Quantcast
Channel: Culture & Arts
Viewing all 18483 articles
Browse latest View live

'Banksy' Instagram Account Shares Simple But Beautiful Tribute To Charlie Hebdo Cartoonists

0
0
Following the attack on Charlie Hebdo offices in Paris, a popular Instagram account attributed to street artist Banksy shared this quiet yet poignant image:

RIP

A photo posted by Banksy (@banksy) on






The caption simply reads: RIP. This account is not related to the BanksyNY Instagram account previously associated with the artist. The account, which boasts nearly one million followers, has also not been authenticated. Nonetheless, the image has been steadily making the rounds today.

Update: Animal NY claims the Banksy Facebook account that shared the image is "fake." As of publishing this update, the image has been shared nearly 80,000 times on Instagram alone.

For more on the ways artists have shown support for the slain Charlie Hebdo cartoonists, check out our previous post here.

Bill Cosby Returns To Stage For First Time Since November While Some Protest

0
0
KITCHENER, Ontario (AP) — Bill Cosby got a standing ovation from Canadian fans at the end of his first show since November, but protesters outside braved below-freezing weather to shame the ticket-holders as they streamed in.

Cosby's show in Kitchener was the first of three performances planned in Canada's Ontario province and come in the wake of sexual assault allegations from more than 15 women. The entertainer saw at least 10 performances get canceled on his North American tour. Wearing a sweater saying "hello friend," Cosby climbed the stage decorated with two giant posters of him with Nelson Mandela. Some in the audience gave loud whoops but the reception was subdued compared to the standing ovation at his last stage performance in Florida.

"First of all thank you," Cosby said to the audience before starting his routine with some cold weather jokes.

There were no disruptions during the performance and the polite crowd laughed throughout.

"I had a wonderful time," Cosby said before leaving to a standing ovation.

Some ticket-holders had said they would boycott the performance, and the 2,000-seat venue was about two-thirds full.

Outside the Centre in the Square, more than a dozen protesters came out in sub-freezing temperatures, carrying signs saying "rape is no joke." Some shouted "you support rape" and "shame on you" at fans.

But fans defended Cosby as they arrived.

"I'm skeptical of all the accusations," said Gerald Reinink. "I always loved Cosby, good family humor. Why are 20 women coming out now when it's 20, 30 years ago?"

Cosby, 77, is also scheduled to appear at the Budweiser Gardens in London on Thursday and at the Hamilton Place Theatre in Hamilton on Friday.

The comedian, who starred as Dr. Cliff Huxtable on "The Cosby Show" from 1984 to 1992, earning a reputation as "America's Dad," has never been charged in connection with any of the sexual assault allegations. A 2005 lawsuit by a Pennsylvania woman was settled before it went to trial, and he is being sued by a woman who claims he molested her in 1974 and by three other women who allege they were defamed by the comedian when his representatives denied some of the allegations.

Most of the women say he drugged them before he assaulted them.

Hours before Cosby took the stage, attorney Gloria Allred said three more women are accusing the comedian of drugging and sexually assaulting them in Las Vegas or Los Angeles between 1981 and 1996. Allred said at a news conference in Los Angeles that the accusations are too old for criminal charges or lawsuits.

Phylicia Rashad, who played Cliff Huxtable's wife Claire on the Cosby Show, defended her co-star in an interview Wednesday with ABC World News Tonight. Rashad said she believed the allegations are part of a campaign to run Cosby's legacy.

"He's a genius. He is generous, he's kind, he's inclusive," said Rashad, who first spoke to Roger Friedman earlier this week for his Showbiz911 blog. "This is not about the women. This is about something else. This is about the obliteration of legacy."

The show in Kitchener was Cosby's first since Nov. 21 in Melbourne, Florida, where he was greeted by an adoring audience that laughed so hard they slapped their knees and rose to their feet as he came and went.

Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic said he would attend an alternative event that was organized to raise awareness of sexual assault at the same time as Cosby's show.

Aatif Baskanderi said he put his six tickets up on the online site Kijiji after he and his family decided they couldn't go in light of the allegations. He said six tickets that cost $600 went for just $220. He said they tried to get a refund but couldn't.

Baskanderi, whose family is of Pakistani origin, said his family had looked up to Cosby because his TV show portrayed professional minorities in a positive light.

"We grew up watching the "The Cosby show" as an illustration of civil rights," he said. "It feels like no one is treating these women seriously. It kind of goes against what we connected to the "The Cosby show" as being representative of civil rights. It turned us off."

London Mayor Matt Brown said the promoter should consider canceling the London show and Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne said she wouldn't attend any of Cosby's shows in the province because of the "very serious" allegations.

Cosby's promoter, Adam Epstein of Chicago-based Innovation Arts & Entertainment, said he is legally obligated to move ahead with the shows in Canada, and said it would send the wrong message to other artists if he canceled.

Scott Warren, the general manager of the Hamilton Place Theatre, said the theater is bound by a contract with the promoter and would risk being sued if the show were canceled.

___

Associated Press writer Frazier Moore in New York contributed to this story.

This A Capella 'Frozen' Cover Will Have You Building Snowmen All Day

0
0
It's cold out there. Who isn't listening to the "Frozen" soundtrack?

