Nashville Film Festival Unveils 2022 Lineup, Bookended by Tanya Tucker, Louis Armstrong Docs (EXCLUSIVE)

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Allison Russell, Brandi Carlile and Billy Strings were among the winners Wednesday night at the Americana Honors & Awards ceremony in Nashville, where the love was spread around among the genre’s current leading lights. Six different performers prevailed in the six voted categories, with newcomer Sierra Ferrell, instrumentalist Larissa Maestro and the husband-wife duo the War and Treaty also coming up winners. The competition can be more inter-familial at the Americana Awards than at other shows, and the three leading nominees — Carlile, Russell and Yola, who had three nominations each — have been particularly tight-knit in supporting and guesting with one another. Carlile was even instrumental in helping get Russell her record deal with Fantasy Records.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic On the eve of AmericanaFest in Nashville, Lucinda Williams was celebrated at BMI’s headquarters as the recipient of the performing rights organization’s annual Troubadour Award, where an invitation-only crowd heard Williams’ songs covered by Jason Isbell, Angel Olsen, ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, Amos Lee and Madeline Edwards. Other artists saluted Williams via taped congratulations, like Robert Plant and Dwight Yoakam, who called giving Williams the lifetime achievement award “long overdue.” Maybe it wasn’t that long overdue: Williams is only the fourth artist to get the Troubadour honor since it was instituted in 2017, following in the footsteps of John Prine, John Hiatt and Robert Earl Keen.

Brent Lang Executive Editor It was supposed to be all about the movies. But even here at the Toronto International Film Festival, an ocean away from the United Kingdom, the death of 96-year-old Queen Elizabeth II has loomed large. It has provided an opportunity for festival organizers, filmmakers and talent to reflect on the life and legacy of a monarch whose 70-year reign ranks as the longest in her country’s history. That’s partly due to Canada’s status as a member of the British Commonwealth, but it’s also because the festival is such an international A-list affair, one that attracts movie stars and directors who have often had personal encounters with the queen.

The closing ceremony for the 2022 Venice Film Festival just took place and the awards winners have been revealed.

Kit Harington gets ready to snap a picture with a fan while arriving for the premiere of his new movie, Baby Ruby, during the 2022 Toronto Film Festival at Royal Alexandra Theatre on Friday (September 9) in Toronto, Canada.

Kelly Clarkson has joined forces with Dolly Parton to put a unique spin on the classic track “9 to 5″.

Ana de Armas chose to pay tribute to not one but two a classic Marilyn Monroe style moments. The Cuban actress hit the Venice Film Festival red carpet for the premiere of  'Blonde' where she plays the legendary 1950’s film star in the upcoming Netflix biopic.  Apparently Ana broke down in tears at the end of the screening, after receiving a 14-minute standing ovation for her dazzling portrayal of Marilyn.

Brad Pitt joins Ana de Armas and the rest of the cast of Blonde on the red carpet at the film’s premiere during the 2022 Venice Film Festival Thursday (September 8).

Blonde,” at the Venice Film Festival this week.While promoting the film by director Andrew Dominik, the 34-year-old actress arrived at the festival in black Gianvito Rossi heels and a royal blue Louis Vuitton number, her micro-shorts reminiscent of Monroe’s, Vogue reported.The blond icon, who became Hollywood’s epitome of sex in the 1950s, was known for often wearing the pinup-inspired Daisy Dukes. While de Armas’ shorts were a bit longer, she still brought Monroe’s classic style into the present day.De Armas, who was born in Cuba, gave another ode to Monroe while in Venice when she blew a kiss to the crowd — a gesture almost identical to Marilyn’s way of greeting fans.Despite the A-list backlash the “Knives Out” actress received over her casting — namely, critics spitting on her “bad” accent — the Monroe estate defended her being cast in the movie, based on Joyce Carol Oates’ 2000 novel.Marc Rosen, the president of entertainment at Authentic Brands Group which owns the Marilyn Monroe Estate, said de Armas has “big shoes to fill.”“Based on the trailer alone, it looks like Ana was a great casting choice as she captures Marilyn’s glamour, humanity, and vulnerability.

Mark Rylance in cannibal-love story Bones and All, which debuted on Thursday. The 26-year-old posed for photos alongside his co-star Russell, who opted for a green gown with a large bow on the front, which she paired with long, white gloves. Earlier this year the actor attended the 94th Academy Awards wearing no shirt underneath an embroidered lace jacket and high-waisted pants from Louis Vuitton.

Apple today revealed when original films “Causeway,” starring Jennifer Lawrence, and the documentary “Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues” will hit the streaming service. Both films are due to premiere at Toronto International Film Festival next week.The A24-produced “Causeway” debuts on Nov.

