina, a married couple running a traditional caftan store in one of Morocco’s oldest medinas.

A Manchester University graduate who was helping refugees in Lebanon was brutally raped, murdered then dumped at the roadside by an Uber driver on the way home from a night out, an inquest has heard. Rebecca Dykes, 30, who was described as a 'devoted humanitarian', had been travelling back from a night out in the Gemmayzeh district of Beirut when she was picked up by Uber driver Tariq Houshieh in December 2017.

Leo Barraclough International Features EditorThe Match Factory will launch sales on the debut film by Ehab Tarabieh, “The Taste of Apples Is Red,” at the Toronto Film Festival, where the film will be premiering in the Discovery section. Tarabieh’s previous short films have won several prizes, including Best Short Film at Doha Tribeca Festival for “The Forgotten” (2012) and a nomination for a European Academy Award for “Smile and the World Will Smile Back” (2015).

Tiffany Cross and comedian Wanda Sykes — have already slammed the network for reportedly hiring Griffin.Who will be the next co-host of @TheView? The wait is finally over! Find out only on @TheView this THURSDAY at 11e|10c|p on ABC! pic.twitter.com/xvLHqgin2ZBorn in Los Angeles on June 15, 1989, Griffin is the daughter of two journalists. Her father, Joseph Farah, was the executive news editor at the Los Angeles Herald Examiner, then an editor at Northern California’s the Sacramento Union.Her father is of Syrian and Lebanese descent.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorOne of the wonders of music streaming is its borderlessness. Back in the day, a person might never hear, let alone purchase, music outside their country or comfort zone if they didn’t happen to wander into that area of a record store or radio dial.

Abel Ferrara, Shia LaBeouf And Steve Buscemi Head To Venice Sidebar Giornate Degli Autori

Outfest has announced the award winners of its 40th Anniversary Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Film Festival.

Naman Ramachandran Sally El Hosaini’s refugee drama “The Swimmers” will open the 47th Toronto International Film Festival.The film follows the journey made by swimming sisters Yusra and Sarah Mardini who fled as refugees from war-torn Syria all the way to the 2016 Rio Olympics.In 2015, after their house was destroyed in the Syrian Civil War, the Mardini sisters decided to flee the country. They made their way to Lebanon and then Turkey, where they arranged to be smuggled into Greece by dinghy.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentA Turkish biopic about 1980s pop singer Bergen, who grappled with a violent husband that hired someone to pour nitric acid on her face and later shot and killed her, is becoming a sleeper box office hit across West Asia.The potent female empowerment film, titled “Bergen,” follows the singer’s meteoric rise from cello player to becoming Turkey’s “Queen of Arabesque,” all while struggling with a partner hellbent on sabotaging her career. The pic is helmed by Turkish directorial duo Caner Alper and Mehmet Binay, who are known for works driven by civil liberties and gender issues such as the 2015 drama “Drawers,” about a teenage girl’s sexuality.Upon grossing a substantial $10 million-plus intake at Turkish cinemas, “Bergen” is now scoring brisk box office returns across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Lebanon and Oman.

Dining with the stars! New York City is home to some of the hottest restaurants in the world — and our favorite stars have taken notice. From casual eateries to elegant fine dining, there are so many different restaurants that numerous celebrities have visited.

On The J Lo newsletter, including exclusive photos of her bridal looks. “We read our own vows in the little chapel and gave one another the rings we’ll wear for the rest of our lives,” she wrote.J Lo revealed her first dress was “from an old movie”. For part of the celebrations, Jennifer Lopez wore a textured sleeveless dress that she revealed was “from an old movie”—her take on the “something old” bridal tradition, complete with her signature bouncy waves and a smoky make-up look. The pièce de résistance, however, came courtesy of Zuhair Murad, the Lebanese couturier behind the embellished gown she wore in the rom-com Marry Me.

Jennifer Lopez wore two dresses for her surprise wedding to Ben Affleck on Saturday night. The couple, who were engaged in the early 2000s before separating for 17 years, finally said “I do” at The Little White Chapel in Las Vegas, according to Lopez. “We did it.

A new wine bar with a ‘sun trap’ terrace has opened with views across the historic warehouses around Canal Street. Beeswing, which is perched above the new Nell’s bar off Minshull Street, will feature an impressive - and unusual - wine list too.

Shakira has had a lot on her plate lately. Amid a notorious separation from the father of her children, Gerard Piqué, the singer faces one more concern: the health of her father, William Mebarak. The 90-year-old author suffered a severe fall at the end of May, just before her daughter confirmed the end of her relationship with the F.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentYes Studios has unveiled the new trailer for the highly anticipated fourth season of “Fauda,” which will launch July 13 on Yes TV in Israel and will be available on Netflix worldwide.The plot of the new season involves Hezbollah activists from Lebanon and Palestinian militants in the West Bank, and new cast members include Inbar Lavi (“Lucifer”), Amir Boutrous (“The Crown”), Lucy Ayoub, Danny Steg (“Kvodo”) and Loai Nofi (“Hashoter Hatov”).Following the events of the previous season, Doron (Lior Raz) feels guilty over the death of his teammate, and angry and frustrated after his dismissal from the unit. Captain Ayub (Itzik Cohen) tries to bring Doron out of his difficult situation and enlists him for a basic security mission in Brussels.