Latest news with #WeddingCrashers'
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, David Cronenberg & Javier Bardem Join 380 Cinema Figures In Open Letter Condemning Silence Over Gaza
More than 350 film world figures, including Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon and Javier Bardem, have published an open letter on the eve of the Cannes Film Festival condemning 'silence' over the deadly impact of Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza. The letter, published on the website of France's Libération newspaper on Monday evening, was headed 'In Cannes, the horror Gaza must not be silenced'. It was addressed 'For Fatem', in memory of 25-year-old Gaza artist and photojournalist Fatima Hassouna. More from Deadline Michael Cera To Make Directorial Debut With 'Love Is Not The Answer' Starring Pamela Anderson, Steve Coogan, Fred Hechinger & Jamie Dornan; Mk2, 2AM & CAA Launch Sales At Cannes Market Matt Rife To Star In Comedy 'The Escort' For 'Wedding Crashers' Director David Dobkin; Upgrade & UTA Launching For Cannes Market Mubi Deep Dive: Founder Efe Cakarel & Content Boss Jason Ropell Lift The Lid On Rapid Growth & Next What Does The Industry Think? The young woman was killed in an Israeli airstrike in mid-April just 24 hours after it was announced a documentary exploring her life in the Gaza Strip would world premiere in the Cannes. Ten of her relatives, including her pregnant sister, were killed in same strike. 'She was a Palestinian freelance photojournalist. She was targeted by the Israeli army on 16 April, 2025, the day after it was announced that Sepideh Farsi's film Put Your Soul On Your Hand And Walk, in which she was the star, had been selected in the ACID section of the Cannes Film Festival. She was about to get married,' read the letter. 'Since the terrible massacres of 7 October 2023, no foreign journalist has been authorised to enter the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army is targeting civilians. More than 200 journalists have been deliberately killed. Writers, filmmakers and artists are being brutally murdered.' Israel's bombing and invasion of Gaza began in October 2023 in response to Hamas's October 7 attacks on southern Israel, which killed 1,200 people and resulted in the taking of 251 hostages. Eighteen months on, at least 52,600 people have been killed by Israeli military action, according to figures released by the Hamas-run Gaza health authority, while the 2.4 million population is also facing severe food shortages due to a two month blockade of essential supplies by Israel. The letter was published just hours after Hamas released Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, in what it said was a gesture of goodwill ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to the Middle East, which does not include Israel. Around 58 hostages are still missing in Gaza, with around 24 of them still believed to be alive. Further signatories include Pedro Almodóvar, Javier Bardem, Leïla Bekhti, Kaouther Ben Hania, David Cronenberg, Costa-Gavras, Julie Delpy, Alice Diop, Xavier Dolan, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Nicole Garcia, Jonathan Glazer, Alain Guiraudie, Annemarie Jacir, Yórgos Lánthimos, Nadav Lapid, Mike Leigh, Boris Lojkine, Kleber Mendonça, Viggo Mortensen, Laura Poitras, Ruben Östlund, Mark Ruffalo and Ira Sachs. The letter also highlighted the case of Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, co-director of Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, with Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra and Rachel Szor, who was attacked by Israeli settlers and then kidnapped by the army in late March, before being released under international pressure. 'The Oscar Academy's lack of support for Hamdan Ballal sparked outrage among its own members and it had to publicly apologise for its inaction,' read the letter, referring to a U-turn by the body. 'As artists and cultural players, we cannot remain silent while genocide is taking place in Gaza and this unspeakable news is hitting our communities hard. What is the point of our professions if not to draw lessons from history, to make films that are committed, if we are not present to protect oppressed voices? Why this silence?' Read the full letter here: For Fatem Fatma Hassona (Fatem) was 25 years old. She was a Palestinian freelance photojournalist. She was targeted by the Israeli army on 16 April 2025, the day after it was announced that Sepideh Farsi's film PUT YOUR SOUL ON YOUR HAND AND WALK, in which she was the star, had been selected in the ACID section of the Cannes Film Festival. She was about to get married. Ten of her relatives, including her pregnant sister, were killed by the same Israeli strike. Since the terrible massacres of 7 October 2023, no foreign journalist has been authorised to enter the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army is targeting civilians. More than 200 journalists have been deliberately killed. Writers, film-makers and artists are being brutally murdered. At the end of March, Palestinian film-maker Hamdan Ballal, who won an Oscar for his film NO OTHER LAND, co directed by Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra and Rachel Szor, was brutally attacked by Israeli settlers and then kidnapped by the army, before being released under international pressure. The Oscar Academy's lack of support for Hamdan Ballal sparked outrage among its own members and it had to publicly apologise for its inaction. We are ashamed of such passivity. Why is it that cinema, a breeding ground for socially committed works, seems to be so indifferent to the horror of reality and the oppression suffered by our sisters and brothers? As artists and cultural players, we cannot remain silent while genocide is taking place in Gaza and this unspeakable news is hitting our communities hard. What is the point of our professions if not to draw lessons from history, to make films that are committed, if we are not present to protect oppressed voices? Why this silence? The far right, fascism, colonialism, anti-trans and anti-LGBTQIA+, sexist, racist, islamophobic and anti-Semitic movements are waging their battle on the battlefield of ideas, attacking publishing, cinema and universities, and that's why we have a duty to fight. Let's refuse to let our art be an accomplice to the worst. Let us rise up. Let us name reality. Let us collectively dare to look at it with the precision of our sensitive hearts, so that it can no longer be silenced and covered up. Let us reject the propaganda that constantly colonises our imaginations and makes us lose our sense of humanity. For Fatem, for all those who die in indifference. Cinema has a duty to carry their messages, to reflect our societies. Let's act before it's too late. Best of Deadline Everything We Know About Ari Aster's 'Eddington' So Far Everything We Know About 'Nobody Wants This' Season 2 So Far List Of Hollywood & Media Layoffs From Paramount To Warner Bros Discovery To CNN & More
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cannes Opening Night: Festival Workers Briefly Protest Red Carpet, Deadline Shut Down From Filming
This evening's opening night gala in Cannes was briefly interrupted when festival staffers staged a labor protest next to the red carpet. Around a dozen Cannes staffers, covertly stationed next to the red carpet, blew whistles and held red Sous Les Écrans La Dèche placards as the Cannes jury led by Juliette Binoche made their way into the opening night gala. More from Deadline Matt Rife To Star In Comedy 'The Escort' For 'Wedding Crashers' Director David Dobkin; Upgrade & UTA Launching For Cannes Market Mubi Deep Dive: Founder Efe Cakarel & Content Boss Jason Ropell Lift The Lid On Rapid Growth & Next What Does The Industry Think? Maya Hawke & Rhys Ifans Set For Aisling Walsh's Lucia Joyce Biopic As The Veterans Boards Sales - Cannes The protest was almost immediately shut off by armed police. We captured footage of the brief demonstration, which you can view below. However, Deadline's journalist was barred from filming the demonstration by a festival official. The official told us on the ground, 'Sometimes you're allowed to film but sometimes not.' We broke the news earlier today that Cannes staffers were planning protests at this evening's opening ceremony to raise awareness of their working conditions. The group of protestors is organized under the unofficial union Sous Les Écrans La Dèche, which includes 300 film festival workers from across France, including staff who work on the Cannes Official Selection, the festival's Marché du Film, and parallel sections of Directors' Fortnight and Critics' Week. The group's main objectives are the same as we reported ahead of last year's Cannes Film Festival, during which they executed similar small demonstrations. They want to be included in France's unique unemployment insurance program for entertainment workers and technicians. Known as Intermittence de Spectacle, the scheme supports entertainment workers on short-term contracts with an unemployment benefit when they are between jobs or projects. The payments are funded through taxes paid by employers. Due to quirks in the regulations, many workers at French film festivals have long been excluded from the unemployment benefit. Instead, they are hired and handed flat short-term contracts. The collective is campaigning to be included in the scheme, citing the inherent seasonal nature of the work. The Sous les Écrans la Dèche movement has some high-profile supporters. French filmmaker Justine Triet wore the group's bright red pin on her suit lapel as she walked the red carpet for Palme d'Or winner Anatomy of a Fall at Cannes in 2023. This year's Cannes Film Festival jury member Payal Kapadia was wearing the same pin as she debuted All We Imagine as Light on the Croisette in 2024. Cannes opens this evening with Leave One Day by first-time French filmmaker Amelie Bonnin. The festival runs until May 24. Best of Deadline Book-To-Movie Adaptations Coming Out In 2025 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More Everything We Know About Ari Aster's 'Eddington' So Far
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cannes Staffers Urged To Remain Politically Neutral In Pre-Fest Letter From Organizers; Will There Be A Protest From Them Tonight?
