Latest news with #Monte-CarloTelevisionFestival
The Citizen
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
WATCH: Leleti Khumalo's unexpected encounter with Ramaphosa
President Ramaphosa has congratulated actress Leleti and her team on their award. Veteran actress Leleti Khumalo recently had an unexpected encounter with President Cyril Ramaphosa as she travelled to and from the prestigious Golden Nymph Awards in Monaco. Khumalo, best known for her iconic role in Sarafina!, had been in Monaco for the Monte-Carlo Television Festival, where the short film Don't Give Up, in which she stars, won the award for Best Creation in the Fiction category. The film, produced by veteran filmmaker Anant Singh, tells the harrowing story of a homeless mother trying to survive on the streets of Johannesburg with her two sons. In a heartfelt Instagram post, Khumalo gushed about crossing paths with President Ramaphosa both before her departure and again upon her return to South Africa. 'I had the pleasure of bumping into our President upon our departure to Monaco. We were travelling to different countries, but were scheduled to be on the same flight. We had a great conversation, and he also wished me great luck for the awards and my nomination.' She added: 'To my surprise, we bumped into him again on our return to South Africa – on the same flight again – but this time I had the award with me. It was truly an honour to show him the award and how well South Africa had been represented at Monaco.' ALSO READ: South Africa's award-winning trio bags another accolade at Monte-Carlo Television Festival Ramaphosa congratulates Leleti and the team President Ramaphosa also took to social media to congratulate Khumalo and her team, saying he was delighted to have met the actress. 'Leleti did have something to declare: she'd returned from the Monte-Carlo Television Festival in Monaco, where she and acclaimed film producer Anant Singh had won the prestigious Golden Nymph Award for their work on the short film Don't Give Up, which portrays life on the streets of Johannesburg for a begging mother of two. 'I congratulate Leleti Khumalo and Anant Singh for flying our flag and for spotlighting one of our nation's socioeconomic challenges.' On my travels to and from the G7 Leaders' Summit in Canada, I had the good and proud fortune of bumping into our veteran star performer Leleti Khumalo at OR Tambo International Airport. Leleti did have something to declare: she'd returned from the Monte Carlo Television Festival… — Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) June 19, 2025 NOW READ: Bolt pokes holes in TikToker Simthande Myeza's abduction claims
eNCA
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- eNCA
SA Film, "Dont Give Up" wins at Monte-Carlo Festival
JOHANNESBURG - A South African production has received international recognition at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival. Don't Give Up , produced by Anant Singh and starring Leleti Khumalo, won Best Creation in the Fiction category at the Golden Nymph Awards. READ: Cinema | Family drama 'Sabbatical' hits SA big screens Actress Leleti Khumalo and producer Anant Singh discussed the film's journey and impact during an interview with eNCA.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Robin Wright: Netflix Refused to Pay Me the Same as Kevin Spacey for ‘House of Cards' Because I ‘Didn't Win an Academy Award'
Robin Wright is detailing how Netflix did her wrong as an actress for 'House of Cards.' Wright co-starred alongside Kevin Spacey in the hit 2013 series; she later took over as the lead star after Spacey was fired amid abuse allegations before Season 6. 'House of Cards' concluded in 2018. Wright told Variety during the Monte-Carlo Television Festival that she had to fight to get paid the same as Spacey. 'Yes, it was difficult. I am going to be honest,' she said. 'When I said, 'I think it's only fair because my character became as popular as [Spacey's], they said, 'We can't pay you the same as an actor, so we will make you exec producer and you can direct. We will give you three different paychecks.' I asked, 'Why can't you pay me as an actor?' 'Because you didn't win an Academy Award.'' More from IndieWire Four Starry Drama Emmy Contenders Reveal the Ongoing Power of Spy vs. Spy Allison Williams Loves How a Particular 'Girls' Meme Took on New Life with the HBO Max Rebrand Spacey won the Academy Award for 'The Usual Suspects' in 1995 and also 'American Beauty' in 2000. Wright continued of her former co-star and the then-policy at Netflix, 'That has been the protocol for years — it just is. If you say, 'Why did so-and-so female not get the same amount as Will Smith?' They say, 'It will increase after you win.' Nomination, not so much. Why does it have to do anything with a raise?' Wright previously told Marie Claire that she had to 'capitalize' on her character's fandom to negotiate a raise. 