Iran protests

Berlinale co-head Mariette Rissenbeek has decided to step down as executive director after the 2024 edition of the festival. Germany’s Ministry for Culture and Media announced her decision on Thursday, after a meeting of the supervisory board of federal cultural events in Berlin (KBB). The ministry said the board had noted with “regret and respect” that Rissenbeck had informed them of her decision not to stay on after the 2024 edition. “The Supervisory Board thanked Ms. Rissenbeek for the work she had done and recognized her achievements,” read a statement. “According to the supervisory board, she successfully managed the Berlinale with the greatest personal commitment and, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, saving it from serious damage.” Rissenbeek was the first woman to head up the Berlin Film Festival. She was announced as co-head in 2018, in the role of executive director, alongside Carlo Chatrian in the role of artistic director, and took up the post … [Read more...] about Berlinale Co-Head Mariette Rissenbeek To Step Down After 2024 Edition

Whenever the Iranian regime feels threatened by public protest its reflex is to go after two groups: demonstrators, most assuredly, but also artists – especially filmmakers. When protests surged in six provinces in May last year over rising food prices, the government promptly banged on the doors of two documentary filmmakers, Mina Keshavarz and Firouzeh Khosrovani, and arrested them. For good measure, law enforcement agents reportedly harassed numerous other filmmakers, seizing their communications equipment. The May unrest appears mild compared to the uproar triggered in September 2022 by the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman arrested for allegedly not wearing her hijab in accordance with law. Security forces have attacked and killed an unknown number of demonstrators in the course of months of protests. The government also responded with an immediate clamp down on leading figures in Iranian cinema, detaining or imprisoning Jafar Panahi, Mohammad … [Read more...] about Wim Wenders, Afsun Moshiry Unveil Six Iranian Docs At CPH:DOX As Iran’s Regime Continues Crackdown On Filmmakers

Former President Donald Trump said that he expected to be arrested on Tuesday as part of the Manhattan District Attorney’s investigation, while he also called on his supporters to protest the move. Trump wrote on Truth Social, his social media platform, that “illegal leaks” from the D.A. showed that he would be arrested. “Protest, take our nation back!” he wrote in all caps. He did not specify what he has been told about an indictment and potential charges. A campaign spokesperson said in a statement that there had been “no notification” given to Trump other than “illegal leaks” by prosecutors to news outlets. His post comes amid reports that his lawyers are preparing for an indictment to happen. Trump called the investigation by D.A. Alvin Bragg a “fairytale.” The New York investigation reportedly has to do with so-called “hush money” payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in advance of the 2016 presidential election. Trump attorney told MSNBC that the … [Read more...] about Donald Trump Says He Expects To Be Arrested On Tuesday, Calls For Protests By Supporters

Iran is now on the legal offensive in the wake of " Argo " ... threatening to sue Hollywood filmmakers for their "Iranophobic" portrayal of the Middle Eastern country. Iran's state-run Press TV reports government officials have already contacted an "internationally-renowned" French lawyer named Isabelle Coutant-Peyre to file the lawsuit. Coutant-Peyre released a statement saying, "I will defend Iran against the films like Argo, which are produced in Hollywood to distort the country's image." For its part, Iran's Press TV said, "The Iranophobic American movie attempts to describe Iranians as overemotional, irrational, insane, and diabolical while at the same, the CIA agents are represented as heroically patriotic." In addition to filing a lawsuit, Iran plans to fund a pro-Iran movie called "The General Staff" ... about 20 American hostages who are handed over to the U.S. by Iranian revolutionaries. That being said ... we still think Affleck got screwed outta the … [Read more...] about Iran — We’re SUING Over ‘Argo’ … It’s Iranophobic Garbage!

TMZ Composite Mark Cuban ripped the NBA refs who officiated his team's Wednesday night game against the Warriors, accusing the crew of screwing up a critical call in a crucial game, potentially costing the squad a win (and maybe even a playoff berth), and now his Mavs are protesting the 127-125 loss. The call in question went down in the waning moments of the 3rd quarter at American Airlines Arena in Dallas, when Warriors center Kevon Looney had an uncontested dunk on an inbound out of a timeout because the Mavs were lined up on the wrong side of the court, which Cuban blames on the refs. The Dallas Mavericks plan to file a formal protest of their 127-125 loss to the Warriors to the NBA. @espn_macmahon . pic.twitter.com/RSmUaOQeR5 — ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) March 23, 2023 @ClutchPointsApp "For those wondering about the play with 1:54 to go on the 3rd, let me explain what happened," Cuban tweeted. "The ref called Mavs ball. The announcer … [Read more...] about Mark Cuban Blasts NBA Refs Over Controversial Play, Mavs Protesting Loss

