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A Michigan doctor went above and beyond when the snow kept one of his patients from making it to his office for treatment.

In a moving Facebook post, Marie Havenga recounted moment when Dr. Yosef Gindzin, an ophthalmologist in Walker, Michigan, carried her mother, Lillian Havenga, through a snow-filled parking lot on Sunday when she couldn’t make it through in her wheelchair.

“My mom was in the hospital the last three days and had to miss her crucial every-four-weeks eye injections to treat wet macular degeneration,” Havenga wrote, referring to the chronic eye disease that causes blurred vision or blind spots.

The eighth annual Hola Mexican Film Festival, presented by DishLATINO, the largest festival of cinema outside of Mexico, today announced a partial lineup of the 2016 festival schedule including opening and closing nights and four special showcase presentations. The festival runs May 13-22 with all screenings taking place at the Regal La Live Stadium 14 Theatre, except for closing night which will be at La Plaza de Cultura y Artes Theatre in downtown Los Angeles.

This year’s festival will open with "Thin Yellow Line" (La Delgada Linea Amarilla) nominated for 14 Premios Ariel Awards (Mexico’s “Oscars”). The film is a story of smooth roads and bumpy rides, with unexpected twists and turns... like life itself. Directed by Celso R. Garcia, the film stars Damián Alcazar, Joaquín Cosio, Silverio Palacios, Gustavo Sánchez Parra. Confirmed to attend the premiere are Cosio and Palacios as well as other special guests.

Additional showcase screenings include "We Fulfill Your Dreams" (Ilusiones S.A.) directed by Roberto Girault and starring Jaime Camil, Adriana Louvier, Silvia Mariscal on Wednesday, May 18 at 7:00 Pm and "Mr. Pig" with star Danny Glover to attend, on Thursday, May 19, at 7:00 Pm.

Closing the festival on Sunday, May 22 is "Panoramas," a unique and introspective look inside one of Latin America's top alternative-rock music acts, Zoé. Members of band Zoé will attend and perform a DJ set. This special event screening will take place at La Plaza Cultura y Artes Theatre located at 501 N. Main Street, downtown Los Angeles.

Also this year marks the first time that films from a country outside of Mexico will be shown with special presentations of two films from Chile – "Sin Filtro" and "El Bosque de Karadima"

Opening Night Premiere – Friday, May 13 at 7:00 Pm

Regal La Live Stadium 14

"The Thin Yellow Line" (La Delgada Linea Amarilla)

Dir. Celso R. Garcia

Cast: Damián Alcazar, Joaquín Cosio, Silverio Palacios, Gustavo Sánchez Parra

Mexico 2015, 95 Min

Five men are hired to paint the yellow line of a road that will link two forgotten towns in Mexico. With less than 2 weeks to cover over 200 kilometers aboard a '76 pick-up truck, they will discover that painting at a speed of 1 km/hour will teach them about the lines between good and evil, laughter and despair, life and death. The challenges they face will change their lives forever. The Thin Yellow Line is a story of smooth roads and bumpy rides, with unexpected twists and turns... like life itself.

Closing Night Premiere – Sunday, May 22 At 7:00 Pm

La Plaza Cultura y Artes theatre located at 501 N. Main Street, downtown Los Angeles.

"Panoramas"

Dir. Rodrigo Guardiola y Gabriel Cruz Rivas

Cast: Zoé

Mexico 2016, 90 Min

A unique and introspective look inside one of Latin America's top alternative-rock music acts, Zoé. “Panoramas” is a Cinéma Vérité-style portrait of Zoé that takes you on a contemplative audio/visual journey through some of the band's most decisive moments. A film crew accompanies the band during a two-year period to provide us with an intimate behind-the-scenes look at the band’s longest international tour to date, in their first real shot at becoming well-known and "making it big" outside their home country of México. The 15-year artistic career of Zoé completes its growth-cycle and reaches full circle as the musicians arrive at the quintessential question all bands face: What's next?

MÉXico Now

"We Fulfill Your Dreams" (Ilusiones S.A.)

Wednesday, May 18 at 7:00 Pm

Dir. Roberto Girault

Cast: Jaime Camil, Adriana Louvier, Silvia Mariscal

Mexico 2015, 90 Min

"We Fulfill Your Dreams" is a company that makes fantasies come to life. Made up of a group of actors and led by a ‘Director' (Jaime Camil), they create set-ups to re-enact real-life circumstances for the good of people.

For their latest job, they are hired by Mr. Balboa to spend a week in the roles of a long-gone loving grandson and his wife. Portrayed as an angel to his grandmother through fictitious letters created by the elderly Mr. Balboa, the young man has in reality become a villainous character. But things go awry for actors Mauricio and Isabel when the real grandson turns up for a show-down with his grandparents.

"Mr. Pig"

Thursday, May 19 at 7:00 Pm

Dir. Diego Luna

Cast: Danny Glover, Maya Rudolph, Jose Maria Yazpik

Mexico 2016, 100 Min

Ambrose Eubanks (Danny Glover), is an old-school pig farmer from California. After the family farm is foreclosed, he sets off with Howard, his beloved (and very large) pig, on a road trip to Mexico.

Ambrose must figure out how to smuggle "Howie" across the border and find him a new home.

"In Your Eyes" (A los Ojos)

Friday, May 20 at 7:00 Pm and Saturday, May 21 at 1:00 Pm

Dir. Victoria Franco y Michel Franco

Cast: Mónica del Carmen, Omar Moreno, Benjamín Espinoza, Jacobo Najman

Mexico 2015, 96 Min

Monica is a social worker from Mexico City, a single mother whose child is suffering from a degenerative illness of the eyes. Having exhausted all other options, a corneal transplant is the child's only hope. Overwhelmed by the ineffectiveness of the health system and the scarcity of resources, Monica is driven to an extreme solution... Found within the world of the street children.

