Kashmir Valley for decades, the prefered haunt of the Hindi film industry before the insurgence is preparing for a grand revival of film tourism over the last few years.

J&K: Grand revival of film tourism in Kashmir as J&K's  L-G inaugurates film conclave

For the first time ever, Norah, a Saudi film has been named in the Cannes Film Festival's official selection. Watch to know more.

Cannes film festival: Saudi Arabia to make Cannes Film Festival debut with 'Norah'

A new film in Nigeria is being screened to remember the nearly 100 schoolgirls who are still in captivity 10 years after they were seized from their school in the country's north-east. At least 276 girls were kidnapped during the April 2014 attack that stunned the world, but most have since regained their freedom.

Nigerian film honours missing Chibok girls

An Iraqi television show that was banned by Saddam Hussein is back on screens after a 27 years Hiatus. The program had been banned by Saddam Hussein for its gritty portrayal of Life under sanctions. Watch to know more!

Wahiba's World: Banned TV drama that broke Iraq's taboos returns after 27 years

Fans of Veteran Indian actor Waheeda Rehman may have a chance to view her journey in the film industry through her lens. Waheeda Rehman has donated her personal memorabilia to the Film Heritage Foundation for preservation.

Waheeda Rehman donates film memorabilia to Film Heritage Foundation

This women's day here are some female directors you need to keep an eye out for, Patty Jenkins who is most popularly known as the filmmaker who directed 'Wonder Woman,' Ava Duvernay who made history with 2018 film 'A Wrinkle in Time,' and much more!

International Women's Day 2024: Tribute to female directors and their trailblazing work

The age rating for the classic film Mary Poppins has been raised in the UK. The British Board of film Certification has Lifted the age rating of Mary Poppins from U to PG. This move comes 60 years after the movie's first release. The film's original rating signified that the content of the film was not likely to offend or harm anyone however its current rating advises Parental Guidance. Watch to know more!

Disney's 'Mary Poppins' age rating raised to 'PG' in UK

A tribe called Judah, a film produced by actor and director Funke Akindele has become the highest-earning Nigerian film. The film smashed box office records and became the first Nigerian movie to earn 1 billion naira or over 1 million dollars in domestic theatres. How and why did the movie achieve this feet, Louisa Olaniyi reports from Lagos, Nigeria.

'A Tribe Called Judah' becomes highest-earning Nigerian film

Killers of the Flower Moon, directed by Martin Scorsese and based on David Grann's 2017 book, explores a dark chapter in American history involving the gruesome murders of wealthy Native Americans in early 20th-century Oklahoma. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone, and Robert De Niro. Does it deliver?

Was Killers of the Flower Moon worth waiting?

The 'Super Mario Bros' movie is one of the biggest animated movies of all time and it is one of the most successful movies of the year so far. However, children attending a special screening of this hit movie in Northern Ireland were in for a shock.

Super Mario Bros: Image of half-dressed lady appears at a screening in UK

The sequel will focus on the concept of home and will involve a couple in their 80s residing in a deteriorating house, exploring generational changes.

Director Shekhar Kapoor disclosed theme for sequel to 1983 film "Masoom"

Her efforts of raising two orphaned baby elephants, captured in the documentary 'The Elephant Whisperers' is now a global sensation after having won the Oscar for Best Documentary Short Film. Yet, she is just coming to terms with understanding the magnitude and the significance of the feat.

A middle-aged woman from the indigenous Kattunayaka tribal community, Bellie does not possess a mobile phone or have a social media account to know how far her story has reached!

Even if she did possess the requisite gadgets, there's no stable internet connectivity or 4G mobile network where she lives!

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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"My story <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheElephantWhisperer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheElephantWhisperer</a> having won <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Oscars?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Oscars</a> has brought cheer to tribals, Forest Dept. We've been living in the forest with no exposure, raising baby elephants has taken us so far" says tribal woman Bellie 
Millions will watch her film, but she can't. No 4G where she lives! <a href="https://t.co/M593dscaKH">pic.twitter.com/M593dscaKH</a>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1635261280083931136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2023</a></blockquote>
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"My story(Elephant Whisperers documentary) having won the Oscar award has brought cheer to everyone in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve... The Forest department officials, adivasi (indigenous tribal)) community, everyone are delighted... No one has done something of this sort for recognizing the efforts of our people in Mudumalai...We've been living in the Mudumalai forest and have no exposure to the outside world... Me having raised those two elephant calves is what has taken us so far..." she says.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indian-sc-directs-petitions-seeking-same-sex-marriage-legalisation-to-constitutional-bench-571529">Indian SC directs petitions seeking same-sex marriage legalisation to constitutional bench</a>

The story of a human couple (Bomman and Bellie) showering love towards the orphaned elephant calves is striking, because of how it is set in a dense forest that is extremely prone to adverse interactions between humans and animals.

