The chairman and CEO of the Human Rights Foundation are calling for Justin Bieber to cancel a scheduled performance in Saudi Arabia “as a symbol of solidarity with the ongoing suffering of the Saudi people.”
In a letter dated Nov. 2 and shared with Bieber’s representatives, the nonprofit’s chairman, Garry Kasparov, and CEO, Thor Halvorssen, take issue with the “Stay” singer’s reported performance at the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2021 on Dec. 5. The Formula One event will also feature performances from A$AP Rocky, Jason Derulo, Tiesto and David Guetta, and Hrf says that it ...
In a letter dated Nov. 2 and shared with Bieber’s representatives, the nonprofit’s chairman, Garry Kasparov, and CEO, Thor Halvorssen, take issue with the “Stay” singer’s reported performance at the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2021 on Dec. 5. The Formula One event will also feature performances from A$AP Rocky, Jason Derulo, Tiesto and David Guetta, and Hrf says that it ...
- 11/9/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The chairman and CEO of the Human Rights Foundation are calling for Justin Bieber to cancel a scheduled performance in Saudi Arabia “as a symbol of solidarity with the ongoing suffering of the Saudi people.”
In a letter dated Nov. 2 and shared with Bieber’s representatives, the nonprofit’s chairman, Garry Kasparov, and CEO, Thor Halvorssen, take issue with the “Stay” singer’s reported performance at the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2021 on Dec. 5. The Formula One event will also feature performances from A$AP Rocky, Jason Derulo, Tiesto and David Guetta, and Hrf says that it ...
In a letter dated Nov. 2 and shared with Bieber’s representatives, the nonprofit’s chairman, Garry Kasparov, and CEO, Thor Halvorssen, take issue with the “Stay” singer’s reported performance at the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2021 on Dec. 5. The Formula One event will also feature performances from A$AP Rocky, Jason Derulo, Tiesto and David Guetta, and Hrf says that it ...
- 11/9/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
It’s been a strange year, but cinema endures. The 2021 British Academy Film and Television Awards took place at the Royal Albert Hall on the 11th of April, 2021. In a first in BAFTA history, four women have been nominated in the Director category, including Nomadland director Chloe Zhao, Sarah Gavron for Rocks, and Shannon Murphy for Babyteeth. Other notable nominees include Promising Young Woman, The Trial of the Chicago 7, The Father, Saint Maud and Minari. It is a diverse line up, and a very unusual time but the red carpets are rolling out, even if they are in living rooms around the world.
Yesterday director Ang Lee was entered into the BAFTA Fellowship, and Noel Clarke was awarded the Outstanding British Contribution to cinema. This evening Edith Bowman and Dermot O’Leary hosted the awards and it was a delight to see Yun-Jung Youn’s incredible win for her role in Minari.
Yesterday director Ang Lee was entered into the BAFTA Fellowship, and Noel Clarke was awarded the Outstanding British Contribution to cinema. This evening Edith Bowman and Dermot O’Leary hosted the awards and it was a delight to see Yun-Jung Youn’s incredible win for her role in Minari.
- 4/11/2021
- by Jon Lyus
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Today’s show is being broadcast with a time delay on BBC One at 19:00 UK time.
The Bafta Film Awards 2021 main show is taking place today (April 11) from London’s Royal Albert Hall.
Scroll down for latest winners
An audience will not be present and winners will receive their awards virtually due to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions.
For the first time, the awards are being handed out across two nights. Saturday’s ceremony (April 10) focused on the craft awards.
Today’s show started at 16:15pm UK time, and is being broadcast with a time delay on BBC One starting...
The Bafta Film Awards 2021 main show is taking place today (April 11) from London’s Royal Albert Hall.
Scroll down for latest winners
An audience will not be present and winners will receive their awards virtually due to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions.
For the first time, the awards are being handed out across two nights. Saturday’s ceremony (April 10) focused on the craft awards.
Today’s show started at 16:15pm UK time, and is being broadcast with a time delay on BBC One starting...
- 4/11/2021
- by Orlando Parfitt
- ScreenDaily
Shannon Murphy has been nominated for the BAFTA Award for best direction for her debut feature, Babyteeth.
Murphy is in good company, with fellow nominees for the prize including Thomas Vinterberg for Another Round; Lee Issac Chung for Minari; Chloé Zhao for Nomadland; Jasmila Žbanić for Quo Vadis, Aida? and Sarah Gavron for Rocks.
It is the first time in BAFTA history that four women have been nominated in the director category.
These are the first edition of nominations to follow BAFTA’s seven-month diversity review, which came about after it faced significant backlash one year ago for a lack of diversity among nominees – including an all-male director category. Three of the nominated directors are also up for best film not in the English language.
The BAFTA nod is yet another accolade for Babyteeth and Murphy’s work, following on from the film’s premiere in competition at the Venice Film Festival in 2019. There,...
Murphy is in good company, with fellow nominees for the prize including Thomas Vinterberg for Another Round; Lee Issac Chung for Minari; Chloé Zhao for Nomadland; Jasmila Žbanić for Quo Vadis, Aida? and Sarah Gavron for Rocks.
It is the first time in BAFTA history that four women have been nominated in the director category.
These are the first edition of nominations to follow BAFTA’s seven-month diversity review, which came about after it faced significant backlash one year ago for a lack of diversity among nominees – including an all-male director category. Three of the nominated directors are also up for best film not in the English language.
