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"World of Cinema" is courtesy of Darius Kadivar
Iraq films battle for Oscar glory (bbc)
Orphan Mohammed Haithem is one of Iraq in Fragments' subjects The makers of two films on the situation in Iraq discuss being shortlisted for this year's best documentary Oscar. Orphan Mohammed Haithem is one of Iraq in Fragments' subjects For many in Hollywood, An Inconvenient Truth - Al Gore's film on the dangers of climate change - is certain to win this year's Academy Award for best documentary feature. The former vice president has been internationally lauded for his environmental activism, while his film has received rave reviews. If Gore has already written his acceptance speech, however, he is perhaps being premature. For two films offering ground-level insight into life in Iraq since the US-led invasion could pose a strong challenge to the current favourite. Also in contention are Deliver Us From Evil, about a paedophiliac priest allegedly harboured by the Catholic Church, and Jesus Camp, a documentary about young Christian evangelists. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6311001.stm
anian
Film Festival a Big Hit at Washington's Freer Gallery
Festival returns for 11th year featuring works by five Iranian filmmakers.
We have overflow crowds,, says Tom Vick, the film programmer for the Freer Gallery. We usually don,t show films twice [during a film series], but with the Iranian films we have to, he said.
Sacha Baron Cohen GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDEE
Sacha Baron Cohen ( Mother Jewish Iranian ) poses backstage in the press room with his Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading role for his work in "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan" during the 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, CA on Monday, January 15, 2007.
A HERO HOSTS: Adrian Pasdar at the 64th Golden Globe Awards Report by Darius KADIVAR
HOLLYWOOD, CA, January 11, 2007 ? Joaquin Phoenix, Charlie Sheen, Sharon Stone, Naomi Watts and the cast of "Heroes" (Ali Larter, Masi Oka, Greg Grunberg, Adrian Pasdar, Hayden Panettiere, Sendhil Ramamurthy and Milo Ventimiglia) were set as presenters at "The 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards" that was telecast live on NBC Monday, January 15 (8 ? 11:00 p.m. EST) at The Beverly Hilton.
Iran's war films to be screened in New York and London
Iran's
war films to be screened in New York and London
FILM: "Last Queen" spotlights Afghan refugees' tribulations
TEHRAN, Feb. 6 (Mehr News Agency) -- "The Last Queen of the Earth", an Iranian film about the tribulations of Afghan refugees, was screened on Monday at the 25th Fajr International Film Festival, which is currently underway in Tehran. Directed by Mohammadreza Arab, the film tells the story of an Afghan named Alibakhsh who is working in Iran. He has no way to find out about the situation of his wife and family back home. The U.S. threats to attack Afghanistan after 9/11 increase his distress and finally he decides to repatriate. "The film was warmly welcomed by a group of Afghan people, who had seen it before," Arab said during the review session of the film held after its screening. They called it one of the best films about Afghan refugees of the past 20 years, he added. "The Last Queen of the Earth" is Arab's debut feature film. However, he had previously made several documentary series and films for IRIB. The Alibakhsh role is played by Qorban Najafi, who previously appeared in the role of an Afghan refugee in Ahmad Talebinejad's "I'm Not Bin Laden". "If I am to be typecast due to two Afghan characters, acting will never have value for me? (But) I'm not afraid of being typecast," Najafi said when asked about being given another role as an Afghan. Ali Azadnia, Abdolvakil Nikbin, Asghar Hemmat, Vahid Negah, and Goli Akbari also star in the film, which was screened at the Brooklyn International Film Festival in June 2006.
Iranian Director encountered bitter realities in her research for "Mainline"
Rakhshan Bani-Etemad "I suffered from psychological pressure when we were doing research for the film. We met youth who were in a sorrowful condition and this was very bitter for me," Bani-Etemad said during the film's review session after its screening in the Iranian Films Section of the Fajr festival, which is underway in Tehran. "I never see Baran (Bani-Etemad's daughter playing the role of Sara) as my daughter? but when the film was being edited, I was disturbed to see the pitiful condition of Sara," she explained. The film is about Sara, a bride-to-be grappling with heroin addiction as her wedding day fast approaches. The film is shot in pale color tone in order to emphasize its dark theme. "I had carried out laborious research for my role about three months before shooting. For example, I participated in rehabilitation courses held for drug addicts. I chatted with them and took note of their viewpoints," Baran Kowsari said. "In addition, the film's characters had been described well in the screenplay, and we used very few typical clichés for the role," she added.
A scene from Mainline Bani-Etemad's husband, prominent football analyst Jahangir Kowsari, was the producer of the film, as he was for many of her other works. "The goal is very important," Kowsari said, adding, "We intended to spotlight the serious problem of addiction threatening our youth. We, along with a research group, warned families about the catastrophe in the movie." After "Gilaneh" in 2005, "Mainline" is the second film co-directed by Bani-Etemad and Mohsen Abdolvahhab. "Neither of us is seeking a share in the film. The fact that the outcome is acceptable is more important. I welcome collaboration with people with whom I once cooperated on a joint project and share similar viewpoints," Bani-Etemad said. "I'm very happy that I spent part of my life making the film, though spiritually, it belongs to Bani-Etemad? and the plot is hers? and I'm also very glad that I was able to work beside the great filmmaker," Abdolvahhab noted. The film,
which has also been screened in some other international events, was
warmly welcomed by the Iranian people, some of whom watched the movie
standing since all the seats were taken.
Canadian singer Denny Doherty, from the 1960s folk-pop group the
Mamas and the Papas, has died at the age of 66.
British actresses in Oscars race (bbc)
British actresses Dame Helen Mirren, Kate Winslet and Dame Judi Dench will go head to head for the best actress Oscar at this year's Academy Awards.
The Year's Worst Movies (bbc) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6287001.stm
Comedy Little Man, which was made by the Wayans brothers, also scooped seven nominations for Razzies. The Razzies ceremony is on 24 February - the day before the Academy Awards. John Wilson, who created the spoof awards, called Stone's movie "a lascivious murder mystery that turned out to be a laugh riot", while Little Man - which is also up for worst picture - was "a comedy nearly as devoid of laughs as Schindler's List". Lady in the Water, The Wicker Man and BloodRayne also feature in the worst picture category. Tim Allen is vying for worst actor in no less than three films - The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause, The Shaggy Dog and Zoom. He is up against Nicolas Cage for The Wicker Man, Dan Whitney for Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector, Rob Schneider for The Benchwarmers as well as the Wayans brothers with Little Man. Competing with Stone in the worst actress category are sisters Hilary and Haylie Duff for Material Girls, Lindsay Lohan for Just My Luck, Kristanna Loken for BloodRayne and Jessica Simpson for Employee of the Month. In a new category, five films will compete for the "worst excuse for family entertainment" award, which includes Deck The Halls, Garfield: a Tail of Two Kitties, RV, The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause and The Shaggy Dog. Other well-known names competing for Razzies include Sir Ben Kingsley, Martin Short and Danny DeVito competing for worst supporting actor. The Razzie nominations were announced 24 hours before the Academy Awards shortlist, which is due to be unveiled in a dawn ceremony in Los Angeles on Tuesday. |
