Hollywood
Richard Gere, Ethan Hawke to be honoured at NY film fest
MUMBAI: The New York Film Festival (NYFF), this year will honour veteran actors Ethan Hawke and Richard Gere. The Film Society of Lincoln Center announced that the actors would be guest of honours at the fest’s ‘An Evening With…’ series.
While Hawke’s tribute will take place on 30 September, during which he will participate in an ‘intimate dinner’ and a conversation between the guests and NYFF director Kent Jones, Gere will be honoured on 8 October.
The ‘An Evening With…’ galas are meant to recognise the work of individuals who have made significant artistic contributions to film culture.
While Hawke will be attending the festival as a director on behalf of his documentary Seymour: An Introduction, a documentary about the pianist Seymour Bernstein, Gere’s new movie Time Out of Mind, in which he plays a homeless man, will also be screened at the annual fest.
The festival will open this year with the world premiere of David Fincher’s Gone Girl and will also feature the world premiere of Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest, Inherent Vice, as its centerpiece selection.
Previous honourees include Nicole Kidman, David Cronenberg, Cate Blanchett and Ralph Fiennes. This is the 52nd year of the festival and it will run from 26 September to 12 October. The 17-day festival will host 30 films this year.
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.