In Mudumalai and adjoining regions, there have been several instances of local residents being fatally attacked by wild animals and there have also been cruel and mindless acts of violence that people have committed against wildlife.

In early 2021, WION had reported from Mudumalai about how miscreants had hurled a burning object to chase away an injured wild tusker, eventually leading to its tragic and painful death.

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"Only now I knew&amp; understood that <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ElephantWhisperers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ElephantWhisperers</a> has reached as far as <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Oscars?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Oscars</a> 
Not just me who deserves appreciation for raising the baby elephants..The Doctor, Forest Officials - DD, FD, Ranger, everyone helped me &amp; offered all that I needed" says Bellie, the protagonist <a href="https://t.co/2i9mmbgxYS">pic.twitter.com/2i9mmbgxYS</a>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1635263433024339968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2023</a></blockquote>
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"The Documentary(Elephant whisperers) has gone as far as the Oscar awards...Only now I knew and understood that it has reached that far... Its not just me that deserves appreciation for raising the baby elephants... the Doctor, Compounder, Forest Officials - Deputy Director, Field Director, Ranger... Everyone helped me and provided me with all I needed and hence it was possible to raise both the baby elephants..." Bellie says.

The Elephant Whisperers marks the directorial debut of Kartiki Gonsalves, an Indian documentary filmmaker and photographer. This documentary was released on Netflix on 8 December 2022.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-hosts-first-sco-conference-on-shared-buddhist-heritage-571559">India hosts first SCO conference on Shared Buddhist Heritage</a>

While many devices across the globe would now be streaming 'The Elephant Whisperers', there's one place where it wouldn't be possible to do so. The Theppakadu region of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve. It is where Bomman and Bellie stay.

This dense forest region, which lays within the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu, is almost at the tri-junction of the southern Indian states Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Here, mobile data (4G) signals are not available and only voice calls or very limited mobile data usage is possible, as the only network that works in the region is that of the government-run BSNL.

Watch | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/not-easy-to-achieve-target-need-to-double-our-efforts-for-the-target-li-qiang-571556">Not easy to achieve target, need to double our efforts for the target: Li Qiang</a>

Streaming the 'The Elephant Whisperers' from Theppakkadu on Netflix will remain a distant dream!&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Her efforts of raising two orphaned baby elephants, captured in the documentary 'The Elephant Whisperers' is now a global sensation after having won the Oscar for Best Documentary Short Film.

Her efforts of raising two orphaned baby elephants, captured in the documentary 'The Elephant Whisperers' is now a global sensation after having won the Oscar for Best Documentary Short Film. Yet, she is just coming to terms with understanding the magnitude and the significance of the feat. A middle-aged woman from the indigenous Kattunayaka tribal community, Bellie does not possess a mobile phone or have a social media account to know how far her story has reached! Even if she did possess the requisite gadgets, there's no stable internet connectivity or 4G mobile network where she lives! "My story #TheElephantWhisperer having won #Oscars has brought cheer to tribals, Forest Dept. We've been living in the forest with no exposure, raising baby elephants has taken us so far" says tribal woman Bellie Millions will watch her film, but she can't. No 4G where she lives! pic.twitter.com/M593dscaKH — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) March 13, 2023 × "My story(Elephant Whisperers documentary) having won the Oscar award has brought cheer to everyone in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve... The Forest department officials, adivasi (indigenous tribal)) community, everyone are delighted... No one has done something of this sort for recognizing the efforts of our people in Mudumalai...We've been living in the Mudumalai forest and have no exposure to the outside world... Me having raised those two elephant calves is what has taken us so far..." she says. Also Read | Indian SC directs petitions seeking same-sex marriage legalisation to constitutional bench The story of a human couple (Bomman and Bellie) showering love towards the orphaned elephant calves is striking, because of how it is set in a dense forest that is extremely prone to adverse interactions between humans and animals. In Mudumalai and adjoining regions, there have been several instances of local residents being fatally attacked by wild animals and there have also been cruel and mindless acts of violence that people have committed against wildlife. In early 2021, WION had reported from Mudumalai about how miscreants had hurled a burning object to chase away an injured wild tusker, eventually leading to its tragic and painful death. "Only now I knew& understood that #ElephantWhisperers has reached as far as #Oscars Not just me who deserves appreciation for raising the baby elephants..The Doctor, Forest Officials - DD, FD, Ranger, everyone helped me & offered all that I needed" says Bellie, the protagonist pic.twitter.com/2i9mmbgxYS — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) March 13, 2023 × "The Documentary(Elephant whisperers) has gone as far as the Oscar awards...Only now I knew and understood that it has reached that far... Its not just me that deserves appreciation for raising the baby elephants... the Doctor, Compounder, Forest Officials - Deputy Director, Field Director, Ranger... Everyone helped me and provided me with all I needed and hence it was possible to raise both the baby elephants..." Bellie says. The Elephant Whisperers marks the directorial debut of Kartiki Gonsalves, an Indian documentary filmmaker and photographer. This documentary was released on Netflix on 8 December 2022. Also Read | India hosts first SCO conference on Shared Buddhist Heritage While many devices across the globe would now be streaming 'The Elephant Whisperers', there's one place where it wouldn't be possible to do so. The Theppakadu region of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve. It is where Bomman and Bellie stay. This dense forest region, which lays within the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu, is almost at the tri-junction of the southern Indian states Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Here, mobile data (4G) signals are not available and only voice calls or very limited mobile data usage is possible, as the only network that works in the region is that of the government-run BSNL. Watch | Not easy to achieve target, need to double our efforts for the target: Li Qiang Streaming the 'The Elephant Whisperers' from Theppakkadu on Netflix will remain a distant dream! WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Protagonists of Oscar-winning docu 'The Elephant Whisperers' can't watch the film at home, here's why