'I was like, 'I want to be paid the same as Kevin.' It was the perfect paradigm,' she said. 'There are very few films or TV shows where the male, the patriarch, and the matriarch are equal, and they are in 'House of Cards.' I was looking at the statistics and Claire Underwood's character was more popular than [Frank's] for a period of time. So I capitalized on it. I was like, 'You better pay me or I'm going to go public.' And they did.' Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings admitted that he doubted Ted Sarandos' vision for 'House of Cards.' Hastings recalled to Variety that Sarandos told director David Fincher that Netflix would commit to spending $100 million on the series and greenlight it for two seasons before a pilot had even been shot. Fincher also would have full creative control of the show, with Netflix refraining from giving any notes. Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie Nicolas Winding Refn's Favorite Films: 37 Movies the Director Wants You to See
The Citizen
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
South Africa's award-winning trio bags another accolade at Monte-Carlo Television Festival
Actress Leleti Khumalo, producer Anant Singh, and director-writer Darrell Roodt jointly won another award this week. If it's not broke, don't fix it, they say. And the film trio of actress Leleti Khumalo, producer Anant Singh, and film director and writer Darrell Roodt need not fix anything, as the three scooped another award last night at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival. 'I'd like to thank the Videovision team and the director, Darrell Roodt, who came up with this amazing project. And I thank Anant for always believing in me and for always having faith in me,' Khumalo said in her speech. South Africa's trio won the Golden Nymph Award in the 'Special Creation' category for the film Don't Give Up. Seen as the European equivalent of the television Oscars, the Monte-Carlo Television Festival honours exceptional storytelling from around the globe, including productions made for digital platforms. This year was the 64th edition of the festival. 'This is a film about homeless people who have no voice and has no dialogue. It is essentially a homage to the silent movie, and it represents homeless people all around the world,' said film producer Anant Singh in his acceptance speech. ALSO READ: Sarafina! becomes first SA film to return to Cannes Film Festival after 30 years The trio's winning streak Roodt, Singh, and Khumalo have previously collaborated on other award-winning projects. Roodt was the director of the Oscar-nominated movie Yesterday, in which Khumalo plays the role of a mother living with HIV/Aids. Singh wears the producers' hat in that movie, too. The trio also worked together in the creation of the iconic film, Sarafina! The classic 1992 musical drama returned to the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in France in 2023, under the Cannes Classics section. This is a first for a South African film. Also in 2023, Sarafina! was honoured with a Special Screening at the 20th edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival at the prestigious 700-seater Cinéma le Colisee with lead star Khumalo in attendance. The now 55-year-old Khumalo was the lead on Sarafina! as an 18-year-old. Roodt, who wasn't present at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival, has also worked with Singh on another award-winning film, Cry, the Beloved Country. ALSO READ: Sarafina! wraps up a successful 2023 with honours at Marrakech Film Festival The film Titled Don't Give Up, the film follows the life of Faith (portrayed by Khumalo), a beggar and single mother of two sons, Lucky and Siyabonga. While washing her sons at a tap in a bus depot, Faith is assaulted by a security guard, portrayed by the late actor Sello Motloung. In her bid to escape this battering, Faith and her sons try to run away, but Siyabonga gets caught in the wire fence and almost has his thumb ripped off. Faith is unable to help him beyond wrapping it up in a torn piece of her skirt. She begs for money from uninterested commuters on her corner. The film focuses on the life of a vagrant amidst the hustle and bustle of Johannesburg. 'We are delighted to have this little South African film about homeless people win this special prize,' said Singh. The music of Philip Glass and Peter Gabriel gives a voice to the voiceless, homeless people. 'The music of Philip Glass and Peter Gabriel gives it that special magic,' said Singh. The film has not yet been released in South Africa, with screenings planned for later this year. NOW READ: WATCH: 'Youngins' stars confirm final season in Soweto
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Robin Wright on Fighting for Equal Pay on ‘House of Cards': They Said, ‘We Can't Pay You the Same' as Kevin Spacey ‘Because You Didn't Win an Academy Award'
