Hollywood
Jason Schwartzman’s ‘Listen Up Philip’ to screen at 67th Locarno Film Festival
MUMBAI: The 67th Festival del film Locarno, which will be held from 6 to 16 August, will see the return of two directors launched at Locarno with their latest work.
The Concorso Internazionale will host the international premi?re of Alex Ross Perry’s Listen Up Philip, an unusual kind of diary of a young writer dealing with a creative crisis and an unsettled love life. In addition to confirming the talent of the filmmaker, who featured in the Concorso Cineasti del presente in 2011 with The Color Wheel, the film is enhanced by an exceptional cast, with a stand-out performances by Jason Schwartzman in the lead role and Jonathan Pryce, who plays a disillusioned elderly writer. Both actors will be attending the festival.
The Concorso Cineasti del Presente, the section dedicated to first and second films, will feature Buzzard, a second feature by Joel Potrykus, who won the Best New Director in 2012 for Ape. The film mines a similar vein to the earlier work, charting the inner torments of a young man working as a temp in a bank, once again played by Joshua Burge.
The Festival’s Artistic Director, Carlo Chatrian, said in a statement: “The films of Alex Ross Perry and Joel Potrykus are among the most interesting of the recent crop of production. Two films that in their own way, create a world in which the auteur’s voice attains a universal resonance. I am sure Potrykus’s surreal comedy and Perry’s maturity of expression will fascinate the Locarno audience, continuing the Festival’s long-standing relationship with the USA.”
The complete line-up for the 67th Festival del film Locarno will be announced on 16 July.
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.
