'Camp Bestival, Shropshire was my son's first festival - here's why we loved it so much'

Brent Lang Executive Editor “Devotion,” a drama about a group of elite fighter pilots during the Korean War, will screen at the opening night of the Urbanworld Film Festival. The Sony Pictures and Black Label Media production was directed by J.D. Dillard and stars Jonathan Majors, who will serve as the festival’s official ambassador. HBO will return as a founding partner of the Urbanworld Film Festival, and Visa will serve as presenting partner. The festival will take place from Oct. 26 to Oct. 30. “This year’s slate is incredibly impressive,” said Karen McMullen, head of programming. “We have some of the top artists in the industry as well as exciting new voices premiering their films at Urbanworld. It has been a privilege working alongside this organization as we move into our 26th year as a festival. We can’t wait to see everyone in person in New York City to help us celebrate our dynamic films and filmmakers.”

Editors note: The death of Mahsa Amini earlier this month after being detained by Iran’s morality police for allegedly not wearing her hijab according to official dictates has sparked outrage and protests within the Islamic Republic and around the world, with Global Day of Action for Iran set for Saturday with rallies around the globe (more information below). Currently seen as one of the stars of Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Iran-born actress and Amnesty International UK ambassador Nazanin Boniadi reflects on Amini’s tragic death and the potentially pivotal time for her homeland.

Sam Smith and Kim Petras‘ “Unholy” is officially a chart topper!

Sam Smith has delivered a sweeping rendition of Sam Fender’s ‘Seventeen Going Under’.Performed for BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge programme, Smith’s cover is a slick take on Fender’s gritty anthem. The cover replaces the original’s jangly guitars with an elegant piano, while a wash of rising guitar leads take the place of the original’s bombastic horns, as Smith glides above the support of a 17-piece choir.Watch Smith’s cover of Fender’s iconic anthem here:Both artists are admirers of one another’s work: on his appearance on the same BBC programme in 2019, Fender delivered an indie-rock flavoured cover of Smith’s ‘Dancing With A Stranger’.Earlier this March on this year’s BandLab NME Awards, Sam Fender took home Best Album In The World and Best Album By A UK Artist with his second record, ‘Seventeen Going Under’, beating out records by Halsey, Little Simz and Tyler, the Creator.The album, released last year, followed his 2019 debut effort, ‘Hypersonic Missiles’, and was named by NME as the best album of 2021.

Naman Ramachandran Joachim Back’s “Corner Office,” featuring “Mad Men” star John Hamm, will open the 30th edition of London’s Raindance Film Festival (Oct. 26-Nov. 5). Austin Bragg and Meredith Bragg’s “Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game” will close the festival. To mark its 30th anniversary, Raindance will screen iconic independent films that had their U.K. premieres at the festival, including “Pulp Fiction,” “Memento,” “The Blair Witch Project” and “Oldboy.” Special screenings of new films include the world premiere of Stephen Moyer’s “A Bit of Light” (U.K.), starring Anna Paquin and Ray Winstone; director Moshe Rosenthal will take part in a Raindance masterclass and present the U.K. premiere of “Karaoke” (Israel); and the world premiere of Dilshad Husain’s British Asian feature “Banglatown.”

EXCLUSIVE: Game of Thrones alum John Bradley is set as the lead of North Shore, a Paramount+ crime thriller series from Cold Feet creator Mike Bullen. Downton Abbey‘s Joanne Froggatt has closed a one-year deal to star in the six-episode first season of the Australian original.

EXCLUSIVE: The UK Jewish Film Festival (November 10-20) has revealed its lineup of 2022 gala screenings and premieres, including special presentations of the single shot drama Shttl and Three Minutes: A Lengthening, the WWII drama co-produced by Steve McQueen and narrated by Helena Bonham Carter.

Roxy Music have announced the special guest support act for their forthcoming UK area shows, as well as releasing additional tickets for their London date.The Bryan Ferry-fronted group recently reunited for their first live shows since 2011 to mark the 50th anniversary of their self-titled debut album, which came out in 1972. They’re currently out on the road in North America.Next month, Roxy Music will return to these shores for concerts in Glasgow (October 10), Manchester (12) and London (14).Today (September 14) it’s been announced that extra tickets for the currently-sold-out gig at The O2 in London will go on sale this Friday (September 16) – you’ll be able to purchase yours from here.

Emily Longeretta MTV is kicking off its first-ever relationship mystery competition series. “Love at First Lie,” hosted by Tori Spelling, will premiere on MTV in the US and in more than 170 countries around the world on Wednesday, Oct. 12, at 9:30 p.m. The reality show will consist of 12 episodes as the viewers try to figure out who is in real relationships and which pairs are faking it. MTV’s official logline reads, “Power games test their relationships and give insight into who could be telling the truth or lying through their teeth. At the end of each episode, during the Truth Ceremony, the couples must eliminate who they think is lying about their love from the competition. If they guess correctly and kick out liars, they add $25,000 to the prize fund each time. Only one couple can win and take home the entire prize pot, but will they be lovers, or will they be liars?”

Brent Lang Executive Editor It was supposed to be all about the movies. But even here at the Toronto International Film Festival, an ocean away from the United Kingdom, the death of 96-year-old Queen Elizabeth II has loomed large. It has provided an opportunity for festival organizers, filmmakers and talent to reflect on the life and legacy of a monarch whose 70-year reign ranks as the longest in her country’s history. That’s partly due to Canada’s status as a member of the British Commonwealth, but it’s also because the festival is such an international A-list affair, one that attracts movie stars and directors who have often had personal encounters with the queen.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter On the stage at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, Harry Styles is a bonafide rock star, brimming with swagger and self confidence. But Styles, the actor, was more soft spoken while accepting an acting award at the Toronto International Film Festival. Styles was a man of few words as he, along with the cast of “My Policeman,” received the ensemble award at the festival’s Tribute Awards on Sunday.  “Thank you so much to everyone here on behalf of all of us for this wonderful, wonderful award,” said Styles, who stars in the romance drama as a closeted police officer. “We all loved working on this film so much. And we hope you enjoy it.”

From world leaders to her closest family members, there has been a global outpouring of grief at the loss of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. And among those sharing their memories and tributes are a host of celebs, with everyone from Joan Collins to Sting honouring The Queen and her “incomparable legacy”. Dame Joan, who had met Her Majesty and was part of The Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations earlier this year, took to Instagram to pay her respects.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have shared a moving tribute in honour of the late Queen following her death, which was announced by Buckingham Palace on September 8.The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are currently in the UK away from their children Archie, three, and one year old daughter Lilibet – who is named after Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Prince Harry travelled to Balmoral, where the Queen passed away, while Meghan remained in London.

Eurovision 2023.This follows their success with last year’s entrant Sam Ryder, who finished in second place, scoring an impressive 466 points overall with his song ‘Space Man’.Ryder was personally chosen by the management firm and gave the United Kingdom its best Eurovision result since 1998.

EXCLUSIVE: Joanne Froggatt is staying in business with MGM.

One of Married at First Sight UK's latest bride's reality show past has been revealed after viewers were left feeling 'betrayed' during the latest episode.