"The Aparicios" (Las Aparacio)

Sunday, May 15 at 4:30 Pm and Tuesday, May 17 at 9:00 Pm

Dir. Moisés Ortiz - Urquidi

Cast: Ana De La Reguera, María Del Carmen Farías, Liz Gallardo, Eréndia Ibarra, Damián Alcazar, Joaquín Cosio, Paulina Gaitán y Tenoch Huerta

México 2016,

The Aparicios are a family made up entirely of women, all cursed to become widows and to never bear male children. At their ranch in Xico, in the state of Veracruz, they discover the body of the first husband of an Aparicio woman. This leads the Aparicios to search their past in an attempt to end the ancient curse, and finally face their present

"Parallel Roads" (Rumbos Paralelos)

Saturday, May 14 at 7:00 Pm

Dir. Rafael Montero

Cast: Ludwika Paleta, Iliana Fox, Michel Brown, Arturo Barba

Mexico 2016,

(Film in Spanish, no English subtitles)

Rumbos Paralelos (Parallel Roads) tells the emotional story of two young mothers whose lives change unexpectedly.

Silvia must suddenly confront both her son’s illness and the abrupt discovery that she is not his biological mother. Desperate to find a donor for a life-saving kidney transplant, Silvia will seek out Gaby, the child's true biological mother. The following actions will put the power of maternity to the test and challenge life as a whole. Are family ties made out of love? Or are they carried in our blood?

"Paradise Lost" (Paraiso Perdido)

Saturday, May 21 at 7:00 Pm

Dir. Humberto Hinojosa

Cast: Ana Claudia Talancón, Iván Sanchez, Andrés Almeida

México 2016, 87 Min

Three friends are traveling by sailboat through Caribbean waters, when they come across a deserted paradise island and decide to explore it. What was supposed to be one of the best weekends of their lives will turn into a tireless fight for survival when they discover the island's hidden secret.

"She is Ramona" (Ella es Ramona)

Saturday, May 14 at 9:00 Pm and Monday, May 16 at 5:00 Pm

Dir. Hugo Rodriguez

Cast: Andrea Ortega Lee, Daniel Giménez Cacho, María Rojo, Leticia Huijara

México 2015, 83 Min

Ramona is overweight, with too many kilos and not enough luck. She remembers a childhood as the victim of abuse at the hands of her mother, her sister, and even her friends. She was Big Belly Ramona, Big Eater Ramona, Ramona the Pig. Now an adult, things aren't looking much better. Her life seems to be crumbling. She gets fired for being fat; when she seeks liposuction, her doctor rejects as a candidate for the procedure because she is too overweight. Things begin falling into place, however, when she stumbles across a Tarot café which sells the magic beetles that will change her life.

"Elvira, I would Give You my Life, but I’m Using It" (Elvira, Te Daria Mi Vida Pero La Estoy Usando)

Thursday, May 19 at 9:00 Pm

Dir. Manolo Caro

Cast: Cecilia Suárez, Luis Gerardo Méndez, Vanessa Bauche

Mexico 2015, 108 Min

Gustavo, husband of Elvira, goes out one night to buy cigarettes, never to return. Elvira, a 40-year-old mother of two, begins a relentless search for the love of her life. Clues lead her to the conclusion that her husband has kept a secret relationship. The unfortunate discovery will not stop Elvira in her mission of finding him.

"The Chosen Ones" (Las Elegidas)

Friday, May 20 at 9:00 Pm

Dir. David Pablos

Cast: Nancy Talamantes, Óscar Torres

Mexico 2015, 105 Min

Sofia, 14 years old, is in love with Ulises. Because of him, in spite of him, she is forced into a prostitution ring in Mexico. To set her free, Ulises will have to find another girl to replace her...

New Voices

"Leaf Blower" (Sopladora de Hojas)

Saturday, May 14 at 2:00 Pm, Monday, May 16 at 9:30 Pm and Friday, May 20 at 5:00 Pm

Dir. Alejandro Iglesias

Cast: Francisco Rueda, Alejandro Guerrero, Fabrizio Santini

Mexico 2015, 96 Min

Lucas, Emilio and Rubén are three friends united in a special quest: to find a set of lost keys in a pile of dead leaves. What appears to be a simple task will turn into a profound journey that forces the teenagers to confront their fears: of letting go of the past, of facing embarrassing truths, of taking risks... Of growing up. This afternoon, as trivial as it may sound, could change the course of their lives. Or maybe not.

"Amir"

Saturday, May 14 at 4:00 Pm and Thursday, May 19 at 5:00 Pm

Dir. José Paredes

Cast: Jorge Guevara, Tania Niebla y Lirio Karina

Mexico 2015, 90 Min

Amir, an aspiring musician, finds himself drawn to Jeanette, a beautiful singer he meets during a night out on the town with his friends. The attraction complicates his relationship with his current girlfriend, Elizabeth, who is expecting his child. Amir will attempt to work out his feelings towards his newfound love interest, music and maturity, as adulthood forces him to make some challenging choices along the way.

