News

Laila Abbas’s Thank You For Banking With Us has scooped best film at the ninth Critics Awards for Arab Films, which will celebrate its winners in Cannes today (May 17).

The Palestinian drama, which debuted at the BFI London Film Festival, also picked up best director for debut feature filmmaker Abbas. The story follows two sisters, played by Clara Khoury and Yasmine Al Massri, who race against time to secure their father’s inheritance.

Also picking up two awards was Nabil Ayouch’s Moroccan film Everybody Loves Touda, which bowed in the Cannes Premiere section of last year’s festival.

Joaquin Phoenix, Juliette Binoche, Pedro Pascal, Riz Ahmed and Guillermo del Toro are among a group of figures to have added their names to a letter condemning the film industry for its “silence” over the ongoing and deadly impact of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

The letter, published on the first day of Cannes and initially signed by more than 370 actors and filmmakers, also condemned Israel’s killing of Fatma Hassona, the protagonist of festival-bound doc “Put Your Soul in Your Hand and Walk.”

The new signatories also includes the likes of Rooney Mara, Jim Jarmusch, Omar Sy, Peter Straughan, Camille Cottin, Michael Moore, Boots Riley and Alice Rohrwacher.

The letter urged cinema — which it said was a “breeding ground for socially committed works” — to use its art form to “draw lessons from history, to make films that are committed” and to be “present to protect oppressed voices.”

The...

A group of more than 350 international actors, directors and producers have signed a letter published on the first day of Cannes condemning the killing of Fatma Hassona, the Palestinian photojournalist and protagonist of the festival-bound documentary “Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk,” in an Israeli airstrike.

The letter, signed by names such as Mark Ruffalo, Guy Pearce, Ralph Fiennes, Melissa Barrera, Yorgos Lanthimos, Javier Bardem, Hannah Einbinder, Pedro Almodóvar, David Cronenberg, Alfonso Cuarón, Mike Leigh, Alex Gibney, Viggo Mortensen, Cynthia Nixon, Tessa Ross and many more, also called out the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences’ for its “lack of support” for “No Other Land” co-director Hamdan Ballal.

Just three weeks after winning the Oscar for the documentary, Ballal was assaulted by settlers and kidnapped by the Israeli army. After being criticized for its silence over the incident, AMPAS eventually publicly apologized. “We are ashamed of such passivity,...

Exclusive: Angels Studios has set a limited theatrical release on Dec. 25 with January expansion for Brandt Andersen’s feature drama The Strangers’ Case.

The title, which made its world premiere at the 2024 Berlinale, was curated by the studio’s Angel Guild of 1.1M members.

Inspired by Andersen’s Oscar-shortlisted 2020 short film Refugee (2020), The Strangers’ Case unfolds through a Shakespearean lens, drawing its title from a poignant speech in Sir Thomas More defending displaced peoples. Set against the backdrop of the Syrian Civil War, the film follows a pediatric surgeon, Amira (Yasmine Al Massri), and her daughter, whose lives intertwine with five families across four continents in a chain reaction of tragedy, resilience, and hope. The ensemble cast includes Omar Sy, Yahya Mahayni, Ziad Bakri, Constantine Markoulakis, and Jason Beghe.

The Strangers’ Case won the Amnesty International Film Award. Andersen, who wrote and directed the movie, is also a seasoned producer and activist who has worked extensively with refugees in Syria, Jordan, and beyond. The movie features Syrian extras who have faced the Aegean crossing depicted in the story. To date, the film has received over 50 Festival awards.

“Stories that amplify light like The Strangers’ Case are for global mainstream audiences,” said Jared Geesey, Chief Distribution Officer at Angel. “Brandt Andersen’s vision to inspire compassion and understanding resonated with the Angel Guild, and we’re thrilled to bring this masterpiece to our audience.”

“I am honored and grateful to partner with Angel to share The Strangers’ Case with a global audience,” said Andersen in a statement. “I cannot wait for everyone to see the hard work of this amazing cast and crew on the big screen. This film is deeply personal, and I believe its message of shared humanity is more important now than ever.”

The Angel Guild counts a community of over 1.1M members from more than 170 countries who cleared The Strangers’ Case for distribution.

Continuing its tradition of celebrating excellence in Arab cinema, the Arab Cinema Center (Acc) has announced the nominees for the ninth edition of its annual Critics Awards for Arab Films.

Leading the pack with five nominations each this year are four films: Thank You For Banking With US; Everybody Loves Touda; Ghost Trail and Seeking Haven For Mr. Rambo. Following close behind them, with four nominations, is: AÏCHA.

Several other films also had multiple nominations including: The Village Next To Paradise; To A Land Unknown; Voy! Voy! Voy! and Norah.