In case Idina Menzel and Kristen Bell aren't doing it for you today, a cappella artist Peter Hollens -- also famous for his "Wicked," "Phantom Of The Opera" and "Fields Of Gold" covers -- teamed up with singer-songwriter Colleen Ballinger for an a cappella rendition of four "Frozen" songs.

The duo covered "Do You Want To Build A Snowman," "For The First Time In Forever," "Love Is An Open Door" and "Let It Go" -- and it's all magical. Happy listening!

H/T Mashable

28 Striking Wedding Photos You Don't Want To Miss

0
0
After we published our picks for the 25 Must-See Wedding Photos From 2014, we received an overwhelming number of emails from brides, grooms and photographers alike telling us about all the incredible shots we missed.

We had so many great submissions, in fact, that we decided to do a follow-up post. Below are 28 of the best photos we received.



Keep in touch! Check out HuffPost Weddings on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Director Of Detroit Institute Of Arts To Retire In June

0
0
DETROIT (AP) — The director of the Detroit Institute of Arts, who helped to protect the museum's collection from possible sale during the city's bankruptcy and spearheaded a $158 million overhaul of the cultural attraction, on Thursday announced his plan to retire.

Graham Beal plans to step aside June 30 after nearly 16 years as director, president and CEO. In a statement, he offered thanks to those whose talents and passion for the museum helped bring what he described as artistic, scholarly, political and legal success. "It has certainly been quite a ride with some amazing highs far outweighing the other kind," said Beal, 67.

Beal's tenure included 2001 to 2007 renovation and reinstallation of the museum's collection as well as approval of a 10-year property tax in 2012 from residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties to support the museum. The city's financial turmoil, however, threatened to put the museum's future in doubt.

The museum was the focus of debate over whether city-owned art should be sold to ease the blow of Detroit's bankruptcy. An $800 million promise from foundations, major corporations and the state, called the "Grand Bargain," helped protect the collection.

"Graham has also led the museum through extremely challenging economic times, developed international stature and respect for the DIA, strengthened the collection and initiated a culture change that resulted in the museum becoming more accessible to all," said Eugene Gargaro Jr., the DIA's board chairman.

Instead of the more traditional museum model of grouping objects by time period or style, the museum used techniques honed in the presentation of temporary or traveling exhibits to showcase its permanent collection. It also boosted community outreach, putting up ornately framed reproductions of some of its most significant paintings on the streets of Michigan communities as part of its "Inside/Out" series.

Gargaro is putting together a committee and will hire a firm to find a new director, the museum said.

Beal, whose bow ties were a notable fixture of his attire, is a native of Great Britain with degrees in English and art history from the University of Manchester and the Courtauld Institute of Art. He served as director of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art from 1996 to 1999.

Under Beal's leadership, the institute hosted "Van Gogh: Face to Face" in 2000 and "Magnificenza! The Medici, Michelangelo and the Art of Late Renaissance Florence" in 2003 among its popular exhibitions. It also organized "Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo in Detroit," which opens March 15.

"It has been 10 years since I conceived of the idea for this exhibition and I draw no small pleasure that it will mark my exit as director," Beal said.

___

Online:


http://www.dia.org


___

Follow David Runk on Twitter: http://twitter.com/runkdavi

Pope Francis Hosted Angelina Jolie For An 'Unbroken' Screening At Vatican City

0
0
On Wednesday, word spread that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt would travel to Vatican City to meet Pope Francis. Universal Pictures has since announced that "Unbroken," the biopic directed by Jolie, currently in theaters, screened during the actress' visit.

Currently in Rome for the event, Jolie was joined by Luke Zamperini, the son of Olympic runner and World War II prisoner-of-war Louis Zamperini, who's depicted in the film. The press release Universal disseminated on Thursday made no mention of Pitt's attendance, but the New York Daily News reports that he was unable to make it.

A delegation of Vatican leaders attended the screening, held at the headquarters of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences. "To be invited to screen 'Unbroken' at the Vatican is an honor and a tribute to Louie’s legacy as a man of faith and someone who exemplified the power of forgiveness and the strength of the human spirit," Jolie said in the press release.

As the voting period for Oscar nominations comes to a close, and the movie's awards fate hangs in limbo, the attention "Unbroken" has garnered from the Vatican is reminiscent of last year's "Philomena" screening. The subject of Stephen Frears' movie, 81-year-old devout Catholic Philomena Lee -- whose baby was sold for adoption by a group of nuns years earlier -- attended the event and met Pope Francis. "Philomena" went on to receive four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture.

Artistic Parents-To-Be Announce Pregnancy With Spectacular Mural

0
0
When North Carolina couple John and Sara Jennings learned they were expecting their first child, they decided to tackle a home improvement project to share the big news.