The BAFTA nod is yet another accolade for Babyteeth and Murphy’s work, following on from the film’s premiere in competition at the Venice Film Festival in 2019. There,...
- 3/9/2021
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
Today, at the Royal Albert Hall, Aisling Bea and Susan Wokoma, on behalf of The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), announced the nominations for the Ee British Academy Film Awards in 2021, celebrating the very best in film of the past year.
In a first in BAFTA history, four women have been nominated in the Director category, including ‘Nomadland’ director Chloe Zhao, Sarah Gavron for ‘Rocks’, and Shannon Murphy for ‘Babyteeth’. In all, ‘Nomadland’ and ‘Rocks’ received seven nominations each.
‘The Father’, ‘Mank’, ‘Minari’ and ‘Promising Young Woman’ all received a total of six nominations while ‘The Dig’ and ‘The Mauritanian’ received five.
Supporting new talent is at the heart of BAFTA’s remit and four of the five nominated films in Outstanding Debut are also nominated across other categories. This year, first-time nominees account for four of the six nominated Directors and 21 of the 24 nominees in the performance categories.
In a first in BAFTA history, four women have been nominated in the Director category, including ‘Nomadland’ director Chloe Zhao, Sarah Gavron for ‘Rocks’, and Shannon Murphy for ‘Babyteeth’. In all, ‘Nomadland’ and ‘Rocks’ received seven nominations each.
‘The Father’, ‘Mank’, ‘Minari’ and ‘Promising Young Woman’ all received a total of six nominations while ‘The Dig’ and ‘The Mauritanian’ received five.
Supporting new talent is at the heart of BAFTA’s remit and four of the five nominated films in Outstanding Debut are also nominated across other categories. This year, first-time nominees account for four of the six nominated Directors and 21 of the 24 nominees in the performance categories.
- 3/9/2021
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
‘The Father’, ‘Mank’, ‘Minari’, ‘Promising Young Woman’ also score well.
Chloé Zhao’s Nomadland and UK teenage drama Rocks led the 2021 Bafta film awards nominations, which were announced today (March 9).
Both titles received seven nominations, including for directors Zhao and Sarah Gavron, and for Frances McDormand and Bukky Bakray in leading actress respectively.
Scroll down for full list of nominations
Four titles received six nominations each: UK titles The Father and Promising Young Woman, plus Minari and Mank from the US.
In the first Bafta film awards since widespread criticism over the lack of diversity in the 2020 nominations, four out...
Chloé Zhao’s Nomadland and UK teenage drama Rocks led the 2021 Bafta film awards nominations, which were announced today (March 9).
Both titles received seven nominations, including for directors Zhao and Sarah Gavron, and for Frances McDormand and Bukky Bakray in leading actress respectively.
Scroll down for full list of nominations
Four titles received six nominations each: UK titles The Father and Promising Young Woman, plus Minari and Mank from the US.
In the first Bafta film awards since widespread criticism over the lack of diversity in the 2020 nominations, four out...
- 3/9/2021
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
In his review of Bryan Fogel’s “The Dissident,” about the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, Variety critic Owen Gleiberman notes that the investigative doc “has the shadow intrigue of cyber-warfare” including the hacking of Jeff Bezos’ cell phone and the army of trolls it exposes, allegedly hired to crush voices against the Saudi kingdom on Twitter.
That same cyber-warfare now appears to be targeting the film itself with attempts to manipulate its review scores online.
According to “The Dissident” producer Thor Halvorssen, there are ongoing attempts by Saudi-backed trolls to muzzle the pic by lowering its approval ratings on film-rating site Rotten Tomatoes and on IMDb, which also gives ratings based on reviews.
Halvorssen, who is founder and chief executive of the nonprofit Human Rights Foundation, says he first came across the trolls roughly a year ago on the day “The Dissident” had its premiere at Sundance 2020, attended by around 300 people,...
That same cyber-warfare now appears to be targeting the film itself with attempts to manipulate its review scores online.
According to “The Dissident” producer Thor Halvorssen, there are ongoing attempts by Saudi-backed trolls to muzzle the pic by lowering its approval ratings on film-rating site Rotten Tomatoes and on IMDb, which also gives ratings based on reviews.
Halvorssen, who is founder and chief executive of the nonprofit Human Rights Foundation, says he first came across the trolls roughly a year ago on the day “The Dissident” had its premiere at Sundance 2020, attended by around 300 people,...
- 2/5/2021
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
The influential Cinema Eye Honors nominations, voted on by documentary filmmakers, help to narrow the wide field for documentary awards contenders. Amazon Studios release “Time,” Garrett Bradley’s poetic black-and-white portrait of one family’s struggle through years of incarceration, leads the field with six nominations, including Outstanding Feature, Direction, Editing, Score and Debut.
Garnering four nominations: Alexander Nanau’s Romanian health system exposé “Collective” (Magnolia), Victor Kossakovsky’s story of a mother pig, “Gunda” (Neon), and David France’s “Welcome to Chechnya” (HBO) with four.
With three nominations each: Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss’ “Boys State” (Apple), Kirsten Johnson’s “Dick Johnson is Dead” (Netflix), Liz Garbus’ series “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark” (HBO), Gianfranco Rosi’s Italian Oscar submission “Notturno” (Super Ltd), and Michael Dweck & Gregory Kershaw’s “The Truffle Hunters” (Sony Pictures Classics).
Per usual, prolific Netflix leads all distributors/broadcasters with thirteen nominations, while HBO Documentary Films grabbed ten,...
