Entertainment
Wrestling icon Vince McMahon resigns from WWE parent company after ex-employee files sex abuse suit
Wrestling icon Vince McMahon resigned Friday from WWE's parent company t he day after a former employee filed a federal lawsuit accusing him and another former executive of serious sexual misconduct, including offering her to a star wrestler for sex.
McMahon stepped down from the his position as executive chairman of the board of directors at WWE’s parent company, TKO Group Holdings, according to a statement released late Friday. He continued to deny wrongdoing following the lawsuit filed by Janel Grant, who worked in the company’s legal and talent departments.
The suit includes allegations that McMahon, now 78, forced Grant into a sexual relationship in order for her to get and keep a job and passed around pornographic pictures and videos of her to other men, including other WWE employees.
The AP typically does not name accusers in sexual assault cases, but Grant’s representatives said she wished to go public. Her lawyer declined to comment Friday.
Read: Christopher Nolan's 'Oppenheimer' tops all Oscar nominees with 13; 'Barbie' snags 8
McMahon's statement said that he was leaving the board “out of respect” for WWE and TKO Group.
“I stand by my prior statement that Ms. Grant’s lawsuit is replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and is a vindictive distortion of the truth,” he said in the statement. “I intend to vigorously defend myself against these baseless accusations, and look forward to clearing my name.”
McMahon stepped down as WWE’s CEO in 2022 amid an investigation into allegations that match those in the lawsuit, which was filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Connecticut, where WWE is based.
McMahon was the leader and most recognizable face at WWE for decades. When he purchased what was then the World Wrestling Federation from his father in 1982, wrestling matches took place at small venues and appeared on local cable channels. WWE matches are now held in professional sports stadiums, and the organization has a sizable overseas following.
WWE merged last April with the company that runs Ultimate Fighting Championship to create the $21.4 billion sports entertainment company TKO Group Holdings, and McMahon served as that group’s executive chairman of the board until Friday.
TKO Group's representative referred media inquiries about McMahon's resignation to his statement. Deadline first reported that he was stepping down.
“Mr. McMahon does not control TKO nor does he oversee the day-to-day operations of WWE,” TKO Group said earlier this week. “While this matter pre-dates our TKO executive team’s tenure at the company, we take Ms. Grant’s horrific allegations very seriously and are addressing this matter internally.”
Grant also names as defendants in the lawsuit the WWE and John Laurinaitis, an ex-pro wrestler and the company’s former head of talent relations and general manager. WWE and Laurinaitis did not return requests for comment Friday.
According to the lawsuit, McMahon lived in the same building as Grant and in 2019 offered to get her a job at WWE after her parents died.
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She alleges that he eventually made it clear that one of the requirements of the job was a physical relationship with him and later with Laurinaitis and others.
Over the next few years, McMahon lavished her with gifts including a luxury car, the suit says.
It also alleges that McMahon offered one of his star wrestlers — a person not named in the lawsuit — sex with Grant as a perk in 2021.
“WWE benefited financially from the commercial sex act venture orchestrated by McMahon, including by having wrestling talent, such as WWE Superstar, sign new contracts with WWE after McMahon presented Plaintiff as a sexual commodity for their use,” the lawsuit states.
Grant is seeking unspecified monetary damages and to have the court void a $3 million nondisclosure agreement, of which she alleges she received only $1 million.
“Ms. Grant hopes that her lawsuit will prevent other women from being victimized,” her attorney, Ann Callis, said in a statement Thursday. “The organization is well aware of Mr. McMahon’s history of depraved behavior, and it’s time that they take responsibility for the misconduct of its leadership.”
February 2024 Amazon Prime Originals: Most-Hyped Shows, Series, and Movies
Amazon Prime's content list spans genres and cultures, from gripping originals to international titles. As the valentine's month approaches, this popular platform presents a diverse selection of romantic films and series, ensuring a heartwarming streaming experience. Thrillers, action, and even dark-themed narratives are also included in this collection. Let's take a look at what surprises await the entertainment lovers in the lineup of Amazon Prime for February 2024.