The Jennings, who are both architects and have an Etsy shop together, have no shortage of creative experience. Recently, the couple had discussed making a mural wall in their house, but they were lacking in ideas, Sara told The Huffington Post. Her pregnancy news gave John and Sara the inspiration they needed, and the couple got to work.

time lapse

Using over 13,000 one-inch square pieces of colored paper, John and Sara spent four days filming themselves as they created the the mural. The time-lapse video above shows the couple hard at work until they finish their initial design -- an image of the duo silhouetted against the colorful landscape of a hike they took on their honeymoon in Hawaii. "But something was missing..." the captioning reads.

time lapse

As the time-lapse continues, John and Sara make a small but important addition to the mural: the silhouette of a baby, along with the video caption "Coming In 2015, A New Addition To Our Family!"

mural

The couple emailed the completed video to friends and family, telling them it was their Christmas card, Sara said. "We wanted it to be a complete surprise and it definitely was! Almost everyone thought that the 'something missing' was going to be our dog, Henry," she added.

time lapse mural

While the mural sometimes seemed like a mammoth of a project, the mom-to-be said it helped her channel all of the overwhelming feelings she was experiencing in her first trimester. "Spontaneous ideas are sometimes exactly what people need, especially during an exciting but nerve-wracking time like the first weeks of pregnancy!"

H/T Buzzfeed



Like Us On Facebook |
Follow Us On Twitter |
Contact HuffPost Parents

Here's What Happens When You Try To Secretly Take A Photo Of Emma Stone And Andrew Garfield Eating Dinner

0
0
instagram andrew garfield

Must be some sort of Spidey-sense.

A photograph capturing the moment Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield realized they were secretly being photographed while eating dinner has gone viral from Reddit's homepage. Reddit user TreasureTrolls uploaded the photograph Alejandra Garibay had originally taken and posted to her Instagram account.

Garibay, who goes by @alegb21 on the photo-sharing app, told HuffPost Entertainment that although she seems to somehow be a "celebrity magnet," she doesn't ever take their photos. This was a "special occasion" because her brother is in "love" with Emma Stone, and Garibay just wanted to share that she'd seen Stone and her boyfriend while eating sushi at the New York restaurant, Lure Fishbar.

Ultimately I decided to just take one quickly instead of interrupting their dinner. I would never interrupt their dinner like, "Can I take your picture?" So I just wanted to take one really quickly and I guess they saw me.


Garibay's friend in the foreground of the photo "would never in history take photos of celebrities" and was initially reluctant to get photographed. Garibay laughed, "I was like be cool for my brother." Now that the photograph has gone viral, the friend is cool with her face bouncing around the internet. "She's just laughing a lot, she doesn't care."

Emma Stone recently topped Forbes' List Of Best Actors For The Buck, so maybe that's why she was in a particularly smiley mood? Here's Garibay's smiley-sense:

"We just kind of laughed at each other. They're such a good couple, they're just like little teenagers in love."

Image: Instagram user @alegb21

CLARIFICATION: This article has been edited to reflect that Reddit user TreasureTrolls and Garibay are not acquainted, except through the magic of the Interwebs.

Does Islam Really Forbid Images Of Muhammad?

0
0
Muslims the world over have strongly condemned Wednesday’s terrorist attack against the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, in which 12 people were killed by masked gunmen. The paper is believed to have been targeted because of its history of publishing provocative cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad. But what do the teachings of Islam actually say about creating images of the prophet?

There's no part in the Quran where Muhammad says that images of him are forbidden. But the issue is mentioned in the hadith, a secondary text that many Muslims consult for instruction on how to live a good life.

The theological underpinnings of the ban can be traced back to the very beginnings of Islam in Arabia, according to John Esposito, a professor of Islamic studies at Georgetown University. Early followers of Muhammad held themselves apart from their Christian neighbors, whom they believed to be too deeply attached to icons and images. The ban is also informed by one of the central tenets of Islam -- the idea that the Prophet Muhammad was a man, and not a god.

“It comes from the notion that God is transcendent and that nothing should be put in God’s place,” Esposito told The Huffington Post. “Anything like that is idolatry. You don’t want to have a statue or a picture of God, because people may wind up praying to it.”

For similar reasons, some Muslims object to depictions of Jesus or Moses, who are also considered prophets in Islam. In several Muslim countries, the films "Noah" and "Exodus" were banned this year because of their portrayal of these important figures, CNN reports.

NOT JUST MUHAMMAD

The issue isn’t unique to Islam -- it has also come up in the other Abrahamic traditions. In Judaism, the Bible depicts God as becoming deeply troubled after the ancient Israelites created and worshipped a golden calf. The Byzantine Empire saw the rise of the Iconoclasm movement, a name that literally means “image breaking.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art offers a primer on the period:

Imperial legislation barred the production and use of figural images; simultaneously, the cross was promoted as the most acceptable decorative form for Byzantine churches. Archaeological evidence suggests that in certain regions of Byzantium, including Constantinople and Nicaea, existing icons were destroyed or plastered over. Very few early Byzantine icons survived the Iconoclastic period.


An opposition to icons flared up again during the Protestant Reformation. The prominent Protestant theologian John Calvin wrote fiery sermons decrying man’s audacity in attempting to give God a human form.

“God’s glory is corrupted by an impious falsehood whenever any form is attached to him,” Calvin wrote in his landmark 16th-century work Institutes of the Christian Religion.

At around the same time, during the reign of King Edward VI in England, some believers went as far as to whitewash murals and destroy stained-glass windows that depicted Christ.