"The Arrival of Conrado Sierra" (El Arribo de Conrado Sierra)

Friday, May 20 at 9:00 Pm

Dir. René Pereyra

Cast: Maite Perroni, Joaquín Cosío, Susana Dosamantes, Ana González, Rocío García, Jessica Mas

Mexico 2015, 120 Min

In 1940's "Torres Mochas" (the city of Torreón, Mexico), the widow Doña Josefina and her five spinster daughters await the arrival of a man aiming to marry the youngest of the sisters. The local townspeople, excited at the prospect of one of “Virgin Josefitas” finally marrying, prepare massive celebrations. When the mysterious suitor finally appears, circumstances take an unforeseen course.

For The Children

"The Adventures of Itzel and Sonia" (Las Aventuras de Itzel y Sonia)

Saturday, May 14 at 12:00 Pm

Dir. Fernanda Rivero

Cast: Arcelía Ramírez, Cassandra Ciangherotti, Joaquín Cosío, Bruno Bichir

Mexico 2016, 70 Min

This film was made as part of the “Cuéntamelo filmando” ("Tell it to me with the cameras rolling") workshop and was done with the support of 500 people from 10 rural communities in Mexico.

Itzel, an 8-year-old girl, and her best friend ‘Sonia the Frog’ will embark on a mission to find the guardians of the water, before the city's supply runs out. With the help of her grandmother, they will search in the most remote areas of Mexico, while a faceless being stalks them.

"By My Mustache" (Por Mis Bigotes)

Sunday, May 15 at 12:00 Pm

Dir. Manuel Carames

Cast: Jesus Ochoa, Santiago Torres, Fernando Becerril

Mexico 2015, 90 Min

Though it sounds unbelievable, little Ulises, at only nine years old, has grown an enormous mustache from one day to the next. So begins a series of extraordinary events for him, his mother and his best friends. From this moment forward, all of them, along with a cast of very curious characters, will find themselves caught up in a very hairy adventure.

Documentary

"Made in Bangkok"

Monday, May 16 at 7:00 Pm

Dir. Flavio Florencio

Cast: Morgana Love

Mexico 2015, 75 Min

Morgana is a Mexican transgender opera singer with a relentless determination to assert her identity, despite having to fight against social stigma and family prejudice. Her dream is to have gender-reassignment surgery. Her only chance to make happen is by winning a beauty pageant in Bangkok, and use the $10,000 cash prize to pay for the surgery. The documentary embarks on Morgana’s journey with her, while providing us with an intimate portrait of what it is to construct a long-dreamt-of identity.

"Mexican Fighting" (Lucha Mexico)

Sunday, May 15 at 7:00 Pm

Dir. Alexandria Hammond & Ian Markiewicz

Cast: 1000% Guapo, Blue Demon, Hijo Del Perro Aguayo, Tony Salazar, Arkangel

México / USA 103 Min

The ultimate look behind the mask, Lucha Mexico documents the joyous spectacle of Lucha Libre wrestling, which has thrilled Mexican fans for generations. The story follows "El 1000% Guapo" (1000% Handsome) Shocker, one of the most successful Luchadores of the modern era. His life is consumed by the need of being in the ring. A supporting cast of fan-favorites further reveal the world of Lucha Libre from the inside, with Blue Demon Jr. discussing life from behind a legendary mask; the violent history of El Hijo del Perro Aguayo (the Son of "The Dog" Aguayo); as well as veterans like Tony Salazar and Archangel, as they pass on the secrets of the ring to a new generation of fighters. These stars and others will shed light on the intense physical and emotional challenges they must constantly face in order to stand inside the ropes and thrill every last fan. With its unprecedented access to the top Lucha performers and promoters, as well as other players of this grand spectacle, Lucha Mexico steps into the ring to show us the great power behind the mask, and leads us straight to the beating heart of Mexico.

Hola Chile

"The Church Of Karadima" (El Bosque de Karadima)

Sunday, May 15 at 2:00 Pm and Tuesday, May 17 at 7:00 Pm

Dir. Matías Lira

Cast: Benjamin Vicuña, Luis Gnecco, Ingrid Isensee

Chile 2015, 98 Min

Fernando Karadima, the pastor and leader of the most powerful Church of the Chilean upper class from the 1980's to 2000's, is considered a living saint. Thomas, a teenager in search of his vocation, finds himself drawn to Karadima and accepts him as a spiritual guide. For 20 years, Tommy will gradually be subjected to physical and psychological abuse by the priest, until he decides to speak out and confront both the charismatic priest and the power networks that protect him, finally uncovering the real Karadima hiding behind the investiture of God's representative on Earth.

"No Filter" (Sin Filtro)

Wednesday, May 18 at 9:00 Pm

Dir. Nicolás López

Cast: Paz Bascuñán, Ignacia Allamand, Paulo Brunei

Chile 2016, 100 Min

Pía is on the verge of a nervous breakdown: Her boss humiliates her, her husband ignores her, her stepson is disrespectful, and her best friend no longer listens to what she says.

Pía begins having strong chest pains and, after trying many different healing methods, decides to undergo an acupuncture treatment. The Chinese doctor discovers that Pía's pain is caused by repressed feelings, and, with an ancient technique, he "removes the filter". From now on, an uninhibited Pía will realize that the only way to heal herself is to speak everything that comes to mind - which won't always bring her the best results.

Nocturnal/Genre

"Barrancas"

Saturday, May 14 at 12 Midnight and Wednesday, May 18 at 5:00 Pm

Dir. Juan De La Peña

Cast: Diego Sánchez, Esteban De la Isla, Ana Lucía Camacho, Julia Dávalos, Eduardo Romo, Gustavo Gascón, Inés Vachez

Mexico 2016, 88 Min

The owner of a huge house in the woods, in the town of Barrancas, has a reputation for not paying his employees. When the latest housekeeper goes missing, everyone simply assumes that yet another employee has quit. Meanwhile, back in the city, the owner's nephew Mario is tasked with going to Barrancas to hand over the keys to the new caretaker. Young Mario thinks it’s a good idea to secretly invite his friends from college, as well as the girl he likes, out to the country house for a fun weekend. What Mario doesn’t know is that this may turn out to be a very dangerous idea indeed.