10 Must-See Amazon Prime Shows Streaming in February 2024
Mr. & Mrs. Smith - American Spy Comedy Series - February 2
Crafted by Francesca Sloane and Donald Glover, this TV series is a modern take on Simon Kinberg's 2005 film. Starring Glover and Maya Erskine, with supporting roles from Alexander Skarsgard, Sarah Paulson, and Ron Perlman, and guest appearances by John Turturro, Paul Dano, and Michaela Coel.
The plot centers on a duo of spies strategically teamed to assume the identities of a married couple, John and Jane Smith.
All eight episodes will be released simultaneously for an uninterrupted streaming experience.
Read more: Top South Indian Films Hitting the Screens in February 2024
Upgraded - American Romantic Comedy - February 9
Helmed by Carlson Young, the film features Camila Mendes, Archie Renaux, Lena Olin, Marisa Tomei, and Thomas Kretschmann. The writing credits go to Christine Lenig, Luke Spencer Roberts, and Justin Matthews.
The storyline unfolds around a twist of fate that occurs when Ana is upgraded to first class during a work trip, leading to an encounter with the charming Will. Mistaken for her boss, Claire, Ana's white lie sets in motion a series of glamorous events, entwining romance, and opportunities, until the falsehood she spun threatens to unravel.
Silent Service: The Battle of Tokyo Bay - Japanese Action Series - February 9
This series is an adaptation of the renowned Japanese manga franchise created by artist Kaiji Kawaguchi. Directed by Kohei Yoshino, Teppei Nakamura, Masatoshi Kurakata, and Yuki Kishizuka, screenplay credits go to Hikaru Takai and Tetsuo Kamata.
The diverse ensemble cast features Takao Osawa, Hiroshi Tamaki, Aya Ueto, Yusuke Santamaria, Tomoya Nakamura, Aoi Nakamura, and more.
The narrative centers on Shiro Kaieda, assigned as the captain of Japan’s inaugural nuclear submarine, a joint project between Japan and the United States conducted in utmost secrecy. However, Kaieda and his 76 crew members veer off the established path, exploring themes of nuclear war, international politics, and world peace.
The series unwraps over six episodes, with the final two episodes set to be released a week later.
Read more: February 2024 Lineup of Netflix Originals in English
Five Blind Dates - Australian Romantic Comedy - February 13
Directed and scripted by actor and influencer Shuang Hu alongside actor and comedian Nathan Ramos-Park, this romantic comedy film is directed by Shawn Seet featuring an ensemble cast led by Hu. Other notable roles are portrayed by Ilai Swindells and Desmond Chiam.
The storyline revolves around a woman who, guided by a fortune teller, anticipates meeting her soulmate within the next five dates. The film delves into themes of Chinese culture and family dynamics, offering a lighthearted exploration of love and destiny.
This is Me... Now - American Musical Film - February 16
Inspired by Jennifer Lopez's inaugural studio album, 'This is Me... Now,' this film is set to coincide with the album's release. A narrative-driven, intimate, and reflective production, the movie offers a sensational, funny, and fantastical musical and visual reimagining of Lopez's widely scrutinized love life.
Helmed by Dave Meyers and co-written by Lopez and Matt Walton, the film boasts a star-studded cast, including Sofia Vergara, Ben Affleck, and Trevor Noah.
Read more: Kajal Arefin’s ‘Osomoy’ premieres on OTT platform
Christopher Nolan's 'Oppenheimer' tops all Oscar nominees with 13; 'Barbie' snags 8
After a tumultuous movie year marred by strikes and work stoppages, the Academy Awards showered nominations Tuesday on Christopher Nolan's blockbuster biopic, "Oppenheimer," which came away with a leading 13 nominations.
Nolan's three-hour opus, viewed as the best picture frontrunner, received nods for best picture; Nolan's direction; acting nominations for Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr. and Emily Blunt; and multiple honors for the craft of the J. Robert Oppenheimer drama.
But the year's biggest hit, "Barbie," came away with a nominations haul notably less than its partner in Barbenheimer mania. Greta Gerwig's feminist comedy, with more than $1.4 billion in ticket sales, was nominated for eight awards, including best picture; Ryan Gosling for best supporting actor; and two best-song candidates in "What Was I Made For" and "I'm Just Ken."