Garnering four nominations: Alexander Nanau’s Romanian health system exposé “Collective” (Magnolia), Victor Kossakovsky’s story of a mother pig, “Gunda” (Neon), and David France’s “Welcome to Chechnya” (HBO) with four.
With three nominations each: Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss’ “Boys State” (Apple), Kirsten Johnson’s “Dick Johnson is Dead” (Netflix), Liz Garbus’ series “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark” (HBO), Gianfranco Rosi’s Italian Oscar submission “Notturno” (Super Ltd), and Michael Dweck & Gregory Kershaw’s “The Truffle Hunters” (Sony Pictures Classics).
Per usual, prolific Netflix leads all distributors/broadcasters with thirteen nominations, while HBO Documentary Films grabbed ten,...
- 12/10/2020
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
The influential Cinema Eye Honors nominations, voted on by documentary filmmakers, help to narrow the wide field for documentary awards contenders. Amazon Studios release “Time,” Garrett Bradley’s poetic black-and-white portrait of one family’s struggle through years of incarceration, leads the field with six nominations, including Outstanding Feature, Direction, Editing, Score and Debut.
Garnering four nominations: Alexander Nanau’s Romanian health system exposé “Collective” (Magnolia), Victor Kossakovsky’s story of a mother pig, “Gunda” (Neon), and David France’s “Welcome to Chechnya” (HBO) with four.
With three nominations each: Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss’ “Boys State” (Apple), Kirsten Johnson’s “Dick Johnson is Dead” (Netflix), Liz Garbus’ series “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark” (HBO), Gianfranco Rosi’s Italian Oscar submission “Notturno” (Super Ltd), and Michael Dweck & Gregory Kershaw’s “The Truffle Hunters” (Sony Pictures Classics).
Per usual, prolific Netflix leads all distributors/broadcasters with thirteen nominations, while HBO Documentary Films grabbed ten,...
Garnering four nominations: Alexander Nanau’s Romanian health system exposé “Collective” (Magnolia), Victor Kossakovsky’s story of a mother pig, “Gunda” (Neon), and David France’s “Welcome to Chechnya” (HBO) with four.
With three nominations each: Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss’ “Boys State” (Apple), Kirsten Johnson’s “Dick Johnson is Dead” (Netflix), Liz Garbus’ series “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark” (HBO), Gianfranco Rosi’s Italian Oscar submission “Notturno” (Super Ltd), and Michael Dweck & Gregory Kershaw’s “The Truffle Hunters” (Sony Pictures Classics).
Per usual, prolific Netflix leads all distributors/broadcasters with thirteen nominations, while HBO Documentary Films grabbed ten,...
- 12/10/2020
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Garrett Bradley’s “Time,” which follows a family through decades of the father’s incarceration, leads all films in nominations for the 14th annual Cinema Eye Honors, a New York-based award established to honor all facets of nonfiction filmmaking.
“Time” received six nominations, including one in the Outstanding Nonfiction Feature category. There, it will compete with “Boys State,” “Collective,” “Dick Johnson Is Dead” and “Gunda.”
“Collective,” “Gunda” and “Welcome to Chechnya” each received four nominations, while “Boys State,” “Dick Johnson Is Dead,” “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark,” “Notturno” and “The Truffle Hunters” landed three each.
“Time” is now the only film to be nominated in the top category by the Cinema Eye Honors, the IDA Documentary Awards, the Critics Choice Documentary Awards and the Gotham Awards, and also receive a spot on Doc NYC’s “Short List” of awards contenders. “Gunda” was honored by four of the five groups,...
“Time” received six nominations, including one in the Outstanding Nonfiction Feature category. There, it will compete with “Boys State,” “Collective,” “Dick Johnson Is Dead” and “Gunda.”
“Collective,” “Gunda” and “Welcome to Chechnya” each received four nominations, while “Boys State,” “Dick Johnson Is Dead,” “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark,” “Notturno” and “The Truffle Hunters” landed three each.
“Time” is now the only film to be nominated in the top category by the Cinema Eye Honors, the IDA Documentary Awards, the Critics Choice Documentary Awards and the Gotham Awards, and also receive a spot on Doc NYC’s “Short List” of awards contenders. “Gunda” was honored by four of the five groups,...
- 12/10/2020
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Update: This story is being updated this week as the new longlists are unveiled. Today (November 20) the Best Documentary longlist has been published, see below.
Previously, November 17: Organizers of the British Independent Film Awards have confirmed their upcoming ceremony will delay from its traditional end-of-year dates to February, 2021, moving in line with this year’s major awards shows.
This week, the BIFAs will unveil its various longlists of awards, which will be whittled down to its final nominations, to be revealed on December 9.
Today, the New Talent awards longlists have been unveiled, featuring a total of 46 directors, writers and producers. Each of the below will participate in BIFA’s Springboard scheme, a tailored program of professional development and peer to peer support.
Best Documentary
The Art Of Political Murder Paul Taylor, Teddy Leifer, Regina K. Scully
The Australian Dream Daniel Gordon, Stan Grant, Sarah Thomson, Nick Batzias, Virginia Whitwell,...
Previously, November 17: Organizers of the British Independent Film Awards have confirmed their upcoming ceremony will delay from its traditional end-of-year dates to February, 2021, moving in line with this year’s major awards shows.
This week, the BIFAs will unveil its various longlists of awards, which will be whittled down to its final nominations, to be revealed on December 9.
