LONDON — LONDON (AP) — Maggie Smith, the masterful, scene-stealing actor who won an Oscar for 1969 film “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” and gained new fans in the 21st century as the dowager Countess of Grantham in “ Downton Abbey” and Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter films, died Friday. She was … Read more
NEW YORK — Within the span of five days in January, Sean Wang’s life changed about as dramatically as is possible for a young filmmaker. On Jan. 19, Wang’s “Nai Nai & Wài Pó,” a documentary short about his two grandmothers, was nominated for an Academy Award. On Jan. 23rd, his feature film debut, “Dìdi,” … Read more
LOS ANGELES — The Sundance Institute on Friday announced six finalists in its search for a new host location for the influential film festival. After 40 years in Park City, Utah, the festival is eyeing locations across the country for festivals starting in 2027 when its existing contract will be up for renewal. The snowy … Read more
NEW YORK (AP) — Robert Towne, the Oscar-winning screenplay writer of “Shampoo,” “The Last Detail” and other acclaimed films whose work on “Chinatown” became a model of the art form and helped define the jaded allure of his native Los Angeles, Towne died Monday surrounded by family at his home in Los Angeles, said publicist … Read more
BURBANK, Calif. — If Dionne Harmon never found an old script on New Edition’s biopic, the R&B group’s story might still be sitting on a shelf instead of becoming a highly-rated miniseries for BET. Same can be said for other projects like “The Bobby Brown Story” and the Soul Train-inspired series “American Soul.” She might … Read more
Filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s oeuvre defies simple categorization. She’s made documentaries about acid attack victims and child refugees. She’s focused her lens on the extraordinary life of designer Diane von Furstenberg. She’s spearheaded animated films for and about Pakistani children. She’s directed episodes of “Ms. Marvel” and is developing a Star Wars film. And she’s won … Read more
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organization behind the Oscars, announced 17 people elected to its board of governors Monday The organization behind the Oscars elected over a dozen individuals to its board of governors, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said Monday. The 2024-2025 board of governors include both … Read more
NEW YORK — NEW YORK (AP) — “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” the fourth installment in the Will Smith-Martin Lawrence action comedy series, opened with an estimated $56 million in theaters over the weekend, handing Hollywood a much-needed summer hit and Smith his biggest success since he slapped Chris Rock at the Academy Awards. Expectations … Read more
Jacqueline Stewart is leaving her post leading the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures to return to the University of Chicago. Academy Museum veteran Amy Homma will succeed her as director and president, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said Wednesday. Stewart, a prominent film scholar and Turner Classic Movies host, has helped steer … Read more
NEW YORK — Richard M. Sherman, one half of the prolific, award-winning pair of brothers who helped form millions of childhoods by penning the instantly memorable songs for “Mary Poppins,” “The Jungle Book” and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” — as well as the most-played tune on Earth, “It’s a Small World (After All)” — has … Read more
