‘Goodbye Julia’ Leads Critics Awards for Arab Films Nominations Ahead of Cannes Ceremony

Inside Out Toronto 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival has revealed the full program lineup for its 34th edition. The festival champions 2SLGBTQ+ filmmakers from across the globe, and will showcase 106 films from 25 countries, including 30 feature films and 5 world premieres. The festival will take place May 24th to June 1st in Toronto, Canada at TIFF Lightbox as well as online. Inside Out’s Co-Head & Executive Director, Elie Chivi, and Co-Head & Artistic Director, Andrew Murphy, made today’s announcement. ​​ 

2021 Palme d’Or winner Julia Ducournau returns to the Cannes Film Festival this year, but not in competition. Instead, Variety reports that she’ll be on the Croisette shopping her next project, entitled “Alpha,” with FilmNation and Charades handling its sales.

Iranian-French actress Golshifteh Farahani and French actor Tahar Rahim are set to star in Julia Ducournau’s new film Alpha, her third feature after Cannes Palme d’Or winner Titane and breakout debut Raw.

EXCLUSIVE: Goodfellas has boarded upcoming war crime drama Occupation from Ukrainian writer-director Myroslav Slaboshpytskyi (The Tribe). The project, which will be produced by Loveless and Leviathan producer Alexander Rodnyansky alongside Nick Shumaker for Anonymous Content, is being launched to buyers in Cannes this month with Goodfellas repping international sales rights and Anonymous Content and CAA Media Finance co-repping North American rights. 

EXCLUSIVE: Linda Hamilton (The Terminator) and Abbie Cornish (Three Billboards) have come aboard to star opposite Kal Penn in Trust Me, I’m a Doctor, a new film from writer-director Thane Economou (The Wedding Party) that will launch sales at the Cannes Market.

Alicia Keys is a Tony Awards favorite. “Hell’s Kitchen,” featuring Keys’ music and loosely based on her teenage years, earned 13 nominations at the Tony Awards, including best musical and several nods for acting. Alicia Keys makes her dreams come true as ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ hits BroadwayAlicia Keys and Swizz Beatz host art exhibition in New YorkA post shared by Alicia Keys (@aliciakeys)Keys, who wrote the show’s score and arranged its music, shared in an interview that she lost her mind when she learned the show’s nominations.

EXCLUSIVE: Noomi Rapace is set to star in psychological thriller Reckoner, written and directed by Nissar Modi (writer of feature Z For Zachariah) who will be making his movie directorial debut.

Derek Ferguson has warned Rangers captain James Tavernier he must learn from Jordan Henderson and his Saudi Pro League misstep.

Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania’s Oscar-nominated documentary Four Daughters and Sudanese director Mohamed Kordofani’s Lupita Nyong’o-EPed drama Goodbye Julia lead the nominations in the eighth edition of the Critics Awards for Arab Films.

EXCLUSIVE: June Zero, the latest from writer-director Jake Paltrow (Young Ones, The Good Night, De Palma) and producers Oren Moverman (The Messenger, Bad Education), Miranda Bailey (Swiss Army Man, The Diary of a Teenage Girl) and David Silber (Incitement, Junction 48), is set for theatrical release in New York on June 28, Los Angeles July 5 and nationwide July 12 by Cohen Media Group.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Saudi director and producer Osama Alkhurayji’s debut feature film “Siwar” recently wrapped principal photography in AlUla, the swathe of northwest Saudi Arabia comprising ancient artifacts, a lush oasis and sandstone canyons that’s becoming a burgeoning local film production hub. “Siwar” involves two families – one Turkish, the other Saudi – whose fates become entangled due to a revelation about their newborns.

Actor Mohammed Elshehri belongs to a generation of emerging Saudi talents who first cut their teeth on YouTube and are now making their names in film and TV.

The 21st Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) Awards, which highlight Irish filmmakers, television creators and performers, saw Pat Collins’ That They May Face The Rising Sun win Best Film in an upset. Despite earning a second-best 11 nominations, the top award was its only win.

Alex Ritman Cillian Murphy capped off his domination of awards season by claiming the top acting prize for film on home soil. The Oscar, BAFTA, Golden Globe and SAG award winner on Saturday night added perhaps a final statue to his flawless haul for Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer,” when he was named best lead actor at the 21st Irish Film and TV Academy Awards.

Lise Pedersen “The Landscape and the Fury” by Switzerland’s Nicole Vögele took the Grand Jury Prize in the International Feature Film Competition at Swiss doc festival Visions du Réel on Friday. Shot on the Bosnian-Croatian border, which is also the European Union border, the film unveils the struggle of refugees being chased away by police and navigating a terrain still contaminated with mines from the Bosnian War.

BAFTA has confirmed that the 2025 BAFTA Film Awards will be held on Sunday 16 February, 2025.

Pat Saperstein Deputy Editor Quentin Tarantino is no longer planning to make “The Movie Critic,” which he had earlier said would be his final film as a director. It was confirmed Wednesday that the director had given the project a thumbs down. “The Movie Critic” would have been Tarantino’s tenth feature film, but sources say he won’t be looking to rewrite the script or revive the project, but will instead move on to something new.

A drugs kingpin who lived an extraordinary life of luxury funded by crime must pay back almost £3.5million of his ill-gotten gains. Aram Sheibani could face an extra decade in jail if he fails to pay back the huge sum.

EXCLUSIVE: The Arab Film Club, a popular monthly film club on Arab cinema based in London, is expanding. 

NPR has put on temporary suspension the editor who penned an essay that criticized the network for losing the trust of listeners as it has covered the rise of Donald Trump and coverage of Covid, race and other issues.