Filmmakers At Risk Org Calls For Action On Detained Iranian Directors: “The International Film Community Must Speak Up”

It may only be August 2nd, but we already have our first official submission for the 2023 Academy Awards. The Irish Film & Television Academy revealed today that “The Quiet Girl (An Cailín Ciúin)” will represent the island nation in the International Film Oscar race.

Russia has added to its so-called stop-list, barring a further 39 British politicians, officials, business people and journalists from entering the country including TV presenter Piers Morgan. 

Mila Kunis shared her thoughts about Ashton Kutcher’s new look for his upcoming movie ‘Vengeance,’ and it seems she was “not a fan” of his facial hair for his role, acting alongside B.J. Novak, Dove Cameron, Issa Rae, and Boyd Holbrook.Ashton described his character’s appearance during the premiere of the film in Los Angeles, revealing on the red carpet that it is “kind of this combination of this aristocracy, but also country,“ in reference to the mustache.“There was this kind of Errol Flynn thing happening, but it was also, kind of had this Burt Reynolds country vibe going. I was rocking it for a while, just to kind of feel it and live it.

Kevin Hart gifted Chris Rock a goat called Will Smith live on stage during their recent comedy show.While performing their Rock Hart: Only Headliners Allowed show at New York’s Madison Square Garden, Hart brought the farm animal onto the stage and presented it to his fellow comedian.Hart then revealed that the goat was called Will Smith, in reference to the incident at this year’s Oscars, in which the King Richard star walked onto the stage and slapped Rock for making a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s alopecia.In a clip shared on TikTok, Hart is seen holding the goat by a lead as he jokingly remarks: “What the fuck did you just say?”Appearing on Monday’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Hart explained the reasoning behind his gift: “Chris is a mentor, friend, inspiration. He’s a large part of the reason that I am where I am today in my career.“Just from his advice, his insight, etc.

“The Swimmers”, a movie about two sisters fleeing Syria, will be the opening night gala presentation at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Deadline has hired former Business Insider Entertainment Reporter Zac Ntim as International Film Reporter, based in London.

In a nice change of pace, the Toronto International Film Festival has announced many of its world premieres over the past few weeks instead of one traditional deluge. There is Steven Spielberg’s “The Fablemans,” Michael Grandage’s “My Policeman” with Harry Styles, Clement Virgo’s “Brother,” “Bros” written and starring Billy Eichner, Sanaa Lathan’s “On The Come Up,” and Gina Prince-Bythewood’s “The Woman King” with Viola Davis and Thuso Mbedu.

The lineup announced today for the 79th Venice Film Festival is a varied and rich offering from the world’s oldest event of its kind. There are auteur filmmakers galore who have also shown commercial mettle, previous Lido winners and some tantalizing out-of-competition entries including a short film featuring Chris Rock. While there may not be a Dune– or Joker-sized Hollywood tentpole in the bunch, this is an intriguing mix which is sure to bring plenty of star power — notably with Olivia Wilde’s out of competition title Don’t Worry Darling ferrying Florence Pugh, Harry Styles, Gemma Chan and Chris Pine to the island.

Variety Staff Follow Us on TwitterVariety has promoted Elsa Keslassy to senior international film editor.In her new role, Keslassy will continue to be based out of Paris, where she will cover the entertainment industry spanning film, TV and streamers across France, Scandinavia, the Netherlands and Israel.She previously served as Variety‘s international correspondent. Since joining Variety in 2007, Keslassy has distinguished herself with coverage of major festivals and film markets, including Cannes, Venice, Berlin, the AFM, Mipcom, Canneseries and Series Mania.

With the race to replace Boris Johnson as next UK Prime Minister now down to the final two, bosses at BBC New Broadcasting House and Channel 4 Horseferry Road will be examining former Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss’s record on public broadcasting in minute detail.

Marina Ovsyannikova, the Russian journalist who daringly interrupted a live TV broadcast to protest her country’s invasion of Ukraine, was briefly detained by Russian authorities for a second time over the weekend.

Sylvester Stallone is hitting back. The action icon — who wrote and starred in the 1976 sports classic and its subsequent sequels — is bringing his feud with the film's producer into the spotlight.The 76-year-old screen legend and filmmaker took to Instagram on Sunday to take a few swings at Irwin Winkler — who produced the films and their spin-off films — as well as his son, David Winkler.Stallone has been hitting Winkler hard with personal attacks, and shared an surreal portrait of Winkler to Instagram.

Can you believe it has been 20 years since Austin Powers in Goldmember was released?!

Zack Sharf Vulture marked the 20th anniversary of “Austin Powers in Goldmember” with an oral history devoted to Beyoncé’s role in the blockbuster comedy as Foxxy Cleopatra. One of the biggest revelations comes courtesy of the film’s makeup artist Kate Biscoe, who revealed that Beyoncé called out the marketing team for changing her appearance on one of the movie’s posters. Beyoncé felt the poster made her too skinny, so the marketing team re-did the one-sheet.“When we were shooting, someone brought her a poster that would be promoting the movie,” Biscoe said.