Indefatigable art film activist José María Riba, a former head of Cannes Critics’ Week, driving force behind San Sebastian’s Films in Progress and co-founder of Espagnolas en Paris, died on May 2 from cancer, exacerbated by the effects of COVID-19. He was 68. With his death, Spain and Latin America loses one of the founding
After being postponed by the coronavirus pandemic, the Kids’ Choice Awards held a virtual telecast to dole out the slime and the awards. “Victorious” star Victoria Justice hosted the show on Saturday, about six weeks after the original date. In addition to the awards and slime given out, the show made a $1 million donation
Do you know what the average life expectancy was in the 18th century? It was 17. (You read that right.) No, this wasn’t just about the fact that human beings back then tended to live less long. It was about the staggering inequality that society was built on. In Europe, the majority of people were
The Mountain has shattered a world record. Hafthor Bjornsson, who played Ser Gregor Clegane, better known as The Mountain, on “Game of Thrones,” has a deadlift world record. He lifted 1,104 pounds (501 kilograms) at Thor’s Power Gym in Iceland on Saturday while livestreaming the historic occasion. The previous deadlifting record was set by fellow
[Editor’s note: “Selfie” is one of more than 100 movies originally scheduled to screen at the SXSW Film Festival in March. After the coronavirus outbreak forced the festival to cancel, event organizers partnered with Amazon Prime to make seven of those features available to stream for free through Weds., May 6.] Many a screenwriter has
Investing banking giant Goldman Sachs has donated $100,000 to the Team Rubicon emergency response organization through the latest installment of the “Quarantunes” fundraising effort spearheaded by WME partner Richard Weitz and his daughter, Demi Weitz. On Saturday, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon joined the invitation-only Quarantunes Zoom call to announce the donation. The series began
People risk all kinds of things to make movies — money, reputations, sometimes even their health. But in “The Infiltrators,” it feels as if the crew we see on-screen is putting their lives on the line for a cause they believe in, and that the movie is just a byproduct, as opposed to the principal
[Editor’s note: “Cat in the Wall” is one of more than 100 movies originally scheduled to screen at the SXSW Film Festival in March. After the coronavirus outbreak forced the festival to cancel, event organizers partnered with Amazon Prime to make seven of those features available to stream for free through Weds., May 6.] In
Play video content ESPN The Mountain from “Game of Thrones” just broke an almighty weightlifting record that once belonged to his archrival … and now, he wants to break the dude’s face in the ring. Hafthor Bjornsson — who played The Hound’s brother on the hit HBO series — set a new world record Saturday
John Lafia, who co-wrote 1988 horror film “Child’s Play” and also co-wrote and directed “Child’s Play 2,” died by suicide on April 29 in Los Angeles. He was 63. Lafia collaborated with Tom Holland and Don Mancini on the horror movie screenplay, and was credited with coining the name “Chucky” and contributed the famous line,
Kesha’s “Resentment” is among the standout tracks from her album “High Road,” released in January, and not just because Brian Wilson (of Beach Boys fame), Sturgill Simpson and Wrabel are featured on it. Kesha delivers the country ballad about a frayed relationship with believability and intensity, as the artist proved during her appearance on Elvis
Universal made a TON of cash by skipping a theatrical release and dropping “Trolls World Tour” digitally instead — and pissed as theater chains are … it might well be a sign of changes to come post-pandemic. You might’ve heard about the beef between the movie studio and a few cineplex bigwigs who were irate
Since its opening last October in West Hollywood as the first consumption lounge in the country, the re-branded OG Cannabis Café has seen its share of challenges. Among them: a December split from original partner Lowell Herb Co. and then, last month, its forced closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Because its license from the
Joe Pantoliano, best known for his role as mobster Ralph Cifaretto on “The Sopranos,” is recovering at his home after being struck by a car Friday. The actor was going for a walk around his neighborhood when two cars crashed into each other nearby him. The T-bone collision sent one of the cars sliding down
Check out the top new trailers released this week that you’ve gotta see! Let us know what you think in the comments below. ► Sign up for a Fandango FanAlert or Buy Movie Tickets: https://www.fandango.com?cmp=MCYT_YouTube_Desc Want to be notified of all the latest movie trailers? Subscribe to the channel and click the bell icon to