But Gerwig was surprisingly left out of the best director field. Gerwig was nominated for best director in 2018 for her solo directorial debut, "Lady Bird." At the time, she was just the fifth woman nominated for the award. Since then, Chloé Zhao ("Nomadland") and Jane Campion ("The Power of the Dog") have won best director. Before those wins, Kathryn Bigelow ("The Hurt Locker," in 2010) was the only woman to win the Oscar's top filmmaking honor.
Both Martin Scorsese's Osage epic "Killers of the Flower Moon" and Yorgos Lanthimos' Frankenstein riff "Poor Things" were also widely celebrated. "Poor Things" landed 11 nods, while "Killers of the Moon" was nominated for 10 Oscars.
Lily Gladstone, star of "Killers of the Flower Moon," became the first Native American nominated for best actress. For the 10th time, Scorsese was nominated for best director. Leonardo DiCaprio, though, was left out of best actor.
The 10 films nominated for best picture were: "Oppenheimer," "Barbie," "Poor Things," "Killers of the Flower Moon," "The Holdovers," "Maestro," "American Fiction," "Past Lives," "Anatomy of a Fall" and "The Zone of Interest."
Lead nominees "Oppenheimer," "Barbie," "Poor Things" and "Killers of the Flower Moon" made for a maximalist quartet of Oscar heavyweights. Nolan's sprawling biopic. Gerwig's near-musical. Scorsese's pitch-black Western. Lanthimos' sumptuously designed fantasy. Each utilized a wide spectrum of cinematic tools to tell big, often disturbing big-screen stories. And each — even Apple's biggest-budgeted movie yet, "Killers of the Flower Moon" — had robust theatrical releases that saved streaming for months later.
The Associated Press notched its first Oscar nomination in the news organization's 178-year history with "20 Days in Mariupol," Mstyslav Chernov's harrowing chronicle of the besieged Ukrainian city and of the last international journalists left there after the Russia invasion. It was nominated for best documentary, along with "Four Daughters," "Bobi Wine: The People's President," "The Eternal Memory" and "To Kill a Tiger."
"20 Days" is a joint production between The Associated Press and PBS' "Frontline."
The nominees for best international film are: "Society of the Snow," (Spain); "The Zone of Interest," (United Kingdom); "The Teachers' Lounge" (Germany); "Io Capitano" (Italy) ; "Perfect Days" (Japan).
The nominees for best animated film are: "The Boy and the Heron"; "Elemental"; "Nimona"; "Robot Dreams"; "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse."
Oscar season has reunited "Oppenheimer" with its summer box-office partner, "Barbie."
Historically, blockbusters have helped fueled Oscar ratings. Though the pile-up of award shows (an after-effect of last year's strikes ) could be detrimental to the Academy Awards, the Barbenheimer presence could help lift the March 10 telecast on ABC. Jimmy Kimmel is returning as host, with the ceremony moved up an hour, to 7 p.m. Eastern.
Partial list of nominees for the 2024 Oscars
A partial list of nominees to the 96th Academy Awards, which were announced Tuesday in Beverly Hills, California.
BEST PICTURE
"American Fiction"; "Anatomy of a Fall"; "Barbie"; "The Holdovers"; "Killers of the Flower Moon"; "Maestro"; "Oppenheimer"; "Past Lives"; "Poor Things"; "The Zone of Interest"
BEST ACTRESS
Annette Bening, "Nyad"; Lily Gladstone, "Killers of the Flower Moon"; Sandra Hüller, "Anatomy of a Fall"; Carey Mulligan, "Maestro"; Emma Stone, "Poor Things"
BEST ACTOR
Bradley Cooper, "Maestro"; Colman Domingo, "Rustin"; Paul Giamatti, "The Holdovers"; Jeffrey Wright, "American Fiction"; Cillian Murphy, "Oppenheimer."
SUPPORTING ACTOR
Sterling K. Brown, "American Fiction"; Robert De Niro, "Killers of the Flower Moon"; Robert Downey Jr., "Oppenheimer"; Ryan Gosling, "Barbie"; Mark Ruffalo, "Poor Things"
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Emily Blunt, "Oppenheimer"; Danielle Brooks, "The Color Purple"; America Ferrera, "Barbie"; Jodie Foster, "Nyad"; Da'Vine Joy Randolph, "The Holdovers"
DIRECTOR
Justine Triet, "Anatomy of a Fall"; Yorgos Lanthimos, "Poor Things"; Christopher Nolan, "Oppenheimer"; Martin Scorsese, "Killers of the Flower Moon"; Jonathan Glazer, "The Zone of Interest"
ANIMATED FILM
"The Boy and the Heron"; "Elemental"; "Nimona"; "Robot Dreams"; "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse"
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
"Four Daughters"; "20 Days in Mariupol"; "Bobi Wine: The People's President"; "The Eternal Memory"; "To Kill a Tiger."
INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM
"Society of the Snow," (Spain); "The Zone of Interest," (United Kingdom); "The Teachers' Lounge" (Germany); "Io Capitano" (Italy) ; "Perfect Days" (Japan)
COSTUME DESIGN
"Barbie"; Killers of the Flower Moon; "Napoleon"; "Oppenheimer"; "Poor Things"
ORIGINAL SCORE
"American Fiction"; "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny"; "Killers of the Flower Moon"; "Oppenheimer"; "Poor Things"
ORIGINAL SONG
"The Fire Inside" from "Flamin' Hot"; "I'm Just Ken" from "Barbie"; "What Was I Made For?" from "Barbie"; "Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People)" from "Killers of the Flower Moon"; "It Never Went Away" from "American Symphony.
ANIMATED SHORT FILM
"Letter to a Pig"; "Ninety-Five Senses"; "WAR IS OVER! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko"; "Pachyderme"; "Our Uniform"
MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
"Golda"; "Maestro"; "Oppenheimer"; "Poor Things"; "Society of the Snow"
Farooki in ICU, writes Tisha
Popular filmmaker Mostafa Sarwar Farooki was hospitalised after he felt unwell on Monday (January 22, 2024) evening.
His hospitalisation was confirmed by his wife, actress Nusrat Imrose Tisha.
Tisha wrote on her verified Facebook page at 1 am on Tuesday, “Mostafa has been feeling unwell since last evening. After taking him to the hospital, it was informed that he suffered a mild stroke.”
“He is now being observed at the Neuro ICU. Please keep Mostafa Sarwar Farooki in your prayers,” Tisha wrote.
According to sources, the director is at a private hospital in Dhaka’s Panthapath.
He is currently being closely monitored by doctors but is now out of danger.
Fans and admirers, including many celebrities, have commented on and shared the post while asking for prayers for the acclaimed director.
Read more: Farooki’s ‘Shonibar Bikel’ to be released on Indian OTT platform Sony LIV
Known for breaking stereotypical storytelling and popularising colloquial language in TV fiction, Farooki is widely acclaimed for his television series ‘51 Borti’, ‘69’, ‘420’, ‘Choruivati’, ‘Carrom’ and more.
After becoming successful in television, Farooki debuted as a filmmaker with ‘Bachelor’ (2004), featuring an ensemble cast of Ferdous Ahmed, Humayun Faridi, Shabnoor, Aupee Karim, Jaya Ahsan, Marzuk Russell and others.
After that, he continued his journey as a filmmaker with ‘Made in Bangladesh’, ‘Third Person Singular Number’, ‘Ant Story’ (Piprabiddya), ‘Television’, ‘Doob: No Bed of Roses’ and his most talked-about film ‘Saturday Afternoon (Shonibar Bikel), which is yet to have a proper theatrical release in Bangladesh.
With ‘Ladies & Gentleman’ (2021), Farooki debuted in OTT. He debuted as an actor in the Chorki’s film under the ‘Ministry of Love’ project, titled 'Something Like An Autobiography' alongside Tisha.
Read more: Something Like An Autobiography: Real Story or Just a Film?
Showcasing 252 films from 74 nations, 22nd Dhaka International Film Festival begins
The 22nd edition of the coveted Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF), one of the longest-running film events in the world, was inaugurated on Saturday with 252 films from 74 countries - chorusing the slogan “Better Films, Better Audience, Better Society.”
Finance Minister Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali inaugurated the festival as the chief guest of the opening ceremony, while the subcontinent's renowned Indian-Bengali actress Sharmila Tagore was present as the special guest at the inaugural ceremony.
Yue Liwen, Cultural Counselor of the Embassy of China in Bangladesh and Md Mokammel Hossain, Secretary of the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry also spoke at the event.
Presided over by the DIFF chief patron and former State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, the welcome remarks were delivered by festival director Ahmed Muztaba Zamal, founding organiser of this coveted film festival.
