Latest news with #TheCircle
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Jafar Panahi named Asian Filmmaker of the Year at Busan International Film Festival
Renowned Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, known for world cinema classics like "The White Balloon", "Offside", "The Circle" and "3 Faces", has been named the 'Asian Filmmaker of the Year' by the Busan International Film Festival. The award is presented to an Asian film figure or organization that has made the most significant contribution to the development of the Asian film industry and culture. (Also read: Cannes Film Festival: Jafar Panahi wins Palme d'Or for It Was Just an Accident, Sentimental Value gets Grand Prix) Iranian director, screenwriter and producer Jafar Panahi recently won the Palme d'Or at Cannes. (Photo by Steven Markham / AFP)(AFP) Panahi is a revered figure in the international cinema community but in Iran he has consistently faced restrictions for his art. He was imprisoned three years ago and went on a hunger strike. Despite obstacles, Panahi has continued to make films be it 'This Is Not a Film', which he made in his living room while under house arrest or 'Taxi', which was set in a car. Official statement "As a towering figure in Iranian cinema, the director has explored the existence and freedom of individuals living amid censorship and political repression. Capturing the political and social contradictions of Iranian society from a countercultural perspective, he has continued to create films in secret, courageously submitting them to international film festivals despite repeated arrests, custody, detention, travel bans, and a stated-imposed filmmaking ban," BIFF said in their release. "At a time when making films in my country becomes more difficult every day, this recognition reminds me that cinema can still connect us beyond borders, languages, and limitations. I not only accept this award in my own name, but also on behalf of all those who, in silence, in exile, or under pressure, continue to create," Panahi said in his statement to the festival. The filmmaker's "It was Just an Accident" won the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival in May this year. Panahi won Venice festival's Golden Lion for 'The Circle' in 2002 and the Golden Bear at the Berlin film festival for 'Taxi' in 2015. The filmmaker's accomplishments also include Locarno's Golden Leopard for 'The Mirror' in 1997 and Cannes' screenplay prize for '3 Faces' in 2018. Panahi will be receiving the award at the festival's opening ceremony, scheduled on September 17. The festival will run till September 26. (via PTI inputs)
Perth Now
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Harry Potter star cops driving ban
Star actress Emma Watson has had her license revoked after speeding in her university town, Oxford. The Harry Potter alum was caught driving at 61km/h in a 50km/h zone, and the BBC reported that Judge Arvind Sharma deducted three points from her license at the hearing on Wednesday. Watson had already lost nine points for other driving offences, and so when she lost the last three, she received an automatic six-month suspension of her license and was ordered to pay a fine of $2156. She did not attend the brief five minute hearing at High Wycombe Magistrates' Court. The actress, well known for her breakout role as Hermione Granger in the eight Harry Potter films, is now a student and has been studying a master's degree in creative writing at Oxford since 2023. She has also appeared in popular stand-a-lone films including The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Circle, Beauty and the Beast and The Bling Ring. Her most recent film credit was for her role as Meg in Greta Gerwig's 2019 adaption of Little Women, starring alongside Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Meryl Streep, Laura Dern and Timothee Chalamet. A new television adaption of the Harry Potter book series in currently in production with HBO. Arabella Stanton has been cast as Hermione, alongside Dominic McLaughlin as Harry and Alastair Stout as Ron. Watson distanced herself from the Harry Potter franchise after a public feud with JK Rowling over transgender rights in 2020. JK Rowling posted a controversial tweet in 2020, which began a long history of advocating against transgender rights Credit: TheWest Rowling posted a tweet in 2020 about an article titled 'Creating a more equal post-Covid-19 world for people who menstruate' which said ''people who menstruate.' I'm sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?' If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. The tweet sparked backlash, and the author eventually published a 3600 word essay detailing her worries about 'new trans activism' and what she labelled 'the explosion in young women wishing to transition and also about the increasing numbers who seem to be detransitioning'. Following this, Watson spoke out in support of transgender people in a tweet where she said they 'deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren't who they say they are'. Since then, Watson has not taken part in Harry Potter related media, save for her appearance in the reunion special 'Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts', which notably did not feature JK Rowling. If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Eliminated 'Love Island: USA' Exes Link Up for Wild LA Birthday Bash
