One day while broadcasting from Afghanistan for CNN, Clarissa Ward may have moved about a little more freely. On another, she wore traditional dress for women in that region — covering her hair with a head scarf and a traditional abaya — and was asked at one point on camera by members of the Taliban to stand to the side because she is female.
“The Taliban are telling us they are here to maintain order, that people are safe, and that nobody should be worried; but we have seen fighters also chanting ‘death to America,’’ says Deborah Rayner, CNN’s senior vice president of international newsgathering, in responses to questions delivered via email. “Right now, many people — especially women — are staying inside, waiting to see what happens, while we hunker down at night to the sound of helicopters and gunfire.”
The WarnerMedia outlet’s chief international correspondent is just one of several journalists navigating a quickly-changing landscape.
“The Taliban are telling us they are here to maintain order, that people are safe, and that nobody should be worried; but we have seen fighters also chanting ‘death to America,’’ says Deborah Rayner, CNN’s senior vice president of international newsgathering, in responses to questions delivered via email. “Right now, many people — especially women — are staying inside, waiting to see what happens, while we hunker down at night to the sound of helicopters and gunfire.”
The WarnerMedia outlet’s chief international correspondent is just one of several journalists navigating a quickly-changing landscape.
- 8/17/2021
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
C’est dommage. Despite the fact that the summertime Montreal World Film Festival is 35 years old, it continues to be eclipsed by its (year) older, bigger and bolder Anglo relative’s annual gala in September. Nevertheless — and even if Catherine Deneuve hadn’t been honored with Mwff’s lifetime achievement award — the fest has much to buzz about. For one thing it’s headquartered at the Quartier des spectacles, right in the entertainment heart of a gorgeous Paris of the North (America) that made this bi-continental critic miss Europe a little bit less. Secondly, this Unesco-appointed City of Design has a vibrant cinephile culture, evidenced by both the Cinématheque Québécoise, which maintains an international collection of 35,000 films from all eras and hosts free exhibitions, and the National Film Board’s (also free to the public) sci-fi-like CineRobotheque, which makes 10,000 movies available on its 21 touch-screen-accessed “personal viewing stations.” Thirdly, both of...
- 8/29/2011
- by Lauren Wissot
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Hollywood petition calls for repeal of Jafar Panahi's six-year sentence for making anti-regime propaganda
Hollywood stars including Sean Penn and Susan Sarandon are launching a campaign with Amnesty International calling for the release of the acclaimed Iranian film-maker Jafar Panahi, who has been sentenced to six years in prison.
Panahi, who angered the government by supporting Iran's opposition green movement, is also banned from directing and producing films for 20 years after being found guilty in December of making propaganda against the regime.
Amnesty International said a group of campaigners would deliver to the Un in New York tens of thousands of signatures including from Penn, Sarandon, Martin Scorsese and Ridley Scott demanding Panahi's conviction be overturned.
About 20,000 people have signed the petition, along with Iranians including film director Mohsen Makhmalbaf, pop singer Googoosh, academics Hamid Dabashi and Azar Nafisi, and previously imprisoned journalists Roxana Saberi and Maziar Bahari.
Campaigners...
Hollywood stars including Sean Penn and Susan Sarandon are launching a campaign with Amnesty International calling for the release of the acclaimed Iranian film-maker Jafar Panahi, who has been sentenced to six years in prison.
Panahi, who angered the government by supporting Iran's opposition green movement, is also banned from directing and producing films for 20 years after being found guilty in December of making propaganda against the regime.
Amnesty International said a group of campaigners would deliver to the Un in New York tens of thousands of signatures including from Penn, Sarandon, Martin Scorsese and Ridley Scott demanding Panahi's conviction be overturned.
About 20,000 people have signed the petition, along with Iranians including film director Mohsen Makhmalbaf, pop singer Googoosh, academics Hamid Dabashi and Azar Nafisi, and previously imprisoned journalists Roxana Saberi and Maziar Bahari.
Campaigners...
- 6/9/2011
- by Saeed Kamali Dehghan
- The Guardian - Film News
By Christopher Stipp
The Archives, Right Here
Check out my other column, This Week In Trailers, at SlashFilm.com and follow me on Twitter under the name: Stipp
Highlights from the 11th Annual Phoenix Film Festival and Int’l Horror and Sci-Fi Film Festival Part I By Ray Schillaci
The best of both worlds and a real treat for film lovers was the combining of two film festivals even though it proved to be a little confusing at times. But what they had to offer was a dynamite line up of talent that may be pegged as the best yet. In fact, there was so much offered I could not possibly see it all, hence breaking this review up. What I did see throughout both festivals was very ambitious or exciting talent that blew away audiences at the screenings.