"The Similars" (Los Parecidos)

Sunday, May 15 at 9:30 Pm and Tuesday, May 17 at 5:00 Pm

Dir. Isaac Ezban

Cast: Gustavo Sánchez Parra, Cassandra Ciangherotti, Humberto Busto, Carmen Beato

Mexico 2015, 89 Min

In the rainy darkness of the early morning hours of October 2, 1968, eight people are waiting in a remote bus station in the middle of nowhere for the bus heading to Mexico City. They’ll soon find themselves experiencing a strange phenomenon.

For more information and ticket sales visit - http://holamexicoff.com...

While Tracy Morgan often jokes about getting women pregnant with his charm, it was Prince who may have helped him gain such confidence. In a touching tribute piece to the late singer, who died last Thursday at age 57, the 30 Rock alum and comedian recalled how the artist's music affected him. He also shared fond memories of hanging out with Prince. "Was he an influence? Absolutely!" Morgan, 47, wrote in his ode, posted in Billboard. "He was talking about making love, he was a sexy man! Prince's music taught me how to suck t---ies! He taught me how to be gentle. Because of him, I once sucked a t---y for an hour. At the end, it looked like a tater tot. I love...

Tracy Morgan remembered Prince in a candid and heartfelt interview with The Hollywood Reporter. "Was he an influence? Absolutely!" said Morgan. "He was free. He came from the heart. He was talking about making love, he was a sexy man!"

The comedian said Prince and Michael Jackson "were the soundtrack to my life," and added that after his father died, he listened to Prince's "Condition of the Heart" on repeat for 24 hours. "That was the last song I said, 'Dad, listen to this!' And my father said, 'That's a good record,...

The San Sebastian Film Festival will once again present, in its 63rd edition, some of the most outstanding Latin American films of the year. The Horizontes Latinos program will include 14 productions from Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, Cuba, Chile, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela. Films that have competed or premiered at important international festivals, but which have not yet been screened at a Spanish festival or had their commercial release in the country.

The selected films compete for the Horizontes Award, decided by a specific jury and coming with €35,000, of which €10,000 will go to the director of the winning film, and the remaining €25,000 to its distributor in Spain.

The section will open with Pablo Larraín’s "El Club," Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at the last Berlin Festival. The film tells the tale of four men who share a secluded house in a small beach town, sent there to purge the sins they have committed in the past.

Here is the full list of titles screening in this important section:

"El Club" (The Club) Pablo Larraín (Chile) Opening Night Film

Pablo Larraín won the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at the last Berlin Festival with this film. Four men share a secluded house in a small beach town, sent there to purge the sins they have committed in the past.

"600 Millas" (600 Miles) Gabriel Ripstein (Mexico) Arnulfo Rubio, a young gun trafficker between the United States and Mexico, is being followed by Atf agent Hank Harris. After a risky mistake by Harris, Rubio makes a desperate decision: he smuggles the agent to Mexico. Best First Feature Award in the Panorama section of the Berlin Festival.

"El Abrazo de la Serpiente" (Embrace of the Serpent ) Ciro Guerra (Colombia - Argentina - Venezuela) Premiered at the Cannes Festival Directors’ Fortnight, the latest film from Ciro Guerra tells the epic story of the first contact, encounter, approach, betrayal and, eventually, life-transcending friendship, between an Amazonian shaman and two Western explorers.

"El Botón de Nácar (The Pearl Button) Patricio Guzmán (France - Chile - Spain ) Chilean filmmaker Patricio Guzmán talks to us in his latest documentary about water, the cosmos and ourselves, human beings. It all begins with the discovery of two mysterious buttons in the depths of the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Chile.

"Chronic" Michel Franco (Mexico - France) David is a nurse who works with terminally ill patients. Efficient and dedicated to his profession, he develops strong and even intimate relationships with each person he cares for. But outside of his work David is ineffectual, awkward, and reserved. Best Screenplay Award-winner at the Cannes Festival.

"Desde Allá" (From Afar) Lorenzo Vigas (Venezuela) Armando, aged 50, looks for young men in the streets of Caracas and pays them to come back to his house with him. He also regularly spies on an older man with whom he seems to have ties from the past. One day he meets Elder, aged 17, leader of a small band of thugs. Competitor in the Official Selection of the Venice Festival.

"Las Elegidas" (The Chosen Ones) David Pablos (Mexico - France) David Pablos’s second film took part at the San Sebastian Co-production Forum in 2014 and premiered in the Un Certain Regard section of Cannes Festival. Sofia, 14 years old, is in love with Ulises. Because of him, in spite of him, she is forced into a prostitution ring in Mexico. To set her free, Ulises will have to find another girl to replace her.

"Ixcanul" Jayro Bustamante (Guatemala - France) María, a 17 year-old Mayan girl, lives and works with her family in a plantation on the Guatemalan plateau. Her days go by uneventfully until her parents arrange her marriage to the estate foreman, Ignacio. A film that landed a special mention at the last edition of Films in Progress and competed at the Berlin Festival, where it won the Alfred Bauer Award.