Mukundan Unni Associates, Abhinav Sunder Nayak's first film as a filmmaker, is available on OTT following a successful theatrical run. The Malayalam movie started streaming on Disney Plus Hotstar on January 13 according to the filmmaker, who made the announcement via his Twitter account. George Kora, Tanvi Ram, Arsha Baiju, Suraj Venjaramoodu, and Vineeth Sreenivasan will star in the film. Abhinav wrote on Twitter that Mukundan Unni Associates is premiering tomorrow, 13 January, on Disney Plus Hotstar which has almost 300 million active users. He added that he is ecstatic about the kind of exposure this platform will provide the movie.

Moreover, Abhinav also pointed out that although it will be available in a variety of languages, he personally advise non-Malayalis to watch the Malayalam version with English subtitles for the most impact since it is the intended interpretation.

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“The performances, voice modulation, dialogue flow, the deadpan humour and rhythm of the narrative is best conveyed in the original language. I hereby request my friends and followers to share this note to help me reach the maximum number of people. PLEASE spread the word,” he said.

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Abhinav Sunder Nayak in conversation with OTT Play regarding the movie and its success said they anticipated the film to be popular and what surprised him was how the family audience responded. He added that when an accident scenario was playing out in several of the theatres he had been to, he could see old women smiling. Abhinav also shared that the bus accident which is a really harsh deed by the protagonist was actually being relished by them. "That was something I didn’t expect at all," he said.&nbsp;

Mukundan Unni Associates, Abhinav Sunder Nayak's first film as a filmmaker, is available on OTT following a successful theatrical run. The Malayalam movie started streaming on Disney Plus Hotstar on January 13 according to the filmmaker, who made the announcement via his Twitter account.

Mukundan Unni Associates, Abhinav Sunder Nayak's first film as a filmmaker, is available on OTT following a successful theatrical run. The Malayalam movie started streaming on Disney Plus Hotstar on January 13 according to the filmmaker, who made the announcement via his Twitter account. George Kora, Tanvi Ram, Arsha Baiju, Suraj Venjaramoodu, and Vineeth Sreenivasan will star in the film. Abhinav wrote on Twitter that Mukundan Unni Associates is premiering tomorrow, 13 January, on Disney Plus Hotstar which has almost 300 million active users. He added that he is ecstatic about the kind of exposure this platform will provide the movie. Moreover, Abhinav also pointed out that although it will be available in a variety of languages, he personally advise non-Malayalis to watch the Malayalam version with English subtitles for the most impact since it is the intended interpretation. “The performances, voice modulation, dialogue flow, the deadpan humour and rhythm of the narrative is best conveyed in the original language. I hereby request my friends and followers to share this note to help me reach the maximum number of people. PLEASE spread the word,” he said. × Abhinav Sunder Nayak in conversation with OTT Play regarding the movie and its success said they anticipated the film to be popular and what surprised him was how the family audience responded. He added that when an accident scenario was playing out in several of the theatres he had been to, he could see old women smiling. Abhinav also shared that the bus accident which is a really harsh deed by the protagonist was actually being relished by them. "That was something I didn’t expect at all," he said.

Mukundan Unni Associates OTT Release: Check date & what film’s director requested non-Malayalis

India's national film award winners have been announced. Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn & South Indian actor Suriya have shared the best actor award.

India's national film award winners announced: Ajay Devgn & Suriya share best actor award

R Madhavan will be making his directorial debut with Rocketry: The Nambi Effect, which received a standing ovation at Cannes. The movie will release on July 1. In an exclusive conversation, he shares why he believes in the Indian audience.

