Latest news with #RizAhmed
Epoch Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
Epoch Watchlist: Recommended Viewing for Aug. 15–21
This week, we feature a drama about an immigrant Korean family trying to start over and a heartfelt story about a teacher's unconventional way of helping young men. New Release 'Relay' Ash (Riz Ahmed) is a ghost-level dealmaker trades in secrets and silence, cutting covert settlements between ruthless companies and those who threaten to expose them. He plays by strict rules, until a volatile new client drags him into a job with murky agendas. The film kicks off strong with a slow-burn setup and a world where whistleblowers walk the line between leverage and liability. The threat feels real as Ash navigates it all under strict personal rules. But just when it should be locking in, the third act swerves.
The National
08-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Together for Palestine concert: Line-up includes Damon Albarn, Paloma Faith, Adnan Joubran and Faraj Suleiman
Together for Palestine, a benefit concert set to raise funds for the people of Gaza, has announced its first wave of performers and celebrity guests for the September 17 show in London's Wembley Arena. Rock band Bastille, British singer Paloma Faith and oud player Adnan Joubran of Le Trio Joubran are among the initial performers confirmed. They'll be joined by British-Pakistani actor and rapper Riz Ahmed, Japanese-British singer Rina Sawayama, Palestinian composer Faraj Suleiman and Palestinian singer Nai Barghouti. Also set to appear are Brian Eno – one of the concert's executive producers – Blur frontman Damon Albarn, singer-songwriter James Blake, musician and DJ Jamie xx and producer and singer PinkPantheress. More performers will be announced soon. 'In the face of the horrors of Gaza, silence becomes complicity. Artists have always helped societies to point out injustice and imagine better futures. That's why this concert matters. It's time for us to come together – not just to raise our voices, but to reaffirm our shared humanity,' said Eno. Khaled Ziada, founder and director of London Palestine Film Festival and co-organiser of the concert, added: 'In a world where governments and mainstream media have fallen silent in the face of genocide, this gathering becomes a chorus of resistance – where artists and communities come together to grieve, to rage, and to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Palestinian people and with all those who suffer injustice.' Proceeds from Together for Palestine will go to Palestinian partners via Choose Love, a UK charity that supports humanitarian efforts in conflict zones. The show was announced by Eno last week, who said the event would be a 'night of music, reflection and hope' that will raise funds for families in the enclave. 'What we are witnessing in Gaza isn't a mystery, and neither is it a blur of competing narratives making it 'hard to understand'. When dozens of non-partisan organisations like Amnesty International and Doctors Without Borders describe it as genocide, the moral line is clear,' Eno wrote on social media. Eno's fellow concert organisers include Ziada; British actor and activist Khalid Abdalla of Kite Runner fame; and Victoria & Abdul producer Tracey Seaward. In a letter addressed to his 'artist friends' on Instagram, Eno wrote: 'I've had the good fortune to work with remarkable artists for over 50 years. But one of my biggest regrets is that so many of us have remained silent about Palestine. 'Often that silence has come from fear – real fear – that speaking out could provoke a backlash, close doors or end a career. But that's now changing – partly because some artists and activists have lit the path, but mostly because the truth of what's going on has become impossible to ignore.' This isn't the first time Eno has spoken out in support of Palestine. Last month, the composer and producer – along with British band Massive Attack – formed a syndicate to protect artists who are protesting against Israel's attack on Gaza. The alliance of musicians, which also includes Irish bands Fontaines DC and Kneecap, aims to protect artists – especially emerging names – from being 'threatened into silence or career cancellation' by groups such as UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI). In 2024, Eno and Greek politician Yanis Varoufakis co-wrote an open letter to the International Criminal Court urging immediate action against Israel's actions in Gaza. He's also long been a vocal supporter of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, refusing to perform in Israel and urging others to do so as well. Eno said he's helping to organise Together for Palestine because silence should longer be an option. 'This evening can become a moment of courage where artists come together to speak the truth in their hearts – which is what we trust artists to do. 'Whether on stage or by video from around the world, this is a chance for us to stand together and say: this can't continue.'