Robin Wright reflected on her time on 'House of Cards' at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival on Monday, saying she had to fight for equal pay on the series because she didn't have an Oscar. During a chat moderated by Variety's international features director Leo Barraclough, Wright recalled scoring a lead role on the 2013 show, which was Netflix's first big TV series. More from Variety 'Sherlock & Daughter' Team Talks Expanding the Universe After Season 1: 'Crime Is Blissfully International' 'Gangs of London' Producer Teases Show's Future, 'New Characters and New Surprises' After Shocking Season 3 Deaths: 'Expect the Unexpected' Former 'Teen Wolf' Stars on How Young Actors Can Survive a Media Storm: 'Be Comfortable With Saying No' 'When David Fincher introduced 'House of Cards' to me, he said: 'This is going to be the future, it's going to be revolutionary,'' Wright recalled. 'And look where we are now.' However, she said she had to fight for equal pay on the hit show, which she co-led with Kevin Spacey. 'Yes, it was difficult. I am going to be honest,' she said. 'When I said, 'I think it's only fair because my character became as popular as [Spacey's], they said: 'We can't pay you the same as an actor, so we will make you exec producer and you can direct. We will give you three different paychecks.' I asked, 'Why can't you pay me as an actor?' 'Because you didn't win an Academy Award.'' But being angry 'wasn't going to change anything,' Wright said. 'That has been the protocol for years — it just is. If you say, 'Why did so-and-so female not get the same amount as Will Smith?' They say, 'It will increase after you win.' Nomination, not so much,' she continued. 'Why does it have to do anything with a raise?' She also talked about that controversial ending: 'That was my idea, so… Sorry. Initially, I said: 'Let him kill her.'' However, Wright said getting to direct the show was a 'gift.' 'It was the camera operator on 'House of Cards' who said, 'Why don't you just try?'' she recalled. 'I learned so much on that show. I didn't feel any pressure. I was encouraged to do it.' She also previewed her upcoming series, Amazon MGM Studios' psychological thriller 'The Girlfriend.' 'We all collaborated together to build this tension between two women who fight for this young man,' she said. Adapted from the novel by Michelle Frances – and featuring Olivia Cooke ('House of the Dragon'), Laurie Davidson ('Mary and George') and Waleed Zuaiter ('Gangs of London') – it will see Wright as Laura, who has it all: a glittering career, a loving husband and her precious only son, Daniel (Davidson). But Laura's seemingly perfect life is blown apart when Daniel brings home Cherry (Cooke), the girlfriend who changes everything. Wright is exec-producing, directing and starring in the six-episode limited series, set to premiere in the fall. Wright will receive the Crystal Nymph Award at Monte-Carlo TV fest in recognition of her exceptional career and her enduring influence on the audiovisual industry. She first started out in TV – in the soap opera 'Santa Barbara' – before moving into film. Wright is also engaged in activism, advocating for peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo and launching the charitable female sleepwear line Pour Les Femmes. She noted: 'I did it because I couldn't get any traction in Washington DC for the women of Congo. I really wanted to go to electronic companies and say: 'Can you wake up?' If you charge one dollar more for your iPhone, that dollar can go for protecting them. A lot of these women that I've met in hospitals are now doctors and lawyers.' 'Was there any pushback from DC? Yes. Congress people, they promise: 'We will get to it.' They just want to take a selfie with you.' Wright was joined on stage by Rola Bauer, executive producer for Amazon MGM Studios, who shared her philosophy when it comes to new shows: 'If you don't entertain people, they are not going to come. If it's possible, and if we can, enlighten [with these shows]. Give something back.' Later, Wright also talked about her film career including iconic titles like 'Princess Bride' and 'Forrest Gump.' 'People still ask me about these films. Only about these films.' She still has a soft spot for underseen Rebecca Miller's 'The Private Lives of Pippa Lee' – 'I wish she would work more' – but already-announced project 'Kissinger Takes Paris' with Tim Roth cast as Henry Kissinger might not see the light of the day. 'I don't think this is happening. It has been radio-silent for almost a year.' As for her biggest achievements, Wright answered: 'My children are still alive. As for my career… There's this window in your late 30s and early 40s, and there were no roles. It was dry. That's when 'House of Cards' came up. It helped me plateau for a while. I don't know if I would be able to get parts in films at the time.' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar
