The invasion of Ukraine changed everything for Wall Street

Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to invade Ukraine last week shattered the security order in Europe that has existed since the end of the Cold War. It's also compelled investors to consider whether they need to adjust to a world that's changed for good.

States want to boycott Russian vodka. Here's why that won't work

Russian-made alcohol is the latest target in the growing backlash against the country's invasion of Ukraine.

Analysis: Why journalists covering Ukraine and Russia lean into the many unknowns of war reporting

A version of this article first appeared in the "Reliable Sources" newsletter. You can sign up for free right here.

How an Indian company is transforming palm leaves into tableware

It's time for lunch in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad and locals are crowding at Prahalad Tiffin Point, a popular roadside eatery serving regional staples like dosa and idli.

BP will dump its 20% stake in Russian oil giant Rosneft

BP is cutting ties with Rosneft in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

How the Ukraine conflict could redraw the world air map

Russia's invasion of Ukraine and aviation bans are creating huge no-go areas in the sky, with major implications for long-haul carriers that normally criss-cross the skies of Eastern Europe en route to Asia.

Christian Eriksen makes first appearance since cardiac arrest 259 days ago

Christian Eriksen made his first appearance in a game since suffering a cardiac arrest 259 days ago.

Boxing legends the Klitschko brothers vow to fight for Ukraine

Former heavyweight boxing champion Vitali Klitschko said he would take up arms alongside his brother and fellow Hall of Famer Wladimir Klitschko to fight in what is a "bloody war" following Russia's invasion of their country, Ukraine.

Putin's plan: Annexations, a rump state or puppet rulers?

It took a matter of hours on Thursday for Russian President Vladimir Putin to rupture Europe's peace and security in his attempt to strip Ukrainians of their right to self-determination.

Russian tennis stars speak out against war

Two top-10 Russian tennis stars, including world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev, have addressed their country's invasion of Ukraine this week.

Analysis: Europe in a bind on Ukraine response

It was only a week ago that the major powers and institutions that hold the Western alliance together were triumphant in their unity over Russia's aggression toward Ukraine. What a difference a full-scale invasion has made.

UEFA moves Champions League Final from St. Petersburg

UEFA announced that this year's Champions League Final will no longer take place in St. Petersburg following an extraordinary meeting of the governing body's Executive Committee on Friday.

'We just wanted to be together,' says Ukrainian couple who rushed to marry amid attacks

It was not the wedding day they envisaged, but as Russia attacked their country Thursday Yaryna Arieva and her partner Sviatoslav Fursin rushed to tie the knot with the sound of air raid sirens ringing in their ears.

Pondicherry, Review: Enough icing, but the cherry is missing

Pondicherry, Review: Enough icing, but the cherry is missing

Marathi film Pondicherry is like a French patisserie (it used to be a French colony), with some delectable pastries to savour. It uses the relatively unknown locale quite well, and incorporates tastes of various other languages, besides Marathi: Hindi, Punjabi-accented Hindi, English, Tamil and French. It also uses characters from the ages of 7 to 70, to be really democratic in its story-telling. Having set the base of the cake and the icing just about right, it somehow forgets to put a cherry on top. For those who did not get the allegory, the film had many more possibilities then it ended-up tapping. And yet, it is innocent, innocuous and an easy watch film.

In Pondicherry (south India, bordering Tamilnadu state, also known as Puducherry), Pune-born Nikita runs a home-stay, with the help of a loyal caretaker. She started this because she had visited Pondicherry, met her husband there and liked the place. Moreover, her husband is a Navy-man, who spends six months of the year at sea, so she needs something to keep her occupied. Along with the home-stay, she also serves as a tour guide, since she can speak English and French, besides Marathi and Tamil. She has a young son, Ishan, who is precocious, and a little too smart for his age. Into this world comes a man named Rohan.

As he alights from a car, his colleague hands him a gun, but Rohan returns it, saying that this time, his handsome face will do the needful and the gun will not be needed. Although he had initially booked a room at Nikita’s home-stay for just a day, he extends his stay by a whole month. As the days go by, he gets close to Ishan, and through Ishan, to Nikita. Nikita’s mother is in constant touch with her on the phone, and even visits her. But she would like Nikita to sell off that property and move back to Pune. And then two developments take place. Firstly, Vishnu, Nikita’s husband, has not come back in a long time and there are fears about his having been drowned at sea. Secondly, Rohan reveals that he has come to take over the property on behalf of his principals. Suddenly, Nikita’s world seems to be crumbling beneath her feet.

Giving the tale a delicate treatment, writer Tejas Modak (Gulabjaam) dots it with some interesting nuances. Almost everybody, and Nikita in particular, is always walking or running. She explains this trait by saying that it helps her get over sadness. He uses the kid to both conceal and reveal secrets, as is the norm with most children that age. But there are trappings that could have been avoided. The gun bit is out of place. The co-incidence of Rohan’s ex-wife landing at the same home-stay, with her fiancé, is too much to digest. The sequence at the school is nothing if not touching, yet it does not ring true. And the smelling of clothes is taken too far. Pondicherry gives the feel that the writer worked with the germ of an idea, but could not translate it into a more engaging narrative.

Director Sachin Kundalkar (Rajwade and Sons, Vazandar, Gulabjaam) has handled the film sensitively, looking at women’s world from their point of view. There are three major female characters, and they largely ring true. So do the three male characters. However, for the major part, it is a sad story, with little or no relief. Nikita faces the prospect of being widowed and losing her home-stay, Manasi (Rohan’s ex-wife) is rejected by her divorcée husband-to-be, and Nikita’s mother is all lost, wanting her back in Pune, and endorsing the sale of the property. By comparison, the male characters have it easy, or, at least, easier. Rohan loses nothing, Nikita’s loyal caretaker is open to serving his new bosses should, should the home-stay be sold, and Manasi’s fiancé drops her like a hot cake when an unexpected development takes place. Though not the tear-jerker kind, melancholia pervades all through. Unlike an open ending, the end is a sort of compromise, a ‘neither here nor there’ kind of predicament.

Understated and business-like in her dealings, Sai Tamhankar as Nikita conceals a volcano in her heart. Her performance elicits both sympathy and empathy. Vaibhav Tawawadi as Rohan has the right physique and is quite convincing. Amruta Khanwilkar has a smaller role and fits the bill. As the child, Ishant, Tanmay Kulkarni is just a bit over-the-top, but child roles do not generally appeal unless they are either brutalised, naughty or precocious. Old-timer Neena Kulkarni makes the ideal mother, looking the right age, and dishing out what she believes is the right advice to her daughter. Gaurav Ghatnekar is passable as Manasi’s fiancé. Bhupendra Jadawat plays the caretaker, and plays it well.

Shot on an Apple iPhone by Milind Jog, the choice has worked both for and against the film, largely for. It goes against the film when there are some scenes that show inappropriate light or some shadows. Abhijeet Deshpande's editing keeps the film to 110 minutes, which could have been even shorter, for better impact. Tejas Modak has done the wall paintings and the credit titles too. Kudos for that. Some shots appear repetitive, but that is the city growing on you. Music by Debarpito Saha is pleasant and unobtrusive.

Pondicherry is an ode to the city-state, which has attractive beaches, but from where the caretaker of the home-stay goes to Goa for his holidays. It had all the makings of a feel-good movie, but as it turns out, it is more sad than good. You could still see it, smile a little, wipe a little tear and emerge unharmed from the visit.

Rating: ** ½

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze-2wc_h1Ig

from Filmfestivals.com - Hollywood, Independent, Shorts, Videos, Documentary https://ift.tt/z1MOPSA
via gqrds

Oreo maker and Coke bottler close up shop in Ukraine

A number of companies have suspended production or limited manufacturing output in Ukraine because of the Russian invasion early Thursday.

Maeya Film new production “ Tibetan Horse”is filming in China.

Tibetan Horse, a large-scale ethnic theme film produced by Maeya Films, held a grand launching ceremony in the Gannan Tibetan area a few days ago. The film is directed by young director Jade Li and starred by Cooper Budan, a famous Chinese minority actor. Maeya Films joined hands with Qinghai Mantanhong Culture Media Co., Ltd., Xining Baita Art and Culture Communication Co., Ltd., Sichuan Miding Media Co., Ltd., and Qinghai Linshui Media Co., Ltd. to co-produce the film.

