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Pope Francis Set for ‘Preacher of Beauty’ Doc, About Power of Pop Culture Artists, to Be Filmed in Sistine Chapel (EXCLUSIVE)

Pope Francis is set to feature in a documentary filmed in the Sistine Chapel about the universal power of pop culture and the performing arts, titled “Preacher of Beauty: A Spiritual Journey Through Art and Faith.” The documentary will feature the pontiff in conversations with unspecified prominent international artists. It is being produced by Italy’s […]

‘All That’s Left of You’ Director on Crafting the Sundance-Bound Palestinian Story as War Broke Out: ‘We Were Making a Movie About What Was Happening, as It Was Happening’

Palestinian-American multi-hyphenate Cherien Dabis will soon be back in Sundance for the third time – after “May in the Summer” and “Amreeka” – with “All That’s Left of You,” a sweeping epic featuring three generations of Palestinians that provides an origin story of their plight at a very timely moment. The drama, which takes its cue […]

‘Daughters’ to Launch ‘Stories That Matter’ Film Series at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center in Partnership With Cineteca Di Bologna (EXCLUSIVE)

The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C., has partnered with Italy’s prestigious Cineteca Di Bologna on a curated film screenings’ series called “Stories That Matter” that will launch with Oscar-shortlisted documentary “Daughters.” The powerful Netflix doc, which follows four girls as they head toward a special daddy-daughter dance date with their imprisoned fathers, will […]

Pope Francis Slams Trump’s Plan for Mass Deportation of Immigrants as a ‘Disgrace,’ Makes First TikTok Appearance to Promote Memoir

Pope Francis had quite a busy weekend. In a rare TV interview, he slammed President-elect Donald Trump’s call for the mass deportation of immigrants in the U.S. as a “disgrace.” He also made his first appearance on TikTok, which was briefly banned in the States on Sunday, to promote his new autobiography “Hope.” The 88-year-old […]

Anthony Hopkins Hosts Concert in Saudi Arabia After Losing His Home in L.A. Fires and Attends Joy Awards Alongside Matthew McConaughey

Anthony Hopkins made his first public appearance over the weekend since recently losing his home in the Pacific Palisades fire by traveling to Saudi Arabia. The legendary Oscar-winning actor, who is also a composer, hosted a gala concert featuring his pieces played by Britain’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. While in Saudi Arabia, Hopkins also attended the kingdom’s […]

‘The Fashionista,’ OSN+ Original About Arab Influencers, Highlights Middle East’s Changing Star System: ‘For the First Time, We Have Our Own Celebrities’

Middle East streamer OSN+ just dropped its first original series titled “The Fashionista,” which aims to capture the flavor of social media stardom in a region where “in the past, we didn’t really have our Brad and Angelinas,” says its creator Yousef Al-Qenaie. Shot entirely in Kuwait and featuring a largely Kuwaiti cast, “The Fashionista” – which […]

Bille August Series ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ Starring ‘Peaky Blinders’ Actor Sam Claflin Draws Top Ratings in Italy

Bille August-directed TV series “The Count of Monte Cristo,” featuring an international cast led by Sam Claflin (“Peaky Blinders”) is reaping stellar ratings in Italy, scoring on average a whopping 26% primetime share on the country’s state broadcaster RAI. The first episode of August’s high-end adaptation of the Alexandre Dumas classic, which the two-time Palme d’Or […]

‘The Sand Castle’ Producer on the Nadine Labaki Film’s Timely Parallels With Events in Syria and Gaza: ‘Everybody Is Just Looking for a Home’

U.S. director Matty Brown’s allegorical drama “The Sand Castle,” which sees Lebanese multi-hyphenate Nadine Labaki reunite on screen with young “Capernaum” siblings Zain and Reman Al Rafeea – who are both Syrian refugees – will be released globally on Jan. 24 by Netflix at a critical time in the Middle East. With Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks […]

Lebanon Elects President Following a Two-Year Power Vacuum Signaling a Weakened Hezbollah

Lebanon’s Parliament on Thursday elected the country’s army commander Joseph Aoun as its president, ending a two-year deadlock and power vacuum at the top of the country’s political power structure. The U.S.-backed army chief was voted president after two rounds of voting amid verbal clashes with Lebanese lawmakers shouting at each other following 12 previous […]

‘No Other Land’s’ Palestinian and Israeli Directors on Why U.S. Distributors Won’t Touch Their Doc: It’s ‘Completely Political’

“No Other Land,” the Palestinian-Israeli doc which depicts the Israeli government’s efforts to force Palestinians from their homes in Masafer Yatta in the southern West Bank, has been steadily gaining accolades ever since it scored the best documentary prize at last year’s Berlin Film Festival. The timely piece, which shows the gradual demolition of houses […]

Jane Campion Praises Italian Director Maura Delpero’s ‘Vermiglio’ in Open Letter as Oscar Voting Kicks Off: The Film ‘Put a Spell Over Me’ (EXCLUSIVE)

With Oscar voting starting today, double Oscar-winner Jane Campion is championing young Italian director Maura Delpero’s “Vermiglio,” Italy’s contender in the international film category. The intimate period drama, set at the end of World War II in an Alpine village where the arrival of a soldier causes disruption in the dynamics between three sisters, has […]

Italian Journalist and Podcaster Cecilia Sala Freed by Iran Following ‘Intensive’ Diplomatic Effort

Prominent Italian journalist and podcaster Cecilia Sala has been freed from Tehran’s Evin prison for political prisoners, where she had been detained since Dec. 19. On Wednesday, a spokesman for Italian Premiere Giorgia Meloni’s office said Sala – who was arrested while reporting in the Iranian capital – was flying home on an airplane following “intensive […]

Germany’s Hastily Passed New Film Funding Law Has Room for Improvement but Is ‘Good News’ for Hollywood, Industry Experts Say

Germany’s film and TV industries will kick off 2025 with an overhaul to the country’s funding system for productions that, besides providing a local boost, is also good news for Hollywood. The German parliament on Friday, in its last session before being dissolved, pushed through a watered down version of the country’s long-gestating new film […]

Italian Journalist and Podcaster Cecilia Sala Arrested and Incarcerated in Iran

Italian journalist and podcaster Cecilia Sala has been arrested in Iran and jailed in Tehran’s Evin prison for political prisoners, the Italian government announced on Friday. “Italy is working tirelessly to free her, pursuing every option,” Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto wrote on X, describing Sala’s arrest as “unacceptable.” Sala, who is 29 and works […]

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