Gender Neutral Festival Awards Work in Theory, But Raise Questions in Practice, Say Venice Attendees

The Berlin Film Festival has come clean about its founder, Alfred Bauer, acknowledging the man who launched Germany's premier cinema event 70 years ago had close ties to the Nazi regime and was a key figure in Joseph Goebbels' propaganda efforts. The festival on Wednesday announced the findings of an independent study it commissioned with the Leibniz Institute for Contemporary History to look into Bauer's past.

according to the Hollywood Reporter.The Berlinale festival released the findings of an independent study of Bauer’s past this week, commissioned with the Leibniz Institute for Contemporary History after local media reports in February questioned his legacy.“The new and now scientifically researched findings about Alfred Bauer’s responsibilities in the Reichsfilmintendanz and his behavior in the denazification process are startling,” festival executive director Mariette Rissenbeek said of the

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentA historical probe commissioned by the Berlin Film Festival to investigate the Nazi past of founding director Alfred Bauer has confirmed that his role in the Third Reich’s propaganda body was more significant than previously known.

Jake Kanter International TV EditorThe Berlin Film Festival has published research showing that its founding director Alfred Bauer contributed to the “functioning, stabilisation and legitimation” of the Nazi regime in Germany.Bauer’s name was stripped from the Silver Bear Alfred Bauer Prize in February after German newspaper Die Zeit published a story alleging that he held a previously unknown “high-ranking position in the Nazi film bureaucracy.”Berlinale commissioned the Leibniz Institute for

2020 Emmy Awards on Sunday night with its series, including “Watchmen” and “Succession,” taking home major prizes. “Schitt’s Creek,” meanwhile, swept the comedy categories in its final season.Streaming live from more than 130 cameras stationed in nominees’ homes around the world ― from New York and Berlin, to London and Tel Aviv ― the first-ever virtual Emmys kicked off on Sunday night to celebrate a year in television that already feels like eons ago. About the only normal thing viewers

With a compassionate eye for the downtrodden that has characterized all Gianfranco Rosi’s work, Notturno brings three years of shooting in Middle East war zones to the screen in an impressionistic collage of ordinary people caught up in conflict.

Diego Boneta brings his mom, Astrid, to the Leadership Awards event during the 2020 Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy on Friday (September 4).

Andreas Wiseman International EditorThis has been a Venice like no other. The world’s first COVID-era festival is taking place amid a slew of health and safety protocols and has had to adjust expectations accordingly.

Andreas Wiseman International EditorEXCLUSIVE: Bollywood star Ayushmann Khurrana is the latest celebrity to call for film festivals to adopt gender-neutral acting awards categories.Following in the footsteps of Tilda Swinton, Cate Blanchett and director Kornél Mundruczó, who have voiced their support for the change while at this week’s Venice Film Festival, Khurrana told us: “Gender-neutral awards should become the norm.

Cate Blanchett and Tilda Swinton are both backing the Berlin Film Festival’s decision to do away with gendered acting awards and give only a Best Actor honour.

The Guardian), discussing the matter at this year’s Venice film festival, “you know life is too short for this.“And so I’m really happy to hear that about Berlin and I think it’s pretty much inevitable that everybody will follow. It’s just obvious to me.”Cate Blanchett, president of the festival’s jury this year, echoed Swinton’s thoughts, saying “I have always referred to myself as an actor.“I am of the generation where the word actress was used almost always in a pejorative sense.

Manori Ravindran International EditorTilda Swinton has praised the Berlin Film Festival for its decision to adopt gender-neutral performance awards, calling the move “eminently sensible and good.”The “Human Touch” actor was speaking as part of a masterclass session at the Venice Film Festival on Thursday morning, when she was asked how she felt about Berlin’s initiative — particularly relevant given Swinton’s wide-ranging roles playing non-gendered or queer characters, such as her breakout

Taylor Hill stuns on the red carpet with a pretty Etro gown for the 2020 Venice Film Festival opening ceremony on Wednesday (September 2) in Venice, Italy.

Cate Blanchett walks the red carpet while attending the opening ceremony of the 2020 Venice Film Festival on Wednesday (September 2) in Venice, Italy.

Tilda Swinton accepts the Golden Lion Award on stage at the 2020 Venice Film Festival‘s opening ceremony on Wednesday (September 2) in Venice, Italy.

Manori Ravindran International EditorThe Venice Film Festival stuck to its guns in promising a physical 2020 festival amid a global pandemic, and somehow, it’s pulled it off.

Covid-19 pandemic has had an impact on the red carpet in Venice. That’s not to say, though, that the fashion is anything less than what we’ve come to expect from the Venice Film Festival.

Naman Ramachandran More than 40 leading film festivals, and eight film industry organizations have called on global policy makers to support the sector that has been badly affected by COVID-19.Festivals, including Cannes, Toronto, Berlin, Venice, Busan and San Sebastian, and trade bodies like FIAPF (the International Federation of Film Producers Associations), FERA (the Federation of European Film Directors), FIAD (the International Federation of Film Distributors’ Associations) and UNIC (the

Andreas Wiseman International EditorA film festival is about more than just the films and the festival center. It is about the location, the journey, the experience.