Artist and curators refuse to open Israel pavilion at Venice Biennale until cease-fire, hostage deal
The artist and curators representing Israel at this year’s Venice Biennale have announced they won’t open the Israeli exhibition until there's a cease-fire in Gaza and an agreement to release hostages.
Venice Film Festival unveils A-list lineup with ‘Priscilla,’ ‘Ferrari,’ ‘Maestro’ amid strikes
Bradley Cooper’s Leonard Bernstein drama “Maestro,” Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla Presley movie, Michael Mann’s “Ferrari,” David Fincher’s “The Killer” and Ava DuVernay’s “Origin” will be making their world debuts at the Venice International Film Festival this fall.
Oil drilling in Gulf safer, but concerns linger, report says
A new National Academy of Science study says that 13 years after a massive BP oil spill fouled the Gulf of Mexico, regulators and industry have reduced some risks in deep water exploration in the gulf but some troublesome safety issues persist.
Poitras documentary wins top prize at Venice Film Festival
“All the Beauty and the Bloodshed,” Laura Poitras’s epic documentary about photographer Nan Goldin and her activism against the Sackler family and their art connections has been awarded the Golden Lion for best film at the 79th Venice International Film Festival.
Aronofsky, Iñarritu films set for Venice Film Festival
Darren Aronofsky’s “The Whale,” the Marilyn Monroe drama “Blonde,” Alejandro González Iñárritu’s “Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths” and Guadagnino’s “Bones and All,” with Timothée Chalamet, will all have their world premieres in competition at the Venice International Film Festival this fall.
MLB tests pitch clock, anti-shift, bigger bases in minors
Pitchers, catchers and batters will be able to appeal calls from human umpires to “robo umps” in the Low-A Southeast League this season, while pitch clocks, anti-shift rules and larger bases will be tried in the minors ahead of possible big league use in 2023.
Acclaimed French director Bertrand Tavernier dies at age 79
FILE - In this Sept. 8, 2015, file photo, Director Bertrand Tavernier poses with his Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievements after the award ceremony at the 72nd edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy. Acclaimed French filmmaker Bertrand Tavernier has died at the age of 79, according to French media. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File)PARIS – French filmmaker Bertrand Tavernier, who directed acclaimed movies such “A Sunday in the Country,” “Captain Conan” and “The Judge and the Assassin,” has died, according to his family. Tavernier was married to the late French-Irish screenwriter Claudine O’Hagan, better known as Colo Tavernier, from 1965 to 1980. They had two children together: writer Tiffany Tavernier and director and actor Nils Tavernier.
Meryl Streep, Mary-Louise Parker to star in spring plays
Mary-Louise Parker attends the Broadway opening of "After Midnight" on Nov. 3, 2013 in New York, left, and Meryl Streep arrives at the premiere of the film 'The Laundromat' at the 76th edition of the Venice Film Festival, Venice, Italy, on Sept. 1, 2019. Parker and Streep have signed on to perform in a new virtual play series this spring while Broadway is closed. (AP Photo)NEW YORK – Meryl Streep, Mary-Louise Parker, Audra McDonald, Kevin Klein, Carla Gugino and Keanu Reeves have signed on to perform in a new virtual play series this spring while Broadway is closed. The series kicks off Thursday with “The Thanksgiving Play” by Larissa FastHorse, directed by Leigh Silverman starring Reeves, Bobby Cannavale, Heidi Schreck and Alia Shawkat. The next show — on April 8 — will feature “Angry, Raucous and Shamelessly Gorgeous” by Pearl Cleage directed by Camille A.
Academy Museum to honor Sophia Loren, Haile Gerima at gala
Director Haile Gerima appears at the 65th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, on Sept. 2, 2008, left, and Sophia Loren arrives at the Governors Awards in Los Angeles on Oct. 27, 2019. Loren and independent filmmaker Haile Gerima will be honored with special awards by the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. (Photos by Andrew Medichini/AP, left, and Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is assembling a star-studded cast for its opening gala in September. Italian screen legend Sophia Loren and independent filmmaker Haile Gerima will be honored with special awards, and Tom Hanks, Annette Bening and Bob Iger are being saluted for their efforts to raise $388 million for the long gestating museum, the organization said Monday. Designed by architect Renzo Piano, The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is located at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue in the historic Saban Building.