 

Cooper Budan, who graduated from Qinghai Nationalities University, majored in thangka painting, is a famous ethnic minority actor in China. He has starred in the TV series "The Longest Day In Chang'an", "Snow Line" and the movie "On Matriarchy Lake", and "Life of Buda". "Tibetan Horse" is a dream come true that he wants to show the charmingness of humanities and natural beauty of his hometown to the world. His hometown was in Maqu County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. All the scenes in the film are shot in his hometown and the "Tibetan Horse" shows Maqu's majestic first bend of the Yellow River, more than 10,000 square kilometers of prairie, Ando horses, and vivid fierce horse racing! It is believed that it will become another brilliant achievement in his excellent ethnic theme work resume.

 

The film "Tibetan Horse" is based on the life of the primitive Tibetan herdsmen, takes the breathtaking struggle to track down the horse thieves, and embodies the Tibetan culture of the primitive Ando herdsmen, the beauty of Maqu in Tibet, the pure love and the deep connections between brothers. Expressing that only the goodness of human nature can spread positive energy, "hatred can not dissolve hatred, only compassion can thoroughly dissolve hatred". As long as we have the kindness of one mind, then we will realize that all things are good; as long as we have the kindness of one heart, we will be able to understand the love of all things. To introduce "Human nature is Buddha-nature, and Buddha-nature is human nature" in the film so that audiences can truly feel and understand the thoughts and humanities of the Tibetan people.

 

The production of "Tibetan Horse" invited Hollywood's first-class technical team to provide remote support, and the local shooting team is composed of 100% Tibetans. Producer Quentin Meng hopes to provide more Tibetan compatriots with opportunities to enter the film industry and gain valuable experience in front-line shooting through such a team. "Tibetan Horse" has been stepping up filming and production in the Gannan Tibetan area since it was started. Based on the experience accumulated over the years, Chief Producer Boney Li believes that the completion of the production of "Tibetan Horse" will create more glory for Tibetan films in the world! At present, the film has confirmed the intention of international production and distribution with Maeya Films. In the future, Maeya Films will represent “Tibetan Horse" to participate in the evaluation, exhibition, and distribution of the international film festivals. Maeya Film, which has many years of experience in the distribution and promotion of ethnic films, is also full of confidence in the production team of "Tibetan Horse". It is believed that after the completion of filming and production, "Tibetan Horse" will bring a refreshing new experience for audiences at home and abroad. For more details, please follow the official account of Maeya Films and learn more about the latest information on the front line of the "Tibetan Horse" shooting

from Filmfestivals.com - Hollywood, Independent, Shorts, Videos, Documentary https://ift.tt/1Q3Mit6
via gqrds

What Covid did to Amsterdam's cannabis coffee shops

Once crowded by too many tourists, the canals of Amsterdam continue to stand empty, even as the Netherlands eases travel restrictions. The infamous Red Light District is also mostly deserted. The Dutch capital remains a ghost town.

Pakistan-American man sentenced to death for beheading a diplomat's daughter

A Pakistan man has been found guilty of murdering the daughter of a distinguished diplomat in a brutal beheading case that sparked renewed calls for better protection of domestic violence victims.

This is how your wallet could be affected by the Russia-Ukraine crisis

President Biden has announced new sanctions against Russia amid growing tensions between the country and Ukraine. CNN's Brian Todd explains how the move could affect your pocketbook.

The dress that changed British pop history

Remember when being British was cool?

Trudeau revokes Emergencies Act, saying existing laws are enough to deal with protesters

The Canadian government announced Wednesday it will lift the Emergencies Act, nine days after it was invoked, saying police have the tools they need to continue to deal with unlawful protesters.

The Middle East already has a crypto hub, and it's not Dubai

When the world's biggest cryptocurrency exchange decided in December to set up an advisory body in Dubai, local bitcoin enthusiasts celebrated. Binance's presence would be the jewel in the city's crypto crown as it tried to position itself as a hub for the digital asset.

Why markets care about Putin's aggression

In 2021, investors might have averted their eyes from a military conflict in Ukraine. But as concerns about inflation and reduced support from central banks loom, geopolitical tensions that could hurt the global economy are taking center stage.

Sign up for our 9-part Italy travel and food newsletter

North Korea breaks ground on 10,000-home high-rise district

North Korea has started work on a sprawling 10,000-apartment residential project as the country embarks on a housing drive in its capital, Pyongyang.

Colombia becomes latest Latin American country to partially decriminalize abortion

Colombia became the latest country in Latin America to partially decriminalize abortion on Monday, marking a major victory for the nation's feminist movements and reflecting a wider shift in views toward the procedure across the region.

Nigerian startup is fighting baby jaundice with solar-powered cribs

In 2015, Virtue Oboro experienced every mother's worst nightmare: at just 48 hours old, her newborn son was rushed into hospital for emergency treatment.

This could become the most expensive photo ever sold

Man Ray's famed "Le Violon d'Ingres" is poised to make history as the most expensive photograph ever sold at auction.

Australia demands answers from China over alleged laser incident at sea

• Beijing says it is 'seriously concerned' as India cracks down on Chinese companies • 50 years after Nixon's historic visit to China, questions hang over the US-China future

Haiti hikes minimum wage by up to 54% following worker protests

Haiti's government on Monday hiked the minimum wage by as much as 54%, following weeks of demonstrations by garment workers who say their wages are not enough to keep up with the rising cost of living.

Solid earnings season wasn't enough to calm investors

Corporate earnings season was supposed to turn around Wall Street's sour mood. In the end, it wasn't much of a diversion.

An entire group of men is being left out of the workforce. Here's why

The labor shortage has been a defining feature of the pandemic job market and it's not getting better any time soon. But there is a whole group of workers who are being overlooked even though they could be part of the solution.

Facebook is rebranding everything but faces the same old problems

Nearly four months ago, amid a firestorm of critical coverage stemming from a whistleblower's leaks, Facebook shifted its strategic focus to building an immersive version of the internet it calls the "metaverse" and changed its company name to Meta.

US adds sites operated by Tencent and Alibaba to 'notorious markets' list

E-commerce sites operated by China's Tencent and Alibaba Group were added to the US government's latest "notorious markets" list, the US Trade Representative's office said Thursday.

Hundreds arrested in Ottawa protests as investigators look into 2 police-related incidents

A weeks-long blockade in the Canadian capital has led to almost 200 arrests and prolonged suffering for businesses caught in the middle of protests against Covid-19 mandates.

Survivor found alive after Greece ferry fire

A passenger who was among the 12 people missing after a ferry caught fire early Friday has been found alive, a spokesperson from the Hellenic Coast Guard told CNN on Sunday. 

These sisters fled Afghanistan, hoping to find safety. Now they fear war in Ukraine

Sisters Fazila and Shagufa Haidary once travelled the world as flight attendants, rubbing shoulders with politicians and pop stars.

Harris says US 'stands with Ukraine' while warning Russia of 'swift, severe and united' consequences

Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday vowed there would be a "swift, severe and united" response if Russia invades Ukraine and assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky the US "stands with Ukraine."

A Chilean indigenous language vanishes as last native speaker dies

An indigenous language from South America's extreme south has all but vanished after the death of its last living speaker and guardian of its ancestral culture.

Why some North Korean defectors return to one of the world's most repressive regimes

He risked his life fleeing from one of the world's most repressive regimes, traversing a militarized stretch protected by barbed wire fences. Then a year later, he went back -- the way he came.

Australia says Chinese warship 'illuminated' one of its planes with a laser

A Chinese warship used a laser to "illuminate" an Australian Air Force jet in what Canberra called a "serious safety incident" in a statement released on Saturday.

Pyar Mein Thoda Twist, Review: A sack-full of emptiness

Pyar Mein Thoda Twist, Review: A sack-full of emptiness

A lot of action in the film Pyar Mein Thoda Twist takes place inside a bound sack. It is marked, Lena Hae Lena Hae (have to take, have to take) Brand, and it twists alright. No, not because it is haunted, but because it holds a man captive. This man is supposed to be Mr. Wanted, a dangerous criminal, whose capture carries a reward of Rs. 2 million. While the sack changes hands and locations several times, being stolen or ‘kidnapped’ from the house of the man who first captured the man in it, it remains the most wanted possession of the holder, on account of the bounty on the inmate’s head. Except for this idea, which seems a patch, imported from another movie, the rest of the film is neither haunted nor wanted.