This year’s winners will be revealed during a ceremony held on May 17th as part of the Cannes Film Festival. The event is organized in collaboration with Mad Solutions and the International Emerging Film Talent Association (Iefta), and attendance is by invitation only.

The Critics Awards for Arab Films have become a prestigious and anticipated highlight of the festival calendar.

Thank You For Banking With Us, Everybody Loves Touda, Ghost Trail and Seeking Haven For Mr. Rambo lead the nominations for the 9th Critics Awards for Arab Films, which will take place during the upcoming Cannes Film Festival.

All four features have received five nominations apiece for the awards, which spotlight Arab films that premiered outside the Arab world in 2024.

Mehdi Barsaoui’s Aïcha follows closely behind with four nods. Several other films also had multiple nominations including: The Village Next To Paradise, To A Land Unknown, Voy! Voy! Voy! and Norah.

Some 281 jury members from 75 countries will vote on the nominees,...

The Arab Cinema Center (Acc) has announced the nominations for the 9th Critics Awards for Arab Films, the ceremony which will take place on the fringes of the Cannes Film Festival in May.

Four films are in the lead, making it into five categories each: Laila Abbas’ Thank You For Banking With Us (Palestine), Nabil Ayouch’s Everybody Loves Touda (Morocco); Jonathan Millet’s Ghost Trail (Tunisia) and Khaled Mansour’s Seeking Haven For Mr. Rambo (Egypt)

Mehdi Barsaoui’s Aïcha (Tunisia) follows with four nominations. Other films in the running include Mo Harawe’s The Village Next To Paradise (Somalia) Mahdi Fleifel’s To A Land Unknown (Palestine); Omar Hilal’s Voy! Voy! Voy! (Egypt) and Tawfik Alzaidi’s Norah (Saudi Arabia)

This year’s winners will be revealed during a ceremony on May 17 in Cannes. The event is organized by the Acc in collaboration with Mad Solutions and...

Having won awards at the Golden Rooster, Thessaloniki, and El Gouna festivals, Laila Abba’s debut feature, “Thank You for Banking With Us!“, is a confident and impactful feature debut. Blending black comedy with buddy-movie dynamics, the film boldly confronts the patriarchal structures of Palestinian society while offering sharp social critique and plenty of wit.

The story follows Mariam, a mother of two grappling with domestic strife, and her sister Noura, a spirited beautician. Their father has just passed away, and the sisters are racing against time to withdraw the money he left in the bank. If the death is officially reported, half the money and half of their father’s house will legally go to their semi-estranged brother Akram, who left for the U.S. years ago and refused to contribute to their father’s care. Their desperate bid to access the inheritance before it’s reallocated takes them...

Exclusive: Mad Distribution, the pan-Arab releasing arm of Cairo-based pan-Arab film company Mad Solutions, has acquired all Middle East and North African rights to Annemarie Jacir’s Palestine 36.

The hot-button epic about Palestine’s 1936 revolt against British colonial rule features Jeremy Irons (A Reversal of Fortunes), Hiam Abbas (Succession) and Kamel El Basha (The Idol) in a high-profile international cast.

The film is expected to release theatrically in late 2025 following a festival launch.

The Arab all-rights distribution deal with Mad comes just a few days after France’s mk2 films and newly launched company Lucky Number announced they were joining forces to handle international sales on Jacir’s film which was previously known as All Before You.

The international co-production involves Jacir and Ossama Bawardi’s Philistine Films, Autonomous, Corniche Media, Mk Productions, and Snowglobe.

The drama follows the character of Yusuf as he drifts between his rural home and the restless energy of Jerusalem,...

Exclusive: France’s mk2 films and newly launched company Lucky Number are joining forces on international sales for Palestinian director Annemarie Jacir’s epic period drama Palestine 36, previously titled All Before You, for an EFM launch.

Distributors already signed up for the picture include Curzon Film for the UK, Haut et Court for France and Trignon for Switzerland.

The sales partners have unveiled first images and revealed Jeremy Iron’s presence in the ensemble cast alongside Hiam Abbass (Succession), Kamel Al Basha (House Of Gods), Yasmine Al-Massri (The Strangers Case), Jalal Altawil (Green Border), Robert Aramayo (The Lord of the RIngs: The Rings Of Power), Saleh Bakri (Blue Caftan), Yafa Bakri, Karim Daoud Anaya, Billy Howle (The Perfect Couple), Dhafer L’Abidine (To My Son) and Liam Cunningham (Game of Thrones).

Key crew on the film include cinematographer Hélène Louvart, editor Tania Reddin (Hard Truths), production designer Nael Kanj (The Teacher,...

It was revealed in Skeleton Crew episode 8, "The Real Good Guys," that Force-using pirate Jod Na Nawood was trained for a short time by a Jedi after the events of Order 66. The Empire caught up to them, killing his master. Now, we might know who played his master.