Today, the New Talent awards longlists have been unveiled, featuring a total of 46 directors, writers and producers. Each of the below will participate in BIFA’s Springboard scheme, a tailored program of professional development and peer to peer support.
Best Documentary
The Art Of Political Murder Paul Taylor, Teddy Leifer, Regina K. Scully
The Australian Dream Daniel Gordon, Stan Grant, Sarah Thomson, Nick Batzias, Virginia Whitwell,...
- 11/20/2020
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
One of the best reviewed hot-button documentaries of last Sundance has finally been claimed and given an opportunity to be seen. Briarcliff Entertainment acquired U.S. distribution on The Dissident, about the brutal murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi after he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to get a marriage license. Directed by Bryan Fogel, whose Russian sports doping docu Icarus won the Oscar, the film will be released via theatrical and VOD to commemorate the second anniversary of the assassination, which happened October 2, 2018. Briarcliff released the film’s first trailer, which can be viewed below.
The picture premiered at Sundance, and while streaming companies gobbled up title after title, it became clear none of them or any major studios were going to touch the film, evidence of the complex nature of distributors that are part of conglomerates with global expansion plans, and the risk of alienating the...
The picture premiered at Sundance, and while streaming companies gobbled up title after title, it became clear none of them or any major studios were going to touch the film, evidence of the complex nature of distributors that are part of conglomerates with global expansion plans, and the risk of alienating the...
- 9/2/2020
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: One of the hottest and most anticipated films of Sundance 2020 is attracting some very big names.
Hillary Clinton is likely to be among the luminaries at today’s Sff world premiere of The Dissident, I hear.
Whether the former Secretary of State speaks at the screening, Clinton’s presence alone is sure to add weight to the Bryan Fogel-directed documentary about Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s 2018 grizzly murder in Saudi Arabia’s Istanbul Embassy. Alec Baldwin is also expected to be at the film at its screening this afternoon at the Marc Theatre, as well as Khashoggi’s fiancée Hatice Cengiz too.
In Park City this weekend to promote her Hulu docuseries, Clinton has been repeatedly condemned Donald Trump over the past year for role in what she has termed the “cover-up” of the death of the outspoken Khashoggi at what all evidence from the CIA and...
Hillary Clinton is likely to be among the luminaries at today’s Sff world premiere of The Dissident, I hear.
Whether the former Secretary of State speaks at the screening, Clinton’s presence alone is sure to add weight to the Bryan Fogel-directed documentary about Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s 2018 grizzly murder in Saudi Arabia’s Istanbul Embassy. Alec Baldwin is also expected to be at the film at its screening this afternoon at the Marc Theatre, as well as Khashoggi’s fiancée Hatice Cengiz too.
In Park City this weekend to promote her Hulu docuseries, Clinton has been repeatedly condemned Donald Trump over the past year for role in what she has termed the “cover-up” of the death of the outspoken Khashoggi at what all evidence from the CIA and...
- 1/24/2020
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
Nicki Minaj has cancelled her upcoming performance at the Jeddah World Fest in Saudia Arabia in an effort to show support for women’s and Lgbtq rights.
“After careful reflection I have decided to no longer move forward with my scheduled concert at Jeddah World Fest. While I want nothing more than to bring my show to fans in Saudi Arabia, after better educating myself on the issues, I believe it is important for me to make clear my support for the rights of women, the Lgbtq community and freedom of expression,” Minaj told The Associated Press Tuesday.
Reps for Minaj and the Jeddah World Fest did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.
The festival takes place July 18 at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium near the city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Minaj was set to headline along with Liam Payne, Steve Aoki and R3 Wire & Varski. It...
“After careful reflection I have decided to no longer move forward with my scheduled concert at Jeddah World Fest. While I want nothing more than to bring my show to fans in Saudi Arabia, after better educating myself on the issues, I believe it is important for me to make clear my support for the rights of women, the Lgbtq community and freedom of expression,” Minaj told The Associated Press Tuesday.
Reps for Minaj and the Jeddah World Fest did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.
The festival takes place July 18 at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium near the city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Minaj was set to headline along with Liam Payne, Steve Aoki and R3 Wire & Varski. It...
- 7/9/2019
- by Margeaux Sippell
- The Wrap
The photo of Nicolas Cage posing with Kazakhstan First Lady Sara Nazarbayeva that emerged this week might have amused many social-media users, but the Human Rights Foundation isn’t laughing. Human Rights Foundation president Thor Halvorssen issued a statement tearing into the actor Wednesday, accusing the “Leaving Las Vegas” star of boosting a dictatorship’s image. According to the Foundation, Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev “has systematically oppressed the civil liberties of Kazakh citizens.” The foundation cited a 2011 massacre of dozens of peaceful protesters, and a government crack-down on independent news outlets, including the arrests of editors and reporters on “overbroad and vague.
- 7/26/2017
- by Tim Kenneally
- The Wrap
Exclusive: President of international sales and distribution Jeffrey Greenstein and his team hit the Croisette with sales rights to a host of hot titles including ensemble drama The Circus and Day Of The Dead.
The Circus is scheduled to commence shooting in September with Imogen Poots lined up to star alongside Charlotte Rampling, Pal Sverre Hagen, Ariane Labed and Holliday Grainger.
Terrence Malick will serve as executive producer on the story from St. Tisa and Millimeter Films about a man and his daughter who experience love, magic and loss against the backdrop of a travelling circus. Nu Image holds worldwide rights excluding Scandinavia.