"Magallanes"

Salvador Del Solar (Peru Argentina- Colombia - Spain) Winner of Films in Progress at last year's Festival. Magallanes recognises a woman getting into a taxi. It's Celina, the young peasant girl he randomly arrested more than twenty years ago, when he was a soldier. They both have unfinished business. And for Magallanes, this is an opportunity to redeem himself. Damián Alcázar, Magaly Solier and Federico Luppi play the leading parts.

"La Obra del Siglo" (The Projcxt of Century) Carlos M. Quintela (Cuba -Argentina- Germany -Switzerland) Amidst a mosquito plague, Leonardo, struggling with the breakdown of his relationship, moves back to live with a grandfather who fights with everyone and everything, and a father living with the melancholy of the unfinished. Tiger Award-winner at the last Rotterdam Festival.

"Pulina" Santiago Mitre (Argentina- Brazil- France) Paulina decides to leave her brilliant law career to teach in a downtrodden Argentinian region. In a hostile atmosphere, she will set about her pedagogical mission, even if it means losing her boyfriend and confrontation with her father. Fipresci Prize-winner at the last Cannes Festival Critics’ Week.

"Para Minha Amada Morta" (To My Beloved) Aly Muritiba (Brazil) Fernando is a good man who takes care of his only child, Daniel, a shy and sensitive boy. Following the death of his wife Ana, every night Fernando recalls their love as he sorts out his beloved dead spouse’s belongings. One day he finds a VHS tape that will change everything. This movie participated in the Films in Progress section at the last Festival. The film took part at the Co-Production Forum in 2014.

"Te Prometo Anarquía" (I Promise You Anarchy) Julio Hernández Cordón (Mexico - Germany) Julio Hernández Cordón’s new film was selected for the Locarno Festival Competition. Miguel and Johnny have known each other since childhood. They spend their time skateboarding and having fun. To make easy money and continue skateboarding, they sell their own blood clandestinely. They turn the ploy into a business, until a major transaction doesn't turn out as they'd expected.

"La Tierra y la Sombra" (Land and Shade) César Augusto Acevedo (Colombia- Chiles - Brazil - Netherlands - France) Winner of the Caméra d’Or at the Cannes Festival, after having participated at the San Sebastian Co-Production Forum in 2013, this film portrays a family as they try to repair the fragile ties that bind them in the face of their imminent disappearance, brought about by the overwhelming power of progress.

Palm Springs — The 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival lit up the desert night sky Saturday night with an awards gala recognizing top prospects in this year's Oscar race. Talent from films like "Gone Girl," "Birdman," "The Theory of Everything," "Still Alice" and "Wild," among others, was on hand to ring in the new year with towering statues dished out on a massive stage that seemed to scream out, "This is a serious awards season stop!" Early honors went to breakthrough performances from Rosamund Pike ("Gone Girl") and David Oyleowo ("Selma"). The latter was introduced by "Selma" producer Brad Pitt, who said he wanted to broach a subject that everyone was thinking about. No, it wasn't recent criticism of the film's historical accuracy, but rather, how to pronounce Oyelowo's last name. "You're going to be referencing this name for years to come," he exclaimed. "You have to learn this!

The reemergence of Giorgio Moroder to mainstream prominence over the last year has been one of the great unexpected gifts for music enthusiasts. In the wake of his seemingly inevitable collaboration with dance icons Daft Punk, Moroder has been collaborating, remixing, and working on new material of his own—not to mention DJing live for the first time in his storied career. In the process he has introduced himself to a new generation of fans, rightly receiving his due as an influential producer and sonic innovator. But what has yet to be widely recognized is the thumbprint Moroder has left on modern film composing. His iconic, Oscar-winning scores and songs for many of the biggest films of the late-1970s and ‘80s (Midnight Express, Top Gun) have long since entered the pantheon, but with the recent popularity of nostalgia-fueled films such as Nicolas Winding Refn’s Drive, Moroder’s influence...

When I had to go to work in an office everyday, I would try to save up my vacation days so I could take off the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Ostensibly, I did this because my kid had no school and needed daytime attention.

But, really, I did it because I wanted to go to the movies.

The holiday season usually sees a flood of new releases, either to amuse those home-bound kids or to qualify for the Academy Awards. A lot of the Oscar-bait is scheduled for nation-wide release when the awards will actually be presented, and they just open in a few theaters to get by the rules. Since a lot of Academy members live in New York, we luck out.

There are altogether too many Jews in my borough for me to indulge the traditional Reform observance of Christmas (Chinese food and a...

Every since Miley’s scandalous performance at the MTV Video Music Awards, rumors about her relationship with Liam have been swirling — one even claiming she was hooking up with her producer.

After Liam Hemsworth reportedly hooked up with January Jones again, a new report was released that Miley Cyrus was cozying up to producer, Mike WiLL Made It. However, HollywoodLife.com has now learned that the truth behind their relationship is actually not what it seems.

Miley Cyrus & Mike WiLL Made It: Are They More Than Friends?

Star magazine reported that Miley was “hooking up” with her producer, Mike Williams, who you know as Mike WiLL Made It, after hearing that Liam was talking to January again.

However, that’s not the case!

“It’s easy to understand why people could jump to conclusions about her and Mike, there have even been times that Liam’s questioned her about it,...

Marlene Dietrich Grandson J. Michael Riva, Robert Clatworthy, and Harper Goff: Art Directors Guild Hall of Fame 2014 Production Designers Robert Clatworthy, Harper Goff, and J. Michael Riva will be posthumously inducted into the Art Directors Guild Hall of Fame at the 18th Art Directors Guild Awards ceremony, to be held on February 8, 2014, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. (Photo: Production designer J. Michael Riva.) J. Michael Riva J. Michael Riva (1948-2012), grandson of Marlene Dietrich (The Blue Angel, Shanghai Express, A Foreign Affair), was production designer for Stuart Rosenberg / Robert Redford’s 1980 socially conscious drama Brubaker. Later on, Redford hired Riva as the art director for Ordinary People, also released in 1980. Riva’s other production design credits include the Lethal Weapon movies starring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover; A Few Good Men (1992), with Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, and Demi Moore; The Pursuit of Happyness (2006), with Will Smith; Spider-Man 3 (2007), with Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst,...