Alexander Abaturov’s “Paradise,” Eugenio and Mara Polgovsky’s “Malintzin 17” and Lola Arias’ “Reas” triumphed at the 2020 Visions du Réel Industry Awards, taking three of its weightiest prizes. Also winning big at project forum Pitching du Réel was Petter Aaberg and Sverre Kvamme’s “Nightcrawlers,” “Mashtat” and “In the Name of Roses.” “The Mission,” “Voice of
WarnerMedia has started to rev up the HBO Max promo engine with less than four weeks before its launch. The AT&T-owned media company just introduced a new promotional pricing offer — giving customers a 20% discount on the super-size HBO Max streaming package for 12 months. For $11.99 per month (versus the regular $14.99 rate),
NFL star JJ Watt is no stranger to competition — and with hosting Fox’s new competition series “Ultimate Tag,” he’s taking that competitive spirit and the childhood game the show’s based on to the next level. Hosting the show alongside his brothers (and fellow NFL players) Derek and TJ, Watt watches from the sidelines and
Leaders of the Writers Guild of America are seeking several improvements in the rapidly evolving world of television work in the WGA’s master contract with Hollywood studios, sources have told Variety. Representatives of the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers were not immediately available for comment. The two sides had agreed
David Rhodes, the former president of CBS News, has taken on a consulting role that might raise some eyebrows: He’s working again for one of the Murdoch family’s news operations. Rhodes is said to be working on an assignment related to video for News U.K., the British operating unit of News Corp., according to a
“Normal People,” Hulu’s 12-part adaptation of Sally Rooney’s 2018 bestselling novel about two teenagers navigating complicated relationships in modern-day Ireland, isn’t covered in wall-to-wall music and there’s a reason for that. Director Lenny Abrahamson (of “Room” fame) “is much more interested in score working as a reaction to what just happened rather than score telling
Netflix’s latest addictive series, “Too Hot to Handle,” has been the new talk of quarantine since its premiere on April 17, and as we continue to sit inside our homes, we can’t help but wonder what those horny young adults are up to now. Unlike the streaming platform’s other popular dating show “Love Is Blind,”
In today’s film news roundup, the documentary “You Cannot Kill David Arquette” and the thriller “Broil” find homes and AFI unveils winners of its Writers’ Room Ready Awards. ACQUISITIONS Super Ltd, Neon’s boutique division, has acquired North American rights to David Darg and Price James’ documentary, “You Cannot Kill David Arquette,” which is an official selection
Just weeks after departing CBS Entertainment’s alternative programming division, Sharon Vuong has boarded NBC as senior vice president of alternative programming and development, Variety has learned. Vuong spent nearly a decade at CBS, producing major reality franchises such as “Survivor,” “The Amazing Race,” and “Big Brother,” and rising to senior vice president of CBS’ alternative
Sam Lloyd, an actor best known for portraying lawyer Ted Buckland on “Scrubs,” has died, his agent confirmed to Variety. He was 56. In January 2019, Lloyd was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and cancer, which eventually spread to his lungs, jaw, liver and spine. He received the diagnosis just weeks after his wife,
Anonymous Content has laid off roughly 15% of its staff due to the coronavirus pandemic, Variety has learned. In addition, Anonymous has implemented a temporary compensation reduction among executives, with the company’s partners shouldering the deepest pay cuts. The layoffs are across all of the company’s divisions, which include talent, television, motion picture, literary, media
[Editor’s note: “Le Choc du Futur” is one of more than 100 movies originally scheduled to screen at the SXSW Film Festival in March. After the coronavirus outbreak forced the festival to cancel, event organizers partnered with Amazon Prime to make seven of those features available to stream for free through Weds., May 6.] Turn
The “G.I. Joe” franchise continues to expand. Paramount Pictures and Hasbro are developing an untitled fourth “G.I. Joe” movie, with the studio in negotiations with the writing team of Joe Shrapnel and Anna Waterhouse to pen the script. The new project would be a follow-up to Paramount’s upcoming release “Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins,” with
Megan Thee Stallion caught up with Hot 97’s Ebro Darden on Apple Music on Friday to talk about collaborating with Beyonce for her “Savage” remix, how the song came together and what Queen Bey means to her as an artist. It turns out the rapper was as amazed as anyone that fellow Houston native Beyonce
Madonna announced via Instagram today that she has tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies, meaning that she has likely already been infected with the virus. The pop star broke the news in the 14th edition of her “Quarantine Diary” IGTV series, in which she sits at a typewriter and lets her thoughts flow freely. “Took a