Eliminated 'Love Island: USA' Exes Link Up for Wild LA Birthday Bash originally appeared on Parade. Love Island: USA season 7 hasn't even finished yet, but fans already got the ultimate reunion yesterday (July 8). Taking place at BOA Steakhouse in West Hollywood, the eliminated islanders — along with a few other special guests — joined forces to celebrate 's 22nd birthday bash yesterday. With an image of the menu revealing that they were serving some tasty treats, it's safe to say it was an unforgettable dinner! For those who need a refresher, the 21-year-old brand ambassador entered Casa Amor on day 17, choosing to couple up with Ace Greene after smooching all of the islanders. Despite having an initial spark with Ace, Vanna decided to switch things up at the re-coupling ceremony on day 18, eager to explore a connection with TJ Palma instead. While things seemed to be smooth sailing with TJ, the 23-year-old entreprenuer chose to couple up with Iris Kendall over Vanna at the re-coupling ceremony on day 20. Because of this, the Utah native was dumped from the villa, but it looks like her journey with the islanders did not end there... Beyond her short-lived Love Island: USA stint, Vanna has been spending a great deal of time with the eliminated islanders since returning to the United States from Fiji. At yesterday's birthday bash, she reunited with eliminated islander Austin Shepard, as well as her fellow Casa Amor cuties: Coco Watson, Elan Bibas, JD Dodard and Zac Woodworth. In addition to this, some Love Island: USA season 7 stars she hadn't even met yet were in attendance, like Jeremiah Brown and Belle-A Walker, as well as exes Charlie Georgiou and Hannah Fields. How wild is that? Despite also being dumped from the villa, TJ, Jalen Brown, Jaden Duggar, Gracyn Blackmore, Andreina Santos and Zak Srakaew were not in attendance, as well as Yulissa Escobar and Cierra Ortega (for obvious reasons). Other public figures like Love Island: USA season 6 star Daniela Ortiz Rivera and Too Hot To Handle, The Circle and Perfect Match star Chloe Veitch were in attendance, though, creating a star-studded event that piqued the interest of reality television-lovers all across the globe. With all of these eliminated islanders in the same place, could new connections have formed at Vanna's 22nd birthday bash? Or could Hannah and Charlie have rekindled their romance? While there is no way to know for sure, it is safe to say that we will be keeping up with everyone on social media for any further updates. Additionally, to see how Love Island: USA season 7 will conclude, tune into brand new episodes of the beloved competition series every day — except Wednesdays — via Peacock. After all, with the Hideaway opening up for Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales, things are starting to get spicy! Eliminated 'Love Island: USA' Exes Link Up for Wild LA Birthday Bash first appeared on Parade on Jul 9, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Liam Payne shines amid criticism of Netflix's Building The Band reality show
Critics have savaged new Netflix series Building The Band, describing it as 'spectacularly misjudged,' 'painfully unfunny,' and 'a chaotic mess,' but many agreed on one thing: Liam Payne is 'the best thing' about it. The reality series, which landed on the streaming platform today (July 9), was filmed before Payne's shock death last October aged 31, when he fell from the third floor of a hotel balcony in Argentina. It features the former One Direction star in a key mentoring role. His contribution - kept in with the support of his family - has been widely praised for its warmth and authenticity, offering one of the few standout moments in a show many reviewers have otherwise called derivative. Hosted by Backstreet Boys' AJ McLean, with Nicole Scherzinger as lead judge and joined by Kelly Rowland and Payne, the 10-part competition sees aspiring singers attempt to build bands from scratch without input from music executives or producers. Most damning was The i Paper, which questioned the show's very existence in the wake of Payne's death. It raised concerns about how such talent formats affect young performers' mental health and whether enough protections are in place. 'Obviously, the flashy trailer displays no awareness of the grim irony that were it not for programmes just like this that promise desperate, hopeful singers a future of success and stardom, Payne might still be alive,' it writes. The Telegraph was also not won over, declaring the show 'an insincere singing contest' and criticising its format as a mashup of The X Factor, The Circle and Love Is Blind. Still, it highlighted Payne's appearance in episode seven as the emotional high point. 