Oliver Stone to make Snowden film

LONDON: Oliver Stone is to make a film about fugitive US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, based on a book by a British journalist, it was announced Monday.

Luke Harding, the author of "The Snowden Files: The Inside Story Of The World's Most Wanted Man", said on Twitter that the US film-maker has bought the movie rights to the book.

Harding, who writes for British newspaper The Guardian, said Stone would write and direct the film with his long-term producing partner Moritz Borman.

"I'm thrilled and delighted," the journalist said.

Stone, an Oscar-winning director whose films include "Wall Street", "JFK", and "Nixon", said he was looking forward to making the film.

"This is one of the greatest stories of our time. A real challenge," he said.

The Guardian said Stone had begun writing the screenplay, while Borman was "fast-tracking it as a major European co-production" to start filming before the end of the year.

Harding and other Guardian journalists are due to act as production and story consultants.

"The story of Edward Snowden is truly extraordinary, and the unprecedented revelations he brought to light have forever transformed our understanding of -- and relationship with -- government and technology," said Alan Rusbridger, The Guardian's editor-in-chief.

"We're delighted to be working with Oliver Stone and Moritz Borman on the film."

Snowden is wanted by the American authorities for leaking series of US intelligence secrets, and is currently living in Russia. His US passport has been revoked.

Snowden has said he is open to the possibility of clemency or amnesty and would like to return home one day.

But he maintains he carried out a patriotic act by exposing huge surveillance dragnets he said infringed the US Constitution.

Washington says Snowden is welcome to return home but only to face trial for exposing sensitive top secret information it says aided US enemies.

The Stone film is not the only one being made about Snowden, based on a Guardian writer's book.

Sony Pictures Entertainment said last month it has acquired the rights to the new book by Glenn Greenwald, who led the Pulitzer Prize-winning team at The Guardian that covered the story.

James Bond franchise producers Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli will make the movie version of "No Place to Hide", described as "a political film that will resonate with today's moviegoers."

'Begin Again' film of firsts for Levine, Knightley

NEW YORK: For Keira Knightley and Adam Levine, their movie "Begin Again" was an experience of firsts.

Knightley, an accomplished actress, sings in the movie, whereas Levine, frontman of the band Maroon 5, acts.

The two admitted that leaving their comfort zones made them uneasy but that they related to each other's nerves.

"I kept telling her she was great and she wouldn't believe me, and she told me that I wasn't bad at acting either but I didn't believe her, so it was perfect," Levine said Saturday as the film closed the Tribeca Film Festival.

"I was completely terrified," Knightley, 29, emphasized of her singing.

"I didn't anticipate being as frightened as I was. I said yes to doing it and I was, 'Oh, it's gonna be fine, it's gonna be fine,' and then suddenly I found myself in a studio with real people who did it for a living and I was like, 'I don't know what I'm doing. I'm pretending.'"

To walk a red carpet for his first acting role, Levine, 35, said he was "blown away."

Levine says he enjoyed the experience so much he might have caught the acting bug.

"My experience was so much fun," he said. "It made me kind of start to like it a little bit, but I don't know. I don't think you can really make those bold declarations, but we'll see."

So how did the two grade each other?

Knightley called Levine a "natural entertainer" who was "sensational in this film."

Levine, who serves as a judge and mentor on NBC's singing competition show "The Voice," said that if Knightley were to audition he would want her on his team.

"Begin Again," is directed by John Carney, who also was behind the successful musical drama "Once." It also stars Mark Ruffalo, Hailee Steinfeld and Catherine Keener. CeeLo Green also has a small role.

Winners of short film contest ‘Heroes of Pakistan’ announced

KARACHI: The winners of much awaited short film competition “Heroes of Pakistan” were announced in a humble ceremony held at the Karachi Press Club on Monday to acknowledge the youths who have demonstrated their film making potential by contesting in the competition organized by the American companies Green Card Capital and SoundView Broadcasting.