Chloé Zhao’s 'Nomadland' wins TIFF People's Choice Award
This image released by Searchlight Pictures shows Frances McDormand in a scene from the film "Nomadland" by Chloe Zhao. (Searchlight Pictures via AP)After picking up Venice's Golden Lion award, Chloé Zhao’s “ Nomadland " has won another prestigious honor: The Toronto International Film Festival's People's Choice Award. Zhao's film features Frances McDormand as a widowed wanderer of the modern American West. Set for a Dec. 4 release, “Nomadland” has already been hailed as a top Oscar contender, but winning the audience award at TIFF is promising for its Oscar chances. Other People's Choice winners include Michelle Latimer's documentary “Inconvenient Indian," about Indigenous peoples in North America, and Roseanne Liang's midnight madness selection “Shadow in the Cloud," with Chloë Grace Moretz.
Venice Fest closes amid cheers for daring to open amid virus
(Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)VENICE – The Venice Film Festival is wrapping up the first COVID-era international cinema showcase Saturday, with critics, filmmakers and actors alike cheering organizers for having dared to hold the festival amid a pandemic and demonstrating how to go to the movies again, safely. Once the virus spread, the Cannes Film Festival was canceled outright, and other big international festivals in Toronto and New York opted to go mostly online. “We were a little bit worried at the beginning, of course,” festival director Alberto Barbera said. Twenty-twenty is not the year for those kind of discussions.”Instead, she said, Venice was a film festival that focused on the integrity of the films. The diversity of countries represented is a development that festival director Barbera has greeted with particular satisfaction.
Ann Hui wins lifetime achievement award at Venice festival
Director Ann Hui holds her Golden Lion award for Lifetime Achievement during the 77th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)VENICE Hong Kong director Ann Hui paid tribute to her home city as she received a lifetime achievement award from the Venice International Film Festival. The acclaimed director said she wanted to revert this honor back to Hong Kong, the city where she grew up. Huis impact on the Hong Kong film industry and Asian cinema is second to none. Shes a five-time winner of Best Director at the Hong Kong Film Awards.
Quarantine a small price to pay for Australian in Venice
Director Roderick MacKay poses for portrait photographs for the film 'The Furnace' during the 77th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. MacKay had to get government approval to leave Australia and will spend a total of a month in quarantine because of coronavirus precautions but says it's a small price to pay to bring his first feature film to Venice. But the 33-year-old director says its a small price to pay to get his first feature film,The Furnace, to the Venice Film Festival especially after it took six years to make. So a month in quarantine, really in the scheme of things, is kind of a small blip in the time that Ive taken from my life to realize this project, he said. After Venice, he retraces his steps back to Perth, where a government-appointed hotel quarantine awaits him.
Venice opens 'miraculous' film festival, but veterans lament
Actress Tilda Swinton holds a carnival mask as she poses for photographers upon arrival at the opening ceremony of the 77th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020. Welcome to the Venice Film Festival in the time of coronavirus. We know the festival of Venice will be a sort of test for everybody, said festival director Alberto Barbera. But for veteran Venice festival-goers, the new restrictions created unprecedented hurdles that threatened to shut them out. Carlo Lazzarini has worked at the Venice film festival for 22 years, this year as chief inspector for one of the smaller screening venues.
Blanchett on Venice, virus and why lessons weren't learned
VENICE Australian actress Cate Blanchett said Wednesday she is baffled that other countries didnt learn from Italys pain to be better prepared to fight the coronavirus outbreak when it spread. Blanchett, who is heading the jury at the virus-restricted Venice Film Festival, arrived on the Lido wearing a surgical mask and skipped the typical water taxi photo op that stars have long used. At an opening-day press conference, Blanchett was asked whether she feared coming to Italy, the first country in the West to be slammed by COVID-19. Hospitals, cemeteries and morgues were overflowing in nearby Lombardy, which became the epicenter of the outbreak in Europe. They will award the coveted Golden Lion and other awards to winners of the 18 in-competition films when the festival wraps up Sept. 12.
Venice reclaims spotlight as 1st COVID-era film fest opens
Festival attendees cycle in front of the main cinema ahead of the start of the 77th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020. The 77th edition of the worlds oldest film festival opening Wednesday looks nothing like its predecessors. Italys strict 10-week lockdown largely tamed the virus, but infections are now rebounding after summer vacations. Guests to the glamorous film festival are not exempt. Italian films are well represented, including the first Italian opening-night film in years, the out-of-competition family drama Lacci by Daniele Luchetti.
Venice Film Festival unveils selections for September fete
FILE - In this Friday, Aug. 31, 2018 file photo, actress Cate Blanchett poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'A Star Is Born' at the 75th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy. The lineup for the Venice Film Festival will be announced on Tuesday, July 28, 2020, and will be the first major film event since the coronavirus pandemic lockdown. Barbera noted that almost half of the competition film selections this year are directed by women. The decision to hold the 77th edition of the Venice Film Festival is experienced like a sign of confidence in dnd concrete support of the world of film and the audiovisual industry, Barbera said. Cannes and Telluride were cancelled and others like Venice and the Toronto International Film Festival have had to get creative and scale back where possible in order to proceed.