A small town in Uttar Pradesh (UP) is the locale, and the current Chief Minister is thanked with a full-screen acknowledgement. Two feuding patriarchs rule the roost: A headstrong Village Headman, Vijendra Singh, and the ruthless Money-lender, Jagatram. While they are at logger-heads, their children fall in love with each other. Dhiru, the Headman’s son, falls for Maya, the daughter of the Money-lender. This angers the respective fathers (Jagatram is a widower), and they flatly refuse to agree to the alliance. Although the children emotionally blackmail the fathers, they do not budge. In comes a ‘mahant’ (the priest of their common temple). In exchange for a fat offering, he agrees to conjure up a plan to get the parents’ assent.

Pretending to come from the other side each time, the ‘mahant’ fools both fathers into believing that the alliance has been blessed by the gods. Preparations begin in earnest for the wedding of Dhiru and Maya, but the dowry demands of Vijendra Singh throw a spanner in the works. Moreover, the ‘mahant’s ruse is exposed, and ego clashes erupt. Just about then, a poverty-stricken local comes across a man in the jungle, who answers to the description of Mr. Wanted, and he wallops him from behind, on the head, knocking him unconscious. He and his obese wife then carry him home, and hold him captive, because the Superintendent of Police, the only man in the department who is not corrupt, has a wedding in his family, and would not be available for 4-5 days. They decide to wait and claim the reward from him, rather than deal with the lower ranks in the police station, who will all claim a share. With this money, he hopes to repay the debt he owes to the Money-lender, with whom he has mortgaged his hut and his land.

Pyar Mein Thoda Twist, from all accounts, is writer Abhishek Shashi Kumar’s first release, and he has a lot to learn about screenwriting. His debut effort exhibits only rudimentary knowledge of the art. The first half is an amalgam of so many films set in Uttar Pradesh. He begins with a voice-over that classifies this ‘village’ (looks a small town, not a village, in most parts, including some drone shots) as one of the worst, because the residents are all evil and indulge in a lot of fighting. A dozen odd inhabitants are shown grappling with each other. All the fighting then shown showcases Dhiru, who punches the hell out of every one who comes in his way, sends every thug along the aerial route, and once, even fights to a stop-watch timing of five minutes, because he has to take his lady love on his motorcycle exactly five minutes later. Which judo/karaté/kung-fu/jiu jitsu/shaolin/wrestling/boxing/kick-boxing schools did he graduate from is never revealed.

As the film progresses, we find the usual crop of lumpen elements in fracas with Dhiru, a greedy Money-lender and a dowry seeking Headman up to their antics. Both Dhiru and Maya, as well as the farmer Dhaniram, are near saints, so the voice over-contradicts himself. Then comes the incredible track of Sad Sack. Every time he is stolen or kidnapped, he is given a whack on the head, that renders him unconscious. But how do the three or four ‘possessors’ manage to keep him in a sack in their homes, feed him, take him for his ablutions and prevent him from making any kind of noise for days on end is never explained. Also, being kept in a gunny bag, which is tied at the top, and being knocked unconscious most of the time, he should have died, but he emerges hale and hearty. Why do Dhiru and Maya, who must have known each other, or about each other at the very least, since they were kids, suddenly fall for each other, is never explained. Dialogue is peppered with references to Amrish Puri, Alok Nath and Anupam Kher.

If it is the writer’s first effort, it is probably the director’s 20^th. And should he have known better! Partho Ghosh (100 Days, Dalaal, Agni Sakshi, Mausam Ikrar Ke Do Pal Pyar Ke) has directed Hindi and Bengali films galore, and his first Hindi film was 30 years ago. At 65, he cannot be making Pyar Mein Thoda Twist, unless the motivations were other than cinematic. Add to that a plot that is hackneyed and beaten to death, in the first half, and completely changes tracks in the second half, and a lead actor who does not deliver and a heroine who has a flat, unidimensional role…his task in unenviable, to give him a bit of his due. Continuity needed to be paid better attention too. To his credit, he is able to extract serviceable performances from his supporting cast, except when they are made to go over the top. He directed the producer’s last vehicle, Mausam Ikraar Ke Do Pal Pyar Ke, which I have not had occasion to watch.

Did I say that the lead actor, Mukesh J. Bharti, shows skills in martial arts? Here is what the Internet reveals about him: Formerly a Martial Arts Instructor in Bareilly (UP, where I was born), he is a 5th Dan Black Belt. His first film was Kaash Tum Hote, released eight years ago. Like many action heroes, he needs to work on his emoting and dialogue delivery. Work hard, work soon, since he has already spent over eight years in film-town. It is not known whether he is related to the co-producer Manju Bharti, who also appears in a brief role, showing her dancing ability too. Richa Mukherjee, as Maya, who graced the soft premiere cum press show with a midriff revealing outfit, has little to do, in terms of real histrionics. Winking, dancing and pillion riding on the hero’s motor-cycle do not require any special skills. But she has potential, which needs to be tested.

Rajesh Sharma as Vijendra Singh and Atul Srivastava as Jagatram, the two warring lords, deliver the goods. Atul has matured very well from his television days. But both look ill-at-ease, notwithstanding the smiles, when they are made to dance. Alka Amin plays the Headman’s wife fluently, while the Money-lender is a widower. Good support comes from Vijay Singh Bhadauria, Arpit Singh Bhadauria, Noor Fatima, Soma Rathod, Saheb Das Manik Puri, Rajeev, Omkar Das Manikpuri (Dhaniram, a rich performance), Samuel Charle, Santosh Shukla and Gulshan Pandey. That makes two Bhartis, two Bhadaurias and two Manikpuris. Some of these actors perform better than the lead players, but all in vain.

There is little to commend about cinematography by Amit Singh and film editing by Sanjay Sankla. Even the art direction, by Sidhant Malhotra leaves a lot to be desired. Which brings us to the music. At the soft premiere in Mumbai’s PVR Icon Auditorium 3, at the Infiniti Mall, a spokesperson, who look very much like a Russian or East European actress working in the Indian film industry, paid tribute to Bappi Lahiri, who has composed the music of this film and sung as well, in broken English. She did not even get the composer singer’s name right. Bappi died just a few days ago, aged 69. We observed two minutes’ silence in honour of the departed soul. A lot was said about the close association of Bappi with the film and the great sense of loss the producers are feeling, having had to release the film, his last, just days after his death.

Rather unfortunately, Pyar Mein Thoda Twist does no justice to the creativity of Bappi. Arguably, his work in the 80s was no patch on his early assignments, in the 70s, beginning with Nanha Shikari. Bappi succumbed to the disco lure and even lifted tunes directly, filling them with electronic sounds, rather than Indian melodies and instruments. Here, he recycles his own ‘Lena hae lena hae’ and does a version of ‘Tootak tootak tootak tootiyaan’. ‘Lena hae, lena hae’ was a term he contributed to the original song, not the lyricist. The background score consists of really loud stuff, with five or six set pieces running through several minutes each of screen time. The dancing that accompanies these songs partly redeems the tracks. But if he was honest about it, Bappi would not be proud of his contribution to the music track of this film.

It would not affect the film one bit if the entire first track, of Dhiru and Maya, is excised, and the film is released as a tale of the trials and tribulations of the most desirable Mr. Wanted, in a 90-minute version. The makers could take inspiration from the popular comic cartoon series, in print, called The Sad Sack, and weave a story around it. As it stands, the dichotomy weighs the film down, and the 128 minutes are not pleasurably spent. And that is an understatement. Meanwhile, a few people should be ‘sacked’ for turning out a film that lacks basic cinematic grammar and composition.