R Madhavan gets candid: 'Rocketry': Madhavan wears director's hat for the film

India is the 'country of honour' at Marche Du Film While this is great news, why are Indian films not winning big at international film festivals? We look for answers on Cannes 2022: The India Story with our experts Meenakshi Shedde & T.P. Aggarwal on WION Wideangle

Cannes 2022: The India story | WION Wideangle

Watch Indian actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's 20-year journey at the Cannes film festival. The actress began her Cannes journey in 2002.

Watch Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's 20-year journey at the Cannes film festival

Hollywood star Tom Cruise becomes the show-stealer after the premiere of the Top Gun Maverick the premiere during the Cannes film festival 2022.

Day 2 of the Cannes film festival 2022: Tom Cruise becomes the show-stealer

A horror-themed restaurant in Saudi Arabia is attracting horror film buffs from around the world. Tourism with a side of skulls and gore.

Horror-themed restaurant in Saudi Arabia attracting horror film buffs from around the world

'The 355' released On January 21 after a lot of delays. Starring Jessica Chastain, Penélope Cruz, Fan Bingbing, Diane Kruger, and Lupita Nyong'o, this new spy thriller tells the story of an international alliance of women, who come together to track down a dangerous McGuffin that could lead to World War III. This time, the women are not just tools of distraction but have taken charge of the mission. At first glance, '355' almost sounds like a female counterpart of 007 James Bond. The difference is, agent 355 actually existed during the American Revolution. The film has drawn inspiration from a real-life female agent whose identity remains unknown to this day. Let's hear it from the cast who spoke to Wion's Zeba Khan in an exclusive chat.

'The 355': In conversation with Jessica Chastain, Simon Kinberg, Diane Kruger

Hong Kong authorities have passed a new law censuring films that it perceives to “endorse, support, glorify, encourage and incite activities that might endanger national security.”

The new censorship law is an extension of China’s national security law which was imposed in the restive city last year in response to the 2019 pro-democracy protests, in which most opposition politicians and activists were jailed, either under the new law or for other alleged crimes or have fled into exile.

The censorship law, which was passed on Wednesday by the city’s legislature, allows scrutiny of any titles that had previously been given a go-ahead.

It also empowers Hong Kong's chief secretary to revoke the screening license of past and current films that are deemed “contrary to the interests of national security”.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-targetting-dissenting-voices-in-hong-kong-says-uk-392184">China 'targetting dissenting voices' in Hong Kong, says UK</a>

Punishment for violating the law included up to three years imprisonment and fines of up to HK$1 million ($128,400).

“The goal is very clear: it’s to improve the film censorship system, to prevent any act endangering the national security,” Commerce Secretary Edward Yau told the Legislative Council.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-minister-signals-path-to-adopting-china-anti-sanctions-law-404099">Hong Kong minister signals path to adopting China anti-sanctions law</a>

According to the law, film censorship inspectors can enter and search any premises suspected of displaying unlicensed movies without a warrant and titles which it deems as a security risk.

The law prohibits the victims from taking a legal course via the usual channels. Instead, they will now have to launch a judicial review in Hong Kong's courts, a long and costly legal procedure.

Watch

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Yau said all the screenings, including physical and online—meaning Netflix, HBO, Amazon— are covered in the current law.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-anti-government-protests-hong-kong-celebrates-72nd-chinese-national-day-417370">Amid anti-government protests, Hong Kong celebrates 72nd Chinese National Day</a>

The new censorship rules bring Hong Kong much closer to the Chinese mainland, where films are rigorously vetted and only a handful of Western movies or documentaries see a commercial release each year.

Historically, Hong Kong boasted a thriving film scene and for much of the latter half of the last century, Cantonese cinema was world-class.

The city still maintains some key studios, a handful of lauded directors and a thriving indie scene, but new political red lines are being drawn each month.

Since the new rules were announced one film director announced she had shelved her project because of cuts demanded by censors.

(With inputs from agencies)

Hong Kong authorities have passed a new law censuring films that it perceives to “endorse, support, glorify, encourage and incite activities that might endanger national security.

