Hollywood
European Film Academy to honour Pedro Almod var with lifetime achievement
NEW DELHI: Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar is to receive the European Film Academy’s European achievement in world cinema for his outstanding body of work.
Pedro Almodóvar will be an honorary guest at the 26th European Film Awards Ceremony on 7 December 2013 in Berlin, streamed live on ww.europeanfilmawards.eu.
“I am very thankful for this award. From its creation, the European Film Academy has been very generous with me and my closest collaborators,” stated Pedro Almodóvar upon receiving the news, “I share with them the joy of this award”.
With a background in independent theatre, Super-8-film making and underground magazines, Pedro Almodóvar’s early films were the heirs and witnesses of the brand new Spanish democracy. After a year and a half of eventful shooting on 16mm, in 1980 he opened Pepi, Luci, Bom, a no-budget film made as a co-operative effort with the rest of the crew and the cast, all beginners, except for Carmen Maura.
In 1986, he founded the production company El Deseo S.A. with his brother Agustin. Their first project was Law of Desire. Since then, they have produced all the films that Pedro has written and directed, and have also produced other young directors.
In 1988, Women on the verge of a nervous breakdown brought him international recognition and the Best Young Film award at the first European Film Awards. Since then, his films have opened all around the world to great acclaim. Pedro Almodóvar has won virtually every award there is and his films have played an important role in shaping the way we see not only Spain but also European cinema itself.
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.