Rating: * ½

Rating: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwnM0udH-Jc

from Filmfestivals.com - Hollywood, Independent, Shorts, Videos, Documentary https://ift.tt/UXxqfCG
via gqrds

Opinion: China and Russia want to surf Latin America's 'pink tide.' It's not so simple

Right wing Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Moscow Wednesday in the thick of the Ukrainian crisis. Given his disastrous handling of Covid-19 and his standing in polls forecasting next October's elections, it may be Bolsonaro's last trip to Russia, or anywhere, as president. If what many observers have called a "new pink tide" of support for left-leaning politicians continues to sweep through Latin America, former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva may banish an increasingly isolated Bolsonaro from office.

2021 festival filmmaker Q&A livestream

Filmmakers from around the world participated in a livestreamed Q&A session during our 2021 festival.

from Filmfestivals.com - Hollywood, Independent, Shorts, Videos, Documentary https://ift.tt/L2dGKNm
via gqrds

Storm Eunice brings hurricane-strength gales, highest wind speed on record in England

Millions of people in the UK have been told to stay home for their own safety and dozens of flights were canceled on Friday as storm Eunice made landfall in the country, bringing hurricane-force winds that ripped off a rooftop and crushed a vehicle in a London suburb.

Malawi detects polio, first wild case in Africa in over 5 years

Malawi's health authorities have declared a polio outbreak after a case was detected in a young child in the capital Lilongwe, the first case of wild poliovirus in Africa in more than five years, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.

A shorter work week, cash to invest: Companies add perks to attract workers

It's a job seekers' market, and employers are stepping up their benefits in a bid to attract and retain workers.

World's first electric plane startup parts ways with CEO in mysterious rift

Eviation, the company behind what is supposed to be the world's first all-electric passenger airplane, has undergone an unexpected change in leadership just before the plane's projected first flight -- and the company and the now-former CEO are offering different takes on the situation.

Asia markets open lower after Ukraine invasion fears prompt Dow plunge

Asian stocks opened lower on Friday as tensions over a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine continued, hours after US President Joe Biden's statement that an attack could take place "in the next several days" sent the Dow plunging to its worst day of 2022.

Paris exhibit brings 'The Little Prince' home

"The Little Prince" has arrived in Paris, nearly eight decades after it was written.

Gambling surged to new records last year

Here's more proof that the house always wins: In 2021, America's gaming industry had its highest-grossing year ever. Again.

Dry January was more popular than ever. That's good news for the alcohol industry

More people than ever participated in Dry January this year, but they didn't totally ditch the bottle.

Hollywood actor's Ponzi scheme, explained: Why investors keep falling for scams

The tale of Zachary Horwitz made headlines this week after he was sentenced to 20 years for bilking investors out of $650 million by peddling bogus licensing deals with HBO and Netflix.

Uber now lets you see how many one-star ratings you received from drivers

Confused how you ended up with a low rating on Uber? A new feature will offer a bit more insight.

Surprising world of Stonehenge revealed in new exhibition

The distinctive silhouette of Stonehenge in the flat landscape of Salisbury plain in southwest England is instantly and iconically familiar.

At least 13 dead after wedding guests fall into well at Indian ceremony

At least 13 people, including a one-year-old child, have died after falling into a well during a wedding ceremony in northern India, authorities from Uttar Pradesh state said on Wednesday.

Decision on Iran nuclear deal 'days away,' says French foreign minister

Negotiations over the revival of a 2015 deal that would see Iran curb uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief will conclude in days, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told the country's lawmakers on Wednesday.

American detained in Russia says he is coughing up blood

Trevor Reed, an American who has been detained in Russia for more than two years, says he is coughing up blood and has not received medical care after prolonged exposure to tuberculosis in Russian prison, according to the US Embassy in Moscow.

They met on Valentine's Day while hiking in the Himalayas

It was Valentine's Day 1996 when Lee Green walked into a mountain lodge in Nepal, surrounded by the snowcapped Himalayas, and encountered Mandy Halse for the first time.

Yuncheng Salt Lake, China's colorful 'Dead Sea'

Xiechi Lake, also known as Yuncheng Salt Lake in China's Shanxi province, has become popular on Instagram and other social media websites in recent years thanks to eye-popping aerial photographs of its colorful surface.

Ex-Honduras president agrees to extradition to the US

The former President of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernández, opted on Tuesday to surrender to US authorities a day after they issued an extradition warrant for him.

Canada tries to block funding for illegal border protests against Covid-19 rules with sweeping new financial measures

Canada has invoked the country's Emergencies Act for the first time ever in an attempt to sever financial support for protesters' costly blockades at US border crossings over Covid-19 mandates.

How 'Amapiano', South Africa's soulful sound, has become one of the hottest new music genres

A distinct sound is currently vibing on social feeds around the world: the deep house, log-drum driven basslines and soulful piano melodies of "Amapiano." While Amapiano dance challenges are currently sweeping TikTok, the streets of South Africa have been thrumming with its sound for years.

'Once-in-a-decade talent': Why Eileen Gu is fashion's dream model

For followers of freestyle skiing and fashion alike, the buzz surrounding Winter Olympian Eileen Gu at this year's Games has come as little surprise.

How two Middle East powerhouses fell out, then made up

The speed of the shifts in the Middle East's geopolitical scene is enough to give even the most seasoned regional observers whiplash

Lockheed Martin terminates $4.4 billion deal to acquire Aerojet Rocketdyne

U.S. arms maker Lockheed Martin Corp said on Sunday it terminated its plan to acquire rocket engine maker Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings Inc for $4.4 billion.

Looking for bargains? Here are the stocks we love

Most companies have reported fourth quarter earnings. The biggest takeaway for investors? This is a stock picker's market. Some companies are thriving while their competitors are not.

Musk blames 'fun police' for recall of feature that makes fart and goat noises

Tesla is recalling over 500,000 vehicles in the United States due to its Boombox feature, a 2020 update that allows drivers to play sounds such a bleating goat or a fart noise outside the vehicle.

Cook Islands braces for first community Covid-19 cases

Cook Islands, a small South Pacific nation that has not experienced Covid-19 in its community, is readying for its first coronavirus infections after an infected traveler visited, Prime Minister Mark Brown said on Sunday.

Opinion: Canadian trucker protests are the latest example of Covid-19 absurdity

We've officially hit peak Covid absurdism.

A comedian performed a powerful monologue addressing India's rape crisis. A right-wing activist called for his arrest

This time last year Nalin Yadav was detained in an Indian prison, not knowing when he would be let out.

US 'actively working' for release of American held by the Taliban in Afghanistan, Sullivan says

The US is "actively working" for the release of an American citizen who was detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan in early December, national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday.

Why the Ambassador Bridge is crucial to two nations' economies

The United States' largest trading partner isn't China, or Mexico. It's Canada.

Cisco makes $20 billion-plus takeover offer for Splunk

Network gear maker Cisco Systems has made a takeover offer worth more than $20 billion for software maker Splunk, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Former Amazon employee sentenced to federal prison for involvement in bribery scheme

A former Amazon employee was sentenced to 10 months in prison and fined $50,000 for an international fraud and bribery scheme, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced.

Travel roundup: Two Caribbean islands are making entry easier

All around the world, restrictions are easing for vaccinated travelers, and more and more people will soon be on the move. But with traffic set to rise, airlines are keen to put a stop to bad behavior in the skies.

Biden unfreezes Afghan funds for in-country relief and 9/11 legal fight

President Joe Biden signed an executive order Friday allowing $7 billion in frozen assets from Afghanistan's central bank to eventually be distributed inside the country and to potentially fund litigation brought by families of victims of the September 11 terror attacks, senior administration officials confirmed Friday.

Analysis: Russia may be on the brink of war. In Moscow, you might not know it

Read most headlines coming out of the West around Ukraine, and the situation looks dire.

China censors lesbian plotline in 'Friends'

Major Chinese streaming platforms have censored an LGBTQ plotline in the popular TV series "Friends," causing fans of the show to express their anger on social media.

Badhaai Do, Review: No blessing for this messing

Badhaai Do, Review: No blessing for this messing

Watching Badhaai Do, an old thought re-surfaced. I used to wonder what would happen if, by some quirk of circumstance, a homosexual and a lesbian ended-up marrying each other. Looks like some antenna picked-up this concept and turned it into a lengthy film. Unfortunately, the writers and the director are unable to decide whether they should inject humour or treat it as a tear-jerker. They lean towards the latter, but fail on the mise en scène front and dish out one of the least engaging films in recent times. A few moments are all one can watch with some degree of involvement. For the rest, it is a colossal waste of cinematic resources.

