India's 'Village Rockstars' out of Oscar Race
India's official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the Oscars 2018, Village Rockstars, is out of the race for the honour, as is Iram Haq's Norwegian drama What Will People Say, starring Indian actors.
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences on Monday announced that nine films have advanced to the next round of voting in the Foreign Language Film category for the 91st Academy Awards, according to the official Oscars website.
An Assamese movie, Village Rockstars is set in Das' own village of Chhaygaon in Assam. It is the story of "poor but amazing children" who live a fun-filled life.
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‘Manikarnika’ Actor Andy Von Eich Alleges Non-Payment of Dues
Actor Andy Von Eich, who features in Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi, has alleged that he is yet to be paid in full for his performance in the period drama by the production house.
The film, fronted by Kangana Ranaut, has been produced by Zee Studios in association with Kamal Jain and Nishant Pitti.
Von Eich, who plays one of the British officers in the film whose trailer was launched on 18 December, took to Twitter to express his disappointment. "Today #Manikarnika trailer released. I still haven't received full payment for my acting in this movie by the production house. I can't imagine that this is in the sense of #KanganaRanaut if she would know about that. Please help. #ManikarnikaTrailerLaunch #zee #karios," the actor, who hails from Germany, tweeted.
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Netflix Sued for Defamation for 'Making a Murderer'
A retired detective has sued Netflix and the filmmakers of hit series and Emmy award winner Making a Murderer for defamation. Andrew Colborn alleges the documentary series suggested he planted evidence to frame murder suspect, Steven Avery, the BBC reported. His lawyer, Michael Griesbach, says his client has been subjected to "worldwide ridicule, contempt, and disdain" since the show's 2015 debut.
The BBC has contacted Netflix for a comment. The case was filed in Manitowoc County in Wisconsin. "He is filing this lawsuit to set the record straight and to restore his good name," Griesbach said of Colborn.
The 10-part documentary, written and directed by Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos, followed the case of Steven Avery and his 16-year-old nephew Brendan Dassey, who were both convicted of murdering freelance photographer Teresa Halbach.
Variety reports that Colborn's case alleges the filmmakers left out key facts and distorted events in order to argue that Colborn and other officers framed the suspects and manipulated trial testimonies, leading viewers to false conclusions.
"Making a Murderer" was one of Netflix's biggest hits in 2015, with the series collecting four Emmy awards in 2016 for its writing and directing. It has gone on to spawn another series, "Making a Murderer 2", which took up the story after Avery and Dassey were convicted.
(With inputs from IANS)
Film Industry Delegation Comprising Akshay, KJo Meets PM Modi
A delegation representing the Indian film and entertainment industry met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, and pitched for lower and uniform rates of GST for the fraternity.
Actors Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn, filmmakers Karan Johar and Rakesh Roshan, Censor Board chief Prasoon Joshi and Producers Guild of India President Siddharth Roy Kapur were a part of the delegation that met Modi.
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Oscar Journey Has Ended, but It Has Been Incredible: Rima Das
The road to the Oscars has ended for "Village Rockstars" director Rima Das. But looking back at the journey of the Assamese drama, she says it has been one full of love, hopes and aspirations.
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences on Monday announced that nine films have advanced to the next round of voting in the Foreign Language Film category for the 91st Academy Awards. "Village Rockstars", a little film with a big heart, was not one of them.
Sharing a heart-warming photograph of the children in the film, Das wrote an emotional Instagram post about the love that the movie has received in a journey that has seen it travel to festivals in the nooks and corners of the world, reports IANS.