Chloe Zhoe's 'Nomadland' to premiere across fall festivals
NEW YORK Chloe Zhao's Nomadland, starring Frances McDormand, will premiere across the major fall film festivals in an alliance forged by the Venice, Toronto, New York and Telluride festivals. Nomadland, Zhao's follow-up to her acclaimed 2018 film The Rider, is the first movie announced in the new partnership that has brought together the fall's biggest movie launch pads, which typically compete against each other for world premiere rights. Nomadland will debut across Venice, Toronto and at "Telluride from Los Angeles" on Sept. 11. New York, which named the film its centerpiece, will premiere Zhao's film on a later date. Im thankful to be able to make Nomadland and excited for audiences to join Fern on her adventure.Fox Searchlight is planning to release Nomadland theatrically in the fall.
Flood-weary Venice puts "Moses" inflatable barriers to test
ROME Venice has conducted a trial run of an ambitious anti-flood system of 78 inflatable barriers in hopes of protecting the lagoon city from devastating high tides. The projects name, Moses, recalls the Biblical figure who, the Old Testament recounts, parted the waters of the Red Sea. Had Moses been operational last year, it could have been put to a dramatic test. Flood waters on Nov. 12 invaded St. Mark's Basilica and also poured into homes, hotels, stores and restaurants in the city which lives off tourism. The barriers are designed to protect Venice from tides as high as 3 meters (10 feet).
EU finalizing virus 'safe list,' US unlikely to make the cut
European Union envoys are close to finalizing a list of countries whose citizens will be allowed back into Europe once it begins lifting coronavirus-linked restrictions. The United States appears almost certain not to make the list, as new infections surge and given that President Donald Trump has imposed a ban on European travelers. Importantly, the countries are also expected to drop any travel restrictions they have imposed on European citizens. Infection rates in Brazil, Russia and India are high, too, and their nationals are also unlikely to make the cut. Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzlez Laya said the EU is considering whether to accept travelers from China if Beijing lifts restrictions on European citizens.
Virus lockdown gives Venice a shot at reimagining tourism
In this picture taken on Wednesday, May 13, 2020, gondoliers President Andrea Balbi sails his gondola at the canal Grande (Grand Canal) in Venice, Italy. For years, the unbridled success of Venice's tourism industry threatened to ruin the things that made it an attractive destination to begin with. For years, Venice has faced an almost existential crisis, as the unbridled success of its tourism industry threatened to ruin the things that have drawn visitors for centuries. Now the coronavirus pandemic has dammed off the tide of tourists and hobbled the citys economy. Debates over how to manage tourism have always been heated in Venice and are especially fraught now.
Italy seeks to boost tourism by opening borders June 3
In this picture taken on Wednesday, May 13, 2020, keys hang at the reception of the Saturnia hotel, in Venice, Italy. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)VENICE The Italian government announced Saturday that it will throw open its borders next month, effectively ending Europes longest and strictest coronavirus lockdown just as the summer tourism season gets under way. Both regional and international borders will open June 3, with the government eliminating a 14-day quarantine for anyone arriving from abroad. Such an opening is exactly what tourism operators have been waiting for -- even if European neighbors so far appeared be wary of the unilateral Italian announcement. The hotels last guest -- a determined couple of honeymooners from Argentina -- checked out around March 11, days after Italys lockdown.
How you can help Venice recover from historic flooding
A girl poses smiling days after the second highest tide from 1966 on November 15, 2019 in Venice, Italy. He's calling on the world to help restore its architectural masterpieces, paintings and monuments -- and to help rebuild flooded homes and businesses. Here's how you can helpThe city set up a fund to help support the rebuilding efforts. The London-based charity Venice in Peril has started a fund to help restore monuments, buildings and works of art. The nonprofit has restoration projects ongoing around the city -- and the historic flooding has only made things worse.
Venice flooding hurt cultural, historical sites
(CNN) - Images of the flooded St. Mark's Basilica in Venice have shocked many across the world this week. St. Mark's Basilica, built in the 9th century to house the relics of St. Mark, and one of the world's most famous cathedrals, is one of them. Threat to monuments and cultural institutionsFrom great monuments such as St. Mark's Square and the Doge's Palace to its historical neighborhoods, Venice has one of the highest concentrations of architectural masterpieces in the world. St. Mark's Basilica, which has only been flooded six times in its nine-century history, is currently one of the main concerns for heritage and architectural experts. The baroque-style church of San Mois, just behind St. Mark's Square, is flooded.