This year Live Action Shorts was a huge buzz at the festival.
The Archives, Right Here
Check out my other column, This Week In Trailers, at SlashFilm.com and follow me on Twitter under the name: Stipp
Highlights from the 11th Annual Phoenix Film Festival and Int’l Horror and Sci-Fi Film Festival Part I By Ray Schillaci
The best of both worlds and a real treat for film lovers was the combining of two film festivals even though it proved to be a little confusing at times. But what they had to offer was a dynamite line up of talent that may be pegged as the best yet. In fact, there was so much offered I could not possibly see it all, hence breaking this review up. What I did see throughout both festivals was very ambitious or exciting talent that blew away audiences at the screenings.
This year Live Action Shorts was a huge buzz at the festival.
- 4/8/2011
- by Christopher Stipp
DVD Playhouse—April 2011
By
Allen Gardner
Hereafter (Warner Bros.) Clint Eastwood’s spiritual thriller follows a trio of characters whose seemingly disparate paths converge: Matt Damon as a blue collar Joe who tries to fight against his psychic powers that see “the other side,” Cecile de France as a journalist who somehow survives the tsunami that crushed Indonesia, and a London schoolboy (Frankie and George McLaren) who seeks answers after losing his twin brother. Like all of Eastwood’s films, the narrative construction is tight as a drum, with solid work by all involved. That said, “solid” would have to be the operative word to describe the proceedings here, as well as “unremarkable” and “uninvolving” on an emotional level. Perhaps we expect too much when we see Clint’s name on a film these days, but that’s the flip side of being one of the best. Blu-ray/DVD combo pack.
By
Allen Gardner
Hereafter (Warner Bros.) Clint Eastwood’s spiritual thriller follows a trio of characters whose seemingly disparate paths converge: Matt Damon as a blue collar Joe who tries to fight against his psychic powers that see “the other side,” Cecile de France as a journalist who somehow survives the tsunami that crushed Indonesia, and a London schoolboy (Frankie and George McLaren) who seeks answers after losing his twin brother. Like all of Eastwood’s films, the narrative construction is tight as a drum, with solid work by all involved. That said, “solid” would have to be the operative word to describe the proceedings here, as well as “unremarkable” and “uninvolving” on an emotional level. Perhaps we expect too much when we see Clint’s name on a film these days, but that’s the flip side of being one of the best. Blu-ray/DVD combo pack.
- 4/6/2011
- by The Hollywood Interview.com
- The Hollywood Interview
DVD Playhouse—April 2011
By
Allen Gardner
Hereafter (Warner Bros.) Clint Eastwood’s spiritual thriller follows a trio of characters whose seemingly disparate paths converge: Matt Damon as a blue collar Joe who tries to fight against his psychic powers that see “the other side,” Cecile de France as a journalist who somehow survives the tsunami that crushed Indonesia, and a London schoolboy (Frankie and George McLaren) who seeks answers after losing his twin brother. Like all of Eastwood’s films, the narrative construction is tight as a drum, with solid work by all involved. That said, “solid” would have to be the operative word to describe the proceedings here, as well as “unremarkable” and “uninvolving” on an emotional level. Perhaps we expect too much when we see Clint’s name on a film these days, but that’s the flip side of being one of the best. Blu-ray/DVD combo pack.
By
Allen Gardner
Hereafter (Warner Bros.) Clint Eastwood’s spiritual thriller follows a trio of characters whose seemingly disparate paths converge: Matt Damon as a blue collar Joe who tries to fight against his psychic powers that see “the other side,” Cecile de France as a journalist who somehow survives the tsunami that crushed Indonesia, and a London schoolboy (Frankie and George McLaren) who seeks answers after losing his twin brother. Like all of Eastwood’s films, the narrative construction is tight as a drum, with solid work by all involved. That said, “solid” would have to be the operative word to describe the proceedings here, as well as “unremarkable” and “uninvolving” on an emotional level. Perhaps we expect too much when we see Clint’s name on a film these days, but that’s the flip side of being one of the best. Blu-ray/DVD combo pack.