While addressing a press conference, Chief Operating Officer of Green Card Capital Abbas Hashmi said that the project aims to provide the youth a convenient and accessible platform to showcase their creativity and help them discover their own hidden potential.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with the public enthusiasm for our Heroes of Pakistan film competition and the personal effort and sincerity that went into the making of every entry.”

CEO Green Card Capital Abbas Hashmi told that they had received an over-whelming response from all over the country and received more than 150 entries submitted by the youngsters, mostly students.

The winning documentary films depicted the unique heroes from various walks of life including social workers, teachers, and figures who played an extraordinary role in defeating obstacles in life or to preserve Pakistan’s culture.

The first prize of $1,000 was won by Danish Hashmi, producer of ‘Baadban’ while the second prize of $500 was fetched by Mohammad Ali Hakeem who had produced ‘Guddu’.

Sana Nasir, the producer of ‘Life in the Dark’, stood winner for the third prize of $250 while Umar Tariq received the special peoples’ choice award for ‘The Philanthropist – A kind-hearted soul’, documenting the renowned social worker Abdul Sattar Edhi. He received the fourth and previously unannounced prize of $100.

Along with receiving the cash prizes, the winners have also bagged internships in TV production in Pakistan and USA while they will also make television appearances on Pakistani channels in the USA distributed by the SoundView Broadcasting.

The young achievers, beaming on their success, said that it is a gratifying opportunity and now their ambitions have soared even higher after receiving the acknowledgement. Expressing the significance of such projects, they were of the view that it is a crucial platform to showcase youth talent and to experiment with fresh ideas.

The panel of the judges included noted film and TV directors Mehreen Jabbar and Bilal Lashari, producer and advertising maven Shahzad Nawaz, filmmakers Iram Parveen Bilal, Mumtaz Hussain and Mathew Newton, ethnic marketing expert Stephanie Herold, actor-writer Aizzah Fatima and digital media expert Sarah Khan.

Vowing to continue this project in the coming years, CEO Green Card Capital Abbas Hashmi told that the next programme will be announced in August due to the encouraging feedback.

“It’s our intention to make this a yearly event and to continue to provide a forum for honouring heroic Pakistanis from every strata of society,” Hashmi said.

“We are contacting several notable writers and celebrities for the future projects, aiming to tap the youngsters with potential,” he added.

It may be mentioned here that the sponsors, Green Card Capital and SoundView Broadcasting, had invited the aspiring filmmakers to participate in the competition by submitting an original five-minute video clip and employing any medium to record and produce the film. The choice of the heroes and film style were entirely up to the entrants.

The contenders of the ‘Heroes of Pakistan’ had one month deadline to submit their entries that started from September 1, 2013 and expired on October 31, 2013.

SoundView Broadcasting, the broadcaster and distributor of international TV channels in USA, in collaboration with consulting and investment firm Green Card Capital are determined to improve awareness about the Pakistani cinema and arts among the American audience by offering exposure and opportunities to aspiring filmmakers in Pakistan.

 

Oscar-nominated director of sled dog film dies

ANCHORAGE: An Oscar-nominated filmmaker who directed and produced a documentary detailing a 1925 sled dog run in Alaska to deliver life-saving serum has died.

Daniel Anker died Monday at age 50. His wife, Donna Santman, says her husband died of pneumonia, a complication of his lymphoma.

Anker´s film, "Icebound," details the five-day run to Nome following a deadly diphtheria breakout. The film opened the Anchorage International Film Festival in December.

Santman says her husband most recently was working on a documentary about late director Sidney Lumet.

Anker was nominated for an Academy Award in 2001 for another documentary, "Scottsboro: An American Tragedy."

The New York filmmaker is survived by his wife of 12 years and their two children. (AP)

Cannes film festival launches race for 2014 Palme d’Or

PARIS: Movies by David Cronenberg, Jean-Luc Godard, Mike Leigh and Ken Loach are among the films selected to compete for the top Palme d´Or prize at next month´s Cannes Film Festival, organisers said on Thursday.