'IT WAS QUITE DEVOTIONAL'

In Islam, particularly in the Sunni tradition that developed in Arabia, there was never a strong impulse to represent Muhammad with images, according to Christiane Gruber, a professor of Islamic art at the University of Michigan. This resulted in the explosion of another kind of art that was used to beautify sacred spaces: elaborate calligraphy and intricate geometric patterns.

islamic calligraphy
An Egyptian worker engraves Arabic calligraphy as part of a three-year, $1.4. million project to restore the Aslam al-Silahdar Mosque in Cairo.


But the so-called "Muslim world" is not a monolith, and in fact, faithful Muslims have created images of the prophet for centuries.

Gruber says the earliest paintings of Muhammad date from around the 1300s and originated in a region now made up of Turkey, Iraq and Iran. These were miniature images that would have been found in handwritten manuscripts illustrating the prophet’s life and teachings. Such manuscripts were rare luxuries, meant for private use inside a secular structure, like a king’s palace. They were likely commissioned by a ruling class that was “declaratively Sunni,” Gruber says.

“It was a way for people to read about and contemplate the life of the prophet,” Gruber told HuffPost. “It was quite devotional.”

By the 1500s, artists had begun to cover Muhammad’s face with a white veil, as seen in this example from 16th-century Iran.

Some artists would give the prophet a normal human body, but would draw a bundle of bright flames in place of his head. It was their way of signaling that Muhammad was different -- not that he was divine, but that he was touched by the divine.

THE MODERN ERA

Artwork featuring Muhammad had become less common by the 1800s, although many examples still exist in Iran and Turkey. While the practice isn’t explicitly prohibited in the Quran, a consensus gradually developed among Muslim scholars that images of the prophet just aren’t acceptable.

The turning point came in 2005, according to Gruber, when the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published a series of cartoons depicting the prophet. Muslim leaders around the world came forward to categorically condemn all images of Muhammad. Unlike the paintings lovingly created by devout Muslim artists in past centuries, some of the Danish cartoons, which were widely reprinted in Western media during the controversy, were unmistakably meant to provoke.

“It was a reactionary, traditionalist response to an event that was considered extraordinarily disrespectful to Muslim sensibilities,” Gruber said of the outcry in Muslim communities. “The problem with the images is not so much that they are images but that they are disrespectful images.”

Extremists latched onto the cartoons as an opportunity to cause chaos and violence. Similarly, in 2011, Charlie Hebdo’s office in Paris was firebombed after the paper ran another inflammatory cover featuring the prophet.

In 2012, an Egyptian-American immigrant named Nakoula Basseley Nakoula uploaded a video to YouTube called “Innocence of Muslims,” which depicted Muhammad as a drunk and a pedophile. The video led to international outrage, and The New York Times has suggested that the video helped to fuel the attacks on a U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, on Sept. 11, 2012.

Imam Dr. Omar Shahin, the president of the North American Imam’s Federation, emphasized the importance of showing respect for other people's deeply held religious beliefs. He doesn't believe the prophet should ever be represented in an image. But he insists that the only proper ways for Muslims to speak out against depictions of Muhammad are by taking legal action or by educating the public -- not by committing acts of violence.

“What those Muslims did was wrong, but what the newspaper did is also wrong. Two wrongs don’t make one right,” Shahin told HuffPost. “But we do not approve killing people, regardless of the reason. To us, this is a crime, and no Muslims should allow this to happen.”

charlie hebdo vigil
Papers reading 'We are Charlie' lie on the ground while people gather at a vigil in front of the French Embassy in Berlin following the terrorist attack in Paris on Jan. 7, 2015.


Authorities haven’t yet confirmed the motivation behind Wednesday’s shooting, and the principal suspects are still at large as of this writing. Esposito said this type of terrorist attack is often committed by radicalized militants who use religion to legitimize their cause.

“Given this kind of profile, these are people who really believe that there is a clash of civilizations and want to promote a clash,” said Esposito.

But violence of the kind seen on Wednesday is by no means an inevitable result of religious differences. Many, like Omid Safi, director of Duke University's Islamic Studies Center, believe that a compromise can be reached -- and Safi says it will begin with acknowledging and reclaiming Islam’s rich art history.

"There are other options available to Muslims than either accepting the Danish Cartoonist caricatures of the Prophet, or responding in pure anger and hatred," Safi wrote in a 2010 blog post for FaithStreet. "One such answer is a return to the rich pietistic Islamic tradition of depicting the Prophet who was sent, according to the Qur’an, as a mercy to all the Universe."

In an email to HuffPost Thursday, Safi argued that while "we need to hang on to and honor freedom of speech," people still need to be mindful of how they use that freedom.

"Yes, the freedom of speech includes the right to speak offensive words, including words that disturb and unsettle," he wrote. "I simply want us to always keep the context in mind ... I wonder how much we have gained if we honor free speech and degrade human beings. I have no ultimate answers, but I do wonder."

CORRECTION: A previous version of this article said that Safi is a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is at Duke University.