Hong Kong authorities have passed a new law censuring films that it perceives to “endorse, support, glorify, encourage and incite activities that might endanger national security.” The new censorship law is an extension of China’s national security law which was imposed in the restive city last year in response to the 2019 pro-democracy protests, in which most opposition politicians and activists were jailed, either under the new law or for other alleged crimes or have fled into exile. The censorship law, which was passed on Wednesday by the city’s legislature, allows scrutiny of any titles that had previously been given a go-ahead. It also empowers Hong Kong's chief secretary to revoke the screening license of past and current films that are deemed “contrary to the interests of national security”. Also read | China 'targetting dissenting voices' in Hong Kong, says UK Punishment for violating the law included up to three years imprisonment and fines of up to HK$1 million ($128,400). “The goal is very clear: it’s to improve the film censorship system, to prevent any act endangering the national security,” Commerce Secretary Edward Yau told the Legislative Council. Also read | Hong Kong minister signals path to adopting China anti-sanctions law According to the law, film censorship inspectors can enter and search any premises suspected of displaying unlicensed movies without a warrant and titles which it deems as a security risk. The law prohibits the victims from taking a legal course via the usual channels. Instead, they will now have to launch a judicial review in Hong Kong's courts, a long and costly legal procedure. Watch Yau said all the screenings, including physical and online—meaning Netflix, HBO, Amazon— are covered in the current law. Also read | Amid anti-government protests, Hong Kong celebrates 72nd Chinese National Day The new censorship rules bring Hong Kong much closer to the Chinese mainland, where films are rigorously vetted and only a handful of Western movies or documentaries see a commercial release each year. Historically, Hong Kong boasted a thriving film scene and for much of the latter half of the last century, Cantonese cinema was world-class. The city still maintains some key studios, a handful of lauded directors and a thriving indie scene, but new political red lines are being drawn each month. Since the new rules were announced one film director announced she had shelved her project because of cuts demanded by censors. (With inputs from agencies)

Hong Kong passes law that can censor even past films, to safeguard 'national security'

The&nbsp;Cannes&nbsp;Film&nbsp;Festival&nbsp;returns&nbsp;next week, promising to bury the long months of darkness and solitude under an avalanche of celebrity, champagne and chin-stroking arthouse&nbsp;cinema.&nbsp;

It is billed as nothing less than a resurrection. "Cinema&nbsp;is not dead!" festival supremo Thierry Fremaux declared last month.&nbsp;

It is the first major fully-fledged&nbsp;film&nbsp;festival&nbsp;since the pandemic, and a truckload of Hollywood stars -- from Timothee Chalamet to Nicole Kidman to Matt Damon -- are expected on the Croisette between July 6 and 17.

It's not quite a return to normal, of course, even if France's Covid numbers have been steadily improving and most restrictions lifted.&nbsp;

There will be no "bises" -- the French-style peck on the cheeks -- at the top of the fabled steps to the Palais des Festivals.&nbsp;

And some of the&nbsp;glitz&nbsp;will be toned down, with many after-parties cancelled and the big galas cutting their invite lists in half to meet social distancing guidelines.&nbsp;

Organisers are also slowly waking up to the fact that the sight of celebrities and moguls arriving on private jets and mega-yachts doesn't seem so chic in an age of impending climate disaster.

So this year: no plastic, lots of electric cars, and most symbolic of all: a red carpet that is half the size and made from recycled material.&nbsp;

Stargazing&nbsp;

But our collective need to gawp at megastars on the Cote d'Azur will not be denied.&nbsp;

One&nbsp;film&nbsp;in this year's competition accounts for an outsize share of the celeb-count: Wes Anderson's "The French Dispatch" includes Chalamet, Benicio del Toro, Bill Murray and many more.&nbsp;

Two other stars of that&nbsp;film&nbsp;-- Tilda Swinton and Lea Seydoux -- will be near-ubiquitous on the Croisette, with appearances in a remarkable eight movies between them.

Damon is in town for the premiere of his latest thriller, the Marseilles-set "Stillwater".

But&nbsp;Cannes&nbsp;is all about the filmmakers, and after last year's edition was cancelled due to the pandemic, a particularly rich crop of festival alumni is competing for the Palme d'Or.&nbsp;

Among those submitting themselves to the famously blunt audiences of&nbsp;Cannes&nbsp;are several past winners: Italy's Nanni Moretti with his new&nbsp;film&nbsp;"Tre Piani", France's Jacques Audiard ("Les Olympiades") and Thailand's master of the slow-burn Apichatpong Weerasethakul with his English-language debut ("Memoria").&nbsp;

The opening night&nbsp;film&nbsp;is also a first in English for France's Leo Carax, directing Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard in what is certain to be a bizarre and visually arresting musical about a celebrity couple and their mysterious child, "Annette".

Dutch shockmeister Paul Verhoeven, who made his name with Hollywood megahits like "Robocop" and "Basic Instinct", continues his late run of (slightly) more subtle European fare with "Benedetta" about lesbian nuns in 17th century Italy.&nbsp;

Sean Penn will also be hoping for a personal resurrection after his catastrophic&nbsp;Cannes&nbsp;appearance in 2016, when his Africa-based humanitarian love story "The Last Face" was mercilessly booed.&nbsp;

He is aiming for a warmer reception to "Flag Day", starring himself and his daughter Dylan.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-calls-report-of-china-building-more-than-100-nuclear-missile-silos-concerning-395234">Also Read |&nbsp;US calls report of China building more than 100 nuclear missile silos 'concerning'</a>

Also in the competition are Iran's two-time Oscar winner Asghar Farhadi, who&nbsp;returns&nbsp;with "A Hero", and Russia's Kirill Serebrennikov, who is unable to attend due to an embezzlement conviction that is widely seen as punishment for criticising Vladimir Putin.