A police officer called Shardul Thakur (I thought he was a cricketer!) is man with rippling muscles and a homosexual. His family is keen on getting him married and finally agree to an alliance with his colleague, a Muslim girl. Too late! She could not wait any longer and has already got married. He meets Suman Singh, a Physical Education teacher, and they do not get along. But Shardul gets an idea and proposes to Suman, literally, and also proposes that getting married would end the pressure their respective families are putting on them to get married, completely unaware of their sexual inclinations. She agrees.

They do not take into account that their families would expect them to produce children as soon as possible, since both are in their thirties, which leads to a volley of lies and excuses. Simultaneously, they continue to have homosexual and lesbian affairs, having shifted to police quarters, far from their parental homes, and living in separate rooms. Shardul brings Kabir along to their honeymoon, while Suman falls for a pathologist, Rimjhim. But Kabir ditches Shardul and falls for another homosexual man, an advocate he meets a gay pride march. On the other hand, the Suman-Rimjhim affairs blossoms. What next? It’s an easy guess. Either they will be caught with their pants/skirts down, or they will confess. In both developments, there will be grave consequences, and ultimate acceptance. The film chooses one path for one protagonist and the other path for the second one, taking no chances.

Including the director, there are three writers: Suman Adhikary, Akshat Ghildial, Harshavardhan Kulkarni. Did the name of the female protagonist come from Suman Adhikary, though he is male? Suman is Senior Creative Director at FCB Ulka and Badhaai Do is probably his first film. For Ghildial, it is a second foray, with a couple of films in the pipeline. What was his first film? You guessed it: Badhaai Ho. Harshavardhan Kulkarni is the son of Kannada poet G.V. (Jeevi) Kulkarni and has been around filmdom for around eight years (Hasee Toh Phasee, Hunterr, Amriki Pandit). Akshat and Suman had been working on this script for almost six years before it got filmed, and having seen Hunterr, a coming of age sex comedy, they suggested Harshavardhan’s name to Junglee Pictures, the producers.

If sympathy for a cause was the only criterion for judging the merits of a tale, this film would score reasonably well. But on most film-making yard-sticks, it falls flat. Let’s talk about the writing. To begin with, it has too many characters, consisting mainly of large families of the protagonists, policemen and lovers. Then it takes ages to get its core subject. In the meanwhile, it brings in the Hindu-Muslim angle, when there is talk of Shardul having a soft corner for a Muslim colleague. The family gives in, but, by that time, the girl is already married. Why did a gay Hindu Shardul even considers marrying a straight Muslim colleague… is beyond comprehension. This is apparent again when we find that Shardul’s first partner is named Kabir, which, though an Arabic name, is also used by other communities, inspired by the name of the unity preaching saint of yore. Both Shardul and Suman are the physically fit types, being a police officer and a Physical Education teacher respectively. Shardul’s gym-toned body is displayed time and again, though when he dresses normally, you feel that the six-packs and twelve-tacks were digitally enhanced. Their physiques conform to stereo-types. The screenplay makes it look very easy to pick-up gay partners: Suman stares at a pathology lab technician and she stares back. The affair is on. Shardul is on duty, supervising a gay parade, and stares at one protestor, and he stares back. There you are. No wonder LGBTQIA+ groups are up in arms against their depiction. Except for a couple of lines, the dialogue is perfunctory, and the intended humour is mainly implied. There is pretty little to laugh about in this venture.

There is talk of Harshavardhan Kulkarni’s earlier directorial venture Hunterr being a cult classic. Since I haven’t seen it, I cannot comment. But I can say with conviction that this film does not have “long legs”, as Hunterr is supposed to have had. Several issues arise, as the film trudges along: predictability, boredom, disbelief, disengagement, disinterest and more. He has caste, ‘title’ gender and religion issues on his plate. Then he brings in a girl from the mountainous north-east as Suman’s partner. It is not possible for the respective gay/lesbian affairs to continue for so long without anybody getting a whiff. Then Shardul is shown as a man who has had or has at least three partners. Suman and Rimjhim have sex with both their bedroom doors and main doors open. Risking being caught by the whole family, Rimjhim comes back while escaping being found out, in a rickshaw, to retrieve her wallet. Humour, anybody? A recurring reference to a stool test, with large and small samples, induces stinks, not winks.

Rajkummar Rao’s muscles, as Shardul, cannot but impress. To his credit, that he has worked on his diction and now sounds better than ever before. He is committed and confident, but severely constricted by the script. So is Bhumi Pednekar (Suman). She has lost a lot of weight and her acting abilities have sharpened too. Seema Pahwa (grandmother) is Seema Pahwa, as she is always. Sheeba Chadhha plays shy, diffident mother to Shardul, who always shapes to say something, only to shake her head. One wonders whether this is a medical condition or just a personality trait. Support from Chum Darang (Rimjhim), Loveleen Mishra, Nitesh Pandey, Shashi Bhushan, Deepak Arora and Hani Yadav is routine, with Chum (from Arunachal Pradesh, making her debut at age 30) being easy on the eyes and ears.

Both, cinematography by Swapnil Sonawane and editing by Kirti Nakhwa leave a lot to be desired. The camera is hardly ever used creatively and the editing is either jerky (on a few occasions) or not matching the cuts on others. The film needed to be at least 27 minutes shorter than the 147 that it clocks. Badhaai Do’s musical score is by Hitesh Sonik and the songs are credited to Amit Trivedi, Tanishk Bagchi, Ankit Tiwari and Khamosh Shah. There are 12 tracks, most of them with heavy synthesised drums, but none to recall after the film.

In Covid times, one looks eagerly forward to any theatrical release that has a press preview as well. Disappointment is all that Badhaai Do offers, and you come out saddened at the colossal waste of talent and resources While its predecessor, in nomenclature only, Badhaai Ho, was at least watchable, this one is not. You are not going to see it? Badhaai Do (Give Felicitations, to you). And for those who brave it to the cinema halls, no blessing for this messing.

Rating: * ½

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpMsvH7DpPc

from Filmfestivals.com - Hollywood, Independent, Shorts, Videos, Documentary https://ift.tt/d0mlb7G
via gqrds

At least 7 British citizens and 1 American are being held by the Taliban in Afghanistan

At least eight Westerners have been arrested by the Taliban in Afghanistan during different incidents in the last two months, CNN has learned, marking a sharp escalation of Taliban actions against Westerners living in the country.

Boy, 12, killed in Ireland after car he was driving collided with truck

A 12-year-old boy has died after the car he was driving collided with a truck in County Limerick, Ireland, early Friday morning, CNN affiliate Virgin Media News reported.

France announces plans to build up to 14 nuclear reactors

France has announced plans to build up to 14 new nuclear reactors in a move that could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide a buffer against volatile energy prices.

US auto factories disrupted by Canadian trucker rally

After a year of computer chip shortages, supply chain problems and temporary plant closings, this was about the last thing the auto industry needed.

Canned cocktails are so big, they've made it to the Super Bowl

Anheuser-Busch, known for beers like Budweiser, Busch and Stella Artois, is shining a light on its canned cocktails with a new Super Bowl ad.

“Jurassic World: Dominion” trailer gives us a dramatic glimpse at the “epic conclusion to the Jurassic era”

“Jurassic World: Dominion” trailer just released giving us a dramatic glimpse at the “epic conclusion to the Jurassic era” — a hint that this might be the final film of the “Jurassic ” franchise.

Until they decide otherwise...by demand!

 

Watch the prologue 5 minutes from the movie (which releases june 10).

from Filmfestivals.com - Hollywood, Independent, Shorts, Videos, Documentary https://ift.tt/x5rB9vu
via gqrds

Boris Johnson's go-to economic boast obscures the painful truth

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is fond of saying the United Kingdom has the fastest growing economy in the G7.

What the US is watching that could signal Russia is launching an invasion of Ukraine

It might be a cyberattack targeting Ukraine's energy grid. Or the movement of Russian battalions and tanks along the border and into firing range. Or perhaps even a long-range missile attack.