Producers are Thor Halvorssen, Anthony Lucero and Suliko Tsulukidze. Joining Malick on the executive producers roster are Ilene Feldman, Tamara Tatishvili, Nu Image founder Avi Lerner and Millennium Films president Mark Gill. Noshre Chkhaidze is line producer and Dave Matthews is composing original music.
Production is set to commence shortly on Day Of The Dead with Hector Hernandez...
The Circus is scheduled to commence shooting in September with Imogen Poots lined up to star alongside Charlotte Rampling, Pal Sverre Hagen, Ariane Labed and Holliday Grainger.
Terrence Malick will serve as executive producer on the story from St. Tisa and Millimeter Films about a man and his daughter who experience love, magic and loss against the backdrop of a travelling circus. Nu Image holds worldwide rights excluding Scandinavia.
Producers are Thor Halvorssen, Anthony Lucero and Suliko Tsulukidze. Joining Malick on the executive producers roster are Ilene Feldman, Tamara Tatishvili, Nu Image founder Avi Lerner and Millennium Films president Mark Gill. Noshre Chkhaidze is line producer and Dave Matthews is composing original music.
Production is set to commence shortly on Day Of The Dead with Hector Hernandez...
- 5/9/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Welcome to Outrage Watch, HitFix's semi-regular rundown of entertainment-related kerfuffles. Not anxious enough already? Get your fix of righteous indignation below, and stay posted for outrage updates throughout the week. Nicki Minaj is no stranger to controversy, and this week the Grammy-winning superstar is fanning the flames once again thanks to a lucrative trip to the Angolan capital of Luanda. Ignoring pleas from human rights organizations not to perform at a Christmas festival sponsored by the country's dictator-controlled telecommunications company Unitel, the rapper not only went forward with the show but extensively documented the trip via her official Instagram account: G4 to Angola. ???????????????????????? A photo posted by Nicki Minaj (@nickiminaj) on Dec 18, 2015 at 12:07pm Pst Oh hai, Angola. Ready for the show? ???? A photo posted by Nicki Minaj (@nickiminaj) on Dec 19, 2015 at 12:55pm Pst Reppin the flag on my back. Angola I Love Uuuuuuuuuuuuu. Thank Uuuuuuuu!!!!!!!! Muuuuaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!! A...
- 12/22/2015
- by Chris Eggertsen
- Hitfix
Nicki Minaj is in the spotlight — and not for topping the charts. Rapper Minaj is catching heat from a human rights group for a scheduled Dec. 19 performance in Angola. According to the Human Rights Foundation, Minaj has been booked to perform at the holiday party for communications company Unitel, which the organization says is controlled “by the family of dictator Jose Eduardo dos Santos.” Also Read: Nicki Minaj Berates NY Times Reporter for 'Stupid Questions' and Shuts Down Interview “Nicki Minaj is a global artist. Millions of people look up to her for creative inspiration,” Human Rights Foundation president Thor Halvorssen.
- 12/15/2015
- by Tim Kenneally
- The Wrap
Keeping one of its most lucrative directors in-house, Fox has set X-Men: Days of Future Past helmer Bryan Singer to tackle an adaptation of Robert A. Heinlein’s sci-fi classic The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, to be titled Uprising.
Arrow executive producer Marc Guggenheim has come aboard to adapt the book, which centers on a lunar colony’s revolt against rulers stationed back on Earth, echoing the historical conflict between the United States and the British Empire. It was nominated for the 1966 Nebula Award, honoring the best American writing in fantasy and science fiction, and won the Hugo Award for best science fiction novel in 1967.
Two previous attempts to adapt Heinlein’s novel – one at DreamWorks with a script by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, and another by Phoenix Pictures involving Harry Potter producer David Heyman – failed, with the rights reverting to the author’s estate.
Singer is also attached in a producing capacity,...
Arrow executive producer Marc Guggenheim has come aboard to adapt the book, which centers on a lunar colony’s revolt against rulers stationed back on Earth, echoing the historical conflict between the United States and the British Empire. It was nominated for the 1966 Nebula Award, honoring the best American writing in fantasy and science fiction, and won the Hugo Award for best science fiction novel in 1967.
Two previous attempts to adapt Heinlein’s novel – one at DreamWorks with a script by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, and another by Phoenix Pictures involving Harry Potter producer David Heyman – failed, with the rights reverting to the author’s estate.
Singer is also attached in a producing capacity,...
- 3/4/2015
- by Isaac Feldberg
- We Got This Covered
Bryan Singer has signed on as the director of Uprising.
The project is an adaptation of Robert A Heinlein's sci-fi novel The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Heinlein's novel is set in 2075 and follows the rebellion of a moon-based colony against their rulers on Earth.
Arrow executive producer Marc Guggenheim is adapting the novel for the big screen, with Singer, Lloyd Braun and Thor Halvorssen producing.
Andrew Mittman and Jason Taylor will serve as executive producers on Uprising.
20th Century Fox secured the rights to the adaptation, following previous attempts by DreamWorks and Phoenix Pictures.
Heinlein's other novels include Starship Troopers, Stranger in a Strange Land and The Puppet Masters.
Singer's next project for 20th Century Fox will be X-Men: Apocalypse, which is scheduled for release on May 27, 2016.
The project is an adaptation of Robert A Heinlein's sci-fi novel The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Heinlein's novel is set in 2075 and follows the rebellion of a moon-based colony against their rulers on Earth.
Arrow executive producer Marc Guggenheim is adapting the novel for the big screen, with Singer, Lloyd Braun and Thor Halvorssen producing.