Yahoo
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Meet the cast of the 'Harry Potter' audiobooks: Hugh Laurie, Matthew Macfadyen, Michelle Gomez and more
"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" debuts Nov. 4, with each of the remaining six audiobooks releasing monthly. Revelio! The new Harry Potter cast has been revealed for all seven audiobooks. Entertainment Weekly has learned that a new group of actors are taking over the iconic roles for Pottermore Publishing and Audible's productions of J.K. Rowling's original seven books about the young boy wizard. House alum Hugh Laurie stars as Albus Dumbledore, with Succession alum Matthew Macfadyen playing Lord Voldemort, Sound of Metal star Riz Ahmed as Professor Snape, Doctor Who alum Michelle Gomez as Professor McGonagall, and The Good Wife alum Cush Jumbo as the narrator. "I'm honoured to have been trusted with the keys to Albus Dumbledore, and thrilled to be able to take him around the track of this beautiful incarnation by Pottermore and Audible," Laurie said in a statement. "I'm also deeply conscious of previous drivers Richard Harris, Michael Gambon, Jude Law, and the iconic narrations by Jim Dale and m'colleague Sir Stephen Fry. Just below the horizon, but headed our way, is the rough beast John Lithgow, his hour come 'round at last. This is great company, and it's a privilege to be among their number." Meanwhile two groups of young actors will portray the main trio of wizards across the seven audiobooks: Frankie Treadaway, Max Lester, and Arabella Stanton will play Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger respectively in the first three, while Jaxon Knopf, Rhys Mulligan, and Nina Barker-Francis will take over the roles of older Harry, Ron, and Hermione respectively beginning in the fourth through to the seventh and final audiobook. If Stanton's name sounds familiar, that's because she will also play Hermione in the upcoming HBO TV series. Gotta love that synergy! Stanton will be seen onscreen alongside Dominic McLaughlin as Harry and Alastair Stout as Ron, as well as Lithgow as Dumbledore. Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions feature over 200 actors performing the stories with "immersive audio entertainment through high-quality sound design in Dolby Atmos, stunning scoring ... original music, and real-world sound capture," according to the official release. Production is "nearly wrapped" now, with over 2,000 recording hours logged so far. Additional cast members will be announced at a later new audiobooks join the previously-released single-voice recordings by Dale and Fry, which first debuted in 1999. The original recordings will still be available for listeners as "classic editions," along with the complete Harry Potter audiobook collection on Audible featuring The Tales of Beedle the Bard performed by Jason Isaacs, Warwick Davis, Jude Law, and a full cast; Quidditch Through the Ages performed by Andrew Lincoln; From The Wizarding Archive featuring Evanna Lynch; Harry Potter: A History of Magic performed by Natalie Dormer; and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them performed by Eddie Redmayne. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone will debut first on Tuesday, Nov. 4, with each of the remaining six audiobooks releasing monthly after that: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets on Dec. 16; Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban on Jan. 13, 2026; Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire on Feb. 10, 2026; Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on March 10, 2026; Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince on April 14, 2026; and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on May 12, 2026. All seven audiobooks are available for pre-order now. Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly Solve the daily Crossword
Mid East Info
05-08-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
SmartCrowd Launches Luxury Downtown Penthouse Flip - Middle East Business News and Information