- 4/6/2011
- by The Hollywood Interview.com
- The Hollywood Interview
David Cairns
The Forgotten: Flaming Beefcake
The Forgotten: Remember You Must Die
The Forgotten: That Glaring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze
The Forgotten: Forty Million Frenchmen
The Forgotten: April 29
Fernando F. Croce
Now on DVD: “Panic in the Streets” (Elia Kazan, 1950)
Adrian Curry
Movie Poster of the Week: "Punch-Drunk Love"
Movie Poster of the Week: "La Salamandre"
Movie Poster of the Week: "Band of Ninja"
Movie Poster of the Week: "Oh, That Nastya!"
David D'Arcy
Podcast. David D'Arcy and Alexei Popogrebsky
Podcast. Bahman Ghobadi, Roxana Saberi and Obash of The Yellow Dogs
The Ferroni Brigade
The Way to the Golden Donkey
Sex and Politics: Jack Stevenson's "Scandinavian Blue: The Erotic Cinema of Sweden and Denmark in the 1960s and 1970s"
Daniel Kasman
Video Sundays: Music Videos by An Older Generation
Image of the Day: Damsels in Distress #3
Video Sundays. From Hollywood to New German Cinema, The Impressionist Whirligig Camera...
The Forgotten: Flaming Beefcake
The Forgotten: Remember You Must Die
The Forgotten: That Glaring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze
The Forgotten: Forty Million Frenchmen
The Forgotten: April 29
Fernando F. Croce
Now on DVD: “Panic in the Streets” (Elia Kazan, 1950)
Adrian Curry
Movie Poster of the Week: "Punch-Drunk Love"
Movie Poster of the Week: "La Salamandre"
Movie Poster of the Week: "Band of Ninja"
Movie Poster of the Week: "Oh, That Nastya!"
David D'Arcy
Podcast. David D'Arcy and Alexei Popogrebsky
Podcast. Bahman Ghobadi, Roxana Saberi and Obash of The Yellow Dogs
The Ferroni Brigade
The Way to the Golden Donkey
Sex and Politics: Jack Stevenson's "Scandinavian Blue: The Erotic Cinema of Sweden and Denmark in the 1960s and 1970s"
Daniel Kasman
Video Sundays: Music Videos by An Older Generation
Image of the Day: Damsels in Distress #3
Video Sundays. From Hollywood to New German Cinema, The Impressionist Whirligig Camera...
- 5/2/2010
- MUBI
“Iranian rock musical” seems like an unlikely new genre. Music itself is largely frowned upon by the Iranian theocracy, and rock music is outright illegal, both to own and to perform. Because of the difficulties director Bahman Ghobadi has had with Iranian authorities over his past films, he’s now chosen to collaborate with Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi (herself arrested and accused of spying in 2009) on a movie informed by the struggles of an artistic underground even more subject to censorship and banning than Ghobadi’s work. The result is No One Knows About Persian Cats, which uses the ...
- 4/15/2010
- avclub.com
You hear people use the phrase "underground music" sometimes. Typically, they're speaking metaphorically, but in "No One Knows About Persian Cats," the term takes on an all-too-literal meaning. In modern day Tehran, the Iranian government has banned nearly all popular music, forcing young artists to write and play in secret, often in basements, where they stand their best hope of working free from governmental interference. The barely fictionalized film follows two aspiring Iranian musicians, played by Negar Shaghaghi and Ashkan Koshanejad from the band Take It Easy Hospital, as they try to assemble a new group for a European tour. Along the way they take in -- and the movie documents -- performances from almost a dozen different bands (from almost a dozen different genres) from the Tehran underground.
Music isn't the only art form under assault from the current Iranian regime; popular Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi ("Crimson Gold," "Offside...
Music isn't the only art form under assault from the current Iranian regime; popular Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi ("Crimson Gold," "Offside...
- 4/15/2010
- by Matt Singer
- ifc.com
I promised all the other "Venture Brothers" fanatics out there that I'd update them as soon as I heard anything about a new season. Well, since Jackson Publick has not posted anything of substance on his blog for about four months, I wasn't checking every day and missed the post he put up on Saturday about the new season. I saw it yesterday after I'd already written yesterday's column so I'm sure most of you die hard fans have already seen it. For those of you who haven't; Season 4.2 will begin airing sometime in August, there's no official date yet. Yes it blows, but that's what's happening. There are also "Venture Brothers" action figures set to come out sometime around July, and season 4.1 will get it's own DVD release sometime in late summer or fall. For more complete information you can go visit Jackson Publick's LiveJournal. And here's Wednesday night's TV:
8:00 p.
8:00 p.