Deanna Durbin: Ephemeral fame (photo: Deanna Durbin in 1981) [See previous post: "Deanna Durbin: 'Sweet Monster.'"] Unlike Greta Garbo, whose mystique remained basically intact following her retirement in 1941, Deanna Durbin’s popularity faded away much like that of the vast majority of celebrities who were removed — or who chose to remove themselves — from public view. Despite the advent of home video and classic-movie cable channels, Durbin remains virtually unknown to the vast majority of those who weren’t around in her heyday in the ’30s and ’40s. Yet, although relatively few in number, she continues to have her ardent fans. There are a handful of websites devoted to Deanna Durbin and her film and recording careers, chiefly among them the appropriately titled "Deanna Durbin Devotees." Fade Out Charles David, Deanna Durbin’s husband of 48 years, died in March 1999, at the age of 92; Institut Pasteur medical researcher Peter H. David is their only son. Durbin also had a daughter,...

Sonakshi Sinha who has tasted success in the competitive world of Bollywood within a short span of two years gives credit for her success and filmy career to Salman Khan, her first co-star whom she considered her mentor cum well wisher. Sonakshi said that whatever she is today it is all because of Salman. He is the one who boost her to take up acting and that's why she takes his comment in a positive stride and tries to improve. "Whenever Salman criticizes me, he does it in a very positive way. Because of him only I lost so much of weight. I am an actress because of him and he is very happy about it. Whatever he says, I take it in a very...

Mumbai, Dec 19: Actress Sonakshi Sinha, who made her big Bollywood debut opposite Salman Khan in "Dabangg", says she is thankful to the star for his constant support and constructive criticism.

"Whenever Salman criticizes me, he does it in a very positive way. Because of him only I lost so much of weight. I am an actress because of him and he is very happy about it. Whatever he says, I take it in a very positive spirit," Sonakshi told Ians.

Sonakshi was over 80 kgs before she joined the industry, and worked hard to get into shape to get into filmdom. Recently, a lot has been commented regarding her weight issues, but she says.

Vishal Bhardwaj says shooting his new film in Gujarat was a cakewalk, all thanks to the State's brand ambassador: Big B aka Amitabh Bachchan. In fact, the shooting nearly came to a halt when Imran Khan and Anushka Sharma were unceremoniously asked to leave an important location where most of the film was shot. One phone call to the Big B and from him, to the powers-that-be solved what could have been a critical loss of time revenue and faith for the crew of Bharadwaj's Matru Ki Bijli Ka Mandola. That Gujarat is turning out to be an alternate paradise for filmmakers in Mumbai, is proven by the increase in the number of films being shot in the State. Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Nikhil Advani are currently shooting their new films Ram Leela and D Day respectively, in the Kutch district of Gujarat. One hears that Ajay Devgn and Vipul...

On a scale of 1 to 100, the former being hard and the latter being Kerry Katona after a couple of Irn Brus, hating Chris Moyles is somewhere along the minus scale. People far and wide congregate together to attack the ‘moronic wanker’ responsible for the ‘vapid, inconsequential guff‘ that his soon-to-be ex-station outputs, even if they don’t actually listen to his show. By the time you read this, he’ll be long gone from his morning show, so what better time to fire some last-minute parting shots? It’s easy. Go on. Have a go. You’ve got plenty to pick from.

You could opt for the physical appearance and his rotund figure, even if the guy has actually lost a shed load of weight and slimmed down into the best shape of his life. Failing that, try his anti-music policy, where no songs get played before 7am, a crime...

Six stars send a Father's Day message out to their dads

Danny DeVito

My father, Danny, didn't get to see my kids. He died 28 years ago. I had just got married. But my father was very important in my life. He was a stay-at-home kind of dad. First he had a candy store on Springwood Avenue, Asbury Park in New Jersey. Then, when I was still young, he decided to go into business where he could work from home and just use a phone. He became a bookie taking bets on horses.

I loved it. I could see him whenever I wanted. If you have a father who wants to spend time with you, which mine did, then you're really fortunate. You get that rush of being with your dad, going places, even if it's just shopping or to the movies. We used to fish a lot, my father and me.

Lauren's parents stopped by 'Good Morning America' to give an update on their daughter's recovery. Lauren Scruggs' story is nothing short of a miracle. Four months after accidentally walking into an airplane propeller, losing both her left eye and hand, the fashion blogger has made a remarkable recovery. Not only has she regained her speech and personality -- two things doctors feared she might lose forever -- but her parents revealed April 6 on Good Morning America that she will soon be getting a prosthetic arm. "She's already selected that," Lauren's dad Jeff Scruggs said. "It'll be another month before she gets it." As always, Lauren's family attributes their faith to their daughter's recovery process. "She's concentrating on her rehabilitation, and she knows that God is carrying her," Jeff and Cheryl Scruggs said. "Because of Him, she has the strength and courage to get up every day and do what she's supposed to do.

Sources directly connected to Dr. Conrad Murray tell TMZ ... the Doc will not accept any plea bargain from the L.A. County District Attorney in the Michael Jackson manslaughter case. We're told Dr. Murray feels so strongly about his innocence, even a plea with no jail time would be out of the question. Fact is ... Dr. Murray shouldn't hold his breath, because no plea bargain has been offered and sources tell us the D.A.