Gender imbalance&nbsp;

The panel judging the 24 entries is headed by US director Spike Lee -- the first time a black man has led the jury -- and includes "The Serpent" star Tahar Rahim and US actress Maggie Gyllenhaal.&nbsp;

With just four female directors in the competition, the festival's tendency to pick the usual (male) suspects of the arthouse elite is once again under scrutiny.&nbsp;

Only one woman has won the top Palme d'Or prize in 73 editions of the festival: Jane Campion for "The Piano" in 1993.

The selection is more balanced in the other sections, however, with over half the entries in the independent Directors' Fortnight and International Critics Week coming from women directors.&nbsp;

US actor-director Jodie Foster will likely field questions on the subject as she picks up an honorary Palme.&nbsp;

There is plenty happening outside the competitions, including a first showing of Oliver Stone's new documentary about the JFK assassination, updating his feature-length conspiracy theory from 1991.&nbsp;

That will play in the new&nbsp;Cannes&nbsp;Premiere section, along with other intriguing documentaries: one about troubled star Val Kilmer ("Val") and Charlotte Gainsbourg's ode to her mother Jane Birkin ("Jane").

The Cannes Film Festival returns next week, promising to bury the long months of darkness and solitude under an avalanche of celebrity, champagne and chin-stroking arthouse cinema.

The Cannes Film Festival returns next week, promising to bury the long months of darkness and solitude under an avalanche of celebrity, champagne and chin-stroking arthouse cinema. It is billed as nothing less than a resurrection. "Cinema is not dead!" festival supremo Thierry Fremaux declared last month. It is the first major fully-fledged film festival since the pandemic, and a truckload of Hollywood stars -- from Timothee Chalamet to Nicole Kidman to Matt Damon -- are expected on the Croisette between July 6 and 17. It's not quite a return to normal, of course, even if France's Covid numbers have been steadily improving and most restrictions lifted. There will be no "bises" -- the French-style peck on the cheeks -- at the top of the fabled steps to the Palais des Festivals. And some of the glitz will be toned down, with many after-parties cancelled and the big galas cutting their invite lists in half to meet social distancing guidelines. Organisers are also slowly waking up to the fact that the sight of celebrities and moguls arriving on private jets and mega-yachts doesn't seem so chic in an age of impending climate disaster. So this year: no plastic, lots of electric cars, and most symbolic of all: a red carpet that is half the size and made from recycled material. Stargazing But our collective need to gawp at megastars on the Cote d'Azur will not be denied. One film in this year's competition accounts for an outsize share of the celeb-count: Wes Anderson's "The French Dispatch" includes Chalamet, Benicio del Toro, Bill Murray and many more. Two other stars of that film -- Tilda Swinton and Lea Seydoux -- will be near-ubiquitous on the Croisette, with appearances in a remarkable eight movies between them. Damon is in town for the premiere of his latest thriller, the Marseilles-set "Stillwater". But Cannes is all about the filmmakers, and after last year's edition was cancelled due to the pandemic, a particularly rich crop of festival alumni is competing for the Palme d'Or. Among those submitting themselves to the famously blunt audiences of Cannes are several past winners: Italy's Nanni Moretti with his new film "Tre Piani", France's Jacques Audiard ("Les Olympiades") and Thailand's master of the slow-burn Apichatpong Weerasethakul with his English-language debut ("Memoria"). The opening night film is also a first in English for France's Leo Carax, directing Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard in what is certain to be a bizarre and visually arresting musical about a celebrity couple and their mysterious child, "Annette". Dutch shockmeister Paul Verhoeven, who made his name with Hollywood megahits like "Robocop" and "Basic Instinct", continues his late run of (slightly) more subtle European fare with "Benedetta" about lesbian nuns in 17th century Italy. Sean Penn will also be hoping for a personal resurrection after his catastrophic Cannes appearance in 2016, when his Africa-based humanitarian love story "The Last Face" was mercilessly booed. He is aiming for a warmer reception to "Flag Day", starring himself and his daughter Dylan. Also Read | US calls report of China building more than 100 nuclear missile silos 'concerning' Also in the competition are Iran's two-time Oscar winner Asghar Farhadi, who returns with "A Hero", and Russia's Kirill Serebrennikov, who is unable to attend due to an embezzlement conviction that is widely seen as punishment for criticising Vladimir Putin. Gender imbalance The panel judging the 24 entries is headed by US director Spike Lee -- the first time a black man has led the jury -- and includes "The Serpent" star Tahar Rahim and US actress Maggie Gyllenhaal. With just four female directors in the competition, the festival's tendency to pick the usual (male) suspects of the arthouse elite is once again under scrutiny. Only one woman has won the top Palme d'Or prize in 73 editions of the festival: Jane Campion for "The Piano" in 1993. The selection is more balanced in the other sections, however, with over half the entries in the independent Directors' Fortnight and International Critics Week coming from women directors. US actor-director Jodie Foster will likely field questions on the subject as she picks up an honorary Palme. There is plenty happening outside the competitions, including a first showing of Oliver Stone's new documentary about the JFK assassination, updating his feature-length conspiracy theory from 1991. That will play in the new Cannes Premiere section, along with other intriguing documentaries: one about troubled star Val Kilmer ("Val") and Charlotte Gainsbourg's ode to her mother Jane Birkin ("Jane").

