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New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Sabahan celebration of family values marks start of MIFFest 2025
KUALA LUMPUR: "Ninavau", a heart-warming, 90-minute family drama that showcases Kadazan-Dusun culture and highlights indigenous family life in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, heralded the start of the week-long 8th Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest) yesterday. Directed by Sabahan Bebbra Mailin, who is marking her big screen debut, "Ninavau" tells the story of a young woman who studied in Kuala Lumpur and returns to her hometown Kota Kinabalu, with a "secret" that her widowed father Edward and feisty younger sister Elvira struggle to accept. To complicate matters, Edward has been scammed into parting with a six-figure sum of money, and Elvira is preparing for a marriage that she is not ready for. At the launch of the festival in MyTown Mall, Cheras yesterday, Bebbra said that "Ninavau" not only showcased the customs and culture of indigenous Sabahans, but also highlighted their interactions with their friends from Peninsular Malaysia, and the "hiccups" that had to be navigated. "Most of our actors and actresses are newcomers, but they were very dedicated to bringing each of their characters to life. The story of our heroine, Ninavau, and her family members is rooted in reality," she said. The main actress Jovinea Jim said that she could identify with Ninavau, as she had encountered somewhat similar experiences as the character. "The story is told from her point of view, but each major character is well-developed and speaks directly to the audience. Here's a story that's close to Malaysians' hearts and can be appreciated by everyone," she said. Besides Jovinea, "Ninavau" also stars Edward Sinsong as the protagonist's father and Tati Eliana Tonny as her sister. MIFFest's founder Joanne Goh said that this year's festival, with the theme "Infinity," continued its predecessors' mission of championing homegrown storytelling and embracing international co-productions. She said: "MIFFest also partners with the 25th European Union Film Festival to present 15 European titles. The "MIFFest x EUFF" opens with Czech drama "Year of the Widow" and features Denmark's "The Girl with the Needle" and Ukraine's "Taste of Freedom." Goh added that MIFFest highlights six Southeast Asian movies, including Vietnam's "Cu Li Never Cries" and Singapore's "Stranger Eyes." "It has 62 films from 48 countries," she said, adding that 38 Malaysian films are in the event. The festival honours Hong Kong action hero Thomas Tam, or Ti Lung, with a lifetime achievement award. The 78-year-old star will receive the honour at the Malaysia Golden Global Awards ceremony at Zepp KL, on July 26. "MIFFest celebrates Indian movie legend Raj Kapoor's centenary with screenings of "Awara" and "Bobby"," said Goh. She added that MIFFest was honouring Indonesian actor Reza Rahadian, who will receive the Award for Excellent Achievement in Film. He is in the festival's jury panel alongside British filmmaker Asif Kapadia, Malaysian actress Diana Danielle, Hong Kong actress Jennifer Yu, and Indian filmmaker Rima Das. Goh said that the competition features nine movies, with Palestinian drama "All That's Left of You" by Cherien Dabis leading the race with seven nominations. Goh said: "Since our establishment in 2016, we have offered a wide range of opportunities and platforms for filmmakers to showcase their work. "MIFFest offers audiences a chance to embark on a cinematic journey through films from diverse cultures. We aspire to be a space where global and local voices unite." This year, singer-songwriter and actress Daiyan Trisha, actress Siti Saleha Baharom, and actor Bront Palarae serve as MIFFest ambassadors, while United States-based Malaysian filmmaker Rachel Tan is promoting her new romantic comedy, partly set in Kuala Lumpur, "Worth the Wait".