Yasmine Al Massri revealed on her Instagram that she had recorded scenes for the series where she played a Jedi. It was only one scene, and it would have been history-making. This would have been the first Jedi played by an Arab actress.

She said on her social media, "This was the shortest acting job I have done but the most meaningful to the child in me.. playing a Jedi for one scene in Skeleton Crew... I gave a speech when the crew wrapped me on set saying: you just created the first Arab female Jedi.. thank you.. the scene unfortunately didn...

"Skeleton Crew" felt like a breath of fresh air to "Star Wars": an Amblin-inspired revamp that gave the galaxy far, far away its first proper all-ages title, an adventure starring kids way in over their heads.

The show follows a group of preteens living in an idyllic, suburban Anytown, U.S.A.-like planet, who find an old spaceship and go out into the vastness of the galaxy ... only to realize that it kind of sucks and it's full of violent pirates that want to kill them. Desperate to get back home, the kids team up with a jaded, middle-aged guy with Force abilities named Jod to try and find the way back to their home planet — which turns out also to be the home of a huge treasure that is legendary amongst pirates.

"Skeleton Crew" expands what "Star Wars" can and should be, giving us a story that...

The mystery of who trained Jod Na Nawood on Star Wars: Skeleton Crew might have been answered, as one actress has revealed her cut role from the series. Skeleton Crew wrapped up its initial eight-episode order, and fans are eagerly awaiting Disney to announce Season 2. Part of the desire for Season 2 stems from the series being one of the best Disney+ Star Wars streaming series, but also for all the threads it left dangling to be expanded upon in future episodes. The biggest is the identity of the the Jedi that Jod Na Nawood spoke about in the final episode that taught him a few Force tricks. The answer seemingly has been revealed thanks to the actress's Instagram.

Actress Yasmine Al Massri posted a series of photos on her Instagram (see below) that showcased her in Jedi robes, revealing she was set to play a Jedi in Skeleton Crew. Al...

The following contains spoilers from the full season of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, now streaming on Disney+.

Disney+’s Star Wars: Skeleton Crew wrapped its eight-episode run on Jan. 14, with a finale in which Wim, Fern, Kb and Neel (played by Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Kyriana Kratter and Robert Timothy Smith) dodged all manner of perilous situations, all as Jod Na Nawood (Jude Law) chased after the shiny, golden score of a lifetime.

More from TVLineOutlander's Sam Heughan on That Shocking Finale Ending: 'There Are So Many Questions to Be Answered - Like, How?!'Wizards Beyond Waverly Place Just...

Yasmine Al Massri, a Palestinian-born actress who has appeared in the likes of Caramel, Quantico and The Strangers' Case, has revealed that she filmed at least one scene for the recent season finale of Skeleton Crew, but her character didn't make the cut.

If you've seen the episode you'll likely know who she would have played, but just in case, here's your spoiler warning.

It seems Al Massri was set to appear as the unnamed Jedi that takes a young Jod Na Nawood (Jude Law) under her wing shortly after the events of the Order 66 Purge detailed in Revenge of the Sith.

In "The Real Good Guys," Jod reveals his backstory to Wim, explaining that he was a starving and destitute child until a Jedi found him. She saw potential in Jod and began to teach him the ways of the Force, but was ultimately tracked down (presumably by The...

When you purchase through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Nikita is one of those shows that kept its audience on the edge of their seat with its complicated characters and over-the-top storylines. Based on the 1990 film La Femme Nikita by Luc Besson, the CW series follows Nikita, a young woman who was trained by a rogue government agency known as Division. She escapes to start a new life, but Division kills the man she loves. She returns three years later to bring down the agency with some help from someone on the inside. Nikita stars Maggie Q, Shane West, Lyndsy Fonseca, Aaron Stanford, Tiffany Hines, Melinda Clarke, Xander Berkeley, Dillon Casey, and Noah Bean. So, if you loved the fun action set pieces, espionage thrills, and compelling characters in Nikita, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Alias (Disney+ & Rent on Prime Video) Credit...

Yasmine Al Massri shared some surprising news about her involvement in Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. The actress, known for her roles in various TV shows and films, revealed that she had filmed a scene for the series. However, the scene was cut before the final version aired.

Al Massri mentioned that she was excited to take on the role of a Jedi, marking a significant moment in her career. If her scene had made it to the show, she would have been the first Lebanese/Palestinian Jedi to appear in the Star Wars universe. This would have added a unique layer of diversity to the iconic franchise, which has been expanding its horizons with new characters and stories.

The news was confirmed by trusted industry insider Cosmic Marvel, via X:

Yasmine Al Massri has revealed that she filmed a scene as a Jedi for ‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’, which was cut from the show.