Cinema glitz returns with a reborn Cannes

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday that New Zealand's Muslim community should be the focus of any film about the Christchurch mosque attacks after some people raised objections to a movie focussing on her response to the bloodshed. 
 
A film called 'They Are Us' is being planned about the attacks on two mosques by a white supremacist gunman on March 15, 2019, in which 51 people were killed, the Hollywood Reporter said last week. 
 
The magazine described the film as an 'inspirational story' about Ardern's response to the violence. 
 
Ardern's office said last week, she and the government had no involvement with the film. Asked about it at a news conference, she said the Muslim community should be at the centre of any film about the shootings, not her. 
 
"This is very raw event for New Zealand and even more so for the community that experienced it," Ardern said. 
 
"I agree that there are stories that at some point should be told from March 15. But they are the stories from our Muslim community so they need to be at the centre of that. I don't consider mine to be one of the stories that needs to be told," she said. 
 
She said, however, it was not for her to say whether a project should go ahead or not. 
 
The film's title is drawn from Ardern's words on the day of the shootings. The 40-year-old leader's compassionate response united her shocked country and was praised globally. 
 
New Zealander Andrew Niccol would write and direct the film, the Hollywood Reporter said. It quoted him as saying it was not so much about the attacks but Ardern's handling of it. 
 
But some Muslims questioned the plan to make a film when the pain of victims' families, friends and the wider community was still so raw. They also questioned the plan to focus the film on the prime minister and not the victims. 
 
Muslim community advocate Guled Mire told the 1 NEWS network that he thought the film was 'distasteful'. 
 
"It completely feeds into this white saviour mentality," he said. 
 
Armed with high-capacity semi-automatic weapons, Australian Brenton Tarrant killed the 51 people and injured dozens when he opened fire in the two mosques during Friday prayers in Christchurch. 
 
Tarrant was last year sentenced to life in prison without parole. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday that New Zealand's Muslim community should be the focus of any film about the Christchurch mosque attacks after some people raised objections to a movie focussing on her response to the bloodshed.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday that New Zealand's Muslim community should be the focus of any film about the Christchurch mosque attacks after some people raised objections to a movie focussing on her response to the bloodshed. A film called 'They Are Us' is being planned about the attacks on two mosques by a white supremacist gunman on March 15, 2019, in which 51 people were killed, the Hollywood Reporter said last week. The magazine described the film as an 'inspirational story' about Ardern's response to the violence. Ardern's office said last week, she and the government had no involvement with the film. Asked about it at a news conference, she said the Muslim community should be at the centre of any film about the shootings, not her. "This is very raw event for New Zealand and even more so for the community that experienced it," Ardern said. "I agree that there are stories that at some point should be told from March 15. But they are the stories from our Muslim community so they need to be at the centre of that. I don't consider mine to be one of the stories that needs to be told," she said. She said, however, it was not for her to say whether a project should go ahead or not. The film's title is drawn from Ardern's words on the day of the shootings. The 40-year-old leader's compassionate response united her shocked country and was praised globally. New Zealander Andrew Niccol would write and direct the film, the Hollywood Reporter said. It quoted him as saying it was not so much about the attacks but Ardern's handling of it. But some Muslims questioned the plan to make a film when the pain of victims' families, friends and the wider community was still so raw. They also questioned the plan to focus the film on the prime minister and not the victims. Muslim community advocate Guled Mire told the 1 NEWS network that he thought the film was 'distasteful'. "It completely feeds into this white saviour mentality," he said. Armed with high-capacity semi-automatic weapons, Australian Brenton Tarrant killed the 51 people and injured dozens when he opened fire in the two mosques during Friday prayers in Christchurch. Tarrant was last year sentenced to life in prison without parole. (With inputs from agencies)

Ardern says New Zealand mosque attack film should focus on Muslim community, not her

The case against two filmmakers charged with disturbing the wreck of the ferry Estonia, which sank in 1994 with the loss of 852 lives, was dismissed on Monday by a Swedish court as their vessel was not covered by the law protecting the gravesite. 
 
The men were part of a Discovery Network documentary team that sent a remote-operated vehicle to film the wreck in the Baltic Sea in 2019, discovering previously unknown damage to the hull and reviving speculation about the cause of the disaster. 
 