Daily Record
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Amazon Prime fans say twisted new horror flick will 'haunt your mind'
The Ugly Stepsister is a new horror movie that takes a dark and twisted look at the fairytale of Cinderella, and Amazon Prime viewers are not sure whether they can handle it Released earlier in 2025, the new horror flick The Ugly Stepsister has been making waves on Amazon Prime among aficionados of the genre, with glowing reviews flooding the internet. The Ugly Stepsister is a Norwegian-language satirical dark film marking the directorial debut of Emilie Blichfeldt. It's a twisted reimagining of the classic fairy tale Cinderella, where Elvira, the ugly stepsister, competes against her beautiful sibling for physical perfection to catch the prince's eye, resorting to extreme measures to impress him. Several reviews have drawn parallels between its exploration of women's beauty standards and patriarchal flaws and those depicted in the Oscar-winning film The Substance. One critique on Rotten Tomatoes reads: "If The Substance turned it up to 11, The Ugly Stepsister clocks in at a solid 10. "A retelling of Cinderella told from the perspective of Cinderella's step-family members, this film comments as well on the awful lengths women will go to to enhance their beauty. Like The Substance, this film was also made by a woman director with a focused, cinematic style that conveys the story and commentary with admirable clarity and brevity." Another review enthuses: "Highly enjoyed the hell out of this and really admired the heartbreaking, twisted, dark take by director Emilie Blichfeldt on the legendary Cinderella story with a different psychological horror perspective from the evil stepsister. The cinematography by Marcel Zyskind is mesmerising, bringing a suffocating cold atmosphere that will haunt the mind." The film features several disturbing scenes, as per the Mirror US, including the young women undergoing a series of painful plastic surgeries, with one sister even resorting to swallowing a tapeworm in a desperate attempt to lose weight. As their behaviour spirals out of control, Elviria becomes malnourished and starts to lose her hair, all while preparing for a grand ball where their prince awaits. Emilie Blichfeldt has garnered significant attention for her work on this film, serving as both director and scriptwriter. Having previously worked on smaller film projects, this marks her first major success following its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. Despite featuring a lesser-known Norwegian cast, The Ugly Stepsister has had a profound impact on viewers, with Lea Myren and Thea Sofie Loch Næss delivering standout performances as the two rival sisters. Their portrayals have been hailed as a "breath of fresh air," and when paired with the powerful script, have sparked a much broader conversation. One viewer praised the film, stating: "It has poignant body horror to go along with the themes of body dysmorphia and narcissism with a heavy synth score reminiscent of the dark fantasy subgenre of the 1980s. It ties in elements of the Brothers Grimm fairytale as well as elements of the beloved Disney classic film. Another critic hailed the movie, stating: "This film is a wild ride! A dark, twisted take on the Cinderella story that dives deep into themes of beauty and envy. The body horror elements are intense, and the performances are top-notch. It's not for the faint of heart, but if you're into psychological horror with a fairy tale twist, this one's for you." With its substantial body horror components and superb acting, this film isn't for the squeamish. But for those intrigued by a psychological terror with an enchanted spin, this flick is a must. For those in pursuit of a spine-chilling viewing experience, The Ugly Stepsister can be streamed presently on Amazon Prime.
Daily Mail
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Move over Britney Spears! Addison Rae channels Britney as she performs in her underwear in NYC
Addison Rae performed in her underwear at the Spotify release party at The Box in New York City on Thursday. The singer wore a nude-toned bra and underwear as she belted out her new tunes as backup dancers surrounded her on stage. Addison has served up a dreamy pop album flaunting her 'sensual and sexual' personality. The 24-year-old social media star released her long-awaited self-titled debut studio album featuring hit singles Diet Pepsi and Aquamarine. Speaking to Variety about the new tracks, she said: 'We definitely didn't reference anything making this album. It was always me trying to provoke a feeling from a song or from music. 'I'm a very sensual and sexual person. I'm very intimate with myself and my body, and everything kind of reflects that. Everything feels very personal.' Addison also shared that having her debut album produced entirely by a team of women was 'really special'. She added that working with Luka Kloser and Elvira on the record was 'beautiful and magical'. Addison said: 'I have something really special with these girls. It feels really beautiful and magical that it is just all females. 'I never set out for it to be that way, I think because it's not very common and you almost don't get that opportunity very much to work with just females in a room.' While she has been labelled the latest 'It girl' in pop, Addison admitted that she is wary of the praise. She added: 'It is obviously very complimentary. What does that even mean, really, to be the pop girl? Let's see if the songs get more popular, then they can call me a pop girl. This is my shot. I've got to go big.' Meanwhile, Addison - who dropped her debut single Obsessed in 2023 - has spoken about how TikTok was the perfect launchpad for her career. She told Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1: 'I think in the beginning, especially, and starting out, I always knew that I wanted to make music. I always knew I wanted to act. I think I just knew I wanted to perform. 'That was just something that was really obvious to me since I was a little girl. Addison continued: 'When TikTok happened, I was almost like, well, this seems like a really nice way to get myself to Los Angeles first, because I think in Louisiana there wasn't as many opportunities or like possibility, really, to pursue that profession necessarily, unless you just got really, really lucky.' Addison gained popularity with her dance videos on TikTok in 2019. And by March 2020, rapper The Kid Laroi caused a buzz when he released a song titled Addison Rae. She then made her film debut in 2021's He's All That and released Obsessed two years later.