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew actually cut a thrilling Jedi cameo; was it Jod Na Nawood's master, or the first member of Luke Skywalker's New Jedi Order? The latest exciting Star Wars TV show, Skeleton Crew has come to a thrilling end. The truth about Jod Na Nawood has apparently been revealed; he was never a true Jedi, simply one who encountered an Order 66 survivor and received some rudimentary training. No Jedi actually appeared in the show at all... but it turns out one was cut.

Attentive viewers noticed Yasmine Al Massri appeared on the cast list for Skeleton Crew. Now, Al Massri has revealed she was actually a Jedi. Taking to Instagram, she explained that she filmed one scene in Skeleton Crew - the first female Arab Jedi. It's absolutely heartbreaking to see Al Massri's scene cut, and it can only be hoped her mysterious character returns.

View this...

In the movie Thank You for Banking with Us, an old man dies suddenly, and his estranged daughters, Mariam (Clara Khoury) and Noura (Yasmine Al Massri), rush to get their share of the fortune. The stakes are high: according to Islamic law, their brother Akram, who is not with them, should get a bigger share, even though the sisters are taking care of him.

As they rush to cash a check before telling anyone about their father’s passing, the tension rises, highlighting the absurdity of patriarchal structures. Each time they meet a male character, their struggle for control becomes even clearer and shows the societal barriers women face. Some of Mariam’s problems in her marriage and Noura’s sacrifices make their goal more complicated by tying personal problems to their fight to become financially independent.

Abbas’s film asks viewers to think about the complexities of inheritance in...

Dubai-based sales firm Mad World has closed a brace of sales on Thank You For Banking With Us, the feature directorial debut of Palestinian filmmaker.

The film, in which two sisters race against time to secure their father’s inheritance, has been acquired for Norway by Fidalgo Film Distribution and for Greece by Cinobo. Mad World, the international sales arm of Arab entertainment powerhouse Mad Solutions, said negotiations are ongoing in several other territories for the title.

Thank You For Banking With Us had its world premiere in competition at the BFI London Film Festival in October before receiving its...

Throughout the history of cinema, comedy has long proven fertile territory for filmmakers to explore sensitive issues. With “Thanks for Banking With Us!,” playing as part of the Meet the Neighbors competition at the Thessaloniki Film Festival, Palestinian director Laila Abbas approaches Islamic Sharia law through the tale of two sisters racing against time to secure their father’s inheritance.

Under Islamic Sharia law, men have the right to twice as much inheritance as women following the death of a relative—if a man has no sons, uncles and cousins take priority over daughters. In Abbas’s third feature, sisters Noura (Yasmine Al Massri) and Maryam (Clara Khoury) need to get crafty to ensure their absent brother doesn’t benefit from the passing of a father he hadn’t seen in years while the two continue to financially struggle.

“I’m not afraid to talk about it,” Abbas told Variety...

When you purchase through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Special Ops: Lioness is a spy action thriller drama series created by Taylor Sheridan. The Paramount+ series stars Zoe Saldana in the lead role with Nicole Kidman, Morgan Freeman, and Michael Kelly starring in supporting roles. Special Ops: Lioness follows the story of Joe, a CIA operative who leads a team that fights against terrorism. The Paramount+ series is much more than the synopsis we gave you above but to know what it is, you will have to check it out for yourself if you have already seen it and loved the thrilling action, complex story, and compelling characters here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Homeland (Hulu & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Showtime

Homeland is a spy thriller drama series created by Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa. Based on the Israeli series Prisoners of War by Gideon Raff,...

Turkish director Zeki Demirkubuz drama Life scooped the top Golden Bee award for Best Feature Film at Malta’s second Mediterrane Film Festival over the weekend.

This year’s selection was overseen by Italian film festival veteran Teresa Cavina, who pulled together a line-up of 45 works with Mediterranean basin connections, 15 of which were in the main Competition.

In the backdrop to the festival, leading English-language newspaper The Times of Malta continued to probe whether the event’s budget of $4.1M budget (€3.9) was good use of taxpayers’ money on the island nation, with a population of roughly 500,000 people.

Last year, the newspaper heavily criticized the event for allegedly splashing cash on business class fights and luxury hotels for actors, directors and journalists as well as a lavish black-tie closing event, fronted by UK star David Walliams.

Replying to fresh questions from the newspaper, Malta Film Commission head Johann Grech said the...

Turkish director Zeki Demirkubuz’s Life won the best feature film prize at the second annual Mediterrane Film Festival’s Golden Bee Awards in Malta this weekend.

Mahdi Fleifel’s To A Land Unknown won the Jury’s Choice prize, while The Strangers’ Case picked up two awards: best director for Brandt Andersen and best acting for Yasmine Al-Massri.

Mike Leigh received the festival’s career achievement award, while veteran Maltese production coordinator Rita Galea, whose credits include World War Z, received a lifetime achievement award.

The main competition jury was comprised of Jon S. Baird, Margery Simkin, Mario Philip Azzopardi,...