The Gothenburg court dismissed the charges of disturbing a marine grave against the two Swedish citizens because the law which protects Estonia did not apply to foreign-registered vessels in international waters. 
 
The vessel they were using was German-flagged. 
 
The roll-on roll-off ferry, carrying 803 passengers and 186 crew, sank on a stormy night on Sept. 28, 1994. The official investigation in 1997 concluded that the bow shield had failed, damaging the bow ramp and flooding the car deck. 
 
As a result of the findings by the film-makers, Sweden said last month it would change the law protecting the Estonia as a grave site to allow a new inspection of the wreck by the authorities. 
 
Over the years, a number of theories have emerged about the sinking that reject the official explanation, including a collision with a submarine and an explosion inside the ship. 
 
The head of Sweden`s Accident Investigation Authority, John Ahlberk, however, has said a preliminary examination of footage from the documentary and previous material had not so far led it to conclude that the 1997 official report had been wrong. 
 
The official investigation pointed to the strong winds and high waves on the night Estonia sank on its way from Tallinn to Stockholm. After the bow shield failed, the ferry rapidly filled with water and most of those who died were trapped inside. 
 
 
 
 
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The case against two filmmakers charged with disturbing the wreck of the ferry Estonia, which sank in 1994 with the loss of 852 lives, was dismissed on Monday by a Swedish court as their vessel was not covered by the law protecting the gravesite.

The case against two filmmakers charged with disturbing the wreck of the ferry Estonia, which sank in 1994 with the loss of 852 lives, was dismissed on Monday by a Swedish court as their vessel was not covered by the law protecting the gravesite. The men were part of a Discovery Network documentary team that sent a remote-operated vehicle to film the wreck in the Baltic Sea in 2019, discovering previously unknown damage to the hull and reviving speculation about the cause of the disaster. The Gothenburg court dismissed the charges of disturbing a marine grave against the two Swedish citizens because the law which protects Estonia did not apply to foreign-registered vessels in international waters. The vessel they were using was German-flagged. The roll-on roll-off ferry, carrying 803 passengers and 186 crew, sank on a stormy night on Sept. 28, 1994. The official investigation in 1997 concluded that the bow shield had failed, damaging the bow ramp and flooding the car deck. As a result of the findings by the film-makers, Sweden said last month it would change the law protecting the Estonia as a grave site to allow a new inspection of the wreck by the authorities. Over the years, a number of theories have emerged about the sinking that reject the official explanation, including a collision with a submarine and an explosion inside the ship. The head of Sweden`s Accident Investigation Authority, John Ahlberk, however, has said a preliminary examination of footage from the documentary and previous material had not so far led it to conclude that the 1997 official report had been wrong. The official investigation pointed to the strong winds and high waves on the night Estonia sank on its way from Tallinn to Stockholm. After the bow shield failed, the ferry rapidly filled with water and most of those who died were trapped inside.

Case against film team accused of disturbing wreck of ferry Estonia dismissed

Regina King has stepped away from her usual place in front of the camera, and positioned herself behind it for her feature film directorial debut "One Night in Miami".

First trailer for Regina King's acclaimed film "One Night in Miami"

Superhero movie "Wonder Woman 1984" will debut in U.S. theaters and on AT&T Inc's HBO Max streaming service on Christmas Day, an unusual release plan prompted by the coronavirus pandemic.

'Wonder Woman 1984' heading to HBO Max and theaters on Christmas Day

A tongue-in-cheek video clip that urges young Germans to do their patriotic duty in the war against coronavirus by just staying at home and being couch potatoes has become an internet sensation, garnering more than one million clicks by Monday (November 16).

'Be lazy, save lives,' young Germans urged in comic COVID video

While the cinema drive-in may have gotten a boost as lockdowns gradually come to an end amid the COVID-19 outbreak, in Paris film fans can now munch on their popcorn watching a movie from a boat on the river Seine.

Movie magic as Paris turns the Seine into open air cinema

The Riviera resort of Cannes should have been playing host to the world's biggest names in film. Instead, with its annual film festival postponed and the red carpet rolled up, locals made do with a drive-in cinema in a beachfront car park.

Popcorn, palm trees and face masks: Cannes rolls out drive-in cinema

South Korean President Moon Jae-in invited cast and crew members of the film 'Parasite' led by director Bong Joon-ho to a luncheon meeting at the presidential compound on Thursday (February 20) to congratulate the country's historic wins at the Academy Awards.

'Parasite' director meets South Korean president in Seoul

The Golden Globes is the first major awards show of the year and the glitzy nominees and presenters took to the red carpet at the Beverly Hilton on Sunday (January 5).

Awards season kicks off with a celebrity-filled Golden Globes carpet

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