Charlie Hebdo Attack Reminds Arab Cartoonists Of Risks Faced At Home

0
0

* Egyptian cartoonist shocked by support for Paris killings
* Arab satirists caught between Islamists, autocratic states
* If warnings don't work, then kill - Islamic State fighter
* Turkish satirists get Twitter threats
By Ali Abdelaty and Maggie Fick
CAIRO, Jan 8 (Reuters) - After Egyptian cartoonist Andeel took to social media to condemn the slaughter of colleagues in Paris, he received expressions of sympathy - often not for the victims but for the suspected Islamist gunmen.
Some respondents on his Facebook page criticized the attack at the offices of the Charlie Hebdo newspaper, in which 12 people including several of France's top cartoonists were shot dead on Wednesday.
But Andeel was alarmed by the level of backing for the killings at the French weekly which is known for mocking religion, including Islam. The 28-year-old satirist said he feared voices of moderation were being drowned out because expressions of hate "are always a lot more colorful and loud."
The Charlie Hebdo killings were thousands of kilometers from Cairo, and yet reminded Arab cartoonists of the risks they face from those who draw a red line when it comes to criticism of the Prophet Mohammad and their faith.
"A lot of people showed so much support for these crimes which is really weird and kind of crazy," Andeel said. "I wanted to discuss how people think that making fun of the Prophet or Islam is unacceptable and is considered a crime," he told Reuters, adding that he wondered how people could consider "killing as the right reaction."
Freedom of expression was meant to flourish after the Arab Spring revolts brought down autocrats across much of the Middle East and North Africa. Nearly four years later, many people are still watching their step.
Authoritarian rule has returned to many Arab countries while the rise of Islamic State militants who have seized large areas of Iraq and Syria also poses dangers to anyone who dares to debate religion.
Chief among them are satirists, who had felt a greater sense of freedom after the autocrats were toppled in 2011.
"I see what happened (in Paris) as a continuation of what is going on in Syria and Iraq ... The same mentality," said Hany Shams, a cartoonist at Egypt's government-run Akhbar Al-Youm newspaper.

"KILLING THEM IS BETTER"
In the Iraqi city of Ramadi, Islamic State foot soldier Abu Saaduldin al-Quraishi laid down the limits of his group's tolerance. "We do not expect any insults against God, his religion or his prophets," he told Reuters. "We will warn against such behaviors and if that does not work, then killing them is better."
In Lebanon, satirists say things are easier but far from ideal. Stavro Jabra, a cartoonist whose work is published in two dailies, said he had known some of the Charlie Hebdo victims.
"We want to defend the freedom of the press, the freedom of the media and the freedom of opinion. This is our mission," said Jabra. Lebanon had more freedom than other Arab countries, but there were still limits that applied to local leaders as well as the multi-ethnic country's religions. One such was Hassan Nasrallah, leader of the Shi'ite Muslim movement Hezbollah.
"We can't get into religions ... If you draw Nasrallah, they will attack you," said Jabra. "If you draw this person or that, it's forbidden. You get threats, phone calls, emails saying 'this cannot be drawn'."
Outside the Arab world in Turkey, cartoonists were targeted by some Islamist writers on Twitter after the Paris attack.
Ibrahim Yoruk, a columnist at the newly-established Vahdet newspaper, warned Turkish satirical magazine Penguen under the #CharlieHebdo hashtag. "You can't do humor by insulting the faith of the people, Penguen. You should realize this," he said.
Another user, whose account seemed later to have been suspended, took to Twitter to threaten another satirical weekly called Leman. "God willing the next will be Leman magazine, although there's more than 12 there to be decapitated," the user tweeted under the same hashtag. (Aditional reporting by Mahmoud Mourad in Cairo, Saif Hameed in Baghdad and a correspondent in Iraq's Anbar province, Tom Perry in Beirut and Humeyra Pamuk in Istanbul; Writing by Michael Georgy; editing by David Stamp)

Russell Brand Doc Will Open SXSW 2015

0
0
A new documentary about Russell Brand, "Brand: A Second Coming," will open 2015's South by Southwest Film Festival. “Firebrand [and director] Ondi Timoner's bold and lively documentary on Russell Brand knocked us out with its humor, insight and raw energy, pulling back the curtain on a truly passionate figure as he grapples with fame, influence and where we are as a 21st century society," Janet Pierson, SXSW Head of Film, said in a statement. "We are thrilled for the film to kick off our event and excited to see our audiences embrace it with the same enthusiasm that shines out of Brand himself."

In addition to "Brand: A Second Coming," this year's SXSW slate will also include the world premiere of "Hello, My Name is Doris," a new comedy from Michael Showalter with Sally Field and Max Greenfield in starring roles. Also set for the fest: Alex Garland's "Ex Machina" with Oscar Isaac and Domhnall Gleeson, Karyn Kusama's "The Invitation" and a trio of high-profile documentaries.

"Although we're still intensely programming our final selections, we couldn't wait to reveal a glimpse of the great films in store at SXSW Film 2015," Pierson said.

Check out more on the initial burst of SXSW Film Festival features below. The complete festival lineup, minus the Midnighters section and short films, will be announced on Feb. 3. The SXSW Film Festival takes place in Austin, Texas, from March 13 through 21.