Inaugurating the 22nd DIFF, Finance Minister Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali said, “Cinema has no border, and the audiences in Bangladesh are now watching almost every film beyond the boundaries. Through festivals like the DIFF, our audiences have been able to enjoy quality films from the entire world, and foreign audiences are also learning about our films and culture through this festival.”
Expressing gratitude to the organizers and lauding DIFF’s slogan “Better Films, Better Audience, Better Society,” eminent actress and this year’s distinguished guest and jury member Sharmila Tagore said, “Through good films, we understand the world, and a lot of things. I think there is nothing better than films that can communicate to everyone, because images stay with you - and it does not matter whether you speak Bengali, English, Chinese or any other language, because images eventually get through to you. I am really honoured to be here and looking forward to watching the films, and meeting my other co-jurors from tomorrow.”
This year's festival began with the Iran-Bangladesh joint production film ‘Fereshteh’ starring acclaimed actress Jaya Ahsan and directed by Morteza Atashzamzam, under the Wide Angle Film Poster Exhibition section. The inaugural session on Saturday evening also showcased the Shyam Benegal-directed ‘Mujib: Ekti Jatir Rupokar’ (Mujib: The Making of a Nation).
Moviegoers can watch the films at different venues including the Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Auditorium (main auditorium) and Poet Sufia Kamal Auditorium of Bangladesh National Museum, National Art Gallery Auditorium and National Music and Dance Auditorium of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Academy Auditorium and Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD), Dhanmondi in the capital.
Read: 22nd Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF) begins Saturday
The films will be screened under the Asian Competition Section, Retrospective Section, Tribute, Bangladesh Panorama, Wide Angle, Cinema of the World, Children's Film, Spiritual Films, Short and Independent Film and Women's Film Session.
The '10th International Women Filmmakers Conference' on the role of women in films will be held on the 3rd floor of the Samson Lounge, Dhaka Club, from January 21-22 as part of the festival. Department of Film & Television, Jagannath University will cooperate in this and UNDP will be a strategic partner.
Eminent Indian actress and the esteemed guest of this year’s festival Sharmila Tagore will formally inaugurate the '10th International Women Film Makers Conference,' which will be chaired by DIFF Chairperson Kishwar Kamal on January 21 at 9:30 am. State Minister for Women and Child Affairs Simin Hossain Rimi will be present as the Chief Guest at the conference.
Minister of Social Welfare Dr Dipu Moni will inaugurate the Wide Angle section of the 22nd DIFF on January 22 at the Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Auditorium of Bangladesh National Museum, which will be joined by the Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen and Deputy Chair of Shanghai Film Association and distinguished film scholar Dr Shi Chuan as the special guests.
Read: 3rd Bangladesh Film Festival illuminates Colombo
Apart from this, there will be a unique masterclass-day for the second time in the festival's history which will be held throughout the day on January 27 at Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Auditorium of Bangladesh National Museum. The first session of the day will be addressed by eminent film scholar Dr Shi Chuan, Deputy Chair of the Shanghai Film Association of China, while the second session will feature the globally renowned Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi and the third session will feature Indian filmmaker, actor and singer Anjan Dutt.
The sessions will be moderated by Bangladeshi film critic Bidhan Rebeiro. Registration will be required to join the masterclasses and the registration link will be available on the Facebook page of the festival. However, the registration must be completed before January 27.
Initiated by Rainbow Film Society, DIFF is supported by the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Cultural Affairs, The Embassy of China in Dhaka and Summit Group, alongside the festival’s longstanding partners - Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Dhaka Club Limited, Bangladesh National Museum, Alliance Française de Dhaka, Norwegian International Film Festival Handsund, Religion Today Film Festival, Shanghai International Film Festival, Channel I, Ekattor TV, Sense for Wave, and CloudLive.
Read more: European Film Festival presents a true cultural collaboration between Bangladesh, EU: Dutch Ambassador
Open to all, the 22nd Dhaka International Film Festival will conclude on January 28 this year. Details regarding the festival including the screening schedule are available at https://www.dhakafilmfestival.org/.
Kajal Arefin’s ‘Osomoy’ premieres on OTT platform
The prolific drama director Kajal Arefin Ome’s much-anticipated web film, 'Osomoy,' premiered on Bongo, an OTT platform in Bangladesh.
