With ‘The Hand of God,’ Director Paolo Sorrentino Pens an Ode to His Youth

READ MORE: Tom Parker's wife sets up fundraising page in honour of her husband Video: Emmerdale Soap Scoop! Dawn in big trouble (Digital Spy (UK))Dee is also married to ITV This Morning presenter Dermot O'Leary. Dermot is best known as the host of ITV singing show The X Factor from 2007 - 2018 and hosting the spin-off shows X Factor: The Band and X Factor: Celebrity.

Nottingham Forest have beaten Chelsea in the semi-final of the FA Youth Cup to set up a clash with Manchester United in the final.

Afternoon all, Max Goldbart here looking back on quite a week. Lots to digest so the Insider has you covered. Read on.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentItalian TV host Alessandro Cattelan will be among the three MCs of the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest, along with Italy’s Grammy-wining singer Laura Pausini and Lebanese/British pop star Mika. In addition to preparing for the biggest night for music in Europe, he recently made his debut on Netflix with one-man show “One Simple Question.” In the show, Cattelan embarks on a road trip in pursuit of a seemingly simple answer to a question from his daughter, Nina: “Daddy, how do you find happiness?” The quirky six-episode series, which dropped in 190 countries on March 18, sees the showman display his trademark deadpan humor as he searches for happiness through interviews and set-pieces with celebrity guests ranging from retired Italian soccer star Roberto Baggio, who is a practicing Buddhist, and Oscar-nominated director Paolo Sorrentino (“The Hand of God”), to a couple who are amateur porn stars and former Google X exec Mo Gawdat, author of a book titled “Solve for Happy.” Cattelan, who cut his teeth working for MTV and subsequently hosted the talent show “The X Factor” on Sky in Italy, talked to Variety about making the leap into the global streaming arena ahead of his gig for Eurovision, for which his main aspiration is “to make people laugh.” A dozen years ago I had an idea for a show where I would go on a road trip around the U.S.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentIn a move that will transform Italy’s relationship with Netflix, the Italian government has set a firm three-month time window between a movie’s theatrical release and when it can drop on a streaming platform.The announcement was made by Italian Culture Minister Dario Franceschini during a Rome confab on the state of the country’s film industry held by the country’s motion picture association ANICA.The minister said he has signed a law that will extend the existing 90-day theatrical window for Italian films that had benefitted from government subsidies to now include all films, regardless of where they are produced or how they are financed.Due to its having a more flexible windowing policy than France, Italy in recent years has been an interesting testing ground for the theatrical releases of Netflix titles, largely because the Venice Film Festival is a frequent launching pad for the platform’s original films.

Paul McCartney has penned a lengthy tribute to late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, who died in Colombia last Friday (March 25).Since news of the tragic death was announced by the band, tributes have been pouring in from across the music world and beyond.McCartney – who collaborated with Foo Fighters on their 2017 album ‘Concrete and Gold’ and most recently invited them to play ‘Get Back’ with him at their 2021 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction – has now taken to Twitter to pay an emotional tribute to Hawkins.“Taylor’s sudden death came as a shock to me and the people who knew and loved him,” his message began.“Not only was he a GREAT drummer but his personality was big and shiny and will be sorely missed by all who were lucky to live and work alongside him.”McCartney added: “I was asked by the Foo Fighters to play on one of their tracks. It turned out that they wanted me to play drums! – on one of Taylor’s songs.

The BAFTAs have announced the shortlist for their 2022 TV awards.This Morning star Alison Hammond has received a nomination in the entertainment performance category, alongside the likes of Graham Norton and Joe Lycett. Sharing her excitement at her nomination on Wednesday morning, Alison posted a photo of her clutching a BAFTA and looking shocked while she joked that she’d love to win the award so it could prop her kitchen door open.The 47 year old wrote: “I mean a @bafta Nomination was not the first thing I thought today was going to bring , I am absolutely BUZZING ! “Our worth should not be measured with awards and trophies , however I have felt how heavy a Bafta is and would really love it to keep my kitchen door open”.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentThe Rome Film Festival is under new management following a political shake-up that has led to the appointment of RAI Cinema executive Paola Malanga as the fest’s artistic director and Gian Luca Farinelli, who heads the Bologna film archives, as president.Malanga, who was appointed late on Tuesday, replaces Antonio Monda, the New York based journalist and film academic who during his seven-year stint at the helm of the event secured a steady stream of high-caliber guests such as Quentin Tarantino, Tim Burton and Angelina Jolie, to mention a few names on the Rome red carpet at last year’s edition.Farinelli –– who has been appointed president of the Cinema Per Roma foundation that oversees the Rome fest –– takes the reins from Laura Delli Colli, a prominent film journo and critic who remains on the foundation’s board. The new Rome fest regime was prompted by the election last October of new Rome mayor Roberto Gualtieri.The Eternal City extravaganza, which is the brainchild of former Rome mayor Walter Veltroni, has been undergoing management shake-ups due to Italy’s political spoils system ever since its launch in 2006 with Nicole Kidman on the red carpet and ambitions to rival Venice.While Delli Colli exited gracefully, Monda’s departure has been a bit more acrimonious.

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Joe Otterson TV ReporterBetty Gilpin will star in the lead role of Damon Lindelof and Tara Hernandez’s upcoming Peacock drama series “Mrs. Davis,” Variety has learned.The series was originally ordered in May 2021.

In “The Hand of God,” the Italian director Paolo Sorrentino conjures memories of his formative years in picturesque Naples. Capturing both the sun-dappled summer days he passed in the company of his larger-than-life family and the profound tragedy that set him on a path toward filmmaking, this partly autobiographical drama focuses on Fabio Schisa (Filippo Scotti), a teenager growing up in southern Italy during the 1980s.

Fremantle Boosts Revenue By 25% For RTL Group

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentThe upcoming Los Angeles-Italia Film Fashion and Art Festival will be honoring Italian directors Paolo Sorrentino (“The Hand of God”) and Enrico Casarosa (“Luca”) as well as costume-designer Massimo Cantini Parrini (“Cyrano”) all of whom have scored nominations for the upcoming Academy Awards. The 17th edition of the pre-Oscars event will be held March 20-26 at Hollywood’s TCL Chinese Theatre and also online.This year’s opening ceremony will be hosted by veteran Italian-American actor Robert Davi, who is also this year’s president of the event. Sofia Milos (“CSI: Miami”) and Hollywood acting coach Bernard Hiller will co-host.Consul General of Italy Silvia Chiave and Italian Institute of Culture chief Emanuele Amendola will also be introducing honorees both at the Chinese Theatre and during a separate March 25 event being held at the Italian Institute of Culture.

Maisie Smith has reportedly landed a lucrative new television gig after quitting her longtime role on EastEnders last year. While the 20 year old isn't quite done with her soap days, as a first look for her return cameo has been released, it appears she has been exploring other on-screen opportunities. And according to The Sun Online, the actress will soon be starring alongside presenters Alison Hammond and Vernon Kay on the reboot of the show Friends Like These.The gameshow was initially hosted by best friends Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly for two years on BBC before Ian Wright took over until 2003.