From ‘9 to 5’ to José Andrés, SXSW Documentaries Tackle Urgent Issues Through Well-Known Names

EXCLUSIVE: Oscar winners Ron Howard and Brian Grazer are teaming up with Disney Original Documentary for what is promised as the “definitive portrait” of Jim Henson, the legendary creator of the Muppets.

Oscars history, becoming the first openly queer woman of colour to win one of the prestigious trophies.The actor took home the Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role at tonight’s (March 27) ceremony for playing Anita in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story.DeBose paid tribute to the Oscar-winning Rita Moreno, who also won for the same role in 1962, during her speech, crediting her with “paving the way for tons of Anitas like me”. The star continued to acknowledge her identity as both a queer woman and her Afro-Latina heritage.“Imagine this little girl in the back seat of a white Ford Focus.

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle EditorSaint Laurent has entered the Oscar party race.The legendary French fashion house held its first pre-Oscar soiree on Friday night. Hosted by Saint Laurent creative director Anthony Vaccarello, the evening began with a VIP dinner for about 50 people at the Harvey house, a John Lautner-designed architectural gem in Los Feliz owned by Mitch Glazer and Kelly Lynch. A late-night reception for about 150 included a performance from indie band Wet Leg and waiters who passed around steak tar tar on potato chips and tomato crostini.

Kristen Stewart: Best Actress is always one of the most competitive categories at the Oscars, and this year’s race is set to be a real nail-biter. Early on, it looked like Stewart was a shoo-in for the honor, but then she was left out of many other major ceremonies, only to earn a semi-surprise Academy Award nod.At times, the favor seems to shift to others for a period, and Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, Olivia Colman, Jessica Chastain and Kristen Stewart have all had a turn as the suggested winner.No one really knows who will receive the trophy, and it’s sure to be one of the most exciting moments of the night.Stewart is nominated for her pitch-perfect performance as Princess Diana in Spencer.

Dolly Parton could once again come to the big screen with the help of Reese Witherspoon. The "9 to 5" singer and actress, 76, has secured a deal with Witherspoon’s production studio Hello Sunshine to adapt Parton’s novel, "Run, Rose Run," into a film centered on the best-seller that Parton co-wrote with James Patterson.

Kristen Stewart and Jessica Chastain are stepping out for the night!

Joe Leydon Film CriticIt may sound counterintuitive at best, tone-deaf at worse, to label a documentary focused on food providers aiding people in the wake of disasters as a feel-good movie. But that’s an honest, accurate and, yes, appreciative label for “We Feed People,” Ron Howard’s technically polished and emotionally stirring close-up view of celebrity chef José Andrés and his nonprofit World Central Kitchen.The movie effectively begins in media res, with the robustly gregarious Andrés and his dedicated crew  years into their vocation, providing hot meals to isolated residents of Wilmington, N.C., in the wake of 2018’s Hurricane Florence — and coming perilously close to tasting their own disaster when floodwaters almost topple their delivery truck — before backing up to explain just who Andrés is and what started him on his mission.A native of Spain, Andrés moved to the U.S.

Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast was named Best Picture at the 20th anniversary AARP Movies for Grownups Awards, which were handed out in a virtual ceremony hosted by Alan Cumming tonight. Will Smith and Aunjanue Ellis took Best Actor and Supporting Actress for their respective roles in King Richard, making it the only movie or TV show to win multiple awards.

Sasha Urban editorIn one of the most star-studded lineups of this year’s awards season, Serena Williams, Nick Jonas and Oscar nominees Kristen Stewart and Ciaran Hinds have been tapped as presenters at the 33rd annual Producers Guild Awards Saturday evening, Variety has learned exclusively.They will be joined at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel by Josh Brolin, Rachel Brosnahan, Daniel Durant, Alana Haim, Jude Hill, Chris Pine, Daniel Dae Kim, Emilia Jones, Marlee Matlin, Ryan Murphy, Simon Rex and Kerry Washington, as well as previously announced presenters Meryl Streep, Casey Bloys, Jamie Dornan, Michelle Yeoh, Aunjanue Ellis, Jung Ho-yeon, Linda Lavin, David Alvarez, Jessica Chastain, Denis Villeneuve, Troy Kotsur, Andrew Garfield, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Steven Spielberg. The PGA Awards are known to be a strong predictor of which film will take home best picture at the Academy Awards, which will be held on March 27.