Andrew Mittman and Jason Taylor will serve as executive producers on Uprising.
20th Century Fox secured the rights to the adaptation, following previous attempts by DreamWorks and Phoenix Pictures.
Heinlein's other novels include Starship Troopers, Stranger in a Strange Land and The Puppet Masters.
Singer's next project for 20th Century Fox will be X-Men: Apocalypse, which is scheduled for release on May 27, 2016.
- 3/4/2015
- Digital Spy
Bryan Singer is set to direct "Uprising," a film adaptation of "Starship Troopers" author Robert A. Heinlein's 1966 novel "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" for 20th Century Fox.
The story centers on a lunar colony's revolt against rule from Earth. It won the Hugo Award for best science fiction novel in 1967.
"Arrow" executive producer Marc Guggenheim will pen the adaptation while Singer, Lloyd Braun and Thor Halvorssen will produce.
Two previous attempts were made to adapt the property which never came to fruition. Singer's immediate next project is "X-Men: Apocalypse" which begins shooting next month.
Source: Heat Vision...
The story centers on a lunar colony's revolt against rule from Earth. It won the Hugo Award for best science fiction novel in 1967.
"Arrow" executive producer Marc Guggenheim will pen the adaptation while Singer, Lloyd Braun and Thor Halvorssen will produce.
Two previous attempts were made to adapt the property which never came to fruition. Singer's immediate next project is "X-Men: Apocalypse" which begins shooting next month.
Source: Heat Vision...
- 3/4/2015
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Bryan Singer is tackling an adaptation of The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, based on the classic sci-fi book by Robert A. Heinlein. Twentieth Century Fox recently picked up the movie rights. Arrow executive producer Marc Guggenheim will adapt the book for the project, which will be titled Uprising. Singer is producing with Lloyd Braun of Whalerock Industries and Thor Halvorssen. Executive producers are Andrew Mittman and Jason Taylor. Heinlein's 1966 sci-fi novel centers on about a lunar colony's revolt against rule from Earth. The novel was nominated for the 1966 Nebula award (honoring the best sci-fi and
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- 3/3/2015
- by Borys Kit, Rebecca Ford
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
If you thought Sony’s U.S. release of “The Interview” was unconventional, wait until you hear how it’s going to be distributed in North Korea.
Activist Park Sang-hak, a North Korean defector, is teaming up with the Human Rights Foundation, a U.S. non-profit organization, to deliver 100,000 DVDs and USBs of the Seth Rogen-James Franco comedy across the border from South Korea by balloon.
See photos: Sony Hack Attack Timeline: From First Cyberbreach and Leaks to ‘The Interview’ Release (Photos)
“North Korea’s absolute leadership will crumble if the idolization of leader Kim [Jong-un] breaks down,” Park told the Associated Press.
Activist Park Sang-hak, a North Korean defector, is teaming up with the Human Rights Foundation, a U.S. non-profit organization, to deliver 100,000 DVDs and USBs of the Seth Rogen-James Franco comedy across the border from South Korea by balloon.
See photos: Sony Hack Attack Timeline: From First Cyberbreach and Leaks to ‘The Interview’ Release (Photos)
“North Korea’s absolute leadership will crumble if the idolization of leader Kim [Jong-un] breaks down,” Park told the Associated Press.
- 12/31/2014
- by Greg Gilman
- The Wrap
Update: Sony has canceled the December 25th theatrical release of The Interview, according to Variety, citing several major theatrical chains' decisions not to screen the film as the reason. "We respect and understand our partners' decision and, of course, completely share their paramount interest in the safety of employees and theatergoers," the company said in a statement.
Seth Rogen and James Franco's assassination-plot romp The Interview has become the most controversial movie in decades. Following terror threats on movie theaters planning on showing the film, Sony, the studio behind it,...
Seth Rogen and James Franco's assassination-plot romp The Interview has become the most controversial movie in decades. Following terror threats on movie theaters planning on showing the film, Sony, the studio behind it,...
- 12/17/2014
- Rollingstone.com
Enjoying some times with the kiddies on the snowy heights of Colorado, Mariah Carey took her twins Monroe and Moroccan jewelry shopping in Aspen.
The “All I Want for Christmas is You” singer was sexy in white, sporting a lovely snow-colored coat and scarf, a short skirt and hot top boots.
In related news, the 43-year-old pop singer has taken a lot of flak from human rights activists for her recent performance for Jose Eduardo dos Santos, the president of Angola.
The leader of the country since 1979, Dos Santos allegedly ordered the deaths of journalists and activists who protested his rule.
In a press statement, The Human Rights Foundation president Thor Halvorssen stated that, "Mariah Carey can't seem to get enough dictator cash, reportedly more than $1 million this time.”...
The “All I Want for Christmas is You” singer was sexy in white, sporting a lovely snow-colored coat and scarf, a short skirt and hot top boots.
In related news, the 43-year-old pop singer has taken a lot of flak from human rights activists for her recent performance for Jose Eduardo dos Santos, the president of Angola.
The leader of the country since 1979, Dos Santos allegedly ordered the deaths of journalists and activists who protested his rule.
In a press statement, The Human Rights Foundation president Thor Halvorssen stated that, "Mariah Carey can't seem to get enough dictator cash, reportedly more than $1 million this time.”...