First high-profile Flip under new majority ownership by Nawy brings an exclusive Burj-facing penthouse to market Dubai, UAE: SmartCrowd, MENA's first regulated real estate crowdfunding platform, has unveiled its latest Flip opportunity: a rare, sky-high 3-bedroom penthouse in the heart of Downtown Dubai. This new launch comes as SmartCrowd continues to open up access to premium fractional real estate, having executed the highest number of Flip projects on a crowdfunding platform to date. Interest in SmartCrowd's Flip product is rapidly growing, with an earlier Dubai Hills Estate Flip project funding in record time, raising nearly AED 5M in under 48 hours of launching on the platform. The Flip model allows users to co-invest in premium properties with strong value-add potential, which are then renovated and sold within a targeted 9 to 15 months. While long-term investments focus on steady income and appreciation over time, Flip caters to those seeking quicker exits and potentially higher short-term returns, without the hassle of managing the renovation and sale. The latest Downtown Flip is no exception. Situated on the highest floor, this penthouse boasts panoramic, unobstructed views of the Burj Khalifa. Its oversized layout and double-height ceilings, well above market norms, offer unmatched potential for a significant value-add renovation. With a target raise of AED 10.9 million over a 9-month expected timeline, this Flip launch reflects SmartCrowd's ongoing focus on sourcing undervalued, high-potential properties in prime locations, then transforming them into highly marketable, premium residences. 'With growing demand for diversification and greater liquidity, we're expanding our Flip model to meet investor appetite,' said Riz Ahmed, CEO of SmartCrowd. 'This Downtown penthouse is exactly the kind of opportunity we aim to deliver, bringing high-potential, exclusive real estate within reach of everyday investors. With Nawy's backing, we're excited to scale this product even further.' While the Flip model has gained strong traction, it's designed to complement, not replace, longer-term investments, like Buy and Hold, by offering a broader menu of options tailored to different timelines and return expectations. Following the same design language as SmartCrowd's recent Flip success in Central Park Towers, DIFC, this Downtown renovation will blend timeless minimalism with soft, sculptural luxury, a high-demand aesthetic that has already resonated with SmartCrowd investors and the Dubai buyer market. This Downtown Flip comes just weeks after SmartCrowd's majority acquisition by Nawy, a leading Cairo-based PropTech backed by e& Capital. The acquisition strengthens SmartCrowd's operational foundation and unlocks new opportunities for growth, technology integration, and investor reach across MENA. With over AED 207 million in Flip projects launched to date and four successful exits generating an average 28% net investor return over a 15-month holding period, SmartCrowd's Flip has established itself as a leading product in Dubai's dynamic short-term property investment space. As the UAE's real estate investment market heads toward a projected $33 billion valuation by 2030, this Flip represents a strategic entry into one of the world's most exciting and accessible real estate markets. About SmartCrowd: SmartCrowd is the MENA region's first regulated real estate investment platform, licensed by the DFSA and registered with the DIFC. As a pioneer in fractional property ownership in Dubai, SmartCrowd opens the door for global investors to access prime real estate through a secure, transparent, and regulated framework. Whether through long-term rental income or short-term renovation strategies, SmartCrowd empowers individuals to grow their wealth in UAE real estate with confidence.
Geek Tyrant
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Riz Ahmed and Lily James Get Tangled in High-Stakes Corporate Deceit in Trailer for RELAY — GeekTyrant
If you're into slick paranoia and morally flexible characters, Relay might be your next cinematic fix. Bleecker Street released the trailer for the corporate thriller directed by David Mackenzie ( Hell or High Water ), and it's serving up sharp tension with a side of moral rot. Riz Ahmed plays Tom, a master 'fixer' who orchestrates payouts between shady corporations and the people trying to blow the whistle on them. His anonymity is sacred. His rules are gospel. Then Lily James enters the picture as a desperate client running for her life, and suddenly all those carefully drawn lines start to blur. The synopsis reads: 'Riz Ahmed stars as a world class 'fixer' who specializes in brokering lucrative payoffs between corrupt corporations and individuals who threaten their ruin. He keeps his identity a secret through meticulous planning & always follows an exacting set of rules. But when a message arrives one day from a potential client (Lily James) needing his protection just to stay alive, all his rules quickly start to change.' The trailer gives off serious Michael Clayton meets Enemy of the State energy as it's the kind of story that gives the sense that nobody's in control. TIFF described the film as 'riddled with ingenious feats of misdirection, novel set pieces, and jaw-dropping twists that would have made Hitchcock proud.' The movie also stars Sam Worthington, Willa Fitzgerald, and Matthew Maher. It's set to hit theaters on August 22, 2025.