BRAND: A Second Coming (World Premiere)
Director: Ondi Timoner
BRAND: A Second Coming follows comedian/author Russell Brand’s evolution from addict & Hollywood star to unexpected political disruptor & newfound hero to the underserved. Brand is criticized for egomaniacal self-interest as he calls for revolution.

A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez Story (World Premiere)
Director: Sara Hirsh Bordo
From the producers of the most viewed TEDWomen event of 2013 comes A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez Story, a documentary following the inspiring journey of 25-year-old, 58-pound Lizzie from cyber-bullying victim to anti-bullying activist.

Ex Machina (North American Premiere)
Director/Screenwriter: Alex Garland
Alex Garland, writer of 28 Days Later and Sunshine, makes his directorial debut with the stylish and cerebral thriller Ex Machina, starring Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac and Alicia Vikander.
Cast: Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac, Alicia Vikander

Hello, My Name is Doris (World Premiere)
Director: Michael Showalter, Screenwriters: Michael Showalter, Laura Terruso
An isolated 60-year-old woman is motivated by a self-help seminar to romantically pursue a younger coworker, causing her to stumble into the spotlight of the Brooklyn hipster social scene.
Cast: Sally Field, Max Greenfield, Beth Behrs

The Invitation (World Premiere)
Director: Karyn Kusama, Screenwriters: Phil Hay, Matt Manfredi
A reunion of old friends turns into a nightmare when one guest, a haunted man whose ex-wife is among the hosts, begins to fear that the night is part of a terrifying agenda.
Cast: Logan Marshall-Green, Tammy Blanchard, Michiel Huisman, Emayatzy Corinealdi, Lindsay Burdge

Mavis! (World Premiere)
Director: Jessica Edwards
Her family group, the Staple Singers, inspired millions and helped propel the civil rights movement with their music. After 60 years of performing, legendary singer Mavis Staples’ message of love and equality is needed now more than ever.

Son of the Congo (World Premiere / SXsports screening)
Director/Screenwriter: Adam Hootnick
Serge Ibaka’s improbable journey has taken him from the violence of Congo to the top of the NBA. In Son of the Congo, Ibaka returns home, hoping his basketball success can help rebuild a country and inspire a new generation to dream of a better life.

In addition to nine full days of film screenings, SXSW Film will ultimately feature over 150 informative and entertaining sessions including previously announced Keynote speakers Mark Duplass, Ava DuVernay and RZA, Featured Sessions, panels, workshops and mentor sessions. The program presents topics that cover the film spectrum. The Film Conference is enhanced by Convergence Programming (open to more than one badge type) which exists at the intersection of Music, Film and Interactive. Popular Convergence tracks include Digital Domain, Future of TV and SXsports.

Here's What The Coachella Lineup Would Look Like If We Were Being Honest

Patton Oswalt: No 'Bigger Weapon Against Oppressiveness' Than Satire

0
0
Patton Oswalt is one of America's most successful standup comics, and for good reason. The best comedians are ones who can observe humanity, make sense of it and then twist that sense into something funny. It is something Oswalt does well, both in his standup and his significant social media presence.

In a HuffPost Live interview Thursday, Oswalt expressed deep sympathy over the attacks Wednesday on French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, which killed 12 people. Muslim extremists took credit for the attack, saying cartoons poking fun at the prophet Muhammad that appeared in the magazine prompted the violent response.

"The villains of the world -- the murderers, the rapists, the religious extremists, the bigots -- they take everything deadly seriously," Oswalt told host Josh Zepps. "The one thing they cannot stand is anyone taking these subjects that are very, they think, are crucial. Not even saying that it's dumb, but making light of it. That's how you can tell."

Oswalt went on to say that making fun of these things, though it provokes laughter, is often the best defense against extremism. It almost demeans the practice, he said.

"There's not a bigger weapon against oppressiveness and evil than satire and bad taste," he said.

Watch the full HuffPost Live conversation here.

Sign up here for Live Today, HuffPost Live's new morning email that will let you know the newsmakers, celebrities and politicians joining us that day and give you the best clips from the day before!

'Game Of Thrones,' 'Veep' And 'Silicon Valley' Set To Return To HBO On April 12

0
0
"Game of Thrones," "Veep" and "Silicon Valley" will return to HBO on April 12, the network announced Thursday at the Television Critics Association winter press tour.

The fifth season of "Game of Thrones" is set to air at 9 p.m., followed by the second season of "Silicon Valley" at 10 p.m. and the fourth season of "Veep" at 10:30. All three shows will span 10 episodes.

"Game of Thrones" is a contender for the Best Television Series - Drama prize at Sunday's Golden Globes, while "Silicon Valley" is up for Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy. "Veep" was snubbed in that category, but Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who's won three consecutive Emmys for the show, is a Best Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy nominee.

Bill Cosby Jokes About Sexual Assault Allegations During Stand-Up Performance

0
0
Bill Cosby, who has been accused of sexual assault by more than two dozen women, told a woman attending his comedy show in Canada on Thursday night that "you have to be careful about drinking around me," according to multiple people in the room.

The woman was reportedly getting up from her front-row seat at Budweiser Gardens in London, Ontario, to get a drink when Cosby asked where she was going. She offered him a drink, according to National Post reporter Richard Warnica and others in attendance.