No snow, no problem: Winter sports are booming in China

Eric Zhang was born in Chongqing, in southern China, and grew up enjoying warm-weather activities. But when he went to graduate school in New York City, he began to understand the allure of snow.

UK anti-Semitism reaches record high in 2021, report says

More incidents of anti-Semitism were recorded in the United Kingdom in 2021 than at any point since it began recording such incidents in 1984, UK charity Community Security Trust (CST) said in report released Thursday.

Ghibli Park, a new anime theme park destination in Japan, to open in November

Fans of "My Neighbor Totoro," "Kiki's Delivery Service," and other films from director Hayao Miyazaki of the legendary Studio Ghibli, will have a new destination to add to their travel bucket list later this year.

Iranian ​husband beheads teenage wife, authorities say, shocking the country

The beheading of a 17-year-old girl​,​ allegedly by her husband​, in ​western Iran's Khuzestan province last week has once again raised concern over ​the country's laws around murder and gender-based violence.

The world's most fascinating abandoned towns and cities

Once thriving spots, these villages, towns and cities now stand abandoned. Their empty buildings, streets and even cars left for nature to reclaim over the years.

Submissions opening soon

Are you an independent filmmaker with a unique creative voice? Mirror Mountain Film Festival is searching for the most groundbreaking, outrageous, personal, innovative, audacious and original films out there, so submit your work to us! We are officially open for submissions on February 21st, and we want to see your drama, comedy, sci-fi, horror, fantasy, documentary, animation, experimental, music video, dance film, interactive media and more! Shorts, medium-length films and features in all genres are welcome.

Info: https://mirrormountainfilmfest.com/submissions/

from Filmfestivals.com - Hollywood, Independent, Shorts, Videos, Documentary https://ift.tt/PhzUL7S
via gqrds

Search efforts resume in Colombia after landslide kills 15, injures dozens

Fifteen people have died and four are missing following a landslide in Colombia, the country's disaster management agency said Wednesday, with search efforts set to continue.

Oil could 'easily' hit $120 if Russia-Ukraine crisis escalates, JPMorgan warns

Oil prices could soar to $120 a barrel if Russia's crude exports are derailed by tensions with Ukraine, according to projections from JPMorgan.

Main suspect in deadly 2015 Paris terror attacks told a court he never killed or wounded anyone

Salah Abdeslam, the main suspect in a jihadist rampage that killed 130 people in coordinated attacks across Paris in November 2015, on Wednesday told a French court he had never killed or wounded anyone.

US-Iran talks near endgame: Here's what to look out for

Iran and the United States return to Vienna on Tuesday for another round of talks aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear agreement abandoned by the Trump administration.

Pope Benedict asks forgiveness but denies wrongdoing over child sex abuse cases

Pope Benedict XVI has pushed back against accusations that he knew in 1980 that a priest under his control was an abuser, while denying he had intentionally concealed his presence at a meeting about the priest that year.

Canadian protesters block access to major border crossing as demonstrations against Covid-19 measures continue

Canadian protesters have blocked access to the busiest international crossing in North America in yet another demonstration of their grievances against the nation's Covid-19 preventative measures.

Three Palestinian militants killed in Nablus in Israeli counter-terror operation

Three Palestinian militants have been shot dead by Israeli counter-terror police in the West Bank city of Nablus. The Palestinian Authority Foreign Ministry accused Israel of carrying out an assassination.

Trailer for World Premiere 1341 FRAMES OF LOVE AND WAR - Doc portrait of war photographer Micha Bar-Am

Trailer has now been released for Berlinale World Premiere 1341 FRAMES OF LOVE AND WAR (World Premiere, Berlinale Special Section), a documentary portrait of one of the world’s most important living war photographers, Micha Bar-Am. 

 

Festival Trailer (JUST RELEASED):

Born in Berlin in 1930, Israeli photojournalist Bar-Am became an internationally recognized photographer in the 1960’s. Today, at the age of 91, he looks at his photographs anew, wondering aloud with emotion and urgency why he photographed, and what his images reflect about humanity and history. FRAMES is an examination of his remembrance as he grapples with the ethics of documenting war imagery and how it has affected him. 

 

Composed entirely of archival images taken by this acclaimed Israeli photo-journalist over fifty years, his illustrious career is recounted as a dual voice-over: that of Micha and his wife Orna, the dedicated archivist who has become her husband’s memory. 

 

FRAMES reveals the enormous psychological price that comes with documenting war and and other human atrocities. 

 

1341 FRAMES OF LOVE AND WAR is written and directed by internationally celebrated Israeli filmmaker Ran Tal (Children of the Sun, The Museum, The Garden of Eden, What If? Ehud Barak on War and Peace).

 

Born in Berlin in 1930, Bar-Am found his lifelong career as a new immigrant in Israel in the early 1950’s. His photographs depict diverse images of the struggles of a new nation and its ongoing wars and conflicts and much more, including celebrated personal images of his family in the most private moments.

 

The events and wars he doggedly pursued with his Leica camera have become internationally known, iconic images. He became a member of the celebrated Magnum collective, co-founded the International Center of Photography in New York with Cornell Capa, and his photographs have graced countless covers of the world’s major magazines.

Documentary | Israel-UK-USA | 2022 | 89 min | B/W & Color  Hebrew, German with English Subtitles   World Sales: Reservoir Docs (excluding North America & Canada, Israel, Greece, Portugal) Filmmakers selling North America & Canada, Israel, Greece, Portugal   2022 Berlinale Sun Feb. 13, 14:00 Akademie der Künste (World Premiere) Sun Feb. 13, 21:00 Cineplex Titania Mon Feb 14, 9:00 CinemaxX 2 (Industry) Mon Feb 14, 20:30 Cubix 7 Fri Feb 18, 15:00 Cubix 6 Fri Feb 18, 15:00 Cubix 5   Writer/Director: Ran Tal Editing: Nili Feller Producer: Sarig Peker, Ran Tal Executive Producers: Nancy Pomagrin, Yael Melamede Principal Cast: Micha Bar-Am, Orna Bar-Am, Barak Bar-Am, Nimrod Bar-Am   FILMMAKER BIO: One of Israel’s leading documentary filmmakers, Ran Tal was born in Israel in 1963. His documentaries use a social and historical perspective to focus on today's modern life. He has won numerous national and international prizes including Israel’s Ophir Award. He currently leads the documentary filmmaking programme at the Steve Tisch School of Film and Television, Tel Aviv University. He is also founder and editor of “Takriv”, an online magazine dedicated to documentary film. His acclaimed documentaries include: 1996 Malka Lev Adom (Skin Deep); short film 1999 Derech Ben Tzvi 67 (67 Ben Tzvi Road) 2005 Beit Chalomotay (My Dream House) 2007 Yaldey Hashemesh (Children of the Sun) 2008 Shuv Nolad (Born Again) 2009 Gitai Mechapes Et Hacarmelb (Gitay in Search for His Carmel) 2012 Gan Eden (The Garden Eden) 2016 Zman Yehudi (Jewish Time) 2017 Hamozeon (The Museum) 2019 Shanim Shel Tikva (Years of Promise and Rejection) 2021 Ma Haya Eilu. Ehud Barak Al Milchma VeShalom (What if? Ehud Barak on War and Peace)1341 Framim Mehamatzlema Shel Micha Bar-Am (1341 Frames of Love and War).    More info at https://www.ran-tal.com.

 

from Filmfestivals.com - Hollywood, Independent, Shorts, Videos, Documentary https://ift.tt/HIDZNrq
via gqrds

US report finds Mexico is dominant source of fentanyl trafficked into US

A new government report out Tuesday details how opioid trafficking in the United States has changed in recent years, with Mexico now a "dominant source" of the country's fentanyl supply and synthetic opioids rapidly saturating drug markets.

India's Gautam Adani unseats Mukesh Ambani as Asia's richest billionaire

India's Gautam Adani has overtaken his fellow countryman Mukesh Ambani to become the wealthiest person in Asia, according to Bloomberg's list of the world's richest people.

Kashmir journalist arrested under India's anti-terror laws

The editor of an independent news website in Kashmir has been arrested as police investigate if he violated India's sedition and anti-terrorism laws.

Macron meets with Putin

In the tense standoff between Russia and Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron has emerged as a central figure in Europe's diplomatic efforts to diffuse potential conflict.

