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Perth Now
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Benicio del Toro treasures his signed copy of David Bowie film The Man Who Fell To Earth
Benicio del Toro says a signed copy of David Bowie's film 'The Man Who Fell To Earth' is one of his most treasured possessions. The 58-year-old actor is a Bowie super-fan and he was once lucky enough to work with the late rock legend on the 1996 film 'Basquiat', which is about the life of American postmodernist/neo expressionist artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. Benicio owned the 1976 science-fiction film 'The Man Who Fell To Earth' - which stars Bowie as alien Thomas Jerome Newton who is on a mission to transport water back to his drought-suffering home planet - and had to get his musical hero to add his signature to his copy. Appearing on the 'Soundtracking with Edith Bowman' podcast, he said: "My introduction to Bowie was 'Let's Dance' and on the other album that had 'Blue Jean', the follow-up, but I've always admired him. "But I do remember, you know, I had a laser disc of 'The Man Who Fell to Earth', I love that movie. Well, he did sign the laser disc for me. And I, I really treasure that, you know? It was like, I don't know, I had this thing of going, like, 'Hey, you gotta sign this.' And it was just very gentle. 'I just love that album 'Live Santa Monica '72' and 'Station to Station', 'Low'. "He had a lot of, like, you know crowd rock with Brian Eno. They had a lot of stuff going on." When working on 'Basquiat' with Bowie - who played pop artist Andy Warhol in the movie - Benicio admits it was a surreal moment being face-to-face with his idol. In a previous interview with UPROXX, Benicio - who can be seen in Wes Anderson's new film 'The Phoenician Scheme' - said: "I remember walking into the makeup trailer, and there he was. And he just sat right next to me. He was very normal. Very normal, very polite. I was just like beside myself sitting there looking at myself and going like, 'Can you believe it?' Looking at myself in the mirror, I'm sitting right next to David Bowie. But you know, he signed some things for me."
BBC News
12-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
BBC announces season of breakthrough films on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer
Fridays are movie night on BBC Two as BBC Film and the BFI announce a curated season of breakthrough films from exciting filmmakers. The season begins on Valentine's Day (14 February) with the tv premiere of Georgia Oakley's multi award-winning Blue Jean, a 1980s-set story of queer love, care and survival in the North East against the ominous backdrop of Section 28. British Film Premiere will present a brand new premiere every Friday night on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer, with a special collection of features and brand new shorts also available on iPlayer. British Film Premiere celebrates filmmakers offering fresh perspectives on life in the UK and Ireland and BBC 6Music film critic, Rhianna Dhillon will introduce each film ahead of its screening on BBC Two. Eva Yates, Director of BBC Film said: 'The British Film Premiere season is once again spotlighting exciting filmmakers and films from the UK and beyond. It's a brilliant opportunity for our BBC audiences to enjoy many great stories, perspectives and performers they may not yet have discovered, but will be seeing much more of in the future.' Ben Luxford, Director of UK Audiences at the BFI, said: "We're really pleased to be partnering again with our friends at the BBC to bring this exciting season of original films to UK audiences. This is a varied and broad selection that celebrates the very best of new filmmaking talent, and we hope they're embraced fully as they air on BBC Two and on iPlayer in the year to come" British Film Premiere begins on 14 February with Georgia Oakley's BAFTA-nominated Blue Jean EH The six films in the British Film Premiere season were all supported by BBC Film and a number were also supported by the BFI as a financer, awarding National Lottery funding, and/or a Distributor theatrically releasing films in the UK. They are: Blue Jean Written and directed by Georgia Oakley (premiere: 14 February) Jean, a PE teacher is forced to live a double life. When a new student arrives and threatens to expose her, Jean is pushed to extreme lengths to keep her job and her integrity. Starring Rosy McEwen, Kerrie Hayes, Lucy Halliday, Lydia Page, Stacy Abalogun, Izzy Neish. Blue Jean won the People's Choice award at the Venice Film Festival, was nominated for a BAFTA and won four awards at the British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs) including debut screenwriter for Georgia Oakley and Lead Performance for Rosy McEwen. Blue Jean was supported by BBC Film and the BFI God's Creatures Story