News Broadcasting
AFI to recognise ‘Desparate Houswives’, ‘Sopranos’
MUMBAI: It is awards season time for the American film and television industries. The American Film Institute (AFI) has chosen what it considers to be the best that television and film had to offer this year.
Its television programmes of the year included HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm which airs in India on Zee English and ABC’s Desperate Housewives. The show took ABC to second spot in the November sweepstakes.
The other winners included Fox’s Arrested Development, The Shield which airs in India on AXN and HBO’s The Sopranos which airs on Zee English in India.
Unlike other film or television awards, the AFI selections are made through a 13-person jury process in which scholars, artists, critics and AFI trustees discuss, debate and determine the most outstanding achievements of the year, as well as provide a detailed rationale for each selection. Two AFI juries — one for motion pictures and one for television — convened in Los Angeles for two days of deliberation.
AFI will honor the creative ensembles for each of the honorees at a luncheon on 14 January 2005, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles, California. The jury rationales for each selection will be revealed at this event. In fact three years ago when the AFI first announced their awards they had a ceremony in a bid to compete with the Golden Globes. However, after getting a lukewarm response the organisation decided to simply announce the winners.
As far as the best film list was concerned Martin Scorcese’s The Aviator which is considered by some to be the favourite to win the Best Picture Oscar in February was chosen by AFI as one of the top ten films of the year. Sony’s blockbuster Spiderman 2 also made the cut along with Collateral where Tom Cruise played a ruthless killer, the comedy classic Sideways which deals with wine tasters in California and the mind bender Eternal Sunshine Of the Spotless Mind.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Fury in the Gulf conclave on West Asia crisis
Three-hour summit to unpack geopolitical fallout and impact on India
MUMBAI: CNN-News18 is set to host a special three-hour broadcast, Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave, on April 7, aiming to decode the escalating West Asia crisis and its far-reaching implications for India.
Scheduled from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the conclave comes at a time when tensions between Iran and the United States are reshaping global geopolitics and triggering economic uncertainty. With India’s deep energy ties, trade links and large diaspora in the Gulf, the developments carry significant domestic relevance.
Built around the theme ‘Conflict, Consequences, and The Future,’ the programme will feature six curated sessions combining one-on-one interviews and panel discussions. The focus is to cut through the clutter and offer viewers a clearer understanding of the fast-evolving situation.
Key sessions include ‘Diplomacy in Times of War’ featuring Shashi Tharoor, and ‘World After the Iran Conflict’ with voices such as Ram Madhav, Reuven Azar, representatives from the European Union and the Iranian Deputy Envoy. Another session titled ‘Another Dunkirk?’ will bring together K. J. S. Dhillon and Jitin Prasada among others.
CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar said, “In times of war, clarity becomes the most powerful tool. Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave brings together credible voices to address the questions and confusion that arise amid an overwhelming influx of information.”
He added that the initiative is aimed at delivering “facts, perspective, and insight” at a time when misinformation can easily cloud public understanding.
Echoing the sentiment, CNN-News18 CEO– English and business news Smriti Mehra said the conflict marks a defining global moment, with consequences that extend well beyond the region. She noted that the conclave seeks to present the crisis with “depth, nuance and responsibility” so audiences can better grasp its real-world impact.
As geopolitical tensions continue to dominate headlines, the conclave positions itself as an attempt to bring order to the noise, offering viewers a structured, insight-led look at a complex and rapidly shifting global situation.
