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Reactions roll in following this year’s BAFTA nominations.Baftas 2017Baftas 2017: full list of nominationsBaftas 2017: ‘La La Land’ leads the way with 11 nominationsBaftas 2017: eOne and Lionsgate score record number of nominationsBaftas 2017 analysis: ‘La La Land’ soars, diversity debate simmersLion

Dev Patel (actor): “Thank you so much to the BAFTA’s for your support. Ever since I was a kid growing up outside of London, I’ve watched the Bafta awards with my family. It was a tradition of ours and served as an inspiration to me as I decided to embark on my journey as an actor. Since Lion is a film about identity and finding “home,” this Bafta nomination today truly means so much to me.

“I’m thrilled for Nicole Kidman, Luke Davies, Greig and the composers for their respective nominations. I am beyond grateful to Garth Davis, our fearless and soulful director who brought this film to life in such...

The decision to pull the plug on Looking was not made lightly, according to HBO president Michael Lombardo.

The cabler’s top exec told reporters Thursday at the Television Critics Association summer press tour in Beverly Hills that “ending that show was, on a personal level, very painful for me” but noted that Looking‘s weak ratings “didn’t support us going forward” beyond Season 2.

RelatedLooking Season 2 Finale Post Mortem: Ep on That Last Scene, Russell Tovey’s Future and… a Patrick-Dom Romance?

“I thought the show, creatively, was really doing something that I hadn’t seen on any other show,...

BBC Four has announced that Puppy Love will not return for a second season.

In a statement issued this afternoon (April 24), the channel confirmed that the sitcom - created by Getting On's Joanna Scanlan and Vicki Pepperdine - had been cancelled.

"Puppy Love was a great series but won't be coming back to BBC Four as we look to bring new comedy shows through," a representative of the BBC told TVWise.

"Huge thanks to the wonderfully talented Joanna Scanlan and Vicki Pepperdine and all involved in the making of the show."

Puppy Love premiered back in November 2014 and ran for just six episodes.

The show centred on dog trainer Nany V (Scanlan) and the dog training classes she ran in the Wirral.

Pepperdine co-starred as class attendee Naomi Singh, alongside Selina Borji, Simon Fisher-Becker and Aron Julius.

The show was helmed by former EastEnders star-turned-director Susan Tully, while Saurabh Kakkar...

Good evening and welcome to the 87th Academy Awards, live from the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, Los Angeles.

The biggest movie event of the year is with us once more, and Digital Spy will be bringing you comprehensive live coverage, from the first Manolos on the red carpet to the last teary speech from the stage.

Refresh your memory with this list of all the nominations and compare your prediction cards with our guesses for who will win all the major gongs.

21:15What were your favourite moments from tonight? And what do you think of all the big winners, especially Birdman's victory over Boyhood? Do let us know in the comments box below, and stick around on DS for our full reaction to the ceremony.

21:14Neil Patrick Harris was undoubtedly a bit hit and miss, lacking confidence in the middle more than anything else, but there were...

Eddie Redmayne tells of ‘once in a lifetime’ experience and Benedict Cumberbatch is knocked for six while Emma Stone finds the whole occasion ‘surreal’. Hear what the nominees had to say.Oscars 2015The Grand Budapest Hotel, Birdman lead chargeTimothy Spall, David Oyelowo among shutoutsNominations in fullNominees reactionsBest Film nominees in detail

Comment: Jeremy Kay reflects on who’s in and outGALLERIES: Films / ActorsVIDEO: Nominations announcement

The 87th annual Academy Awards will take place in Hollywood on February 22. This story will continue to update for several hours.

Motion Picture / Executives

“I am very happy for the whole Birdman flock because it took a lot of courage to make this film out of conventions. These nominations reflect the recognition of our colleagues as well as the members of the Academy. I am proud, thankful and humbled.”

Alejandro González Iñárritu, Birdman

“Thank you Academy for recognizing Birdman. Nine nominations is a huge feather in our cap. I am particularly...

Eddie Redmayne tells of ‘once in a lifetime’ experience and Benedict Cumberbatch is knocked for six while Emma Stone finds the whole occasion ‘surreal’. Hear what the nominees had to say.

The 87th annual Academy Awards will take place in Hollywood on February 22. This story will continue to update for several hours.

Motion Picture / Executives

“I am very happy for the whole Birdman flock because it took a lot of courage to make this film out of conventions. These nominations reflect the recognition of our colleagues as well as the members of the Academy. I am proud, thankful and humbled.”

Alejandro González Iñárritu, Birdman

“Thank you Academy for recognizing Birdman. Nine nominations is a huge feather in our cap. I am particularly proud of my friend Alejandro for his fearlessness and creativity and to our entire cast and crew for their unparalleled precision and excellence. Congratulations as well to our fellow nominees.”

John Lesher, [link...

Gurinder Chadha’s hit film Bend It Like Beckham is being readied for the West End stage and following a host of auditions and workshops, the cast for the highly anticipated stage version Bend It Like Beckham the Musical has been formally announced.

Natalie Dew will play football crazy Jess with Lauren Samuels as Jules, a player with the Harriers, a local women’s football team, and Jamie Campbell Bower as their coach Joe. The three young leads will be supported by some familiar faces, including comedian Ronni Ancona who plays Paula, Jules’s Mum, with Jamal Andréas as Jess’ good friend Tony.

Preeya Kalidas who appeared in the original film as one of the cousins, will take on the role of Pinky, Jess’ sister and Tony Jayawardena andNatasha Jayetileke take on the all important roles of her parents, Mr and Mrs Bhamra.

Jess needs extra time. She is facing...