Just 18 of the more than 1,700 films submitted have been rewarded with a coveted slot on the Cannes shortlist.

Cronenberg´s "Maps to the Stars", Godard´s "Adieu au Langage", Leigh´s "Mr Turner" and Loach´s "Jimmy´s Hall", which is expected to be his last feature, will all be in competition at the May 14-25 movie extravaganza on the French Riviera.

Out of competition, Hollywood star Ryan Gosling´s directorial debut "Lost River" starring Mad Men actress Christina Hendricks gets a berth in the "Un Certain Regard" new talent section.

Held almost every year since 1946, the festival is famed as much for launching the careers of filmmakers such as Steven Soderbergh and Quentin Tarantino as for its glitzy red carpet photo calls, luxury yachts, star-studded parties and diamond heists.

Behind the scenes, film industry executives and producers turn the festival into a huge marketplace as they cut deals to secure a share in the next big movie event.

Other films in this year´s competition include "The Homesman" by Tommy Lee Jones, "The Search" by Michel Hazanavicius, "Captives" by Atom Egoyan, "Saint Laurent" by Bertrand Bonello, "Sils Maria" by Olivier Assayas and "Two Days, One Night" by the Dardenne brothers.

From Asia, Japan´s Naomi Kawase makes the cut with "Futatsume No Mado" while Abderrahmane Sissako from Mauritania is included with "Timbuktu".

The 2014 roll call raises the prospect of an abundance of big names on the fabled red carpet such as Robert Pattinson and Julianne Moore ("Maps to the Stars"), Hilary Swank and Meryl Streep ("The Homesman"), Berenice Bejo and Annette Bening ("The Search") and Juliette Binoche and Kristen Stewart ("Sils Maria").

- ´Pure fiction´ -

Prior to Thursday´s announcement by festival artistic director Thierry Fremaux, only two films had been confirmed for the 12-day festival although neither will be screened in competition.

"Grace of Monaco", starring Nicole Kidman as the former Hollywood star Grace Kelly, will open the festival, while "Party Girl", a French film about an ageing nightclub hostess, will open "Un Certain Regard".

Even before its release, the royal biopic made headlines with the film likely to be boycotted by Grace´s children Prince Albert and Princesses Caroline and Stephanie who have dismissed it as a work of "pure fiction".

Based around the late Prince Rainier, played by British actor Tim Roth, and Grace, who died in a car crash in 1982, it tracks events at a time when France was threatening to annex the tiny principality on its southern coast.

A disagreement between the film´s French director Olivier Dahan and American producer Harvey Weinstein over the editing of the movie, meanwhile, had resulted in what Dahan called "two versions -- mine and his" being made.

But Fremaux on Thursday dampened down speculation stressing that the film being screened in Cannes would be the "only version that exists, the one wanted by the director (Dahan)".

The Cannes festival opens on May 14, with New Zealand filmmaker Jane Campion, the only woman to win the Palme d´Or, heading the jury.

Campion who won in 1993 for the "The Piano" also holds the distinction of being the only double winner, her short "Peel" having picked up the top prize in that category in 1986.

The filmmaker has described the festival as a "mythical and exciting" place where "amazing things can happen" adding that she knows this "because that is what happened to me". (AFP)

'Divergent' film finale to be released in 2 parts

LOS ANGELES: Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. says the final book of its "Divergent" trilogy will be made into two parts, following the lucrative formula it has used for "Twilight" and is repeating for "The Hunger Games.

"The first film in the series based on Veronica Roth´s novels has grossed $117 million in its first three weeks of release.

Part I of the finale, called "Allegiant," will be released on March 18, 2016, followed by Part II on March 24, 2017."Insurgent," the second film in the series, begins production next month. It is set for release on March 20 next year.