Zeki Demirkubuz’s “Life” was awarded the Golden Bee for best feature film at the second edition of the Mediterrane Film Festival.

Mahdi Fleifel’s Directors’ Fortnight breakout “To a Land Unknown” took the Jury’s Choice prize, while Brandt Andersen’s “The Stranger’s Case” won Golden Bees for Best Director for Andersen and Best Acting for Yasmine Al-Massri.

The awards were handed out at a glitzy ceremony at the grand Fort Manoel in the Maltese capital of Valletta, which served as a location for “Game of Thrones” and “Assassin’s Creed.” BAFTA-winning British filmmaker Mike Leigh was honored with the festival’s Career Achievement Award after giving an extended career talk earlier at the festival with Maltese veteran production coordinator Rita Galea (“World War Z”) receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award.

This year’s jury was headed by Scottish filmmaker Jon S. Baird (“Tetris”) and featured casting director Margery Simkin,...

Exclusive: Last month, when Brandt Andersen’s debut feature film The Strangers’ Case won the Amnesty International Film Award at Berlinale, it marked the recognition of a long and impassioned journey for the writer, director and long-time producer as he sought to marry film with his extensive activism background.

The drama, which world premiered as a Special Gala at Berlin, is an extended version of his Oscar-shortlisted short film Refugee and stars French actor Omar Sy and Lebanese-born Yasmine Al Massri. It’s a searing account of the refugee exodus sparked by the Arab Spring and ensuing Syrian Civil War. Andersen, whose producing credits include Everest, Lone Survivor and Golden Globe nominee The Flowers of War, writes and directs The Strangers’ Case and drew inspiration from people he encountered while working with humanitarian agencies in Turkey, Greece, Italy, Jordan and Syria.

The film follows the chain reaction of events involving...

Qatar’s Doha Film Institute (Dfi) kicks off the 10th edition of its Qumra project and talent incubator event meeting this Friday.

Running from March 1 to 6 in downtown Doha and the lofty surroundings of the city’s I. M. Pei-designed Museum of Islamic Art, the event will welcome the filmmakers and producers of 40 projects across all formats for six days of masterclasses, workshops and one-on-one mentoring sessions.

Participants include UK director Ana Naomi de Sousa with Naseem, Fight With Grace about boxing star Naseem Hamed; Moroccan filmmaker Alaa Eddine Aljem with Eldorado, The Taste of the South, his second feature after Cannes Critics’ Week title The Unknown Saint; Tunisian director Mehdi Barsaoui with Aïcha, which follows 2019 drama A Son for which Sami Bouajila won Best Actor in the Venice’s Horizons sidebar, and Palestinian director Saleh Saadi with TV series Dyouf, about a young man who returns to his...

The international scope and grueling human cost of the global refugee crisis lends itself to contemporary epic filmmaking of a particularly sober stripe, as seen mostly recently in Agnieszka Holland’s “Green Border” and Matteo Garrone’s Oscar-nominated “Io Capitano.” Shorn of their ripped-from-the-headlines urgency, such stories of humans crossing vast distances and facing hostile odds in pursuit of a better life are as old as time itself. A muscular, assured debut feature from U.S. producer-turned-director Brandt Andersen, “The Strangers’ Case” stresses the sprawling scale of the situation with a chaptered structure that pivots between multiple involved parties in the refugee’s journey, from warmongers to traffickers to rescuers to the displaced victims themselves.

That wide span, however, prevents a particularly penetrating look at any individual experience of the crisis. Brandt draws his characters in broad, flat strokes that serve the architecture of the narrative — and its cumulative, practically...

The line between art and activism is blurred — often to a fault — in The Strangers’ Case, a visceral migrant drama that plays less as a movie with a message than as a message with a movie.

Written and directed by Brandt Andersen, an executive producer (American Made, Everest), former NBA G League franchise owner and international activist, the film follows several characters whose lives are upended by the Syrian Civil War, switching points of view as it moves from the grim battlegrounds of Aleppo to the gates of Europe.

It can be an intense experience to sit through, and Andersen doesn’t hold back on the gruesome violence and nonstop tragedy many migrants suffered during the conflict — and continue to suffer to this day. But that doesn’t always make for great drama, nor for characters who go deep enough, resulting in a well-meaning film that feels half like a globetrotting Hollywood thriller,...

UK sales outfit Mister Smith Entertainment has boarded international sales on The Strangers’ Case, with WME Independent overseeing North American sales, ahead of its world premiere as a Berlinale Special Gala.

Yasmine Al Massri, Yahya Mahayni, Omar Sy, Ziad Bakri, Constantine Markoulakis and Jason Beghe star in the feature directorial debut of veteran US producer Brandt Andersen, whose credits include Everest, Lone Survivor and Broken City.