PriceRunner sues Google for 2.1 billion euros

Swedish price comparison firm PriceRunner said on Monday it was suing Alphabet-owned Google for about 2.1 billion euros ($2.4 billion), the latest firm to take legal action alleging the search giant manipulated search results.

Facebook has successfully overhauled its business before. This time will be harder

Ahead of its 2012 initial public offering, Facebook was in trouble. Its revenue growth was slowing, expenses were surging and it was falling behind competitors in the transition to smartphones and other mobile devices.

Why there's no need to fear a bear market

Stocks tumbled sharply in January and the market has remained choppy in February. There are worries globally about earnings, inflation, interest rates and Omicron. But some market experts think investors shouldn't be too concerned.

The big reason the US and UK are facing such a massive labor shortage

Almost two years after the pandemic upended labor markets, job openings are plentiful in many advanced economies, yet workers have not fully returned.

One of the world's most popular countries is reopening its doors this month

Australia will open its borders to fully vaccinated international travelers from late February, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Monday, February 7 after a meeting of the government's national security committee.

Prince Andrew to give statement under oath

Britain's Prince Andrew has agreed to give a statement under oath on March 10 in the UK as part of the civil case against him, a source close to the Duke of York told CNN on Saturday.

Senegal beats Egypt to win Africa Cup of Nations trophy

Senegal defeated Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations championship match on Sunday, winning the continental championship for the first time on penalty kicks at Olembe Stadium in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Colombia struck a peace deal with guerrilla groups years ago. So why is violence surging?

This year kicked off with a violent start on the Colombia-Venezuela border, where dissident militant factions have been competing for territorial control of lucrative drug routes that connect the South American country to the US and Europe. At least 23 people were killed in violent clashes at the start of the year, followed by a deadly car bomb and the murder of a local community leader and his wife.

Costa Rica mandated Covid-19 vaccines for children. But not everyone's on board

It started as a heated discussion between a father and his son's doctor. But it quickly escalated to a multi-person fist-fight that shocked the nation.

Why China won't put its economy on the line to rescue Putin

Russia has one obvious ally to turn to as geopolitical sparks fly with the West over Ukraine.

Opinion: France is on a dangerous collision course with its Muslim population

French lawmakers last month voted to ban women and girls from wearing hijab while playing sports -- showing the world once again that when it comes to further politicizing, targeting and policing European Muslim women, our clothing choices and bodies, France is in a league of its own.

Rotterdam may dismantle historic bridge for superyacht reportedly owned by Jeff Bezos

Rotterdam is considering a request to dismantle part of an historic bridge to allow a yacht reportedly owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to leave the shipyard where it is being built.

France launches inquiry after spill of over 100,000 dead fish off Atlantic coast

A spill of more than 100,000 dead fish in the Atlantic Ocean off the French coast has been described by the French Maritime Minister as "shocking" in an incident that has drawn the attention of environmental activist groups.

Afghan mom had to decide whether to forgo escape -- or leave some of her kids behind

It was August 26 in Kabul, just barely evening, and Nasema was holding on tightly to two of the most important things in her life, not knowing that she would lose one of them before the sun completely set.

Iceland to end whaling from 2024 amid controversy and falling demand

Iceland says it will end whaling from 2024 amid dwindling demand and continuing controversy.

Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and wife test positive for Covid-19

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his wife, Emine, have tested positive for Covid-19.

Analysis: No one knows what to do about Boris Johnson

What will it take to finish him off? That's the question that close observers of Boris Johnson's premiership have been asking for weeks.

'Sleeper cells and hundreds of fighters': Why ISIS remains a terrorist threat

Just two days after the leader of ISIS killed himself during a US raid in northern Syria, a United Nations report says the terror group is far from vanquished. In fact, it remains a potent force in Iraq and Syria, with a growing presence in Afghanistan and West Africa, according to the UN analysis.

It's been 70 years since the Queen took the throne, but she's not celebrating yet

Queen Elizabeth II is adding yet another achievement to her record-breaking reign, becoming the first British monarch to mark a platinum jubilee on Sunday.

Suspected Chinese hackers hit News Corp with 'persistent cyberattack' in January

News Corp suffered a "persistent cyberattack" in January, the company said Friday, and investigators believe Chinese spies may be responsible.

Ice that took roughly 2,000 years to form on Mt. Everest has melted in around 25 years

The highest glacier on the world's tallest mountain is losing decades worth of ice every year because of human-induced climate change, a new study shows.

4 of Boris Johnson's key aides quit, marking latest blow for the UK PM

Four top aides to Boris Johnson resigned Thursday, marking the latest setback for the British prime minister whose government has been embroiled in scandal in recent days.

'No admission of guilt': UK virginity testing ban opens historical wounds

Last week the UK government added a clause to its Health and Care Bill that would make hymenoplasty -- or "virginity repair" surgery -- illegal in England and Wales. In November 2021, "virginity testing" also became a criminal offence.

Xi's Olympic guest list heavy on strongmen and autocrats

When China's leader Xi Jinping opens the Beijing Olympics on Friday he will be flanked by leaders who are unlikely to quell the chorus of concerns these Games are bolstering an authoritarian regime.

Alex 'Chumpy' Pullin still a 'presence' among Australia's Olympic snowboarding team following his death

Alex 'Chumpy' Pullin continues to affect Australia's Olympic snowboarding team 'in a positive way' following his death, according to former teammate Cam Bolton.

Afghan universities reopen to female students but with strict rules on mixing

Afghanistan's public universities opened on Wednesday with female students allowed back on campus for the first time since the Taliban took over the country last year.

UAE intercepts and destroys 3 'hostile' drones

Three hostile drones were intercepted over the United Arab Emirates at dawn on Wednesday, the country's defense ministry said.

As relations deteriorate with the West, Putin and Xi are getting closer

• US officials prepare for potential Russian cyberattacks as Ukraine standoff continues • Russian troops are massed 20 miles away, but these Ukrainian troops aren't alarmed

The worst start to the year for stocks since 2009

Stocks haven't experienced a start to the year this rough in a very long time.

China's biggest Lunar New Year release is another Korean War propaganda movie

The Chinese box office has raked in $314 million so far during the Lunar New Year holiday, largely thanks to a patriotic war epic celebrating China's victory over the United States during a key battle during the Korean War.

European country lifts all restrictions, saying Covid is no longer a 'socially critical sickness'

Denmark has lifted all Covid-19 restrictions within the country, with coronavirus no longer considered a "socially critical sickness," according to the government.

Disaster-hit Tonga goes into lockdown after recording first local Covid cases

The Pacific island nation of Tonga has gone into lockdown after reporting its first community cases of Covid-19, weeks after a massive volcanic eruption and tsunami devastated parts of the archipelago.

In eastern Ukraine they don't expect an invasion, but people are watching

On the frontlines east of the port city of Mariupol, the Ukrainian army's defensive positions look much as they did two years ago: Platoons shelter in improvised bunkers and ruined houses, and trenches curl through the frigid landscape.

Putin says the West has 'ignored' Russia's key concerns over Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the Russian government was studying the responses from the United States and NATO to Russia's security concerns, but said his country's main concerns "had been ignored."

At least 22 dead in Ecuador landslide

At least 22 people have died after heavy rainfall triggered a landslide on Monday in Quito, Ecuador, authorities said.

West African bloc ECOWAS says coup attempt underway in Guinea-Bissau

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has called for peace in Guinea-Bissau, as gunfire was heard around the government palace in the capital Bissau on Tuesday, triggering concerns of a coup.

Myanmar's coup leaders tried to crush resistance. One year on, it's stronger than ever

After one year of military rule in Myanmar, millions of people are resisting a return to repression and isolation.

Theresa May savages Boris Johnson over parties scandal

• Opinion: Britain's drinking problem is a lot bigger than Boris Johnson

Minnie Mouse has a new look

For the first time in her nearly century-long life, Minnie Mouse will add a pantsuit to her wardrobe. And it won't be just any old pair of tailored slacks, but an iconic silhouette from British fashion designer Stella McCartney.