That's when Cosby made the crack:




Many of Cosby's accusers have claimed he drugged their drinks.

Depending on who did the tweeting, the audience reaction varied from groans to laughs to both gasps and applause.




The 77-year-old comic was occasionally interrupted by hecklers and protesters:




Few images have emerged as the arena was enforcing rules against recording the show. One reporter said he was ejected after trying to record video of a protester being led out by police.




Before the show, protesters braved freezing temperatures and snow outside the arena:




Afterward, Cosby released a statement through his publicist:

"Dear Fans: One outburst but over 2600 loyal, patient and courageous fans enjoyed the most wonderful medicine that exist for human-kind. Laughter. I thank you, the theatre staff (Budweiser Gardens), the event organizers and the London, ON Community for your continued honor and support. I'm Far From Finished."


Cosby has never been charged with a crime.

The performance was the second of three concerts in Ontario, with the final event scheduled to be held Friday night in Hamilton. His next scheduled event after that is Jan. 17 in Denver.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this piece stated that Beverly Johnson had been assaulted by Cosby, but she never made those claims after writing in Vanity Fair that he allegedly drugged her.

'Grand Budapest Hotel' Leads BAFTA Nominees

0
0
LONDON (AP) — Comic confection "The Grand Budapest Hotel" is the surprise front-runner for the British Academy Film Awards, while English acting darlings Eddie Redmayne and Benedict Cumberbatch are competing in the best-actor category.

Wes Anderson's "Hotel" received 11 nominations Friday, including best picture and best director. Ralph Fiennes was nominated for best actor as the unflappable concierge of a chaotic European hostelry. Acting nominees also include Michael Keaton, as a washed-up actor aiming for a comeback in "Birdman." The Alejandro Inarritu-directed movie was nominated in 10 categories, as was James Marsh's "The Theory of Everything," which stars Redmayne as physicist Stephen Hawking.

Redmayne said his acting nomination was "beyond imagination." He insisted he feels no rivalry with Cumberbatch, nominated for playing World War II code-breaker Alan Turing in "The Imitation Game." That film received nine nominations.

"One can try and create a rivalry but it will not happen!" Redmayne said from Los Angeles. "We both absolutely understand people wanting to pitch us against each other, but we are old, old friends and I think he is the most wonderful actor. He is sensational in 'The Imitation Game' and I love watching him. "

Jake Gyllenhaal is also nominated for his performance as a sleazy journalist in "Nightcrawler." But there was no recognition for Timothy Spall, whose performance as artist J.M.W. Turner in "Mr. Turner" took the best-actor prize at Cannes.

Best-actress contenders are Felicity Jones for "The Theory of Everything," Amy Adams for "Big Eyes," Julianne Moore for "Still Alice," Rosamund Pike for "Gone Girl" and Reese Witherspoon for "Wild."

Other front-runners include Richard Linklater's decade-spanning "Boyhood" and Damien Chazelle's drumming drama "Whiplash," with five nominations each.

The best-picture nominees are "Birdman," ''Boyhood," ''The Grand Budapest Hotel," ''The Imitation Game" and "The Theory of Everything."

The separate category of best British picture includes "The Imitation Game" and "The Theory of Everything" alongside tense Northern Ireland drama "'71," alien chiller "Under the Skin" and animated ursine adventure "Paddington."

Winners of the awards, known as BAFTAs, will be decided by 6,500 members of the British film academy and announced at London's Royal Opera House on Feb. 8.

The British prizes are seen as an indicator of likely success at Hollywood's Academy Awards, whose nominees are announced next week.

___

Online: http://www.bafta.org/

Follow Jill Lawless on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/JillLawless

Here's What You Need To Know Before 'Girls' Returns

0
0
HBO's "Girls" returns for its fourth season on Sunday, where we'll see Hannah pursing writing outside of New York City for the first time. A lot happened last season, from Hannah's editor suddenly dropping dead to beach house dances to a drunk and honest Shoshanna rant.

To catch you up before the Season 4 premiere, here's where all the girls left off:

Hannah
hannah

In the Season 3 finale, Hannah had one of her most self-involved moments yet (second-most to networking at her dead editor's funeral). She finds out she's gotten into the Iowa Writers' Workshop and tells Adam right before he goes on stage for his Broadway debut. After the show, Adam was pissed at Hannah, blaming her selfishness for what he felt was a bad performance. The two fight in the alley behind the theater, ending the season on a rocky note. Yet despite the trouble, Hannah is shown smiling as she holds her ripped Iowa acceptance letter, and from the Season 4 trailer, we know she's definitely headed to school.

Marnie
marnie

Before Adam and Desi's play, Marnie visits Desi in his dressing room where he ends up kissing her. Let's also not forget Desi has a girlfriend named Clementine, who later approaches Marnie in the bathroom, calling her “a sad, pathetic mess” for trying to seduce Desi. When Marnie tells Elijah about the kiss he warns her that things probably won't end well for her, especially if Marnie and Desi follow through with recording an album together.