The film, featuring an ensemble cast led by popular actress Tasnia Farin, delves into a contemporary real-life story, captivating audiences with its intricate plot and stellar performances.
The star-studded cast includes talents such as Runa Khan, Tariq Anam Khan, Iresh Zaker, Saraf Ahmed Zibon, Intekhab Dinar, Monira Mithu, Shashwta Datta, Schumonn Patwary, Shimul Sharma, Lamima Lam, Ishrat Zaheen Ahmed, and a special appearance by popular actor Ziaul Haque Polash.
It's official: Orsha and Imran are a married couple
'Osomoy' unfolds the narrative around Urbee, a university student unwittingly entangled in a murder case.
The film weaves multiple small stories into a cohesive ensemble, building suspense and engaging audiences throughout.
Ome shared his thoughts on 'Osomoy,' stating, "It is not a story of a specific person but a reflection of our time. We aimed to capture the essence of the era, and I am delighted with the positive response. I hope those yet to see it will find the film intriguing."
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Tasnia Farin, the lead actress of the film, conveyed her heartfelt appreciation for director Kajal Arefin Ome. Recognising Ome as the catalyst for her inaugural venture into the industry, Farin expressed profound joy in collaborating with him.
"Ome bhai gave me my first opportunity in the industry, and working with him has been an absolute delight. The entire team devoted themselves to the production of 'Osomoy,' and I sincerely hope that audiences will derive immense pleasure from the film," Farin remarked.
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Mushfiqur Rahman Manzu, the producer of 'Osomoy' and Chief Content Officer of Bongo, expressed admiration for Ome's directorial prowess, saying, "The film is truly beautiful, and despite being Ome's first, he has expertly used all the elements to captivate the audience. We anticipate that viewers will enjoy 'Osomoy' as much as our previous hit web series, 'Hotel Relax.'"
22nd Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF) begins Saturday
The 22nd Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF) will begin on Saturday, with the slogan “Better Film, Better Audience, Better Society”.
One hundred and twenty-nine full-length feature films and one hundred and twenty-three short and independent films are scheduled to enthrall the moviegoers at the festival, where Bangladesh will be represented through 71 films including 12 full-length feature films.
Finance Minister Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali will inaugurate the festival as the chief guest at the main auditorium of the Bangladesh National Museum at 4pm while the Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen and eminent Indian actress Sharmila Tagore will join the inauguration ceremony as the special guests.
The chief patron of the festival, Shahriar Alam MP will preside over the opening ceremony.
‘Top Gun 3’ in the making?
A press conference was arranged on Thursday at Dhaka Club in the capital where the festival director Ahmed Muztaba Zamal, Dhaka Club President Ashrafuzzaman Khan (Puton), festival executive committee member Jalal Ahmed, patron committee member and Jatiya Press Club (JPC) General Secretary Shyamal Dutta, dramatist and theatre personality M Hamid, cultural personality and Advisory Committee member Mofidul Hoque, film critic and 22nd DIFF Media In-charge Bidhan Rebeiro and DIFF Chairman Kishwar Kamal, also the press conference chairperson, briefed the journos.
“Since 1992, the Rainbow Film Society has been organising the Dhaka International Film Festival with support from different organisations. Unfortunately, the support is decreasing day by day. To continue this acclaimed festival in the future, we need proper financial assistance from the government and elite members and corporations in society, which is the driving force behind every other successful film festivals across the world,” Ahmed Muztaba Zamal said at the press conference.
The festival this year will open with the Iran-Bangladesh joint production film ‘Fereshteh’ starring acclaimed actress Jaya Ahsan and directed by Morteza Atashzamzam, under the Wide Angle Film Poster Exhibition section.
The inaugural session on Saturday evening will also showcase the Shyam Benegal-directed ‘Mujib: Ekti Jatir Rupokar’ (Mujib: The Making of a Nation) at 7 pm, under the Bangladesh Panorama category.
Moviegoers will be welcomed at different venues of the 22nd edition of this annual film festival, including the Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib auditorium (main auditorium) and Poet Sufia Kamal auditorium of Bangladesh National Museum, National Art Gallery auditorium and National Music and Dance auditorium of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Academy auditorium and Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD), Dhanmondi in the capital.