Isabel Kaif in Salman Khan Film

Isabel Kaif,the younger sister of Katrina Kaif,still has a godfather in Salman Khan. The actor has cast his ex-flame’s sister in a film co-produced by him. Directed by French director Jean-Francois Pouliot,the film is titled Dr Cabbie and is being shot in Canada. The film also stars Vinay Virmani and Kunal Nayyar. Isabel,we hear,has been cast opposite Nayyar,who gained fame for his role of Rajesh Koothrapalli in The Big Bang Theory. However,this film isn’t the launchpad for Isabel. If sources are to be believed,Salman and Katrina will produce a project to launch Isabel in Bollywood.

Brittany Murphy’s final film to be released

The movie is slated to open in more theatres across the US shortly after the premiere.

Actress Brittany Murphy’s last film ‘Something Wicked’ will finally hit theatres four years after her death.
Murphy, 32, passed away on December 20, 2009. Her final project, which was initially supposed to release in 2011, will debut on April 4 this year at the Regal Theatre in Eugene, Oregon, the city where the movie was filmed, reported New York Daily News.
The movie is slated to open in more theatres across the US shortly after the premiere. In 2011, the film’s producer and screenwriter Joe Colleran had praised Murphy’s final role in an interview.
“Brittany pulled off one of the spookiest scenes in the movie. There’s an important scene where her character is unravelling and she spent a long time getting ready and focused and went for it. Personally, I think it’s one of the best scenes of her career,” he had said.

Sooraj Barjatya's film with Salman Khan finally gets a title!

Salman Khan

 

Whatever Bollywood's heartthrob Salman Khan does becomes news. Not only is his character in Sooraj Barjatya's upcoming film called Prem, the name that made him very popular in Bollywood, but his name will appear in the title of the film too.
A Mid-Day report says Sooraj is naming the film as Prem Ratan Dhan Payo. The shooting of the film will commence from May and about 70 percent of the film is going to be shot in ND Studios, Karjat.
The cast includes Sonam Kapoor, Anupam Kher, Neil Nitin Mukesh and Swara Bhaskar. The film will release on Diwali 2015.

Rajshri-Salman Khan-Star Plus in talks regarding satellite rights of the film

Salman Khan

With Salman Khan having signed a 500 crore deal with Star Plus, it was widely speculated that Sooraj Barjatya has sold the satellite rights to Khan, who is in agreement with the channel to telecast all his films. While the channel has confirmed that all of Khan’s film releasing between 2012 to 2017 will be aired on Star network, the official spokesperson of Rajshri Productions said that talks are in progress to work out the nitty-gritty of the deal and an announcement will be made soon. “A decision will be made by next week. Soorajji, Salman and the channel have to arrive at a consensus. Nothing has been finalised as yet. Regarding whether Salman will waive off his fees, will be decided at the meeting. I cannot comment on it.”
The untitled film will go on floors in June with a 90 days schedule in Mumbai and about 10 to 12 days shoot in Gujarat. The film is slated to release in November 2015, around Diwali . Describing it as a light entertainer, the film that will see Salman Khan in a double role, will be more on the lines of Maine Pyaar Kiya. “It will be a light entertainer, with equal dose of romance and action. Nowadays, family dramas are seen mostly on television. I do not think that the audience is interested in watching it on the big screen,” states the spokesperson. Refuting rumours that Arman Kohli has been signed to play Khan’s brother, the spokesperson said that, “it is Neil Nitin Mukesh who will play Salman’s brother.” The film also stars Anupam Kher, Deepak Dobriyal and Swara Bhaskar in pivotal roles.

Nargis Fakhri to play a secret agent in debut Hollywood film

Nargis Fakhri will be playing the role of a secret agent in her debut Hollywood film to be directed by Paul Feig.