Hundreds of young adults mobilize to clean up flooded Venice
And they're helping to clean up Venice during its devastating floods. "When we saw the historic flooding on Tuesday night, we immediately started to gather volunteers to help the city. The first day we were 200 in the Telegram group and on the ground. The main purpose is to clean up Venice from the surge waste that could have devastating effects for the lagoon ecosystem. The young volunteers also helped rescue manuscripts and historic books at the music conservatory that were at risk of being lost forever.
Banksy artwork under floodwater in Venice
A Banksy artwork of a young refugee in a life jacket is partially submerged in Venice's worst floods in 50 years. (CNN) - A Banksy artwork of a young refugee in a life jacket is partially submerged in Venice's worst floods in 50 years -- as the city faces rising water levels on Friday and growing concerns over the extent of cultural damage. The spokesman added that the ministry has included St. Mark's Square, St Mark's Basilica and other historical buildings as areas of special concern. This comes as St Mark's Square was closed on Friday morning in the interest of public safety. Luigi Brugnaro, the Mayor of Venice who tweeted earlier this week that "Venice is on its knees", took to Twitter to share the news.
Venice hit by worst flooding in 50 years
The popular tourist destination has been hit by the worst flooding in 50 years this week, resulting in damage worth hundreds of millions of euros. The flooding came at the worst possible time for Venice. FloodingThe lagoon city was struck by an exceptionally high tide on Tuesday night, causing the worst flooding since 1966. The Italian government is building a complex flood defense system to protect Venice from flooding. Sinking cityThe flooding risk is made worse by the fact that Venice itself is sinking.
1 killed as Venice sees worst flood in 50 years
People walk past a stranded gondola across the flooded Riva degli Schiavoni embankment in Venice, Italy, with St. Mark's Square in the background. The historic crypt of St. Mark's Basilica was inundated for just the sixth time in 1,200 years. It is the worst flooding in Venice since 1966, when the city was hit by tides up to 194 cm (76.4 inches) high, according to government statistics. Francesco Moraglia, the Patriarch of St Mark's Basilica Monsignor, also told reporters: "I have never seen something like what I saw yesterday afternoon [Tuesday] at St. Mark's square. Photos show waters flooding St. Mark's Square in front of the famous Basilica, and spilling into the Gritti Palace luxury hotel.
Venice tourist holds worker hostage in currency exchange
And while peak visitor season may be dying down, bad tourist behavior is continuing to blight the Italian city. The latest incident: a tourist holding a local woman hostage over a disputed money exchange. The tourist -- a 46-year-old Israeli who had been in Venice for several days -- had gone to a currency exchange near the Rialto, and asked to change $100 into euros. But he wasn't happy with the sum he received in exchange, asking to cancel the transaction and get his money back. Their swim came in the same week that footage of a Spanish-speaking tourist headbutting a gondolier went viral.
Venice fines tourists caught skinny dipping in canal
But the carabinieri on boat patrol in Venice soon found that rather than people in trouble, the men in the water were tourists who'd stripped off and jumped in a canal for a swim. Two Czech tourists were fined around 3,000 ($3,320) each for "obscene acts" when they were caught skinny-dipping in the canal near Piazza San Marco on Monday night. "Two men, completely nude, intent on laughing and joking with each other, and trying to catch the attention of passers-by." They told police that they'd decided to go for a swim, adding that it was "a particularly warm evening." Venice has been recently introducing measures to curb tourist bad behavior and restrict the huge crowds of visitors who descend on the city during peak season.
Kristen Stewart: I was told not to hold hands with girlfriend in public
Kristen Stewart walks the red carpet ahead of the "Seberg" screening during during the 76th Venice Film Festival at Sala Grande on Aug. 30, 2019, in Venice, Italy. (CNN) - Kristen Stewart is opening up about her relationships. After the "Twilight" franchise that made her internationally famous, her relationship with co-star and then-boyfriend Robert Pattinson received intense public attention. "When me and Rob were together, we did not have an example to go by," the actress tells British Harper's Bazaar. As for the name-calling, "I try to avoid the word 'awkward'," Stewart says.
Venice to stop letting cruise ships dock in historic center
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images(CNN) - Venice is to start rerouting cruise ships away from its historic center, in a victory for residents tired of the enormous vessels towering over the city's skyline. "The aim is to reroute about one-third of the cruise ships already booked on Venice towards new berths by 2020,"he added. Toninelli said a public consultation would be held to solve the problem of cruise ships in the longer term, with other terminals including Chioggia, at the mouth of the lagoon, under consideration for use. From April to October, an estimated 32,000 cruise ship passengers disembark in Venice daily, according to the Port Authority. The move is not the only effort Venice has made to curb its tourism problem.