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The films will be screened under the Asian Competition Section, Retrospective Section, Tribute, Bangladesh Panorama, Wide Angle, Cinema of the World, Children's Film, Spiritual Films, Short and Independent Film and Women's Film Session. Like previous editions, the 'West Meets East: Screenwriting Competition', an interactive four-day seminar and workshop for filmmakers, will be held at the Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD) from January 23-26.
Social Welfare Minister Dr Dipu Moni will inaugurate the Wide Angle section of the 22nd DIFF on January 22 at the Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib auditorium of Bangladesh National Museum, which will be joined by the Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen and Deputy Chair of Shanghai Film Association and distinguished film scholar Dr Shi Chuan as the special guests.
Apart from this, there will be a masterclass for the second time in the festival which will be held throughout the day on January 27 at Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib auditorium of Bangladesh National Museum.
The first session will be addressed by eminent film scholar Dr. Shi Chuan, Deputy Chair of Shanghai Film Association of China, while the second session will feature renowned Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi and the third session will feature Indian filmmaker, actor and singer Anjan Dutt. The sessions will be moderated by Bangladeshi film critic Bidhan Rebeiro.
Registration will be required to join the masterclasses and the registration link will be available on the Facebook page of the festival. However, the registration must be completed before January 27.
The '10th International Women Filmmakers Conference' on the role of women in films will be held on the 3rd floor of the Samson Lounge, Dhaka Club, from January 21-22 as part of the festival. Department of Film & Television, Jagannath University will cooperate in this and UNDP will be a strategic partner.
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In the conference, Bangladeshi women filmmakers will get a golden opportunity to gain experience by exchanging views with local and foreign women filmmakers and personalities.
Here, women film makers will discuss the obstacles and ways to overcome them in their work with renowned women makers from around the world, the organizers said at the press conference.
Eminent Indian actress and the esteemed guest of this year’s festival Sharmila Tagore will formally inaugurate the '10th International Women Film Makers Conference,' which will be chaired by DIFF Chairperson Kishwar Kamal on January 21 at 9:30 am.
State Minister for Women and Child Affairs Simin Hossain Rimi will be present as the Chief Guest at the conference
The 22nd Dhaka International Film Festival will conclude on January 28.
It's official: Orsha and Imran are a married couple
Popular television actors Nazia Haque Orsha and Mostafizur Noor Imran have revealed they tied the knot recently.
This happened to be a pleasant surprise to the netizens after the actress shared a couple of images as newlyweds on her Facebook profile on Sunday.
Photographed by Badhon Mahmud, the couple was seen in this candid photoshoot beside a bamboo garden in a rural setting and traditional Bengali attire.
"With nature and family, 'I' is now 'Us' -- officially married,” Orsha wrote in the post's caption. Although Orsha shared the photos on Sunday, the couple got married in recent months, according to various sources.
Fans and admirers of the newlywed, along with celebrities from different arenas congratulated the couple, offering blessings and good wishes.
Nazia Haque Orsha came to the television industry after securing the fourth position in the popular beauty contest Lux Channel i Superstar 2009. Since then, the actress has delivered promising performances and become a reliable name to the fiction makers for intriguing and challenging characters.
Mostafizur Noor Imran, a well-known stage performer and theatre actor-instructor, made his film debut in ‘Guerilla’ (2011). He appeared prominently in ‘Alpha’, ‘Shimanter Choruibhati’, and ‘Extra’ (Iti, Tomari Dhaka), among many more films and television projects.
After playing significant roles in online series such as ‘Money Honey’ and ‘Ekattor’, Imran received massive applause with his portrayal in two of OTT platform HoiChoi’s popular original series - first as Sub-Inspector Moloy Kumar in the Ashfaque Nipun directed ‘Mohanagar’ (season one) and then as Amlan in the Tanim Noor directed ‘Kaiser’.
The newlywed couple was seen together in the Chorki-flick ‘Jahan’ (2023) and the Chorki original film ‘Sahosh’ (2022).
This marks the third celebrity marriage in the country’s entertainment arena in the new year, as popular actress and model Moushumi Hamid tied the knot on Friday (January 12) with her fiance Abu Sayeed Rana and popular actor Farhan Ahmed Jovan married his fiance Sajin Ahmed Nirjona on the same day.
