Political tension over the deadly riots that struck northwest China has spilled into an unlikely venue: the Melbourne International Film Festival. Three Chinese directors announced they were pulling their works from the event to protest the inclusion of a documentary about a Uighur activist. The Uighurs are a Turkic speaking, largely Islamic minority group concentrated in China’s northwestern Xinjiang region.
Tag Archives: film
David Bowie’s son releases space oddity ‘Moon’
"This is ground control to Major Tom," sang David Bowie about a fictional astronaut lost in orbit in 1969. Now, 40 years later Bowie’s son Duncan Jones has released his own space oddity.
The new face of Bollywood: Deepika Padukone
She’s only 23, but Deepika Padukone is already living a life millions would envy. The model-turned-actress was spotted in a music video and then cast in one of the biggest grossing films in Bollywood history. She still only has three movies under her belt, but star status has already been bestowed upon her
Midnight shows of Potter’s ‘Prince’ sell out
Fans of Harry Potter lined up at theaters all over the world early Wednesday, pushing the new film about the boy wizard to near-record ticket sales. “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” — the sixth movie in the series based on J.K.
Did Bruno Get Twittered?
In the old days — like, until yesterday — movie studios judged the success of their big pictures by how much they grossed on the opening weekend. But in the age of Twitter, electronic word-of-mouth is immediate, as early moviegoers tweet their opinions on a film to millions of “followers.” Instant messaging can make or break a film within 24 hours.
Fans brave torrential rain at ‘Harry Potter’ premiere
If Potions Professor Horace Slughorn had mixed a brew to conjure up torrential rain, the weather could not have been worse for the premiere of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince." Dedicated fans braved thunder, lightning and Biblical downpours in London’s Leicester Square to catch a glimpse of the film’s stars arriving at the opening of the sixth film in the wildly popular “Harry Potter” franchise.
How Terry Gilliam saved Heath Ledger’s final movie
Is there a filmmaker in the world with worse luck than Terry Gilliam? He was directing Heath Ledger in "The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus," when the actor died — and it’s not the first time he has lost a leading man. Jean Rochefort didn’t die eight years ago, but Gilliam had to abandon “The Man Who Killed Don Quixote” after a few days when 70-year-old star Jean Rochefort became seriously ill and a flash flood washed away the entire set.
In Iran, Conspiracy Theories Flourish As Regime Tries to Win Back Legitimacy
The Islamic Republic has been busy in three main ways since the presidential elections of June 12. Rejecting charges that the result — a 63% vote for incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad — was the result of fraud, the regime organized a partial recount, which on June 29 reconfirmed Ahmadinejad’s victory, a finding the opposition continues to reject. Simultaneously, the regime worked to put down the widespread street demonstrations that followed the disputed poll, sending in police and pro-government militiamen to beat up and disperse demonstrators
Harrington learns from Happy Gilmore
A number of filmmakers have looked to golf for inspiration for their movies — but it is not often a professional golfer does the reverse. Three-time major winner Padraig Harrington has broken the mould after experimenting with a devastating ice-hockey swing as used in the cult U.S
Johnny Depp as John Dillinger in ‘Public Enemies’
To become rich and famous in the depression ’30s, a fellow could make movies, play baseball or rob banks.