Tragedy strikes a Syrian family in Aleppo, starting a chain reaction of events involving five different families in four different countries. The drama interweaves personal stories to illuminate the bravery and heartbreak of the refugee experience.

The Berlinale has rounded out its special screenings programme with three more films.

Omar Sy-starring The Strangers’ Case by Brandt Andersen is a Berlinale Special Gala.

Two Japanese mid-length films - Chime by Kiyoshi Kurosawa and August My Heaven by Riho Kudo - will play as Berlinale Specials.

Andersen’s The Strangers’ Case is about a tragedy that strikes a Syrian family in Aleppo which triggers a chain reaction of events involving five different families in four different countries. The cast includes Omar Sy, Jason Beghe and Yasmine Al Massri.

It is based on a 2020 short, Refugee, that Andersen...

“Chime,” a mid-length movie by leading Japanese director Kurosawa Kiyoshi, is among three late additions to the Berlin Film Festival’s Berlinale Special section.

The two others are “August My Heaven,” another mid-length picture form Japan, directed by Kudo Riho, and “The Strangers’ Case,” a full-length feature directed by Brandt Andersen which will play as a Berlinale Special Gala presentation.

In “Chime” Tashiro, a student at a culinary school, hears voices in his head. His teacher, Matsuoka, remains unconcerned. But then Tashiro claims that half of his brain has been replaced by a machine.

In “August My Heaven,” Joe earns a living as a professional stand-in actor for hire to play a relative, lover or friend for her clients and attend ceremonies. After an encounter at a funeral, her professional and private live begin to merge.

Tragedy strikes a Syrian family in Aleppo in “The Strangers’ Case.” This triggers a...

The 2024Berlin Film Festival has added Brandt Andersen’s refugee drama The Strangers’ Case, featuring French superstar Omar Sy (Lupin) to its official lineup. The drama, about a tragedy that strikes a Syrian family in Aleppo, triggering a chain reaction of events that impact five different families across four countries, will screen in the Berlinale Special sidebar at this year’s festival, which runs Feb. 15-25. Jason Beghe and Yasmine Al Massri co-star in the film’s ensemble cast.

Berlin on Thursday also added two mid-length Japanese films to its Berlinale Specials lineup: Chime by Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Tokyo Sonata) and August My Heaven by Riho Kudo (Orphan’s Blues). Chime follows a student at a culinary school who begins to hear voices and becomes convinced half of his brain has been replaced by a machine. August My Heaven centers on Joe, a professional stand-in actor who is hired by clients to play their friend,...

South Korean director Hong Sang-soo was awarded the El Gouna Gold Star for best narrative film for his meditation on art and relationships, “In Our Day,” as the delayed edition of the El Gouna Film Festival held its closing ceremony on Thursday. The Italian animated film “A Greyhound of a Girl,” directed by Enzo D’Alò, and the Brazilian director Guto Parente’s “A Strange Path” picked up the Silver and Bronze Stars respectively.

The jury comprised of Indian director Anup Singh, Jordanian actress Saba Mubarak, Palestinian actress Yasmine Al-Massri, French Lebanese actress Manal Issa and Egyptian filmmaker Omar El Zohairy.

In the non-fiction category, Ibrahim Nash’at’s acclaimed documentary “Hollywoodgate” took the top prize, with “Seven Winters in Tehran” and Mila Turajlić’s Serbian film “Non-Aligned: Scenes from the Labudović Reels” sharing the Silver Star, and “On the Adamant,” directed by French director Nicolas Philibert, taking the Bronze Star. The...

Prime Video shared the official trailer for upcoming Western drama series “The English,” starring Emily Blunt and Chaske Spencer. All six episodes of the limited series will premiere on November 11 exclusively in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the Nordics on Prime Video, following its November 10 UK premiere on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer. The series is created by Hugo Blick, who also serves as an executive producer, director and writer.

The series follows aristocratic Englishwoman Lady Cornelia Locke, played by Blunt, and a Pawnee ex-cavalry scout named Eli Whipp, played by Spencer. They come together in 1890 middle America to cross a violent landscape built on dreams and blood.

“The English” is produced by Drama Republic, a Mediawan company, and Eight Rooks. Blunt also serves as executive producer, alongside Greg Brenman for Drama Republic. Colin Wratten serves as a producer on “The English.” Global distribution is handled by All3Media Intl.

Five years ago, an actor of Middle Eastern descent arrived at a studio test for a major cable TV show that was looking to diversify its cast and was asked by the casting director what percentage Latino he was. “I’m not Latino,” he replied. “I’m Egyptian.” Without apologizing, the casting director said: “We can’t move you forward, unfortunately, because that’s not diverse.”

The actor told Deadline: “It was stated as factual, as if that is the normal trend in the business. Which is weird because everywhere else I’m never considered white — definitely not by U.S. Customs when I cross the border and get randomly selected and held back for two to four hours.”