Our Boys creator Hagai Levi has said he was arrested briefly during a protest in Tel Aviv on Thursday. Following his return from the Series Mania confab, Levi attended a protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’s planned overhaul of the Israeli judicial system during what was dubbed “rage day.” Many such protests have broken out across the country over the past few weeks. Levi said people started being arrested for standing in the road instead of sidewalks and he was stopped by police after stepping down from the sidewalk onto the street. According to Levi, he was grabbed by police and walked into a prisoners truck where he was detained in an arrest cell for a couple of hours and had his rights read to him. Levi and the other prisoners were driven to an unknown location and told to exit the vehicle on condition of leaving the area, he said. “I saw some violent arrests, was filming them with my iPhone and the police noticed and didn’t like it,” added … [Read more...] about ‘Our Boys’ Creator Hagai Levi Arrested Briefly At Israeli Protest

A large group of Walt Disney World workers and their allies looking to be in the hundreds marched outside park facilities earlier today chanting, “Walt Disney workers need a raise!” The event was dubbed the “Rally for a Raise” bu organizers. Many of the protesters come from a coalition of six unions representing close to 42,000 WDW cast members known as the Services Trades Council Union ( STCU ). The coalition and Disney have been negotiating a new contract since the old one expired last October 1. In November, the union asked for a minimum wage of $18 an hour in the first year of a new contract. Disney, for its part, has said it proposed “a path to $20 an hour for starting wages.” According to Orlando Sentinel reporter Katie Rice, Disney’s proposal was to raise the minimum wage $1 a year until it reaches $20, meaning three years hence. Union members reportedly rejected that proposal last month by a margin of 96%. The two entities are still at loggerheads, with … [Read more...] about Walt Disney World Workers Picket Outside Park Facilities Flying LGBT Flags & Holding Signs Asking For A Raise

Neo-nazis tend to be a noisy bunch, and it takes an extraordinary and confident work of art to drown out their loud, ugly racket. Parade , opening tonight on Broadway at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, is that work of art. With a serendipitous advertising slogan – “This Is Not Over Yet” – borrowed from one of the most powerful songs from a lovely score, the revival of 1998’s Parade arrives just when it’s needed most, providing an eloquent smackdown response to the rise in antisemitism made all too clear by the hate group protesting outside the show’s first preview (they haven’t been back). With a cast as fine as it is large, led by Ben Platt and Micaela Diamond – two of the best singers currently on Broadway – Parade , set in 1913 Georgia, scores its topical points with all the artistry and theatrical know-how to meet and exceed its noble intensions. Parade is as commanding as any musical revival to hit Broadway in years. Directed by Michael Arden, … [Read more...] about ‘Parade’ Broadway Review: Ben Platt & Micaela Diamond Lead Exceptional March Through History

EXCLUSIVE: The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial has rounded out its cast with Monica Raymund ( Hightown ), Lance Reddick ( Bosch ), Griffin Dunne ( This Is Us ), Elizabeth Anweis ( Batwoman ), Lewis Pullman ( Top Gun: Maverick ), Francois Battiste ( Ten Days in the Valley ), and Gabe Kessler ( Hightown ). They join previously announced leads Keifer Sutherland, Jake Lacy, and Jason Clarke. Raymund will portray Challee, a Lieutenant with a sharp legal mind and eye for detail who serves as the prosecuting attorney during the court-martial, doing their best to argue that Commander Queeg was wrongfully relieved of his duties. Reddick portrays Captain Blakely, chief judge of the court-martial. Blakely maintains an even tone, and a commanding presence over the courtroom; Dunne plays Dr. Bird, a lieutenant and member of the psychiatric staff for the Naval Hospital. A person of high intellect, he is more of a new-age psychiatrist than a military-looking … [Read more...] about ‘The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial’ Rounds Out Cast With 7 Including Monica Raymund, Lance Reddick & Griffin Dunne

TMZ.com Donald Trump 's luck in sidestepping criminal charges over the years might be running out ... and the former President himself admits it Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, Saturday morning to make the stunning announcement that he expects to be arrested next week. He also ordered his minions to protest his likely indictment from Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg over his alleged participation in the notorious Stormy Daniels hush-money case. In all caps, Trump wrote, “THE FAR & AWAY LEADING REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE & FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WILL BE ARRESTED ON TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK. PROTEST, TAKE OUR NATION BACK!.” He also referred to Bragg's office as “CORRUPT & HIGHLY POLITICAL" while touting his innocence. As you may know, Bragg has been investigating Trump for purportedly making a $130,000 payment to Daniels back in 2016. Trump allegedly brokered the deal with the porn … [Read more...] about Donald Trump Says He Expects to be Arrested Next Week by Manhattan D.A.