- 3/31/2010
- by Intern Rusty
The Iranian indie band talk about life as outlaws in their homeland, as documented in their new film No One Knows About Persian Cats
At first glance, Take It Easy Hospital look like any other aspiring indie duo. Dressed in impeccable Shoreditch chic – plaid shirt and skinny jeans for him, cute vintage dress, black tights and brogues for her – their teenage epiphanies came on copied cassettes of Nirvana and Pink Floyd, while these days they're more into Sigur Rós and Foals.
Their ambition for next year, once they find a drummer, is to get on to the bill at Glastonbury or Reading. The difference is that Take It Easy Hospital originally formed in Iran, where rock music is banned. When the local music industry is non-existent, gigs and recording studios are regularly raided by police and even MySpace is monitored, simply finding someone who shares your love of guitars and...
At first glance, Take It Easy Hospital look like any other aspiring indie duo. Dressed in impeccable Shoreditch chic – plaid shirt and skinny jeans for him, cute vintage dress, black tights and brogues for her – their teenage epiphanies came on copied cassettes of Nirvana and Pink Floyd, while these days they're more into Sigur Rós and Foals.
Their ambition for next year, once they find a drummer, is to get on to the bill at Glastonbury or Reading. The difference is that Take It Easy Hospital originally formed in Iran, where rock music is banned. When the local music industry is non-existent, gigs and recording studios are regularly raided by police and even MySpace is monitored, simply finding someone who shares your love of guitars and...
- 3/20/2010
- by Sam Richards
- The Guardian - Film News
IFC Films has acquired U.S. rights to Bahman Ghobadi's "No One Knows About Persian Cats."
The film, set in Tehran’s underground music scene, opened the Un Certain Regard sidebar at last year's Cannes Film Festival, where it won a Special Jury Prize.
It was written by Ghobadi, Hosein M. Abkenar and Roxana Saberi, an Iranian-American journalist who was accused of spying last spring and held in custody for several months.
Scheduled to play the SXSW Film Festival in March, "Cats" will open in New York on April 16 and in Los Angeles on April 23 and simultaneously be offered on VOD.
Its acquisition was negotiated by IFC's Arianna Bocco and Wild Bunch's Carole Baraton.
The film, set in Tehran’s underground music scene, opened the Un Certain Regard sidebar at last year's Cannes Film Festival, where it won a Special Jury Prize.
It was written by Ghobadi, Hosein M. Abkenar and Roxana Saberi, an Iranian-American journalist who was accused of spying last spring and held in custody for several months.
Scheduled to play the SXSW Film Festival in March, "Cats" will open in New York on April 16 and in Los Angeles on April 23 and simultaneously be offered on VOD.
Its acquisition was negotiated by IFC's Arianna Bocco and Wild Bunch's Carole Baraton.
- 2/17/2010
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Less than a week worth of recovering from the Sundance Film Festival, and we are already looking forward to our next, big film fest coverage. That would be the South by Southwest Film Festival held annually in Austin, Texas. Last year, Scott and I brought you all kinds of coverage from the Lone Star State, and this year doesn’t look to be much different.
With that, the announcement came last night of the feature films that will be playing at the SXSW Film Festival. Previous announcement were already made about films like Cold Weather, Electra Luxx, Hubble 3D, Lemmy, Saturday Night, and The White Stripes: Under Great White Northern Lights making their debut. Kick-ass was recently announced as the opening night film, as well.
Among the other films being presented this year are some Sundance darlings, a few, highly anticipated premieres, and MacGruber.
Check out the full list...
With that, the announcement came last night of the feature films that will be playing at the SXSW Film Festival. Previous announcement were already made about films like Cold Weather, Electra Luxx, Hubble 3D, Lemmy, Saturday Night, and The White Stripes: Under Great White Northern Lights making their debut. Kick-ass was recently announced as the opening night film, as well.
Among the other films being presented this year are some Sundance darlings, a few, highly anticipated premieres, and MacGruber.
Check out the full list...
- 2/4/2010
- by Kirk
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
I was so excited at seeing the SXSW line up last night that I completely forgot to post it and started searching the interwebs for cool content to go with it. Oops. Yes, I wish I was there but alas, it wasn’t mean to be (though don’t despair. We’ll be bringing you wicked awesome coverage).
But enough rambling, you want to know what’s all playing. Well, for a start there’s the much anticipated McGruber (trailer), the Duplass’ semi-mainstream comedy Cyrus, Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s Micmacs (trailer, review), Daniel Stamm’s horror flick Cotton and that’s on top of the previously announced titles which include Electra Luxx (Carla Gugino as a pregnant porn star? Bring. It. On.) and Kick-Ass (trailer). That’s already a great line-up but dear me, some of the other titles are pretty awesome too.