by Shane Crowley and Fodhla Cronin-O'Reilly, screenplay by Shane Crowley, directed by Anna Rose Holmer and Saela Davis (premiere: 21 February) In a windswept fishing village, a mother is torn between protecting her beloved son and her own sense of right and wrong. A lie she tells for him rips apart their family and close-knit community in this tense, sweepingly emotional epic. Starring Emily Watson, Paul Mescal and Aisling Franciosi, God's Creatures premiered in the Directors' Fortnight at Cannes Film Festival. it was nominated for five BIFAs including Emily Watson for lead performance; Paul Mescal and Aisling Franciosi for supporting performance and Shane Crowley for debut screenwriter. God's Creatures was released theatrically in the UK by BFI Distribution Pretty Red Dress Written and directed by Dionne Edwards (premiere: 28 February) Travis has just been released from prison and it quickly becomes apparent that everything has changed while he's been gone. While girlfriend Candice is on the up and auditioning to star in a musical, teenage daughter Kenisha is struggling in school and her relationship with her mum is tense. When Travis buys Candice her dream dress for an audition, rather than smoothing over the family's problems, it ends up creating even more… As secrets and desires left unsaid threaten to spill out, Travis is forced to re-examine who he is and how he wants to be perceived in the world. Featuring a breakout performance from Natey Jones alongside newcomer Temilola Olatunbosun, and chart-topping singer and West End actor Alexandra Burke in her first film role, Pretty Red Dress was nominated for two BIFAs including Supporting Performance for Alexandra Burke and Breakthrough Producer for Georgia Goggin. Pretty Red Dress was supported by the BFI, BBC Film and the Sundance Institute, in association with Great Point Media and Magellanic Media. It was released theatrically in the UK by BFI Distribution Aisha Written and directed by Frank Berry (premiere: 7 March) Aisha charts the experiences of a young Nigerian woman as she seeks international protection in Ireland. Caught in limbo for years in Ireland's immigration system, Aisha Osagie (Letitia Wright) develops a friendship with former prisoner Conor Healy (Josh O'Connor) who she meets at one of the accommodation centres. Aisha and Conor's growing friendship soon looks to be short lived as Aisha's future in Ireland comes under threat. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and also screened at the BFI London Film Festival. Medusa Deluxe Written and directed by Thomas Hardiman (premiere: 14 March) The air is thick with hairspray, wicked gossip, and even murder in Thomas Hardiman's audacious and extravagant one-shot whodunnit, uniquely set amid a hairdressing contest. Starring Clare Perkins, Anita-Joy Uwajeh, Kae Alexander, Harriet Webb, Darrell D'Silva, Luke Pasqualino and Heider Ali, Medusa Deluxe premiered at the Locarno Film Festival. Medusa Deluxe was supported by the BFI, BBC Film and Time Based Arts. Medusa Deluxe won one BIFA award and was nominated for two more, including Best Debut for Thomas Hardiman. Sweet Sue Written and directed by Leo Leigh (premiere: 21 March) Sue (O'Neil) is now back on the dating scene. She meets a mysterious biker called Ron (Pitts) at her brother's funeral and sparks fly. But when Ron introduces her to his social-media focused son Anthony (Trevaldwyn), Sue finds herself in an increasingly surreal battle of wills with this ambitious teenager who, despite showing no signs of talent, is convinced that his dance troupe 'Electric Destiny' is tipped for stardom. Starring Maggie O'Neill, Tony Pitts and Harry Trevaldwyn, Sweet Sue originally premiered at the Munich Film Festival. Short Films In addition to the feature film premieres, a number of short films will be made available for the first time on BBC iPlayer showcasing work from exciting new filmmakers being supported by BBC Film. The short films premiering in the season are: A Very Short Film About Longing – written and directed by Eimear McBride Bumped – written by Liv Little, directed by Mahaneela Honesty – written by Roxy Rezvany and Emily Renée, directed by Roxy Rezvany My Eyes Are Up Here – written by Arthur Meek and Aminder Virdee, directed by Nathan Morris Moon Under Water – written and directed by Grandmas Muna – written and directed by Warda Mohamed Original Skin – written by Eve Hedderwick Turner, directed by Mdhamiri a Nkemi Pray – written and directed by Caleb Azumah Nelson Such A Lovely Day– written and directed by Simon Woods BBC Two will also repeat some outstanding BBC Film and BFI supported British feature films on Sundays throughout the season, including Surge by Aneil Karia, Idris Elba's directorial debut Yardie, Fyzal Boulifa's Lynn + Lucy, Aleem Khan's BAFTA-winning After Love and Charlotte Wells' Oscar-nominated Aftersun.