- 12/21/2013
- GossipCenter
The Human Rights Foundation is criticizing Mariah Carey for her recent concert in Angola, calling the nation's president, José Eduardo dos Santos, a "notoriously corrupt" dictator. Carey performed a two-hour concert on Sunday at a gala for the Angolan Red Cross that was sponsored by mobile phone company Unitel. Dos Santos' daughter Isabel owns Unitel and is serves as president of the Angolan Red Cross. Dos Santos has reportedly ordered the deaths of many politicians, journalists and activists who oppose him. Video: Did Mariah Carey Call Nicki Minaj 'Satan?' Hrf president Thor Halvorssen slammed Carey in a statement. “Mariah Carey can’t seem
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- 12/19/2013
- by THR Staff
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
New York (AP) — The Human Rights Foundation has criticized Kanye West for performing at a wedding in Kazakhstan, joining a chorus of detractors who say he legitimized the human rights violations of the nation's president. The rapper performed at the wedding of Nursultan Nazarbayev's grandson last Saturday. The human rights group compared the appearance to a similar visit earlier this summer by Jennifer Lopez to Turkmenistan, which has its own history of human rights violations. Hrf President Thor Halvorssen says in a statement that Kazakhstan is a "human rights wasteland" where entertainers like West would be imprisoned for expressing their...
- 9/5/2013
- by AP Staff
- Hitfix
The Human Rights Foundation is not happy with Jennifer Lopez, who drew the ire of several human rights groups last month when she gave a paid performance at the birthday party of Turkmenistan's repressive leader, Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov. At the time, Lopez's publicist Mark Young apologized and claimed that "had there been knowledge of human rights issues of any kind, Jennifer would not have attended," but Hrf president Thor Halvorssen contends that "the 'Jenny-from-the-block-who-doesn't-Google' clarification" doesn't hold up in light of her "pattern" of entertaining unsavory characters. Halvorssen pointed to a $1 million July 2011 appearance Lopez made at the wedding of the son of Uzbek industrialist Azam Aslamov, whose guests included Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov (Hilary Swank got in trouble for attending his birthday party in 2011.) Lopez is also said to have been paid $1.4 million to perform at the Moscow birthday party of corrupt Russian businessman Telman Ismailov. In 2012,...
- 7/13/2013
- by Delia Paunescu
- Vulture
A human rights group on Friday accused pop singer Jennifer Lopez of receiving more than $10 million for "serenading crooks and dictators” from Russia and a number of former Soviet republics. “J.Lo has repeatedly mingled with and entertained some of the world’s worst thugs and their cronies," said Human Rights Foundation president Thor Halvorssen in a statement to the press. "The ‘Jenny-from-the-block-who-doesn't-Google’ clarification may be credible in one instance, but it beggars belief in light of a pattern of repeated behavior." A representative for Lopez could not be immediately be reached
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- 7/12/2013
- by Tina Daunt
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
As you would expect, Jennifer Lopez is under fire from human-rights groups and generally everybody else for her paid performance at Turkmenistan dictator Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov’s lavish birthday party on Saturday (you can watch a clip of if here). In a statement released this morning, Human Rights Foundation president Thor Halvorssen said the pop star’s choice to appear in the oppressed hermit nation “utterly destroy[s] the carefully-crafted message she has cultivated with her prior involvement with Amnesty International’s programs in Mexico aimed at curbing violence against women.” He added, "What is the next stop on her tour, Syria? The dictator of Kazakhstan’s birthday is July 6, maybe she will also pay him a visit?"Meanwhile on Twitter, Mia Farrow and her son both lambasted the appearance. Ronan Farrow, himself a human rights lawyer who most recently worked with Hillary Clinton as a special adviser for global youth issues wrote,...
- 6/30/2013
- by Delia Paunescu
- Vulture
Talk about backtracking: after the Human Rights Watch publicly criticized Hilary Swank for appearing at the birthday party for notorious Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov, the two-time Oscar winner actress has been doing serious damage control. The October 5th event was the glittering 35th birthday celebration of the Kremilin-supported leader, who has been accused by the organization of militant rule, torture, murder and other "crimes against humanity."
In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, the Human Rights Watch pointed to other celebrities who had in the past supported controversial political figures before singling out Swank and co-attendees Jean-Claude Van Damme, Seal and violinist Vanessa Mae, who attended the event in exchange for a rumored several hundred thousand dollars.
“We must remember the disgrace Mariah Carey, Nelly Furtado, Beyoncé and 50 Cent were exposed to after singing for the Gadhafi family and earning millions of dollars for it,” said Thor Halvorssen, president of the Human Rights Foundation.
In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, the Human Rights Watch pointed to other celebrities who had in the past supported controversial political figures before singling out Swank and co-attendees Jean-Claude Van Damme, Seal and violinist Vanessa Mae, who attended the event in exchange for a rumored several hundred thousand dollars.
“We must remember the disgrace Mariah Carey, Nelly Furtado, Beyoncé and 50 Cent were exposed to after singing for the Gadhafi family and earning millions of dollars for it,” said Thor Halvorssen, president of the Human Rights Foundation.
- 10/14/2011
- by Entertainment Weekly
- Huffington Post
Hilary Swank and Jean-Claude Van Damme have been criticized by human rights groups for attending Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov's birthday party. The stars and violinist Vanessa-Mae were among the celebrity guests at Kadyrov's birthday celebration in Grozny last week. Kadyrov has been accused by international aid organisations of committing atrocities since coming to power in 2007. Human Rights Foundation president Thor Halvorssen called on Swank to donate her fee from the event, saying: "Hilary Swank obviously has the right to earn a living entertaining the highest bidder, but this sort of venality should be exposed. "Would she have accepted an invitation to entertain [ex-Chilean leader Augusto] Pinochet? Al-Qaeda? The apartheid government in Pretoria? "We must remember the disgrace of Mariah Carey, Nelly (more)...
