Elton John documentary to premiere at Toronto Film Festival

Rafa Sales Ross Guest Contributor Zeki Demirkubuz’s “Life” was awarded the Golden Bee for Best Feature Film at the second edition of the Mediterrane Film Festival. Mahdi Fleifel’s Un Certain Regard breakout “To a Land Unknown” took the Jury’s Choice prize, while Brandt Andersen’s “The Stranger’s Case” won Golden Bees for Best Director for Andersen and Best Acting for Yasmine Al-Massri.

Elton John joined US President Joe Biden at the opening of the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center.It opened on Friday (June 28) at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, New York City, to mark the 55th anniversary of the Stonewall riots. John and Biden were joined by Governor of New York Kathy Hochul.John spoke at the event, with the iconic singer urging the LGBTQ+ community to keep fighting.

Sir Elton John has joined a string of celebrities sending messages of support to Keir Starmer - and urging the public to vote Labour. The Rocketman singer joins Game of Thrones star Kit Harrington, funnyman Jason Manford and Dragons Den legend Deborah Meaden who also sent their messages of support.

Celine Dion made a rare public appearance at the 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft on Friday (June 28) at Sphere in Las Vegas.

Emily Eavis has defended Glastonbury’s line-up this year after criticism for a perceived lack of rock acts on the main stages.For 2024, dance-pop titan Dua Lipa, pop-rock staples Coldplay and US R&B star SZA are set to headline, with country-pop icon Shania Twain taking the legends slot. Among the other artists playing the main stages include Little Simz, Burna Boy, Disclosure, Jungle and The Streets.Some fans have complained about the lack of rock, but co-organiser Eavis – the daughter of Glasto founder Michael – has said that the main line-up simply reflects what’s going on in the music industry.“I think the line-up reflects what’s happening in the music world at the moment – there aren’t a lot of new rock acts to choose from if I’m honest,” she told PA.

Entertainment Tonight interview published on June 27, the iconic singer and musician, 77, was asked if he ever plans on going on the road again. John gave a decisive reply: “No.” His husband, David Furnish, 61, chimed in to add, “We’ve got our sons, you know, they’re getting into their teenage years now.

Elton John is very happy staying off the road.

Anna Tingley If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. A Saint Laurent leapard print knee-length coat; An electric blue two-piece suit; Gucci loafers bedazzled with the words “Suck Me”; a royal blue Versace tracksuit — these are just some of the one-of-the-kind designer pieces from Elton John’s legendary wardrobe now available to shop on eBay as part of an auction supporting the singer’s AIDS Foundation.

Addie Morfoot Contributor Five documentary filmmaking teams haven been selected to participate in the Catapult Film Fund and True/False Film Festival‘s ninth annual Rough Cut Retreat. The immersive mentorship is designed for documentary feature filmmakers who lack strong feedback networks.

Marta Balaga Karlovy Vary Intl. Film Festival is readying for its upcoming edition, featuring “lots of interesting themes, lots of different countries and lots of female directors,” says programmer Vojtěch Kočárník. Themes of “fragile family bonds and explorations of love driven by complex female characters,” Kočárník says, will also feature prominently in many of the fest’s films, such as Norway’s “Loveable.” In addition, there are a few period dramas with a contemporary touch, such as Margarida Cardoso’s “Banzo,” Bruno Anković’s “Celebration,” about young men seduced by right-wing ideology, and Iveta Grófová’s 1940s-set “Hungarian Dressmaker.” “In many historical films, there is this clear distinction between good and evil.

Naman Ramachandran The 32nd Raindance Film Festival (June 19-28) has revealed its jury award winners, reflecting a renewed focus on emerging filmmakers. Korean thriller “Sleep,” directed by Jason Yu and starring Lee Sun-kyun and Jung Yu-mi, took home the Discovery Award for best debut feature. The film marks Lee’s final role before his passing.