EXCLUSIVE: Cannes Film Festival organizers have urged all staffers to remain politically neutral while on the job in a series of guidelines sent out ahead of this evening's opening night gala. The instructions, which were sent to all staff members working on this year's event and have been reviewed by Deadline, list guidelines on social media use and dealing with the press alongside instructions on steering clear of political discussions. News of the updated guidelines come as we learn a selection of Cannes staffers aim to once again mount demonstrations during this year's event, including at tonight's opening ceremony, to raise awareness of their working conditions. More from Deadline Matt Rife To Star In Comedy 'The Escort' For 'Wedding Crashers' Director David Dobkin; Upgrade & UTA Launching For Cannes Market Mubi Deep Dive: Founder Efe Cakarel & Content Boss Jason Ropell Lift The Lid On Rapid Growth & Next What Does The Industry Think? Maya Hawke & Rhys Ifans Set For Aisling Walsh's Lucia Joyce Biopic As The Veterans Boards Sales - Cannes 'Maintain a certain political neutrality in your exchanges with festival-goers,' the instruction read in the pre-festival letter from organizers. We understand the specific note on politics is a new addition to advice traditionally shared with festival staffers. Multiple Cannes staffers we spoke with this morning said the updated staff protocols were indicative of what they described as the festival's beefed-up approach to political protests and demonstrations, particularly around its centerpiece events like this evening's opening ceremony. In a statement to Deadline, the public and privately-backed festival said: 'As in many organizations, team members are asked not to express political opinions when speaking on behalf of the Festival in a professional context. Outside of this framework, everyone is free to hold and express their own beliefs.' Last year, a small collection of staff working across the festival's competition strands did mount a series of modest demonstrations to raise awareness about their working conditions. A rooftop demonstration was held at last year's opening night gala. The group was organized under the unofficial union Sous Les Écrans La Dèche, which includes 300 film festival workers from across France, including staff who work on the Cannes Official Selection, the festival's Marché du Film, and parallel sections of Directors' Fortnight and Critics' Week. We understand the group is in discussion about how to replicate a similar demonstration at this evening's opening ceremony, as last-minute negotiations held this week about their working contracts with the French government and the Cannes Film Festival broke down. The Sous les Écrans la Dèche movement has some high-profile supporters. French filmmaker Justine Triet wore the group's bright red pin on her suit lapel as she walked the red carpet for Palme d'Or winner Anatomy Of A Fall at Cannes in 2023. 2025 Cannes Film Festival jury member Payal Kapadia was wearing the same pin as she debuted All We Imagine As Light on the Croisette in 2024. Cannes opens this evening with Leave One Day by first-time French filmmaker Amelie Bonnin. Juliette Binoche leads the competition jury. The festival runs until May 24. Best of Deadline Everything We Know About Ari Aster's 'Eddington' So Far Everything We Know About 'Nobody Wants This' Season 2 So Far List Of Hollywood & Media Layoffs From Paramount To Warner Bros Discovery To CNN & More
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, David Cronenberg & Javier Bardem Join 380 Cinema Figures In Open Letter Condemning Silence Over Gaza
More than 350 film world figures, including Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon and Javier Bardem, have published an open letter on the eve of the Cannes Film Festival condemning 'silence' over the deadly impact of Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza. The letter, published on the website of France's Libération newspaper on Monday evening, was headed 'In Cannes, the horror Gaza must not be silenced'. It was addressed 'For Fatem', in memory of 25-year-old Gaza artist and photojournalist Fatima Hassouna. More from Deadline Matt Rife To Star In Comedy 'The Escort' For 'Wedding Crashers' Director David Dobkin; Upgrade & UTA Launching For Cannes Market Mubi Deep Dive: Founder Efe Cakarel & Content Boss Jason Ropell Lift The Lid On Rapid Growth & Next What Does The Industry Think? Maya Hawke & Rhys Ifans Set For Aisling Walsh's Lucia Joyce Biopic As The Veterans Boards Sales - Cannes The young woman was killed in an Israeli airstrike in mid-April just 24 hours after it was announced a documentary exploring her life in the Gaza Strip would world premiere in the Cannes. Ten of her relatives, including her pregnant sister, were killed in same strike. 'She was a Palestinian freelance photojournalist. She was targeted by the Israeli army on 16 April, 2025, the day after it was announced that Sepideh Farsi's film Put Your Soul On Your Hand And Walk, in which she was the star, had been selected in the ACID section of the Cannes Film Festival. She was about to get married,' read the letter. 