Bollywood actress Nargis Fakhri will be playing the role of a secret agent in her debut Hollywood film to be directed by Paul Feig.
“She (Nargis) will be seen as a sexy agent in a Fox production starring Jason Statham of ‘Transporter’ fame and Melissa McCarthy who was last seen ‘The Heat’,” sources said. The length of Nargis’s role in the film and when she will begin shooting is yet to be known.
Also Read: Nargis Fakhri walks out of ‘Shaukeen’ remake
Nargis made her debut in Bollywood with Ranbir Kapoor starrer ‘Rockstar’. She was then seen in Shoojit Sircar’s critically acclaimed ‘Madras Cafe’. The model-actress also did a special song in Shahid Kapoor’s ‘Phata Poster Nikla Hero’.
Also Read: Shraddha Kapoor to replace Nargis Fakhri in ‘Shaukeen’ remake?
The 34-year-old actress will be next seen in David Dhawan’s ‘Main Tera Hero’ which is slated to hit cinema houses next month.
Paul Feig helmed the Oscar nominated film ‘Bridesmaids’.

Delhi Traffic Police stops Hrithik Roshan's film shooting

Hrithik Roshan shot some gravity-defying stunts above the flyover bridge at Mayur Vihar Extension Metro station in Delhi on Sunday morning.

Hrithik and Katrina Kaif have been shooting in the capital, favouring Delhi's flyovers for their film's action sequences. The shooting was stopped in the afternoon by the Delhi Traffic Police, for causing a jam.

The duo traveled across Spain while shooting for Zoya Akhtar's Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. She also did a special song and dance number in his Agneepath. The song Chikni Chameli was shot over three days with Hrithik on the sets for just a day. Bang Bang has brought them together once again and according to the source their friendship seems to have deepened.

Gulaab Gang producers challenge court decision to stop film's release

inShare

Gulaab Gang was slated to release on March 7.

The producers of actresses Madhuri Dixit and Juhi Chawla's film Gulaab Gang have moved the Delhi High Court asking that the stay order on the movie be lifted. The court will hear the plea later today.

Yesterday, the Delhi High Court ruled that the movie not be released anywhere in India in its censored or uncensored form till May 8. Gulaab Gang was meant to release tomorrow.

Activist Sampat Pal, the leader of the real-life Gulabi Gang - a group of pink sari clad women vigilantes from Uttar Pradesh - on which the film is based, moved the Delhi High Court to block the release of the film.

Sampat Pal moved the high court seeking a restraining order on the release of Gulaab Gang, saying the filmmakers did not ask her permission before making the movie.

She also sought financial compensation, saying there are certain scenes in movie which will affect her reputation.

The court agreed that the film promos, shown in January 2014, depicted Ms Pal "in the negative light and gave her a fresh cause of action".

"Reputation once lost is lost forever and can not come back and even can't be compensated with monetary terms," the court said.

Gulaab Gang is directed by debutant Soumik Sen and produced by Anubhav Sinha.

With agency inputs

Sonam Kapoor will be Salman Khan's heroine in Sooraj Barjatya's film

Sonam worked with Salman in her debut film Saawariya

Actress Sonam Kapoor's career has never before been in a better space. Proof of her escalating equity lies in her latest acquisition - Sooraj Barjatya's next film.

The actress has put an end to months of speculation regarding who would play the lead with Salman Khan in the latest Barjatya saga.

"I was in negotiations with Sooraj-ji for the last four months. We've finally worked out all the modalities. And, yes I am doing the film. I'll be getting into the film as soon as I finish shooting Arbaaz Khan's Dolly Ki Doli," Sonam said.

With Sonam stepping into Barjatya's film, the project finally seems to have found its bearings. One hears Sonam would be presented in the film as a typical Barjatya heroine a la Bhagyashree in Maine Pyar Kiya, Madhuri Dixit in Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, Karisma Kapoor in Hum Saath Saath Hain, Kareena Kapoor in Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon and Amrita Rao in Vivaah.

After delivering an impressive performance in Aanand Rai's Raanjhanaa last year, Sonam says she is excited about the new challenge.

"I've grown up watching Sooraj-ji's films. To be actually working in his film is a very exciting prospect for me. It's double exciting as I'll get to star with Salman Khan for the second time," said the 28-year-old.

Sonam started her career with Salman in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saawariya. She recalls the association with much fondness.