- 10/11/2011
- by By Justin Harp
- Digital Spy
Hollywood stars Hilary Swank and Jean-claude Van Damme have come under fire from human rights groups for attending the birthday celebrations of Chechnya's controversial President Ramzan Kadyrov last week.
The politician, who turned 35 on Wednesday, closed off central Grozny, the country's capital, to host a lavish bash, which saw a number of skyscrapers illuminated as fireworks were simultaneously set off.
He invited Oscar-winner Swank and action man Van Damme to watch violinist Vanessa Mae perform as part of his birthday party, and both wished him many happy returns.
However, the stars' attendance has infuriated activists who accuse Kadyrov of acts of brutality and torture against his own people.
A spokesperson for the Human Rights Watch organisation has urged the pair to hand any fee they received for attending the party to charity, saying, "Ramzan Kadyrov is linked to a litany of horrific human rights abuses. It's inappropriate for stars to get paid to party with him. It bolsters his image and legitimises a brutal leader and his regime. And getting paid to be part of such a lavish show in Chechnya trivialises the suffering of countless victims of human rights abuses there."
Thor Halvorssen, president of the Human Rights Foundation, adds, "Hilary Swank obviously has the right to earn a living entertaining the highest bidder, but this sort of venality should be exposed - especially after claiming she was not going.
"Would she have accepted an invitation to entertain (former Chilean leader Augusto) Pinochet? Al-Qaeda? The apartheid government in Pretoria? We must remember the disgrace of Mariah Carey, Nelly Furtado, Beyonce and 50 Cent (who) were exposed... singing for Gaddafi's family and earning millions of dollars for it."...
The politician, who turned 35 on Wednesday, closed off central Grozny, the country's capital, to host a lavish bash, which saw a number of skyscrapers illuminated as fireworks were simultaneously set off.
He invited Oscar-winner Swank and action man Van Damme to watch violinist Vanessa Mae perform as part of his birthday party, and both wished him many happy returns.
However, the stars' attendance has infuriated activists who accuse Kadyrov of acts of brutality and torture against his own people.
A spokesperson for the Human Rights Watch organisation has urged the pair to hand any fee they received for attending the party to charity, saying, "Ramzan Kadyrov is linked to a litany of horrific human rights abuses. It's inappropriate for stars to get paid to party with him. It bolsters his image and legitimises a brutal leader and his regime. And getting paid to be part of such a lavish show in Chechnya trivialises the suffering of countless victims of human rights abuses there."
Thor Halvorssen, president of the Human Rights Foundation, adds, "Hilary Swank obviously has the right to earn a living entertaining the highest bidder, but this sort of venality should be exposed - especially after claiming she was not going.
"Would she have accepted an invitation to entertain (former Chilean leader Augusto) Pinochet? Al-Qaeda? The apartheid government in Pretoria? We must remember the disgrace of Mariah Carey, Nelly Furtado, Beyonce and 50 Cent (who) were exposed... singing for Gaddafi's family and earning millions of dollars for it."...
- 10/11/2011
- WENN
Sean Penn is getting worried that his cozying up to Marxist dictators might cost him an Academy Award. We reported last month how Penn was smacked by the gay Advocate magazine over his visits to Fidel and Raul Castro, whose regime murdered and imprisoned gays. Last week, Penn called José Miguel Vivanco, head of Human Rights Watch's Latin America division, and asked for a meeting. Vivanco flew to San Francisco to dine with the star Thursday and brief him on the situation in Cuba and Venezuela. Vivanco was thrown out of...
- 1/18/2009
- NYPost.com
"An American Carol" is coming to a theater near you, whether you like it or not.
A zany comedy that promises to offend Hollywood's liberal sensibilities -- coming just one month before the presidential election -- there's more riding on "Carol" than one might expect.
For one, it's the first wide release distributed by Vivendi Entertainment, which launched as a theatrical distribution company in March. Vivendi will open "Carol" on 2,000 screens Oct. 3.
And "Carol" is the first theatrical production from Mpower Pictures, the studio co-founded by Mel Gibson's longtime producing partner Steve McEveety.
It's loosely based on "A Christmas Carol," only instead of Ebenezer Scrooge learning an appreciation for Christmas, a Michael Moore-type filmmaker who is visited by the ghosts of George Washington, George Patton and President Kennedy must learn to appreciate the USA.
"Carol" isn't the only politically charged film set for wide release before voters head to the polls Nov.
A zany comedy that promises to offend Hollywood's liberal sensibilities -- coming just one month before the presidential election -- there's more riding on "Carol" than one might expect.
For one, it's the first wide release distributed by Vivendi Entertainment, which launched as a theatrical distribution company in March. Vivendi will open "Carol" on 2,000 screens Oct. 3.
And "Carol" is the first theatrical production from Mpower Pictures, the studio co-founded by Mel Gibson's longtime producing partner Steve McEveety.
It's loosely based on "A Christmas Carol," only instead of Ebenezer Scrooge learning an appreciation for Christmas, a Michael Moore-type filmmaker who is visited by the ghosts of George Washington, George Patton and President Kennedy must learn to appreciate the USA.
"Carol" isn't the only politically charged film set for wide release before voters head to the polls Nov.
- 9/14/2008
- by By Paul Bond
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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