A year later, in its 2017 negotiations for a new film and TV contract, SAG-AFTRA won recognition of Middle Eastern North African (Mena) performers as a diverse ethnic category for inclusion in its casting data report.

The Shanghai International Film Festival has postponed its 23rd edition due to continued coronavirus disruption. The event, one of China’s most significant film fests, had been due to take place June 13-22. Organizers said today that preparations had been “progressing steadily” but concerns over the pandemic meant it could not take place on its original dates – new dates will be announced “as soon as possible”.

Spanish actress Itziar Ituño, who plays Inspector Raquel Murillo in hit Netflix show Money Heist, will make her English-language debut with a role in UK short animation Salvation Has No Name. The sixteen-minute stop motion project comes from producers Delaval Film and is being part-funded by the British Film Institute. The film will also feature the voice of Yasmine Al Massri, who starred in ABC’s thriller series Quantico. Joseph Wallace is directing the project and the team includes animators from Wes Anderson...

More than 150 people including American Red Cross Los Angeles Region volunteers, donors and community partners came together at the Red Cross Stories event at Paramount Pictures Studios in Hollywood last week for an evening of storytelling narrated by celebrities.

Elisabeth Rohm and Xolo Mariduena

Elisabeth Rohm (“Law & Order”), Xolo Maridueña (“Parenthood”), Elisa Perry (“Everybody Hates Chris”), Yasmine Al Massri (“Quantico”), Pauley Perrette (“NCIS”) and Joe Zee graced the stage narrating the inspiring stories that demonstrate the Red Cross’ unwavering commitment to turn compassion into action.

“The Red Cross is always there in times of need by delivering relief, comfort and hope,” said Jarrett Barrios, CEO for Red Cross Los Angeles. “At a moment’s notice, any of our lives can be impacted by an emergency and the Red Cross stands strong and committed to being of service to those down the street, across the country and around the world. We...

Netflix’s Castlevania took a major gamble in its second season by killing off its main villain. But as the third season of the video game-based animated series proves, the death of Dracula is only the beginning of the vampire story expertly crafted by writer Warren Ellis, director Sam Deats, and showrunner Kevin Kolde. In fact, now unshackled from the Lord of Darkness and his monster-filled castle, Castlevania season 3 is able to explore quite a few new and interesting directions that flesh out this world like never before.

From the first episode, Castlevania season 3 feels like a completely new show, one less resembling the horror adventure of the first two seasons and more the political intrigue and war games of a prestige series like Game of Thrones. In essence, the fallen Dark Lord has left behind a power vacuum in Wallachia and the struggle that ensues takes up much of season 3’s 10-episode run.

The film will shoot for four weeks in New York and Paris from October.

French actress Alix Benezech and Us-Palestinian actor Adam Budron have signed to star in Us director Bandar Albuliwi’s solo directorial debut Juliet, which will begin production on October 29.

The film will shoot for four weeks in New York City and Paris. It centres on an astrophysicist who struggles to reintegrate into society after the death of her husband. Molly Price, Laith Nakli and Luke Guldan also star.

Benezech, whose credits include Mission: Impossible - Fallout, replaces Yasmine Al Massri, who was previously attached to star and produce.

Exclusive: Quantico and Miral actress Yasmine Al Massri is to star in and produce feature drama Juliet, which is due to shoot in New York City later this year.

Al Massri will play the eponymous Juliet, an astrophysicist who struggles to acclimate back to society after the passing of her husband. The film will follow her during a series of encounters on the one-year anniversary of her husband’s death.

The fully-financed indie pic is the second from writer-director Bandar Albuliwi (Peace After Marriage) who is also in development on Iraq war movie A Brotherhood, whose producers include Hany Abu-Assad (Omar) and All Square outfit Mill House Motion Pictures. Producer-financiers on Juliet include Albuliwi’s New York outfit Falafel Entertainment and Assal Ghawami’s (Peace After Marriage) production company Expat Films.

Al Massri told us of Juliet, “It’s a beautifully written script. Once you read it, you immediately know...

It’s back to the vineyards for Alex Parrish — Quantico has been cancelled after three seasons.

The action drama — which is currently airing its third season on ABC — starred Priyanka Chopra as FBI agent Alex Parrish, who soon became a person of interest in a terrorist attack on Grand Central in New York City. The story, of course, developed quite a bit further in the two seasons since.

The series also starred Josh Hopkins, Jake McLaughlin, Aunjanue Ellis, Yasmine Al Massri, Johanna Braddy, Tate Ellington, Graham Rogers, Anabelle Acosta, Russell Tovey, Pearl Thusi, Blair Underwood, Marlee Matlin and Alan Powell,...