There’s Clay Liford scifi drama Earthling (trailer...
But enough rambling, you want to know what’s all playing. Well, for a start there’s the much anticipated McGruber (trailer), the Duplass’ semi-mainstream comedy Cyrus, Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s Micmacs (trailer, review), Daniel Stamm’s horror flick Cotton and that’s on top of the previously announced titles which include Electra Luxx (Carla Gugino as a pregnant porn star? Bring. It. On.) and Kick-Ass (trailer). That’s already a great line-up but dear me, some of the other titles are pretty awesome too.
There’s Clay Liford scifi drama Earthling (trailer...
- 2/4/2010
- QuietEarth.us
Late yesterday the SXSW Fim Festival, which runs from March 12-20 in Austin, TX, announced the full lineup of films that will be screening at this year’s event. And baby, it’s quite a list. Mixing big name films with intimate indie gems, the sheer number of films and the vast array of talented filmmakers is sure to be a hit with attendees and critics alike.
This lineup includes premieres of studio films such as Universal’s MacGruber, Lionsgate’s teen superhero actioneer Kick-Ass and smaller films like Tim Blake Nelson’s Leaves of Grass, Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s Micmacs, Michel Gondry’s The Thorn in the Heart and Steven Soderbergh’s And Everything Is Going Fine. With so many films to watch, it will be very difficult to find time to seem them all during the events nine days. But hell, we’re going to try.
For more on...
This lineup includes premieres of studio films such as Universal’s MacGruber, Lionsgate’s teen superhero actioneer Kick-Ass and smaller films like Tim Blake Nelson’s Leaves of Grass, Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s Micmacs, Michel Gondry’s The Thorn in the Heart and Steven Soderbergh’s And Everything Is Going Fine. With so many films to watch, it will be very difficult to find time to seem them all during the events nine days. But hell, we’re going to try.
For more on...
- 2/4/2010
- by Chris Ullrich
- The Flickcast
London -- Indie Network Releasing is purring after picking up all U.K. rights to Bahman Ghobadi's "No One Knows About Persian Cats" in a deal with sales banner Wild Bunch.
The fledgling British indie is aiming to build up a release slate of "thought-provoking world cinema titles," according to Network Releasing managing director Tim Beddows.
Ghobadi's fifth movie opened Un Certain Regard during Cannes this year and follows Iranian musicians Negar (Negar Shaghagi) and Ashkan (Ashkan Koshanejad) as they look for band members to play at a London concert plus the visa that allows them to leave Tehran to do so.
The soundtrack music is taken from a wide range of genres including Iranian rap, jazz and electric blues.
Executive produced by imprisoned Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi, the film includes performances in English and Farsi.
The U.K. theatrical rollout is scheduled for spring 2010.
The fledgling British indie is aiming to build up a release slate of "thought-provoking world cinema titles," according to Network Releasing managing director Tim Beddows.
Ghobadi's fifth movie opened Un Certain Regard during Cannes this year and follows Iranian musicians Negar (Negar Shaghagi) and Ashkan (Ashkan Koshanejad) as they look for band members to play at a London concert plus the visa that allows them to leave Tehran to do so.
The soundtrack music is taken from a wide range of genres including Iranian rap, jazz and electric blues.
Executive produced by imprisoned Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi, the film includes performances in English and Farsi.
The U.K. theatrical rollout is scheduled for spring 2010.
- 11/25/2009
- by By Stuart Kemp
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Burning Down the House Directed by Mandy Stein No One Knows About Persian Cats Directed by Bahman Ghobadi Teheran, Iran and New York aren't obvious kindred spirits and unlikely to be twinned in any civic program any time soon, but two music-related films at the festival point out how underground culture can act as the heartbeat of any metropolis and, indeed, keep its independent spirit alive in the face of crushing obstacles. The 1970s weren't kind to New York, with bankruptcy, strikes and urban decay depressing the city. Yet, from this squalor sprang the misfits who gravitated to Hilly Kristal's shabby Bowery hole-in-the-wall, Cbgb [1]. Burning Down the House, Mandy Stein's documentary on the club (which closed in 2006 after a protracted dispute with the landlord) provides the usual, if well-executed archive-photo-soundtrack-talking heads (and, indeed, Talking Heads) formula, with Kristal, Debbie Harry, Sonic Youth, Patti Smith and Little Steven all making appearances,...
- 10/18/2009
- by Val
- SoundOnSight
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