"People seem to remember that I was paired with Ranbir Kapoor in Saawariya. They forget my character was actually in love with Salman's character. In fact, my character chose to go with Salman rather than Ranbir in the end. Salman and I had shot together for Saawariya

Review: Vallinam is a decent sports based drama film

Vallinam advocates in promoting sports other than cricket and according them the same respect and recognition, writes S Saraswathi. 

Vallinam, a film directed by Arivazhagan Venkatachalam of Eeram fame, is set against the backdrop of the sports scene in our country.
The mad craze for cricket and the complete lack of empathy for any other sport is highlighted in the film.
Vallinam is produced by Aascar Ravichandran and features Nakul as a basketball player and newcomer Mrudhula Basker.
The film also stars Jagan, Atul Kulkarni, Jayaprakash, Siddharth Jonnalagadda among several others.
Aadhi, Krishna Kulasekaran and R J Balaji who featured in Eeram make a brief appearance.
Krishna (Nakul) and his close childhood buddy Shiva (Krishna Kulasekaran) are accomplished basketball players.
However, an unfortunate accident during a game leads to the death of Shiva.
A grief-stricken Nakul feels responsible and decides to quit the game and college.
He joins a college in Chennai that has a great cricket team. The boys playing cricket, especially the captain, Vamsi (Siddharth Jonnalagadda), are a bunch of arrogant bullies, who are constantly ridiculing the basketball players.
Krishna becomes friends with Guna, one of the basketball players, and together they decide to take on the might of the cricket team that has won many laurels for the college.
The face off between the two teams with the odds totally stacked against the underdog basketball team, and the cricket team receiving preferential treatment even from the management, forms the rest of the story.
Director Arivazhagan and cinematographer Bhaskaran have successfully managed to take us into the world of college students and sports.
The college atmosphere and the student characters – their body language, lingo and vitality, exuberance, hopes and dreams - have been perfectly portrayed.
After the debacle of Naan Rajavaga Pogiren, Nakul seems to have returned with a bang. The script and character seem to be tailor made for him.
He has given an admirable performance. He appears both aggressive and vulnerable.
Newcomer Mrudhula Basker has given a decent performance and even the supporting cast has done their job well. Jagan keeps the audience entertained with his witty one-liners.
The second half is rather slow. The exciting games take a backseat in favour of irrelevant fight and song sequences and verbal cinematic clashes.
Vallinam makes a strong plea to a cricket crazy nation to encourage and motivate other sports. It’s doubtful if the message has got through: during the closing credits, which feature all the distinguished sportsmen of our country, Sachin and Dhoni receive the loudest whistles and claps from the audience.
The music is by S Thaman. Sabu Joseph is the editor.

Anil Kapoor ropes in Sonam Kapoor in his film

According to the Times of India Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor will star his daughter Sonam Kapoor as the leady lady in his forthcoming production.

The film will be based on Anuja Chauhan's novel ‘Battle For Bittora’, which tells a humorous love story of two politicians who contest against each other in the elections.

Anil expressed his excitement to work on the project, saying the novel is a perfect film material.

"The way I got excited for my '24' project (Indian adaptation of American TV series of like name), the same way I am very passionate and very excited about this film also," the Times of India quoted Anil as saying.

"I feel the content of the book will make a fantastic film."

Sonam has landed the lead role in her father’s production for the second time. Earlier she appeared opposite Abhay Deol in 2010’s ‘Aisha’.

Anil refused to divulge any details about her role saying, "It is too early to talk about it".

The 10 films that won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film over the last decade

It’s time for the Oscars! Love it or hate it, it's happening.
Let other people argue about whether "American Hustle" is overrated, or about whether Matthew McConnaughey should get credit for starving himself for "Dallas Buyer’s Club," or about whether there were enough drugs in "The Wolf of Wall Street."
Let us pay homage to the 10 foreign language films of the last decade that were amazing, won Best Foreign Language Film, and were snubbed for Best Picture nominations because of things like "Avatar" and because Americans don't like reading subtitles.
Here are the 10 films that won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film over the last decade, complete with trailers and pithy summaries by IMDB.
Enjoy, and then go watch them because they are all great.