How well does Alice's undercover CIA stint work out in season two of ABC's Quantico TV show? We all know the Nielsen ratings typically play a big role in determining whether the TV show Quantico is cancelled or renewed for a third season on ABC. Unfortunately, most people don't live in a Nielsen Household. Because many viewers feel frustrated that their viewing habits and opinions aren't considered, we'd like to offer you a chance to rate the episodes below. Airing on the ABC television network, Quantico stars Priyanka Chopra as Alex Parrish.  Season two also stars Jake McLaughlin, Aunjanue Ellis, Yasmine Al Massri, Johanna Braddy, Russell Tovey, Blair Underwood, Pearl Thusi, and Aarón Díaz, with Tracy Ifeachor, David Lim, and Henry Czerny recurring. In the second season, while Alex has cleared her name and saved millions of...

Over 100 well-known names – including writers, actors, directors and musicians – have signed a pledge supporting Lorde's decision not to perform in Israel.

The statement was published in The Guardian following backlash over the Kiwi singer’s cancellation of her concert in Tel Aviv. It is a direct response to a full page ad published in the Washington Post on January 1 which called Lorde a bigot and also attacked her homeland of New Zealand.

“We deplore the bullying tactics being used to defend injustice against Palestinians and to suppress an artist’s freedom of conscience. We support Lorde’s right to take a stand,” reads the letter in The Guardian. "Shmuley Boteach, the author and promoter of the advert, supports Israel’s illegal settlements and wrote last month on Breitbart to thank Donald Trump for “electrifying the world” with his recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in defiance of international law.

Quantico has some new company. Deadline reports Amber Skye Noyes has joined season three of the ABC TV show.The drama follows Alex Parrish (Priyanka Chopra), a former FBI agent who now works for the CIA. The cast also includes Jake McLaughlin, Aunjanue Ellis, Yasmine Al Massri, Johanna Braddy, Russell Tovey, and Blair Underwood.Read More…...

Blair Underwood has long been heating up the screen with roles on L.A. Law (which featured TV’s original “hunks,” as he puts it) and Sex and the City, when he romanced Miranda (Cynthia Nixon). Now, the actor is lending his voice to Audible Romance, a new subscription service offering unlimited access to steamy stories and performances, including Underwood’s narration of Midnight Untamed by author Lara Adrian. He’s joined by the likes of Jesse Metcalfe and Dermot Mulroney, who perform novels by Nora Roberts, Sylvia Day and more.

“You're actually articulating something that can be very racy, of course, and risqué. But it's actually kind of fun,” Underwood says of narrating Midnight Untamed, the sizzling standalone story of love lost and found. In order to get in the right mood while performing, he prefers to have the recording booth lights dimmed, “so you can use your imagination.”

But the Quantico star’s provocative performance should come as...

Harry Doyle will be back. Deadline reports Russell Tovey will return for season three of the ABC TV show Quantico.Tovey joined the drama in season two. He plays Harry Doyle, a mysterious former Mi-6 agent who "is just as likely to seduce your husband as he is to pick his pocket when it’s over." The cast also includes Priyanka Chopra, Jake McLaughlin, Aunjanue Ellis, Yasmine Al Massri, Johanna Braddy, Russell Tovey, and Blair Underwood.Read More…...

Rusell Tovey is returning to “Quantico” despite his character’s departure last season. Tovey, who plays Harry Doyle on the ABC series, will be a series regular on the third season that launches in midseason. His return comes as the show is shaking things up. “Code Black” creator Michael Seitzman takes over as showrunner for Joshua Safran, whose departure was confirmed in May. Also Read: Marlee Matlin Joins 'Quantico' Amid Cast Shakeup Yasmine Al Massri, a series regular on the first two seasons of “Quantico,” will not return for Season 3. The actress announced recently that she is leaving...

Prepare for more Harry situations in Quantico‘s upcoming third season: Russell Tovey will return to the ABC spy drama as a series regular, TVLine has learned.

Harry Doyle was last seen in Season 2, right before Tovey had to leave the show to perform in the United Kingdom’s National Theatre production of Angels in America. “We had a very hard out with him,” then-showrunner Joshua Safran told TVLine at the time, confirming the actor’s exit. “He actually ended up staying longer than he was even initially planning, because he loved the show so much and we love him so much.

Here’s a top-secret piece of Quantico intel ahead of Season 3: Marlee Matlin (Switched at Birth) will be on hand to help Alex & Co. fight the bad guys, TVLine has learned.

The Academy Award winner, who is deaf, will play Jocelyn Turner, an ex-fbi agent who was one of the Bureau’s top undercover agents before she lost her hearing after being too close to a bomb blast. Though Jocelyn was forced into a do-nothing role after the accident, she’ll now be part of a special unit staffed by returning characters.

RelatedQuantico Season 2 Finale: Ep Talks Alternate Ending,...