Hollywood
Argentinean animation filmmaker feted at first Animation Day at Cannes
NEW DELHI: Animation producers, filmmakers and animation lovers shared news around their work while attending a panel discussion and a screening of their best films from Montreal International Animation Film Festival 2015 at the first Animation Day at the Cannes Film Festival.
The event was held at the Horyou Village located at the grounds of Le Grand Hotel Cannes.
Among the films screened were The Best Short Film Winner Aubade directed by Mauro Carraro (Switzerland), Castillo y el Armado, directed by Pedro Harres (Brazil) and Last Dance on the Main by Aristofanis Soulikias.
The Animation Day concluded with a reception to Maria Veronica Ramirez (Argentina), who had won the Best Feature Film Award for Anima Bueno Aires at MIAFF 2015 last month.
Argentinean delegates were present in large numbers at the reception.
MIAFF Director Laurie Gordon announced the creation of the Ryan Larkin Foundation, one of the festival’s initiatives, which was accompanied by the screening of a short clip from her film Spare Change.
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.