Daily Mail
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Move over Britney Spears! There's a new pop queen in town dancing in her bra and underwear
Addison Rae performed during the Spotify release party at The Box in New York City on Thursday. The blonde wore a nude-toned bra and underwear as she belted out her new tunes with backup dancers around her on stage. Rae has served up a dreamy pop album flaunting her 'sensual and sexual' personality. The 24-year-old social media star has released her long-awaited self-titled debut studio effort featuring the hit singles Diet Pepsi and Aquamarine. She told Variety of the feelings she wanted to purvey: 'We definitely didn't reference anything making this album. It was always me trying to provoke a feeling from a song or from music. 'I'm a very sensual and sexual person. I'm very intimate with myself and my body, and everything kind of reflects that. Everything feels very personal.' Addison also shared that having her debut album produced entirely by women was 'really special'. The singer said working with Luka Kloser and Elvira on the record was 'beautiful and magical'. She explained: 'I have something really special with these girls. It feels really beautiful and magical that it is just all females. 'I never set out for it to be that way, I think because it's not very common and you almost don't get that opportunity very much to work with just females in a room.' While she has been labelled the latest 'It girl' in pop, Addison admitted she is wary of the praise. She said: 'It is obviously very complimentary. What does that even mean, really, to be the pop girl? Let's see if the songs get more popular, then they can call me a pop girl. This is my shot. I've got to go big.' Meanwhile, Addison - who dropped her debut single Obsessed in 2023 - has spoken about how TikTok was the perfect launchpad for her career. She told Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1: 'I think in the beginning, especially, and starting out, I always knew that I wanted to make music. I always knew I wanted to act. I think I just knew I wanted to perform. 'That was just something that was really obvious to me since I was a little girl. 'When TikTok happened, I was almost like, well, this seems like a really nice way to get myself to Los Angeles first, because I think in Louisiana there wasn't as many opportunities or like possibility, really, to pursue that profession necessarily, unless you just got really, really lucky.' Addison gained popularity with her dance videos on TikTok in 2019. And by March 2020, rapper The Kid Laroi caused a buzz when he released a song titled Addison Rae. Then she made her film debut in 2021's He's All That and released Obsessed two years later.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Goth Icon Elvira Haunts Meghan Markle With Hair Clapback
/ May 27, 2025, 05:20PM IST The Mistress of the Dark just cast a stylish spell—and Meghan Markle's caught in it. Elvira, the horror icon, clapped back after Meghan compared herself to the goth legend during a 2020 boxed dye disaster she mentioned on her podcast. Markle said she ended up looking 'Elvira-esque' while trying to color her hair in lockdown. She reached out to celebrity stylist Serge Normant, who sent hair guru Kadi Lee to fix the inky mess at her temporary California home. All seemed forgotten, until Elvira spotted the quote and fired off a shady Instagram post: 'Hey princess, need beauty advice?' The internet erupted, with many calling Elvira the 'true royal icon.' Meghan hasn't responded, but the podcast clip is now viral, and fans are living for the drama.