Golfer Greg Norman at the 2009 U.S. Senior Open. By Jamie Squire/Getty Images.I’ll always have a soft spot in my heart for Greg Norman. Because of him, I realized that golf could actually be fascinating melodrama. For most of my youth, the only golf match I had any interest in was the showdown between Ted Knight and Rodney Dangerfield in Caddyshack. But on one fateful weekend in April, as I sipped beer with my father and watched the ‘96 Masters—a little drunk is the only way I can watch golf—I saw one of the most remarkable meltdowns in the history of professional sports. It was a foregone conclusion that Greg “The Shark” Norman would win the Masters in 1996, much the same way that Michael Jordan would lead the ’96 Bulls to an N.B.A. Championship. The only way he could lose was by dropping dead at Augusta,...

The Borgias (2011): Season 1, Episode 1 and Episode 2 – entitled The Poisoned Chalice and The Assassin respectively – is the beginning of a great new period-piece TV series, a consistent, worthy successor to Showtime’s The Tudors. Rodrigo Borgia (Jeremy Irons) is nearly as selfish and manipulative as Atia from HBO’s Rome but is still far from being as cold-blooded. Rodrigo’s ambitions and desires are the driving force in the Borgias household, controlling the destiny of all its inhabitants. When his ultimate acsension is complete, that web of control magnifies by a factor of one hundred. New enemies arise and it is these enemies, a lack of personal control, and jealousy which drive most of the drama during these two episodes.

The most interesting character in The Poisoned Chalice and The Assassin is Cesare Borgia (François Arnaud), who was forced into the church by his father against all of his wishes.

Duncan Jones on the set of Source Code

Photo: Summit Entertainment In 2009 a minimalistic sci-fi film called Moon found widespread critical success. It was, however, only released in 252 theaters and only garnered $5 million at the domestic box-office. This meant that while those that kept up-to-date on the latest movies on movie websites such as this one may now be familiar with writer-director Duncan Jones, the majority of America was left in the dark.

Jones is now stepping into the light with his latest feature set to be released by the house that Twilight built. With Source Code, Jones directs a script by first time feature film screenwriter Ben Ripley, telling a story of a government experiment able to send a person into another man's identity for only a few brief minutes. In this case that person is Captain Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal) and he's inhabiting the body of a train...

Slamdance opens tonight and will show 95 films from now through January 27th in Park City, Utah. Sound on Sight will continue to post interviews with Slamdance filmmakers throughout the festival’s duration (click here to read yesterday’s interview with the director of Pleasant People).

Today’s interview, with Director Ben Brewer and Executive Producer Anna Rau, reveals the inspiration and thinking behind their film, Beneath Contempt. Read about why it was important to them to steer clear of clichés and over-done movie devices as they told the murky story of a tragic accident and how this mishap weighs on various lives. You’ll also get to read about how they tricked a convenience store clerk into acting at the last minute, and why a band of police, detectives and firemen showed up to one of their shooting locations. Beneath Contempt was a project begun at Emerson College, and is their first feature film.

A graduate of Concordia’s Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema, Eduardo Lucatero is a Mexican-Canadian filmmaker who has worked on a variety of television and film projects in both countries. His first feature, 2007’s Corazón Marchito, is a romantic comedy made for and by cynics. It demonstrated Lucatero’s strengths as a writer who could mould a satisfying character-driven drama that balanced charm and warmth with pitch-black humour. His new film Preludio, is a deceptively simple full length single-take film that craftily distills Lucatero’s interest in character and realistic dialogue over formulaic plot devices. Both the story and the camera follow two unnamed strangers at a party over the course of a conversation with too many cigarettes, too much tequila, and one entirely inappropriate Cancer joke. The characters also become familiar to us as well, as Lucatero uses this experiment in eavesdropping to invite us to become his voyeuristic accomplices.

These are the tearjerking moments when Jack Duckworth is reunited with his beloved wife Vera, as he loses his battle against terminal cancer. The moving scenes, which will air in tonight's double bill, see Jack pass away in the same chair Vera did. As he does, she reappears and the two share a final tender moment together. The couple share one last dance together as Matt Monro's 'Softly As I Leave You' plays in the background. Tarmey announced that he was quitting the ITV soap after three decades earlier this year.

Not long after, a devastated Tyrone, Molly and Connie return to find Jack dead. Bill Tarmey said: "People often ask me if I like Jack Duckworth and I always reply - 'Like him, I bloody love him!'. I have had the most amazing 30 years playing Jack. Because of him I have made some fantastic friends and travelled...

Tyson Beckford and Keri Hilson danced the night away at Andre Harrell's 50th birthday party on Saturday night in New York City. Everybody who is somebody was on-hand to celebrate the music mogul's big day. Diddy tweeted: "Just left the best birthday party of my life for my hero for Andre Harrell! I thank God for him! Because of him there is a Me! Love you Dre!"...

Lalit Modi, under the Income Tax department’s scanner for financial irregularities, continues to get the backing of the Ipl franchise owners with Rajasthan Royals co-owner Shilpa Shetty defending the event’s embattled Commissioner. “I support Lalit as someone who has been part of Ipl. It is Lalit’s brain child. Because of him, Ipl happened,” Shilpa said. “If there is something murky happening behind the scenes, I am unaware about it and in that case, let law take its own course. However, people should not jump to conclusions. Till you are not proven guilty, you are not guilty,” she ...