Addie Morfoot Contributor Ken Burns attended the 29th annual Nantucket Film Festival, which concludes Sunday, to give audiences a glimpse of his latest PBS documentary “Leonardo da Vinci.” The two-part, four-hour doc — directed by Burns, his daughter Sarah Burns and his son-in-law David McMahon — explores the life and work of the 15th-century polymath. “Leonardo da Vinci,” which begins airing in November, marks the first project Burns has directed that unfolds entirely outside the continental United States.

Rafa Sales Ross Guest Contributor The Mediterrane Film Festival kickstarted its second edition with the international premiere of Alexandre de La Patellière and Matthieu Delaporte’s “The Count of Monte Cristo.” The film, shown at the heart of Malta’s capital of Valletta on Saturday night, was followed by a reception at the historic Mdina Ditch Gardens, in which Malta Film Commissioner Johann Grech highlighted the importance of the festival as an event to “unite the nations of the Mediterranean through film.” The sentiment echoes this year’s festival theme of Unity Through Film, with Grech adding that he hopes the festival will bring nations together to “share stories that celebrate not only our diversity but also our shared outlook.” The film commissioner emphasised the success of the festival’s first edition, claiming the return to the local economy “far exceeded our investment, showing once again what a force for good film is in our country.” Several members of the local film industry were present at the gathering as well as international attendees in this year’s jury president Jon S. Baird (“Tetris,” “Stan and Ollie”) and “Triangle of Sadness” actor Zlatko Burić, who was part of last year’s jury.

extramarital affairs reached a tipping point when he stiffed a hard working server who told his then-squeeze about her date being a cheapskate. A waitress handed Beckham’s personal assistant and alleged mistress Rebecca Loos – whom he was romantically tied to while playing soccer for Real Madrid in 2004 – a note for him the day after they had eaten at the Hard Rock Cafe Madrid.

Ben Croll Matt Dillon, Alice Diop and Karla Sofia Gascon will bring their springtime spirit to this month’s Nouvelles Vagues Film Festival, now running from June 18 – 23 in Biarritz. Launched last year, the nascent festival invites both established and emerging talents to share an expansive vision of youth, hosting a competition dedicated to young adult stories overseen by a jury all under the age of 35.

The Toronto Film Festival on Tuesday announced the first six titles set to make their world premieres at the 49th edition, in the Gala and Special Presentation program, also naming this year’s TIFF Tribute Award recipients.

Celine Dion is back in the public eye!

Selena Kuznikov Sulayman Tahir’s “Peripheral” and Coke Daniels’ “The Waterboyz” were among the winners of this year’s Best of ABFF Awards, presented Saturday at the American Black Film Festival. Hosted by Dondré Whitfield, the festival presented winners in the official film selection categories: narrative and documentary features, series and the HBO Short Film Award showcase. This year’s festival takes place June 12-16 in Miami Beach, Fla., followed by a virtual segment June 17-24 on ABFF PLAY.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Along with a red-carpet opening ceremony, a press conference with the members of the main competition jury is a staple event of major film festivals and the 26th edition of the Shanghai International Film Festival kicked off in traditional form on Friday. Along with Vietnam-French director Tran Anh Hung, previously revealed as jury president, the other members of the decisive committee this year are: Australian director and screenwriter Rolf de Heer; German director Matthias Glasner; Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Ka Fai; Argentinian director Santiago Mitre; Chinese director Sonthar Gyal; and, the jury’s only woman, star actor Zhou Xun. A packed audience lobbed familiar questions about the criteria they jurors would employ to decide the Golden Goblet prize winners, and what informs those views.

Ethan Shanfeld Dwayne Johnson got a little “smashed up” while filming his A24 mixed martial arts movie “The Smashing Machine,” the actor and professional wrestler announced in a video posted to Instagram Tuesday. “Look at that sucker right there,” Johnson said, showing off his swelled right elbow while standing in his kitchen. “It looks like I have a cantaloupe in the bottom of my elbow.