Brent Lang Executive Editor “Causeway,” a new drama starring Jennifer Lawrence as a soldier adjusting to life after returning home to New Orleans, will premiere on Apple TV+ on Nov. 4. The streaming service also announced that “Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues,” a documentary about one of the founding fathers of jazz, will hit Apple TV+ on Oct. 28. Both films are world premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival, where the company is screening five features, the largest number of Apple Originals to debut at a single film festival. The Canada-bound Apple lineup also includes “Sidney,” a documentary about Oscar-winning actor and barrier-breaking star Sidney Poitier that is produced by Oprah Winfrey and directed by Reginald Hudlin; “Raymond & Ray,” which features Ewan McGregor and Ethan Hawke as half-brothers; and “The Greatest Beer Run Ever” with Zac Efron and Russel Crowe in a new dramedy from “Green Book” director Peter Farrelly.

Cate Blanchett steps out in two chic looks at the 2022 Venice Film Festival.

Following the unveiling of its world premieres, including Guillermo del Toro’s highly-anticipated animated feature, “Pinocchio,” the 66th BFI London Film Festival (LFF) has announced its full program line-up, which will be presented in cinemas and online across the U.K. Over twelve days from October 5-16, the LFF will return to its flagship venues in the heart of London – BFI Southbank and the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, which between them host Galas, Special Presentations, and Official Competition.

of late, from the translucent Interior NYC gown she wore to Westworld’s season four premiere to the dramatic and cycling shorts she sported on the streets of London earlier this summer.Over at Venice Film Festival, the actor has already delivered a series of stand-out moments—arriving in style in , paired with a clashing Vivienne Westwood bag and bright red gloves. This was quickly followed up with a black tulle skirt and oversized blazer by Rodarte, worn with a black bralette underneath.For her latest red-carpet appearance on Wednesday, August 31, Thompson opted for vintage—stepping out for the White Noise premiere in a sci-fi inspired look from Armani Privé’s autumn/winter 2009 couture show.

K.J. Yossman The BFI London Film Festival has unveiled its full lineup for the festival’s 66th edition, set to take place this October. Among the films that will be screening are “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” #MeToo thriller “She Said,” which tells the story of how two New York Times journalists broke the Harvey Weinstein story, and “The Son,” Florian Zeller’s long-awaited follow-up to “The Father.” Among the films already announced for the festival, which runs from Oct. 5-16, are the world premieres of “Pinocchio,” from Guillermo del Toro and “Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical.”

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic The lineup of performers for the 2023 Americana Honors and Awards has been revealed, with Brandi Carlile, Lucinda Williams, Allison Russell, the Indigo Girls, Chris Isaak and Lukas Nelson among those set to take the stage Sept. 14 at Nashville’s storied Ryman Auditorium. The roster includes mostly artists who are either up for the annual awards or achieving lifetime achievement honors. Other set to perform include Adia Victoria, the McCrary Sisters, James McMurtry, Sierra Farrell, the War and Treaty, Morgan Wade, Neal Francis and Phosphorescent. The longtime band leader for the annual awards show, Buddy Miller, will be back with a crew of musicians that includes the aforementioned McCrary Sisters, Don Was, Larry Campbell, Brady Blade, Jen Gunderman, Jim Hoke, Rob Burger and Lorenzo Molina.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief The Busan International Film Festival will further honor its co-founder and former programmer Kim Jiseok, who died suddenly in 2017, by expanding the existing prize in his name into a fully-fledged competitive section. Previously, the Kim Jiseok Award was given to one of ten films selected from the ‘A Window on Asian Cinema’ sidebar which introduces new films from significant Asian directors, defined as those who have each made more than three films.  “Starting this year, the Kim Jiseok Award nominees have been sorted into a section of their own, namely the ‘Jiseok’ section. Also, Korean films will be included in the ‘Jiseok’ section,” Busan organizers said. “This program section aims to both reinforce the spirit and determination of [Kim], who devoted himself to the growth and support of Asian films, and direct attention to the nominated works.”

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Country superstar Jason Aldean and his wife Brittany Aldean have become increasingly outspoken as conservative activists, without too much commentary or pushback from more centrist or liberal-leaning country stars. But when Brittany Aldean posted what many viewed as a transphobic joke to her Instagram account, Cassadee Pope and then Maren Morris jumped in defend the LGBTQ+ community — which then led to a war of words with another conservative Nashville celebrity, Candace Owens. The exchanges got contentious enough that Morris said, presumably addressing Brittany Aldean: “It’s so easy to, like, not be a scumbag human? Sell your clip-ins and zip it, Insurrection Barbie.” Responded Brittany: “Karen Morris, thanks for calling me Barbie,” sealed with a kiss emoji.

EXCLUSIVE: The Points North Institute today announced recipients of three of its prestigious fellowship programs, ahead of next month’s Camden International Film Festival in Maine.