“Asymmetric” Nature Of Israel-Hamas War Makes Impartial Coverage Difficult, Says Senior BBC News Exec

The Berlin Film Festival’s parent org the KBB, which oversees state-backed cultural events in the German capital, has posted job ads for four key executive roles ahead of the arrival of the event’s new director Tricia Tuttle in April.

William Earl administrator Screenwriter and playwright Tony Kushner has defended Jonathan Glazer‘s Oscar speech against critics. While accepting the Academy Award for best international feature for his Holocaust movie “The Zone of Interest,” Glazer spoke about the ongoing violence in the Middle East, saying the Auschwitz-set film “shows where dehumanization leads at its worst.

Renée Rapp has called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza during the GLAAD Media Awards.The singer, songwriter and Mean Girls star made the comments during last night’s ceremony (March 14), at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles.When on stage receiving the award for Outstanding Music Artist, Rapp used her acceptance speech to share her thoughts on the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and speak out in support of those in Gaza.“We’re in a room of very influential people, very privileged people, which is exciting and also a huge privilege to be a part of that,” she began. “Having said that, I’d like to take the opportunity to show support and call for an immediate ceasefire and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.”Her comments were met with applause, and towards the end of the speech she urged the attendees to stand up in support of all sectors of society that face oppression.

Christopher Vourlias Palestinian director Hana Elias’ “If These Stones Could Talk,” which follows a Palestinian man’s return to his homeland to restore his family’s ancestral garden, and Argentine filmmaker María Silvia Esteve’s “Mailin,” about a woman’s painful struggle to overcome her childhood trauma, took the top prizes at the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival’s industry award ceremony Wednesday night. During an emotionally charged conclusion to the festival’s Agora strand, in which several filmmakers voiced their strident support for Palestine and called for a ceasefire to the more than five-month-old Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, a tearful Elias took the stage alongside producer Asmahan Bkerat to receive the top prize in the Agora’s pitching forum, a €10,000 ($10,900) cash prize from the International Emerging Film Talents Assn. (IEFTA).

Charlotte Church has revealed that her family have been threatened by “some pretty scary people” over her support of Gaza.On February 26, the singer played at Bedwas Workmen’s Hall in Caerphilly at a concert to raise money for the Middle East Children’s Alliance, which supports children in Gaza. To end the show, she led a choir of 100 singers in a chant of “from the river to the sea”.She received backlash for the use of that phrase as it is politically charged, with some, including the Campaign Against Antisemitism, believing that it calls for the destruction of the state of Israel.Church addressed the backlash in an Instagram livestream stating: “Just to clarify my intentions there, I am in no way anti-Semitic.

NewDad, Cardinals, Enola Gay and Rachel Chinouriri have become the latest artists to boycott this year’s SXSW festival.The artists join the likes of Kneecap, Sprints, Lambrini Girls, Scowl, Gel, Okay Shalom and Squirrelflower in pulling out of performing at the festival due to the event’s association with the US army and weapons companies amid the Israel-Gaza conflict.The annual music, culture and arts showcase takes place in Austin, Texas from March 12-14.In a joint post on social media, Cardinals, Enola Gay, Gurriers, NewDad and Sprints wrote:“To be clear, we, as ‘Music From Ireland’ bands will be partaking in any official SXSW shows. We stand in complete solidarity with Palestine and others who have spoke out against, and boycotted SXSW.“Sponsorship of the festival from the US army as well as defence contractors/those sending arms to destroy innocent lives is an act we find disgusting and reprehensible.

Ceasefire pins among Oscar guests and nominees were numerous on this afternoon’s red carpet with Poor Things actor Ramy Youssef and Barbie “What Was I Made For?” songwriting team Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell donning them.

Scowl and Gel have become the latest bands to pull out of SXSW over the event’s ties to the US Army amid the current Israel-Hamas conflict.The festival will take place in Austin, Texas from March 12-14 but has already seen numerous artists who have pledged their support to Palestine pull out because the US Army sponsors the event. Eliza McLamb, Okay Shalom and Squirrelflower have all dropped off the line-up, the latter of whom also pointed to the festival’s ties to the defense contractor RTX Corporation, which has supplied weapons to Israel.Now, two more bands have also announced that they are pulling out.