Bill Tarmey has quit his role as 'Coronation Street's Jack Duckworth. The 69-year-old actor has called time on his loveable alter-ego, who he ''bloody loves'', and admitted he will be ''sorry to say goodbye'' to his character and co-stars after 31 years on the ITV1 soap. He said: ''People often ask if I like Jack Duckworth. I always reply, 'Like him? I bloody love him'. I've had the most amazing 30 years playing Jack. Because of him I've made fantastic friends and travelled all over the world. I'll be sorry to say goodbye.'' Bill's final scenes on the long-running show are now due to ..

Coronation Street veteran Bill Tarmey is to leave the soap after three decades years playing Jack Duckworth, it has been confirmed. The 69-year-old expressed his intention to leave and to spend more time with his family last year, but his wife Ally and the then-producer Kim Crowther and convinced him to stay for the soap's golden anniversary in December. Storyliners are currently working alongside the show's new chief Phil Collinson and executive producer Kieran Roberts to pen a "fitting" departure storyline for the character. Speaking of his decision to quit, Tarmey said: "People often ask me if I like Jack Duckworth and I always reply 'Like him, I bloody love him!' I have had the most amazing 30 years playing Jack. Because of him I have made some fantastic friends and travelled all over the world and I will be sorry to say goodbye to (more)...

Jaime Escalante, the Bolivian powerhouse who put East La's Garfield High School on the map with its Calculus program, passed away yesterday at the age of 79. He was the inspiration for the 1988 film Stand and Deliver, which earned Edward James Olmos an Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of the teacher.

The film, as per usual, took some liberties. Jaime Escalante put many years of teaching in before he reached the success that led to that AP test kerfuffle in 1982, and his students weren't struggling with multiplication tables at the beginning of the year. Nevertheless, his impact on the kids of Garfield High was impressive, with continuing AP success until school politics led him to leave the school in 1991. After working in Sacramento's school system for some years, Escalante returned to Bolivia in 2001. Plagued with bladder cancer, Escalante came back in the states. This year, students and Stand and Deliver...

March 12, 2010: The mercury is rising and so are tales of tantrum from tellyland. Under the gun is actor-singer Baba Sehgal who allegedly is giving a tough time to one and all on the sets of Sab show Jugni chali Jalandhar. Apparently, a few of his erstwhile colleagues too are said to have taken a cue from his book.

A little birdie from the sets informs, “Baba Sehgal has been causing a lot of grief for a long time. He’s very egoistic. He thinks he’s the biggest superstar on the show. He’s been reporting late to work and even takes his own time to get ready for the shot. Because of him,.

I started walking around London in my mind. It started when I wrote the entry about Jermyn Street. In mentioning Wilton's I should have mentioned that on my first visit there I ordered roast turkey with fresh peaches. I know, it sound like the Peter Cook and Dudley Moore routine about the Frog & Peach, but nevertheless that's what I had, with a raspberry syllabub for dessert.

In my mind my walk didn't stop when Jermyn Street ended at St. James. I imagined walking down St. James and into the park, and around the ponds. And admiring the view of Westminster Abbey from the bridge. And then perhaps out one end of the park toward Victoria or into Pimlico.

Pushing on now, following an instinctive guidance system in my mind, I stop for coffee at that little street (I know just how to find it) with all the cafes and an assortment of street venders.

Dread Central attended the red carpet premiere of Universal Pictures’ The Wolfman redux earlier this evening at the Arclight in Hollywood, CA, and brought back a handful of pics of the event as well as having an opportunity to chat with the film’s screenwriter, David Self, and F/X man Rick Baker.

“It was way my dad’s favorite movie as a kid,” Self told us of the 1941 original, as throngs of paparazzi eagerly snapped away at The Wolfman stars Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Hugo Weaving, and Emily Blunt and director Joe Johnston. “He introduced it to me when I was a tyke, too. I’ve tried to show it to my kids, who are like five and seven, but it’s too scary for them. But they dig it so I love to see that it’s still effective.”

Commenting on the ferocity of the remake, Self...

Part 6: From 50 Cent to Piers Morgan

50 Cent Bought a lot of ugly houses, killed hip-hop in the process

Good work on destroying hip-hop there, Curtis Jackson. Your relentless – and highly profitable – pursuit of the lowest common denominator has turned what was once actually exciting, a musical form that had wit and imagination and some glorious fire in its belly, into something crushingly, ball-achingly tedious, a tail-chasing, scab-picking parody of itself. I mean, well done on the cash and all that, but couldn't "Fiddy" have done something more interesting with it other than just buy an ugly house, some bullet-proof vests and a bunch of vulgar motors while writing rhymes like, "'Til the sun comes up, every night, we party, yeah we party 'til daylight", or, if you prefer, "I'm in my Lambo maggot, my 4, 4 faggot …" Is that it? Is that all the hip-hop fan deserves? Apparently, yes; yes it is.

MoviesOnline sat down with Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Quinton Aaron, and director John Lee Hancock to talk about their new film, “The Blind Side.”

"The Blind Side" depicts the remarkable true story of Michael Oher, a homeless African-American youngster from a broken home, taken in by the Touhys, a well-to-do white family who help him fulfill his potential. At the same time, Oher's presence in the Touhys' lives leads them to some insightful self-discoveries of their own. Living in his new environment, the teen faces a completely different set of challenges to overcome. As a football player and student, Oher works hard and, with the help of his coaches and adopted family, becomes an All-American offensive left tackle.

Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Quinton Aaron, John Lee Hancock are fabulous people and we really appreciated their time. Here’s what they had to tell us:3

Q: You’re playing people who...