Jack Harlow has announced the release of his second album, ‘Come Home The Kids Miss You’.In a new interview with Rolling Stone, the Kentucky rapper revealed that his latest single ‘Nail Tech’ is the first to be taken from his upcoming new record, the follow-up to 2020’s ‘That’s What They All Say’.“It’s probably my least favourite song on the album,” Harlow said of ‘Nail Tech’. “But I know the effect it’s gonna have on people.

LAS VEGAS -- Chaka Khan, Stephen Stills, Sara Bareilles, Cyndi Lauper, Billy Porter and Beck will be among those performing in tribute to Joni Mitchell when she’s honored as the 2022 MusiCares Person of the Year by the Recording Academy.The academy announced the latest additions to the lineup Thursday for the tribute concert and gala to be held in Las Vegas on April 1, two days before the Grammy Awards.Other performers announced Thursday include Lauren Daigle, Angélique Kidjo, Allison Russell and St.

Celebrities are getting behind the effort to stop the Coastal GasLink pipeline.

took herself out of the running to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year — “I don’t feel that I have earned that right,” she said in an Instagram post— she revealed that she hopes to one day be “worthy” of another nomination.“This has … inspired me to put out a hopefully great rock ’n’ roll album at some point in the future, which I have always wanted to do!” she said.And if Johnny Cash could work with Rick Rubin and Loretta Lynn could collaborate with Jack White, then certainly Parton could get some rock love.Rundgren — who in addition to being inducted into the RRHOF last year as an artist, has produced everyone from Badfinger and the New York Dolls to Meat Loaf’s “Bat Out of Hell” — would love to collaborate with Parton behind the boards. “Who wouldn’t?” Rundgren, 73, said.“She’s made so many records, has so much experience, you know there’s not going to be any sort of funny business about doing it.

Matt Donnelly Senior Film WriterChildren’s and young adult literary juggernaut Judy Blume will be the subject of an untitled feature documentary from Amazon Prime Video and Imagine Documentaries, Variety has learned exclusively.Framed as a coming-of-age tale of Blume and the generations of readers who have sparked to her work, the film will cover 50 years and many of her bestselling titles including, “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret,” “Blubber,” “Superfudge,” “Tiger Eyes,” “Wifey,” “Forever…,” “Summer Sisters” and more. It will also examine her impact on pop culture at large, and the occasional controversies over Blume’s frankness about puberty and sex.

The full list of winners has been announced for the 2022 Critics Choice Awards!

The 1980 comedy hit 9 To 5 came at a crucial turning point for women in the workplace. Star/Producer Jane Fonda explains in the new documentary of its creation and the movement that spawned it, that she and producting partner Bruce Gilbert wanted to do a serious film on the struggle women had endured for decades, but instead decided that to get anyone to pay attention the only way to do it was with laughs. Thus a smash hit comedy was born, initially with a screenplay by Patricia Resnick that as she explained was met with creative differences, and then later saw its problems solved when ironically a man, the late Colin Higgins (Harold And Maude) came in to write and direct the final film.

Ariana DeBose is celebrating two projects at the 2022 AFI Awards!

Addie Morfoot ContributorRory Kennedy and Mark Bailey’s Moxie Films has partnered with Imagine Documentaries to develop and co-produce a slate of new nonfiction fare.The partnership with the nonfiction division of Brian Grazer and Ron Howard’s Imagine Entertainment and Moxie Films is a multi-year agreement.Headed by Sara Bernstein and Justin Wilkes, Imagine Documentaries recently co-produced Kennedy’s “Downfall: The Case Against Boeing,” which Bailey wrote and produced. The Netflix docu, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in January, is an investigation of two Boeing 737 Max crashes that occurred within five months of each other in 2018 and 2019 that killed a combined 346 people.

Dolly Parton may have dazzled as host of the recent ACM Awards but there was something weighing heavily on her mind which she's since opened up about. On the night of the country music ceremony, Dolly took a moment to think about the people of Ukraine and send prayers to the citizens of the war-stricken country. MORE: Inside Dolly Parton's 56 year marriage to husband she met when she was 18During a virtual appearance on the UK's The One Show, Dolly explained why she felt she had to cast light on it and shift the focus to a more serious one. WATCH: Dolly Parton makes heartfelt confession about hosting ACM Awards "Well," she said. "I felt that it was not only important but urgent to do it because there's so much grief and so much sorrow.

Dolly Parton couldn’t stay silent.