'Since the terrible massacres of 7 October 2023, no foreign journalist has been authorised to enter the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army is targeting civilians. More than 200 journalists have been deliberately killed. Writers, filmmakers and artists are being brutally murdered.' Israel's bombing and invasion of Gaza began in October 2023 in response to Hamas's October 7 attacks on southern Israel, which killed 1,200 people and resulted in the taking of 251 hostages. Eighteen months on, at least 52,600 people have been killed by Israeli military action, according to figures released by the Hamas-run Gaza health authority, while the 2.4 million population is also facing severe food shortages due to a two month blockade of essential supplies by Israel. The letter was published just hours after Hamas released Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, in what it said was a gesture of goodwill ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to the Middle East, which does not include Israel. Around 58 hostages are still missing in Gaza, with around 24 of them still believed to be alive. Further signatories include Pedro Almodóvar, Javier Bardem, Leïla Bekhti, Kaouther Ben Hania, David Cronenberg, Costa-Gavras, Julie Delpy, Alice Diop, Xavier Dolan, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Nicole Garcia, Jonathan Glazer, Alain Guiraudie, Annemarie Jacir, Yórgos Lánthimos, Nadav Lapid, Mike Leigh, Boris Lojkine, Kleber Mendonça, Viggo Mortensen, Laura Poitras, Ruben Östlund, Mark Ruffalo and Ira Sachs. The letter also highlighted the case of Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, co-director of Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, with Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra and Rachel Szor, who was attacked by Israeli settlers and then kidnapped by the army in late March, before being released under international pressure. 'The Oscar Academy's lack of support for Hamdan Ballal sparked outrage among its own members and it had to publicly apologise for its inaction,' read the letter, referring to a U-turn by the body. 'As artists and cultural players, we cannot remain silent while genocide is taking place in Gaza and this unspeakable news is hitting our communities hard. What is the point of our professions if not to draw lessons from history, to make films that are committed, if we are not present to protect oppressed voices? Why this silence?' Read the full letter here: For Fatem Fatma Hassona (Fatem) was 25 years old. She was a Palestinian freelance photojournalist. She was targeted by the Israeli army on 16 April 2025, the day after it was announced that Sepideh Farsi's film PUT YOUR SOUL ON YOUR HAND AND WALK, in which she was the star, had been selected in the ACID section of the Cannes Film Festival. She was about to get married. Ten of her relatives, including her pregnant sister, were killed by the same Israeli strike. Since the terrible massacres of 7 October 2023, no foreign journalist has been authorised to enter the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army is targeting civilians. More than 200 journalists have been deliberately killed. Writers, film-makers and artists are being brutally murdered. At the end of March, Palestinian film-maker Hamdan Ballal, who won an Oscar for his film NO OTHER LAND, co directed by Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra and Rachel Szor, was brutally attacked by Israeli settlers and then kidnapped by the army, before being released under international pressure. The Oscar Academy's lack of support for Hamdan Ballal sparked outrage among its own members and it had to publicly apologise for its inaction. We are ashamed of such passivity. Why is it that cinema, a breeding ground for socially committed works, seems to be so indifferent to the horror of reality and the oppression suffered by our sisters and brothers? As artists and cultural players, we cannot remain silent while genocide is taking place in Gaza and this unspeakable news is hitting our communities hard. What is the point of our professions if not to draw lessons from history, to make films that are committed, if we are not present to protect oppressed voices? Why this silence? The far right, fascism, colonialism, anti-trans and anti-LGBTQIA+, sexist, racist, islamophobic and anti-Semitic movements are waging their battle on the battlefield of ideas, attacking publishing, cinema and universities, and that's why we have a duty to fight. Let's refuse to let our art be an accomplice to the worst. Let us rise up. Let us name reality. Let us collectively dare to look at it with the precision of our sensitive hearts, so that it can no longer be silenced and covered up. Let us reject the propaganda that constantly colonises our imaginations and makes us lose our sense of humanity. For Fatem, for all those who die in indifference. Cinema has a duty to carry their messages, to reflect our societies. Let's act before it's too late. Best of Deadline Everything We Know About 'Nobody Wants This' Season 2 So Far List Of Hollywood & Media Layoffs From Paramount To Warner Bros Discovery To CNN & More A Full Timeline Of Blake Lively & Justin Baldoni's 'It Ends With Us' Feud In Court, Online & In The Media
New York Post
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
NYC restaurant owner who inspired ‘Nonnas' movie bombarded with calls: ‘There's 350 messages on there!'
