Latest news with #Exceptional
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘I Am: Celine Dion' will now compete for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking at Emmys — so what's the difference?
Prime Video's documentary I Am: Celine Dion, which chronicles the iconic pop singer's battle with Stiff Person Syndrome, has been accepted to compete in the Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking category at the 2025 Emmys, Gold Derby has confirmed. This juried award, presented at the Creative Arts Emmys since 2005, honors documentaries that "showcase an exceptional filmmaker's vision, compelling storytelling, artistic innovation, and the ability to inform, transport, impact, enlighten, and create a meaningful, indelible work that elevates the art of documentary filmmaking." Notably, films selected for this category are not eligible to compete in Best Informational Series or Special or Best Documentary or Nonfiction Special. More from GoldDerby How the longtime 'Severance' cinematographer wound up directing Season 2's standout episode 'We could do this show forever': 'Somebody Somewhere' creators on final season, heart, and the humor of Bridget Everett The Making of 'Out of My Mind': Inside the groundbreaking Disney+ film redefining disability representation on screen What's the difference between Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking and Best Documentary or Nonfiction Special? According to the 2025 Emmys rulebook, documentaries with an aggregate theatrical release exceeding 70 days must enter the Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking category. They are ineligible for competition in the Documentary or Nonfiction Special or Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special categories. The television broadcast or streaming debut of these documentaries must occur within one year of their initial public exhibition, excluding film festival screenings, which do not count as theatrical screenings. Programs nominated for an Oscar in any category are also barred from submitting. In essence, the Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking category was created to celebrate documentaries that had a robust theatrical run before airing on television. For example, Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, another standout film that was in contention for last year's Best Documentary Feature Oscar, will also compete in this category. Speaking to Gold Derby last year, director Irene Taylor reflected on her initial surprise when approached about the project. "I did not know Céline before this film," she admitted. "In fact, I was a little bit surprised when a producer contacted me — someone who had worked closely with her and her management in the past. She said she was thinking of me for this possible film that Céline was open to. I was surprised because my films are very much character-driven, but I had never focused on someone with as much celebrity as Céline has." As the film delves into Dion's struggles with a long-hidden illness, Taylor speculated why the singer chose her for the project. "I think Céline was looking for someone she could tell her secret to. That's really what the film is about — this unfortunate lie that she had been telling the world." Filmed more than two years ago, Taylor sought to focus the most pivotal and deeply challenging period in Dion's life. "It would have been out of bounds just to do a straightforward biopic when her body was going through this tumultuous detox off of medications. She was trying to figure out what was happening with her vocal cords. She was also at home with her children, adjusting to having the kind of time she hadn't had for decades. It was very clear that the film needed to focus on this exceptional period of her life." A performer since childhood, Dion's identity has long been intertwined with her role as a global entertainer. "Céline began performing before she was even a teenager, so she didn't necessarily know how to step out of that role," Taylor explained. "I wanted the film to have some balance between the struggle and that essential talent and joyful person Céline is at heart," she explained, adding that these elements helped "brighten up the film a little bit." One of the film's most harrowing moments captures Dion experiencing a medical crisis while undergoing therapy for her illness. Reflecting on the scene, Taylor revealed, "We call it a medical episode because her body just goes into this rigid stance, and we didn't know if she was breathing." Initially, the crew prioritized Dion's safety, but it quickly became clear that she was in capable hands. "Her bodyguard and her physical therapist had a protocol given to them by doctors of exactly what to do," Taylor explained. Ultimately, they decided to continue filming. "Céline had told us, 'Don't shy away. Always film, and I'll tell you to stop.' Remarkably, Céline never asked to see the footage — she trusted us to document her truth." I Am: Celine Dion is streaming on Prime Video. Best of GoldDerby Chloë Sevigny on Kitty Menendez and 'Monsters' fascination: 'People are endlessly curious about those who have privilege and abuse it' Jason Isaacs relives filming 'The White Lotus' piña colada scene: 'It was one of the reasons I was worried about taking the job' Kaitlyn Dever on playing 'horrible' characters in 'Last of Us', 'Apple Cider Vinegar': 'I just don't see any other option but to give 100 percent' Click here to read the full article.
Fox News
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Former US attorney Jessica Aber suspected to have died from 'natural causes': police
The former U.S. attorney who was found dead in Alexandria, Virginia, over the weekend is believed to have died from "natural causes," according to police. The body of Jessica D. Aber, 43, was discovered at a home in Alexandria on Saturday, but the Alexandria Police Department say they have discovered no evidence of foul play. "At this time, detectives have found no evidence suggesting that her death was caused by anything other than natural causes," police said in a statement Tuesday. Authorities continue to investigate, and police say the case will remain open until the medical examiner returns a final ruling on her manner of death. Police also urged the public to respect the privacy of Aber's family. Aber worked as the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia from 2021 to 2025 before stepping down on Jan. 20, the same day that President Donald Trump returned to the White House. In her resignation letter, she called her role "an honor beyond measure." "I am deeply grateful to senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine and to President Biden for the opportunity to lead this office and to Attorney General Garland for his steadfast leadership," she wrote at the time, referring to the two senators representing Virginia. "I am proud of the work we have done with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to enforce the law and build community trust." During her tenure, she prosecuted cases involving leaks from the CIA and Russian nationals engaged in fraud in the U.S. One of her biggest legal victories came last year, shortly before her resignation, when ex-CIA analyst Asif Rahman pleaded guilty to leaking top-secret documents about an Israeli plan to strike Iran. Rahman was accused of posting documents about Israel's strike last year on Telegram, leading the country's military to hold off on its initial plans. Aber criticized Rahman's actions as a "violation of his oath, his responsibility, and the law" and said the leak "placed lives at risk, undermined U.S. foreign relations, and compromised our ability to collect vital intelligence in the future." In 2019, Aber received the Department of Justice's Assistant Attorney General's Award for Exceptional Service.
The Guardian
09-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Notes on chocolate: the Easter choc-a-thon is on its way
Usually, Easter-chocolate testing is quite fraught, intense and messy, with everything coming in at once, so that a frantic load of uncouth shovelling ensues. But this year, with Easter being a little later than usual (20 April), I've been able to enjoy a treat or two with more leisure. I have some really good recommendations for you over the next few weeks My first one is Asda's Exceptional Hand Decorated Orange and Ginger Dark Chocolate Egg, £9.98. It's not super dark at 54% cocoa, but it's a really good-tasting egg from a supermarket, with bits of candied orange peel and crystallised ginger. If milk chocolate is more your thing, then look along the Asda shelf to the Caramel, Pretzel and Honeycomb (33% cocoa) milk chocolate egg, £9.98. If you like sweet and crunchy, munchy eggs, then this one is definitely worth trying. I have more supermarket recommendations coming next week. Looking at craft chocolate, Chocolarder has three excellent offerings at £13.50: the 50% Milk Chocolate Hot Cross Bun; 70% Dark Chocolate with Candied Orange Peel; and 50% Milk Stroopwafel. I thought the orange would go down the best and it was well received. I'm a bit over spiced chocolate just now, so the HCB wasn't my favourite, but it might be yours. However, the Stroopwafel was extremely popular with its creamy, dreamy dark milk and bits of crispy stroopwafel. Talking of orange, Lakrids by Bülow's new offering is Golden Oranges, £14.95. I half expected these to be orange, but they look very muted. I think they missed a trick there. Inside is liquorice, caramelised dulce chocolate and crunchy bits of caramel with, of course, a burst of orange. They taste like a Chocolate Orange, but with an edge of liquorice. Delicious.