'He judges the acts with kindness and constructive criticism,' the review by the publication read, adding that an Australian contestant's heartfelt story about seeing One Direction as a child visibly moves him. 'It's right that the producers, backed by the family, decided to keep his contribution in. But it's also pretty sad.' The Guardian, meanwhile, offered a more reserved three-star verdict. While calling the series 'fine, watchable, well-crafted,' the paper criticised early episodes for feeling 'drawn out and repetitive.' It also questioned the concept's relevance in today's music scene. 'I did wonder why Building the Band would focus on groups in an era dominated by solo artists, but perhaps it's less about music and more about creating spectacle,' the reviewer wrote. The Standard's own Saskia Kemsley was the kindest, awarding the show four stars. Kemsley praised Building the Band for tapping into the legacy of early 2000s TV juggernauts like The X Factor, the show that helped launch Payne's career. 'For lifelong One Direction fans, Payne's presence is bittersweet – but he's a grounded, respectful presence here, and the series handles his legacy with care,' the review reads. She continued: 'Like clockwork, tensions flare. Those who falter often lash out, giving the show its requisite dose of drama. But Building the Band isn't just about meltdowns. It's also a showcase for powerful mentorship, and few moments are more affecting than Payne's.'
Scottish Sun
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Ocean Colour Scene perform blistering summer set of 90s anthems and Britpop bangers for Glasgow crowd
Read on for our reviewer's thoughts on the gig below. GOT BLOWN AWAY Ocean Colour Scene perform blistering summer set of 90s anthems and Britpop bangers for Glasgow crowd Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IT'S a big year for 90s music nostalgia. There's comebacks galore in the air - Oasis, Pulp, Supergrass are all touring again. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 3 The band in their 90s pomp 3 Simon Fowler performing in 2014 But some bands from the era never really went away. And judging by the crowd at Ocean Colour Scene's gig, there's plenty out there who don't want them to - even after all these years. The band are playing at the Summer Nights On The Southside festival at Glasgow's Queen's Park recreation ground - a return to the city after April's O2 Academy gig. To read much of today's musical criticism of the 90s, you'd be forgiven for thinking OCS were mere also-rans of an era where there were many. But you simply can't argue with the wealth of incredible music they produced at their height - and you can't escape the feeling that history has been unkind to them. There are fewer greater examples of this than The Circle, a stunning anthem that still holds up to this day. It's one of their more enduring songs from classic album Mosley Shoals, released in 1995. The album propelled the band to new heights and it's easy to remember why when they delve into it - It's My Shadow and One for the Road are among the highlights. It's my first time at the Queen's Park venue but it's easy to see why it's become a fixture of Glasgow's summer festival scene. The Big Top tent is packed with fans who would fall into the "Oasis da" category - bucket hats, a pint in each hand and leaving their rough and ready masculinity at the door to put their arms around each other. But there's a whole younger crowd here too, and not just men. The enclosed tent roof is perfect for raucous tracks like Hundred Mile High City and it's razor blade riff, memorably used in the opening of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. And it's also ideal for sing-a-long anthems, of which OCS have many in their arsenal, like Robin Hood and Go To Sea. Frontman Simon Fowler even gives the crowd a brief burst of Oasis' Live Forever. The gig's not just a showcase for Fowler's vocal and songwriting talent, but lead guitarist Steve Cradock's skills too who surely stakes a claim to being the most talented of his generation. In terms of memorable riffs of the last 30 years, there's few than can touch The Riverboat Song. OCS even include 2007's powerful anthem Go To Sea, it's hard to see how they couldn't given it's inspired by young Glaswegian men being left with no career prospects after the closure of the shipyards. The band close out the night with arguably their finest moment, The Day We Caught the Train, and an army of people joining in with every word and then serenading the band off the stage with the epic chorus. Craddock recently said of the 90s: "People get nostalgic about it because it was such a good time." It's hard to disagree - but OCS can feel satisfied that their fans, at least, are still having one. And their kids are too.