Jody Scaravella knew right away that Enoteca Maria, the Staten Island restaurant he opened in 2007 where grandmothers cook traditional meals for customers, would make a perfect movie. How could he not? Scaravella, who also goes by Joe, was being told so non-stop. 'Almost from day one, we've been contacted about a reality show, about a movie, about a documentary, just constantly, constantly,' the owner of the hotspot in the St. George neighborhood of the borough told The Post. 'I certainly knew we had struck a nerve.' Advertisement 9 A new movie called 'Nonnas' is based on the life and restaurant of Jody Scaravella. Gabriella Bass 9 At the start of the movie, we see Scaravella as a boy observing his grandma cook pasta sauce alongside his mom. Gabriella Bass And then about eight years ago, the filmmakers of 'Nonnas,' the feel-good comedy directed by Stephen Chbosky that drops on Netflix Friday, finally convinced him. Advertisement 'This was really heartfelt and the people actually stepped up to the plate,' he said. 'It unfolded very quickly.' Now, Scaravella is getting the Hollywood treatment. The Brooklyn native is being played onscreen by 'Wedding Crashers' star Vince Vaughn. And the quartet of lively Italian nonnas heating up the kitchen are a formidable bunch: Lorraine Bracco, Susan Sarandon, Talia Shire and Brenda Vaccaro. 9 Susan Sarandon, Brenda Vaccaro, Lorraine Bracco and Talia Shire play the cooking nonnas. AP Advertisement 9 Vince Vaugn plays Scaravella in the new Netflix The kitchen can get spicy — and not just because of the red pepper flakes. 'I love Lorraine Bracco and Brenda Vaccaro when they're having it out,' Scaravella said. Their characters' head-butting is about more than whose Sunday sauce is tastier. Bracco's forthright Roberta hails from Sicily, while Vaccaro's nonna, Antonella, is a proud native of Bologna. Advertisement 'There's definitely a certain amount of prejudice, depending on what part of Italy you're from,' Scaravella said. 'The one moment when Vince turns to the ladies and says, 'You ladies are killing me!' — I've said that.' 9 The Staten Island restaurant he opened in 2007. Gabriella Bass 9 Scaravella was inspired by his own nonna and his mother, the eatery's namesake. Gabriella Bass The proprietor helped Vaughn, who he calls a 'really down to earth and sweet guy,' and writer Liz Maccie turn the remarkable Enoteca Maria journey into a heart-tugging movie. 'He came to the restaurant with Joe Mangianello, [who plays best friend Bruno],' Scaravella said. 'He was asking about the story and I guess he was just trying to get a feel for the character and the brilliant script written by Liz Maccie — threading together all the moments in my life.' One aspect that makes the tale compelling is that it's about an underdog. Scaravella had no restaurant experience when he decided to open Enoteca Maria. The other is family. He was inspired by his own nonna and his mother, the eatery's namesake. 'Nonnas' weaves them in. 9 Scaravella named Enoteca Maria after his late mother. AP At the start of the movie, we see Scaravella as a boy observing his grandma cook pasta sauce alongside his mom. Watching his younger self with those special women in his life moved him. Advertisement 'I just sat there with tears in my eyes through the whole thing,' Scaravella said. 'And every time I've looked at it afterwards, it's very emotional for me.' The whirlwind of 'Nonnas' has also made the man very, very busy. 9 Scaravella says he's getting hundreds of messages per day. Gabriella Bass 9 'There's 350 messages on there that I'm trying to get through one at a time,' Scaravella told the Post of his restaurant's success. Gabriella Bass Advertisement When The Post visited Enoteca Maria, which today features nonnas of many different nationalities and culinary specialties (Jewish, Polish, Ukrainian, Mexican and more), the already popular restaurant's phone was ringing off the hook. 'It's a bit much,' Scaravella said. 'I mean, I can't answer my phone. There's 350 messages on there that I'm trying to get through one at a time. Every time I do one, three more come in.' But, he added, 'there are bad problems and there are good problems. This is a good problem.'
