Hollywood
Anurag Kashyap on the jury of MyFrenchFilmFestival 2015
MUMBAI: Come January, celebrated filmmaker Anurag Kashyap will be seen as a part of the jury of an online French film festival – MyFrenchFilmFestival 2015. Kashyap, who is known for all things niche – especially the films he makes and likes to watch – was a part of the festival’s international jury last year.
Bringing the young generation of French filmmakers to the rest of the world, the festival will feature 10 French feature films and 10 French shorts. Beginning from 16 January 2015, the month long online festival will have these films available for viewing to Indian users who can visit VoD platform www.halfticket.tv to catch all the films, free of cost.
“If there is any language I would learn, it will be French,” said the Dev-D director while talking about his love for French cinema and the upcoming film festival. “The people in France, they support cinema, and the liberation from the moral codes in France makes me envious. French films have always taught me to be brutally honest without any fear. I will never miss any chance to watch any film, being a jury is just an excuse to watch all the films of these new filmmakers. And last year I was a jury of MyFrenchFilmFestival in France so why not now in India?”
While talking about the reaction he expects from these films being made available free of cost in India, Kashyap quipped, “I expect the traffic is so much that the VoD platform Halfticket.tv crashes, and after MyFrenchFilmFestival they have to rebuild their website to show more French and international films.”
Hollywood
Disney chair confident CEO Josh D’Amaro will ‘rise to the occasion’ in Trump–Kimmel row
Board backs new chief as ABC controversy tests leadership early on
NEW YORK: The Walt Disney Company has placed the responsibility of handling the escalating dispute between Donald Trump and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel squarely on its new chief executive, Josh D’Amaro.
Speaking at a business conference in Oslo, Disney chair James Gorman said it would be up to the CEO and his team to determine the company’s response to the controversy surrounding Jimmy Kimmel Live!. He noted that such challenges are not uncommon for large corporations and require careful handling at the leadership level.
The row intensified after both Donald Trump and Melania Trump publicly called for Kimmel’s dismissal following remarks made on his show. The comments, which referenced the First Lady, sparked backlash in the days leading up to a security incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Kimmel addressed the issue on-air, clarifying that his joke was intended as a reference to the couple’s age difference and not an incitement to violence. He also expressed sympathy for those affected by the incident and reiterated his stance against violent rhetoric.
Despite mounting pressure, Gorman refrained from offering specific guidance on the future of the show or the host. Instead, he voiced confidence in D’Amaro’s leadership, describing him as “world class” and capable of navigating the situation effectively.
The episode presents an early and high-profile test for D’Amaro, who stepped into the top role just last month. How Disney balances editorial independence, public sentiment and political pressure will likely shape not just the outcome of this controversy, but also the tone of its leadership in the months ahead.