‘The Beekeeper’ Review: Jason Statham has more than a bee in his bonnet
Secret agents and murderous assassins seem to lurk in increasingly mundane places.
Remember “The Accountant" with Ben Affleck? Or “The Tax Collector” with Shia LaBeouf? Or more recently, how about “The Bricklayer” with Adam Eckhardt? You probably don't — none of these films were exactly Oscar winners. But there's probably a notary public somewhere wondering when he's going to get his Liam Neeson treatment.
“The Beekeeper,” the new Jason Statham revenge thriller, may have them all beaten — or at least bee-ten. The film, directed by David Ayer (who also did “The Tax Collector”) has found probably the widest disparity yet between innocuous occupation and savage killer. As bodies accrue, so do the double takes from those confused by the source of all the mayhem. Again and again they utter in disbelief: “A beekeeper?”
Believe it, honey. “The Beekeeper” carries that ludicrous premise as far as it can, and then well beyond. If you've been searching for a movie where Jason Statham gravely vows to “protect the hive” an implausible number of times, you have found it.
The bee metaphors — there is even, rather impressively, a “To bee or not to bee” reference — come fast and furious in “The Beekeeper,” a movie that flirts with a so-bad-it's-good vibe but is too serious to quite pull it off. It can be divertingly bonkers, but ends up a rather grim and slipshod “John Wick” ripoff.
The film, scripted by Kurt Wimmer, begins the action with one of the more absurd inciting incidents in recent memory. Statham is a humble beekeeper for Eloise Parker (Phylicia Rashad) on a New England farm. She soon falls victim to a phishing scam that robs her of all her money, including the $2 million charity fund she manages. Eloise calls a number that pops up on her screen and is talked into sharing her passwords by a smarmy scammer (David Witts) who's simultaneously using the call as a lesson to a room full of hackers who cheer him on like the predatory stock brokers of “The Wolf of Wall Street.”
Eloise doesn't press CTRL-ALT-DELETE or even call the fraud department of her bank. She kills herself. And guess who's mad? The beekeeper.
Eloise's daughter, Verona (a good Emmy Raver-Lampman), is an FBI agent who throws herself into the case. But meanwhile Statham's beekeeper, after a well-placed call, gets the location of the call center. He turns up with a few tanks of gasoline and some terse words about, you know, the hive, and burns down the place, killing a few people along the way.
That brings the attention of higher-ups. Only the guy in charge is a 28-year-old twerp named Derek Danforth (Josh Hutcherson, enjoying himself) who brashly underestimates his new enemy at every step of the way. His entitlement is owed to his rather good connections. He's protected by the former head of the CIA, Wallace Westwyld (Jeremy Irons) and happens to be the son of the U.S. president (Jemma Redgrave).
Fingers get cut off and bodies accumulate as our man — his name turns out to be Adam Clay — tears through the criminal apparatus with ruthless blunt force. Statham, who has both the look and personality of a bullet, dispatches anyone in his path with the kind efficiency I dream of bringing to opening a pickle jar. A few twists of the wrist and he's done.
Clay, brace yourselves, isn't just an actual beekeeper. He's a retired Beekeeper, an elite, clandestine secret service that operates well off the government books and that adopts a surprising amount of its mission statements from the natural way of bees. They have a whole secret order and stuff, bringing “The Beekeeper” into plainly “Wick”-ian — and less fun — territory.
Yes, this silly beekeeper thriller goes all the way to the top. As the movie's renegade protagonist makes his way closer and closer to the White House, with blood and chaos in his wake, “The Beekeeper” begins to feel like an uncomfortable B-movie crosspollination of today's conspiracy theory-marred political landscape, with a violent, self-appointed guardian of America slashing his way toward the president. Most of the dead bodies are secret service.
Disquieting thoughts, maybe, for a beekeeper movie. Ayer's movie is mostly just having some cynical world-building fun, even if its hero feels like a part more suited to Mr. Bean. And, besides, while John Wick was first propelled into action by the death of his dog, Clay doesn't bat an eye when his honeycombs get blown to smithereens. This guy doesn't even really care about bees.
“The Beekeeper” an MGM release, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association for strong violence throughout, pervasive language, some sexual references and drug use. Running time: 105 minutes. Two stars out of four.