K.J. Yossman Cold War thriller “Whispers of Freedom” has set its principal cast, Variety has learned. “Masters of the Air” alum Cameron Ashplant will play the film’s lead, young East German Chris Gueffroy, while Darragh Cowley (who also appeared in “Masters of the Air”) co-stars as his close friend Christian Gaudian.

95th Oscars which take place on Sunday, after pro-Palestine demonstrators targeted other red carpet events.The area around the Dolby Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles has been blocked off with chainlink fencing as part of early preparations which will eventually involve thousands of law enforcement and security personnel.Police and organizers will want to avoid a repeat of the Grammy Awards – when arrivals at LA’s Crypto.com Arena were brought to a halt by pro-Palestinian supporters blocking traffic – by using thge security fence as in previous years.The protestors gleefully shared footage online with the hashtag #ShutItDown4Palestine. At the event itself, Annie Lennox called for a ceasefire during her tribute to Sinéad O’Connor.The Post is told the Academy’s goal on Sunday is to support and celebrate artists and avoid politics and the political landscape.The Oscars security measures use long-standing protocols designed to prevent protesters attempting to interrupt the Sunday night show.An interruption would give protesters a platform among as many as 20 million Americans watching live, millions more around the world and a much larger social media audience.Sources at the Academy Awards said that the safety and security of attendees is paramount, adding that the organization would not tolerate any behavior that actively endangers, discriminates or causes bodily harm to attendees or members of its global film community.Anti-Israel demonstrators have increasingly targeted high-profile events.

BBC Storyville and Fulwell 73 label Bitachon 365 have boarded Israeli network Hot 8’s upcoming feature doc on the tragedy that befell the Supernova Music Festival on October 7.

Ellise Shafer Outgoing Berlinale artistic director Carlo Chatrian has spoken out about the political discourse surrounding the festival’s closing ceremony this year. As the Berlinale handed out prizes on Saturday night, several winning filmmakers took the opportunity in their acceptance speeches to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Israeli filmmaker Yuval Abraham, who last week picked up the best documentary award at the Berlin Film Festival, has said he has received death threats and had to cancel his flight home after German officials and Israeli media described his acceptance speech as “anti-Semitic”.

A group of top international journalists have joined forces to demand that Israel and Egypt provide foreign media with “unfettered access” to Gaza.

Steven Gaydos Executive VP of Content The Hamas terrorist attack against Israel on Oct. 7 inflamed the Middle East region, igniting yet another war with thousands of victims, both Jewish and Palestinian. The repercussions of the conflict are now felt all over the world, signified by massive demonstrations from Paris to Caracas, for and against both sides of the conflagration.

K.J. Yossman The U.K.’s Film and TV Charity has been liaising with Muslim, Arab and Jewish screen industry workers following the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel and the subsequent war against Hamas.

Eurovision Song Contest. Earlier this week, the Israeli broadcaster KAN said they will withdraw from this year’s competition if the event’s organisers attempt to censor their entry. And now, president Isaac Herzog has said that Israel’s voice must be heard from the Eurovision stage.

British grime artist Wiley has been stripped of a national honour, after he posted abusive social media posts aimed at his Jewish critics and other figures.

Eurovision organizers are swiftly “scrutinizing” the lyrics of Israel‘s 2024 entry amidst question marks over their political nature.

Eurovision Song Contest if the organisers attempt to censor their entry.Earlier this month, Israel selected the 20-year-old Eden Golan as their entry for this year’s contest. Her song is titled ‘October Rain’, and, as first reported by Israel Hayom (via BBC), the lyrics appear to contain references to the victims of Hamas’ October 7 attacks.The words to the song were leaked to the media earlier this week, and are said to include the line: “They were all good children, each one of them”.