Posts for 'Awards' Category

Several celebrities attended the Red Carpet ceremony to mark the opening of the 63rd Cannes Film Festival this evening. They included Aishwarya Rai, who has been a permanent Cannes attendee for many years, since her movie, Devdas screened at the Festival in 2002. Some of the others who were part of the opening night celebration were the lead stars of the inaugural film Robin Hood.

Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchet. Salma Hayek, the sultry actress from Mexico who was part of the Festival jury along with India's Nandita Das in 2005, was also to be seen. Incidentally, Hollywood stars were conspicuously absent in a year that is gladly being seen by cinema lovers and critics as low on spice and sugar and high on art.

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As the star of the opening film at Cannes, Russell Crowe was well aware that much of the attention would be on him and his summer blockbuster, Robin Hood, on the first night of the festival. And as he prepared to step into the spotlight once again, the Aussie actor was keeping his wife of seven years, Danielle Spencer, close by his side.

Handsome Russell, 46, held hands with his spouse as he made his way down the red carpet for the world premiere of his latest venture. Dapper in a sharp back Giorgio Armani suit, the leading man was clearly delighted to be sharing the experience with Danielle, who shimmied in a white beaded Armani Prive halter neck.

It was a chance for the couple to enjoy time together – their two children Charlie, five, and three-year-old Tennyson are in Cannes with their mum and dad, but they did not attend the screening which undoubtably took place well after their bed time.

Another set of famous parents making the most of a glamorous evening out were Salma Hayek and her husband Francois-Henri Pinault, whose daughter Valentina was born in September 2007. They hit the red carpet arm-in-arm looking very happy together, with the Mexican beauty breathtaking in a silk georgette gown from Gucci - her billionaire husband's company.

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The Oscars are supposed to be the movie industry's night of nights, but this year the red carpet fashion was far more impressive at Cannes. US, French and international stars went all-out with the ruffles and froufrou at the film festival's opening night with some more daring designs than the simple and safe fashion choices that often leave us snoring on Oscars night.

Cate Blanchett stood out from the crowd with a silver eagle-adorned Alexander McQueen dress. Eva Longoria dragged half her body weight up the red carpet in a ruffled Pucci wedding-style train, and Kate Beckinsale had fashion critics divided with her super-fluffy Marchesa frock and beehive 'do. "It looks as if a baby chick has hatched and hitched a lift in all those ruffles and feathers," scoffed a French observer on the red carpet.

Being married to the head of a major luxury goods company certainly has its benefits. Salma Hayek is married to Francois-Henri Pinault, head of the PPR group which owns Gucci, Balenciaga.

And Yves Saint Laurent amongst others. So when she needed a dress to wear to the Cannes Film Festival she naturally had her pick of the best.

What did she choose? The first ever dress from Gucci's new couture line. And very lovely it is too. Rumours of the luxe label's new venture started swirling back in January.

But until now we've seen no concrete evidence. Now it seems that Frida Giannini has been working away behind closed doors on at least one dress, and where one celebrity goes others are sure to follow.

The couture collection will be designed on an appointment only basis - Gucci isn't about to join the line up at couture fashion week. But we'll be keeping our eyes peeled on the Cannes red carpet this week to see if any more creations are forthcoming.

Melodie Gardot, jury member Alberto Barbera, Jury member Kate Beckinsale, Jury President Tim Burton, Mistress of Ceremony Kristin Scott Thomas, Actor Russell Crowe, Actress Cate Blanchett, jury member Emmanuel Carrere, Alexandra Desplat, jury member Benicio Del Toro and jury Giovanna Mezzogiorno attends the 'Robin Hood' Premiere at the Palais De Festivals during the 63rd Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 12, 2010 in Cannes, France.

SANDRA BULLOCK has moved out of the family home after claims her husband had an affair with a tattoo-covered model. The actress reportedly left the California house she shares with Jesse James on Monday - a week after winning her first Oscar. Sandra, 45, has cancelled a trip to London for the Tuesday's UK premiere of The Blind Side, for which she won the best actress award.

The actress said in a statement: "Due to unforeseen personal reasons, a trip abroad has been deemed impossible at this time." Bullock and James, the host of the Discovery Channel's Monster Garage reality programme, have been married for five years.

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Sandra Bullock may have looked like a winner as soon as she stepped onto the red carpet at the Oscar’s, however, the versatile actress was pretty amazed she won Best Actress for her portrayal of Leigh Anne Tuohy in The Blind Side.  "I didn't aspire to this," she told People.com after her big win. "I was in awe of it. I admired it."

Regardless of whether or not Sandra expected to win big on Oscar night, one thing is for certain; she was stunning in the shimmering metallic and lace Marchesa gown she wore. The way her fabulous figure fit in the astonishingly detailed dress made Bullock look absolutely gorgeous.

Her toned arms and slim waistline prove that this actress has a fitness routine that works for her. To stay in shape, Sandra loves variety. It has been reported she sticks to a regular workout program just about every day. However, she doesn’t get bent out of shape if she misses a day here and there. It’s more about making fitness a lifestyle than anything else.

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Kathryn Bigelow's two-fisted victory at the Academy Awards for best director and best film for The Hurt Locker didn't just punch through the American movie industry's seemingly shatterproof glass ceiling.

It has also helped dismantle stereotypes about what types of films women can and should direct. It was historic, exhilarating, especially for women.

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 An Oscar-nominated animated film, "The Secret of Kells," is among the early selections announced for the 360/365 George Eastman House Film Festival. More than 300 films were submitted for the film festival, scheduled May 5 to 10. That's twice the number of submissions from last year, festival officials said.

"We're thrilled with the number of films we have received from around the world for this year's festival," said Linda Moroney, managing director of the 360/365, said in a statement. "We are now spending countless hours watching and selecting the highest quality films that will appeal to the wide variety of audiences in Rochester."

A few films have already been selected. In addition to "The Secret of Kells" the Michael Caine-starring "Harry Brown" was picked. "Harry Brown," which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last September, is the story of an elderly ex-serviceman and widower looking to avenge his best friend's murder by doling out his own form of justice.

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The executive director of the film academy said that Farrah Fawcett wasn’t included in the Academy Awards’ In Memoriam segment because the actress was better known as a TV star. It was a difficult decision for the committee that assembles the segment, said Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences executive director Bruce Davis, who added that he’s not surprised some people are upset.

Fawcett’s family issued a statement saying they were "deeply saddened" and "bereft with this exclusion of such an international icon who inspired so many for so many reasons." Davis said the academy committee thought that while Fawcett appeared in movies, she was better known for her "remarkable television work" and would be more appropriately honoured by the television academy at the Emmy Awards.