Sundance Film Festival 2022 - Interview with Amy Berg, Director of PHOENIX RISING

CV   You must be very busy today~

 

AB   Yeah, it’s so weird. I’m just not used to having a premiere and a film festival experience where you’re not with anybody. It’s like I’m busy, but it’s so different. 

 

CV  I hear ya!
I'd like to just start out with some questions about you as a filmmaker-

What is your criteria into making the decision that you are going to make a documentary? What is needed for you?  
I would think you might get a lot of pitches, you’re out there and you read a lot. What is it that makes you say, ‘I’m going to make this documentary"?

 

AB  I definitely take my time in assessing a film and the elements that are available to me - such as the archive; the subjects that I can interview; characters in the film; and I just really need to flesh out the story and make sure that I’m on board.

Often people have done a lot of research before they come to me and they want to tell a story, and I just want to check it out from  my own standpoint and make sure that I can do it justice. 

I put a lot of time into every film that I make. Usually I always try to make a film in a year - and it always takes three - so if I’m going to spend three years on something I want to make sure that I can live with it and then I can tell the story properly. 

 

CV  What do you strive for with your films?
Do you have the thought at the beginning of when it’s completed and the world sees it, it will have a certain impact? 

 

AB   Since the first film I made, Deliver Us From Evil, I've always wanted to make sure that there’s an emotional experience that the audience can go on. I guess my measure for that is if I’m still feeling emotional about everything that’s in the film after spending so much time with it, then usually it’s a successful film.
And so I really do try to capture that narrative from an emotional standpoint.  

 

CV  Tell us about the title of this documentary. What does it mean?

 

AB  The phoenix is the mythological character that rises from the ashes and prevails; and Evan named the legislation that they coauthored the Phoenix Act.  And so we kind of looked at her as a phoenix in this journey that she went on in the state of California to change the domestic violence laws.  

 

CV  How did this all come about - how did the doc come together?  Did you have an outline of sorts?
Some of this had already happened…Can you give us a bit of a timeline on how it came together?

 

AB  I always try to have an outline and try to write a lot before I start a film. But you never really follow a script, you know- I think that’s just for my research. I read everything and watch everything, and really try to come up with a script so to speak so that I can know that I have a beginning, middle and end; but I’m always surprised once you start filming you just kind of follow the story and see where it goes.
We fortunately had a great story to follow here, but initially Evan and I were just talking about making a film about the Phoenix Act and domestic violence in California. The story got much larger when her journey led her toward naming her abuser and trying to elevate the voices of the survivors of Brian Warner’s abuse, as well as domestic violence survivors in California. 

 

CV  When did this all begin?

 

AB  We started following her in the summer of 2019, kind of unofficially just to see where things were going with the state legislature. And then we really started shooting the film in the summer of 2020. So we were shooting for about a year and we’ve been editing since the winter of 2020. 

 

CV  What were the unique challenges with this film? I have heard she is a very private person..

 

AB  I have known Evan for many years so we were able to have some short hand in that way where there was already some trust there; but the challenges in this project really I would say were around the content: It’s very dark. Abuse is dark - no matter how you look at it. This story had really dark elements.  You see quite a bit of archive in the first half, we have a lot of archive behind-the-scenes footage. It’s really dark content.  

I’m a Jewish woman, it’s hard to watch this antisemitic rhetoric and racism, and all of the violence against all of the different people in his life. It was heavy content, and trauma is heavy, you know?  

 

CV  How does that come off as entertaining?  It’s baffling to me that people found it entertaining..

 

AB  There’s an article in Rolling Stone 2015 where they list out his most shocking moments. It lists his shock antics that he was imposing on his victims. He was doing everything in public and it wasn’t taken very seriously, even by the media. 

 

CV  The other challenge I would think is that he is a very public figure. It’s out there now, there are devoted fans, he is powerful in the entertainment business. And legally the challenges: I know you’ve dealt with legalities before..

 

AB  Like on every film I’ve made!

 

CV  Is this any different?

 

AB. Well yeah, of course this is different. I have an incredible attorney, and he checks every single frame throughout the film. We are very covered.  

And HBO is used to this as well. 

 

CV  There’s a documentary series at this year’s Sundance that’s similar in a way…about abuse by a high profile entertainer. But he was convicted.  “We Need To Talk About Cosby”.  Have you seen it?

 

AB. No, the only film I’ve seen from Sundance thus far is the Sinead O’Connor documentary, “Nothing Compares”.  Super powerful. 

 

CV  The reason I brought up the Cosby docs series is because in that he’s already convicted; but then unexpectedly he is released from prison during the filming. 

Also that this awareness is now coming out in regards to memorialized figures in the entertainment business and accountability. 

 

AB. Yes, we are all responsible. We can’t put people on pedestals that are hurting others it just inflates the issue. I have received quite a bit of mail today - he has an army of fans and they are going to defend him until the end. 

 

CV  You’ve had your films at other festivals before. Why is Sundance Film Festival an important one to premiere your films - especially this film in particular?

 

AB  There’s nothing really like Sundance. It’s such a unique festival. The environment obviously adds to the experience, and you’re showing your film to your peers and everyone’s huddled together. The proximity of the festival is a block. It’s a great place to premiere a film. 

The audiences are incredible, and it’s a celebration of documentaries. Documentaries are treated in the same category as scripted films, so it’s one of the best festivals in the world. 

 

CV  HBO seems to be one of the first to really grasp onto that - to start doing documentaries - buying and producing them. 

 

AB  HBO’s great to work with. This is my second time doing a film with them -  it’s really a great experience always. 

 

CV  How is this Sundance different? In particular, the obvious being that it's not in Park City/in person due to Covid. 

Is this possibly better for your film? What are your feelings about that? Is it maybe better some ways that it was done online ….or maybe not?  Possibly because more people are seeing it?

 

AB  I think we’re at a disadvantage, because you’re only seeing half of the film, and the film that I made is the experience to see both parts of it. All you’re seeing now is the backstory leading up to when we start following the story.  It would’ve been great for people like you to have had the full experience, that will be soon coming in the Spring. 

 

CV  So it all is already completed?

 

AB  Yes, we’re still finishing color and sound -we’re still in post but the movie is done. 

We found out about Sundance at the end of the year. It just adds a lot of extra time: We have to basically deliver the film two times when you have a festival before your delivery date. So, we had to do a like a quick and dirty mix.  

You didn’t see it with the final music, or...a couple of things will change in part one, but mostly it’s done. 

 

CV  Can you please speak for Evan? What did she hope the impact of this will be? Again, she's said to be a very quiet, shy, reserved person. What was the impetus for her to do this - to come forward with this?  

 

AB  I hesitate to speak for Evan.  What I can say is the reason she wanted to make the film in the first place was because she wanted to report a crime and she was outside of the statute of limitations; so her goal is to elevate the voices of those who cannot speak up. She wants justice. 

But I think her main goal is just like my main goal is in making this film - it is to educate people about domestic violence so that you can see the warning signs, which we specify clearly in the first part of the film. 

 

CV  What was the reaction after last night - the film’s premiere?  

 

AB  I’ve got the fans who stand with Manson till the end - I’ve gotten a lot of emails like that. 

We got a great response from the media, we got really good reviews. 

I don’t know how many people viewed it - I didn’t talk to people after the screening and hear what it meant to them. Those are all the fun things about being at a film festival premiering a film - you get to talk to real people about their experiences. So that’s unfortunate, but here we are.  Maybe next year! 

 

CV  Well you’ll be getting a lot of texts I’m sure, and emails. I know on the online chat last night after your Q&A there were a lot of people who were responding very positively, and how important it is and what an impact it made on them  

 

AB  Thanks Claire

 

CV  So, do you think in the Spring time it’s going to be on HBO?

 

AB  Yes 

 

CV  And it will be two parts?  What can we expect from the second part?

 

AB  Oh a lot - there is a lot. The whole film takes place in the second part! 

It’s longer and it moves fast. It’s an investigation. And it’s a very intimate portrait of what goes on behind the scenes in deliberating over when to speak publicly, and how to grapple with that.  

 

CV  Thanks very much.  I look forward to seeing that.  

Good luck, and thank you for making this. 

 

 

from Filmfestivals.com - Hollywood, Independent, Shorts, Videos, Documentary https://ift.tt/E14U5yiSX
via gqrds