Shoshanna
tv show gifs

Image via Tumblr

Shoshanna had a very bad end to her very downhill season. In the finale she finds out she's a few credits shy of graduating from NYU, and proceeds to tear apart her room in a violent fit of rage. Then Marnie stops by to casually tell her that she's slept with Ray, which leads Shosh to tackle Marnie and scream "I hate you" in a hugely gratifying moment. Later, at Adam's play, Shosh admits to Ray that she still loves him and wants him back. Sadly, he doesn't feel the same.

Jessa
jessa

Oh, Jessa. She had a refreshing climb and recovery from rehab last season, but it ended on an uncomfortable, unsettling note. Jessa's boss, Beadie, reveals why she hired her in the first place: so Jessa could get drugs to help Beadie kill herself. Jessa almost follows through with it, feeding Beadie pills in her bed until her boss realizes at the last minute that she wants to live. Luckily Beadie decided against it, or Jessa would've faced serious legal repercussions.

Oh, and another random fact to remember from the Season 3 finale: Caroline is having Laird's baby. Weird, we know.

"Girls" Season 4 premieres on Sunday, Jan. 11 at 9:00 p.m. ET on HBO.

Danish Activist Emma Holten Is Sharing Nude Photos To Combat Revenge Porn

0
0
An ex-boyfriend put nude images of Emma Holten on the Internet -- but she refuses to be ashamed of her naked body.

A new photo series featuring Holten nude, shot by a photographer of her own choice, allow the activist to show her body on her own terms.

(Some images below may be considered NSFW.)

emma holten

The Danish activist was the victim of revenge porn three years ago, when an ex-boyfriend shared intimate photographs on a "creepshot" website. In an essay for feminist website Hysteria, Holten shared some of the disgusting messages she received from people who saw the images:

DO YOUR PARENTS KNOW THAT UR A SLUT?

DID U GET FIRED?

WHAT’S THE STORY BEHIND THIS?

WHO DID THIS TO YOU?

SEND ME MORE NUDES OR ILL SEND THE ONES I HAVE TO YOUR BOSS.



emma holten

Holten decided to reclaim her body by taking and sharing topless photographs of herself. She teamed up with photographer Cecilie Bødker Jensen to create images portraying herself as a human subject, not a sexual object. The series, originally posted by Friktion magazine, shows Holten doing everyday tasks in her apartment.

emma holten

Holten told Elle magazine that she was only able to participate in such a shoot due to her support system and understanding boss. She recognizes that this avenue is not open to many victims of revenge porn -- but hopes that her actions will help some of them regardless.

"I say to victims: You are right, even if you're alone!," Holten told Elle. "You live in a patriarchal culture that seeks to target you for being you, and THEY'RE wrong, and you're right! You had the right to take pictures or video, the men who contact you are misogynistic idiots who just seek to tear you down to build themselves up. Good people believe that you are right, we are fighting for you."


emma holten

Holten's experience, while upsetting, is not uncommon. According to a 2013 MacAfee survey, 10 percent of ex-partners have threatened to release intimate photographs -- and 60 percent of those people follow through on said threats. An estimated 90 percent of revenge porn victims are women.


Activists are pushing to make revenge porn punishable by law worldwide, as is already the case in 13 U.S. states. Holten hopes that her photographs will contribute to the battle against revenge porn by forcing people to consider the difference between these images, willingly posed for and shared as a celebration of her body, and revenge porn, shared without a subject's consent with the intention of humiliating them.

"There is no sexual, visual, acceptable picture without my consent," Holten told Elle. "Without my consent there is only violation."

See more images from Holten and Bødker Jensen's collaboration here.

emma holten

8-Year-Old Pianist With No Formal Training Has Talent That Would Stun Chopin Himself

0
0
This kid's a natural.

In this video, an 8-year-old boy named Jay plays a moving rendition of Chopin’s Fantaisie Impromptu on a public piano at the St. Pancras Station in London.

Jay is a master of the keys, but you might be surprised to find out that he has never taken a class and taught himself to play by watching video tutorials online, according to his mother.

Now if only we could play that well with lessons!

Like Us On Facebook
Follow Us On Twitter

Dad-To-Be Gets Surprise Of A Lifetime In Emotional Photo Booth Session

0
0
Since their first date, photographer Jessica Devins and her husband Michael have loved taking photo booth pictures together, she writes on YouTube. So, when the creative Minnesotan learned she was pregnant with their first child, she knew exactly how to break the news to her hubby.

At a recent photo booth visit, Jessica whipped out a tiny beanie with the word "baby" written on it. Michael's reaction is a beautiful mix of surprise and tear-jerking joy, which the mom-to-be captured on iPhone video.

photo booth pregnancy

Jessica explains in the video description that she filmed other recent photo sessions. "That way he wouldn't be suspicious when I was finally able to share the happy news."

Judging by Michael's reaction, he did not suspect a thing. Jessica posted the video to YouTube on Christmas Eve, and today, it has almost 1.5 million views.

photo booth pregnancy

"We are just over the moon with joy and then to see how many people like our video is just heart warming!!" Jessica writes on YouTube.

Congratulations to the parents-to-be!

H/T Buzzfeed



Like Us On Facebook |
Follow Us On Twitter |
Contact HuffPost Parents
Viewing all 18483 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images