BBC commentator Steve Wilson made an unfortunate gaffe during last night's World Cup match.

While German fans were celebrating their eventual 7-1 demolition of Brazil, Wilson mistakenly claimed that they were singing 'Deutschland über alles' in the stands.

However, the controversial line - translated as 'Germany above all' - has not been used in the German national anthem since the end of WWII.

Viewers soon aired their complaints about the error on Twitter:

BBC commentator Steve Wilson - are you sure the fans were singing 'Deutschland uber alles' and not 'Einigkeit und recht und..' #research

— Sean O'Conor (@SeanWoking) July 8, 2014

This commentator needs to stop calling the national anthem Deutschland Uber Alles... this isn't nazi germany.

— Oliver Deane. (@Ollie_J_Deane) July 8, 2014

Did the BBC commentator say the German national anthem was "Deutschland uber alles"? Is it still 1939! Outrageous #bbcworldcup

— Ron Lewis (@RonLewisTimes) July 8, 2014

BBC Sport, the German national anthem is Not Deutschland Uber Alles.

Interview Louisa Mellor 1 Jan 2014 - 22:30

Here's what the cast and creators said after December's preview screening of The Empty Hearse. Huge spoilers ahead...

Spoiler warning: best avoided if you haven’t seen The Empty Hearse.

After the posh BFI screening of The Empty Hearse in December, writer Caitlin Moran chaired a Q&A with the cast and creators. Mark Gatiss, who wrote the episode, was in attendance with Steven Moffat, Executive Producer Sue Vertue, director Jeremy Lovering, and actors Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch. We’ve trimmed a few of the gags, and the four giggly minutes or so spent wading through an online fan-fic, but the rest is mostly intact. It all began with a scream…

Caitlin Moran: Collectively, having seen the mood outside before this started, and the mood in here today, if everybody would like to let free one big scream to let out the tension,...

The 66th annual British Academy Film Awards are here! And there was much rejoicing.

We’re here at the Royal Opera House in London to bring you all the up to the minute news on who won, who looked really annoyed when they lost, and who knows what else will be in store for us tonight?

Lord Stephen of Fry is leading proceedings once again and I’ll be updating you fine people with the winners as they are announced.

The full list of awards and nominees can be found here, and as the awards are announced I’ll update the liveblog below with the nominees and the winners.

The ceremony is due to start at around 7pm and if you’re hungry for all the red carpeting then head over here to see the arrivals from around 5pm.

Updates will be added at the top…But not anymore as we’ve finished.

Steve attended the American Film Market (Afm) a few weeks back, and he was able to bring back a few promo images, posters, and synopses for some upcoming films. Today we’ve got the first image and synopsis for the comedy The Look of Love and the first synopsis for the psychological horror film In Fear. Directed by Michael Winterbottom (The Trip), Steve Coogan stars in The Look of Love as a legendary gentleman’s club owner and erotic publisher in London. The cast also includes Anna Friel (Pushing Daisies), Tamsin Egerton (Huge), and Imogen Poots (Jane Eyre). Additionally, we’ve got the first synopsis for the horror film In Fear. Directed by Jeremy Lovering, the film stars Alice Englert (Beautiful Creatures) and is described as a home invasion film in a car. The story plays out in real time as we follow a couple trapped in a maze of...

There's more good news for fans going to the second Kapow! Comic Convention this weekend, as legendary Star Wars producer Rick McCallum has joined the Momentum Showcase panel to present footage from Red Tails and hopefully answer questions from fans (fingers crossed for an update on the live action Star Wars TV series). British writer and director Gareth Evans will also be there to discuss The Raid. Plz Rt: Huge News - Star Wars Producer Rick McCallum Is Coming To Kapow On Saturday Now Too! London Business and Design Centre!!— Mark Millar (@mrmarkmillar) May 17, 2012 @KapowCon on Sat; David Oyelowo & Rick McCallum talking @RedTailsUK, @ghuwevans with @TheRaidUK & sneak peaks at some of our upcoming films!— Momentum Pictures (@MomentumPics) May 17, 2012 In addition to comic-book panels with Marvel, DC, Image and Millarworld, other events taking place include An Audience with Nick Frost, Noel Clarke Q&A with exclusive footage from Storage 24,...

Twilight's Kristen Stewart spotted growling at huge monster in new Snow White pic. Recently, a new clip (below) hit the net,and features Twilight Saga hottie Kristen Stewart rocking a major intense "Snow White and the Huntsman" scene. In it,her Snow White character and the huntsman get attacked by a huge,monster,troll. After the huntsman gets majorly thrown, Snow decides to growl him down,and it appeared to work. Snow just stared at him,and he eventually wandered off. It looks like it's going to be a great flick. Check it out,below. The movie stars: Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth, Sam Claflin, Ray Winstone, Ian McShane, Eddie Izzard, Bob Hoskins, Toby Jones, Eddie Marsan, Stephen Graham, Ray Winstone, Lily Cole, Sam Spruell, Liberty Ross,and Noah Huntley. In the new movie,Snow White learns to fight and defend herself against the evil queen,who seeks to steal her heart,...

Twilight's Kristen Stewart scares off huge beast in new Snow White movie clip. As previously reported, Twilight Saga hottie Kristen Stewart,hit up the Tonight Show with Jay Leno this past Friday night to promote her new "Snow White and the Huntsman" flick. She also brought a new clip (below) along with her,which looks totally awesome as we see K-Stew like we've never seen her before. The clip is shown towards the end of the interview. In the new clip, Kristen's Snow White character and the huntsman are getting majorly bullied around by a huge troll. However,after a while, Snow White gets majorly fed up with all the growling Bs,and decides to growl right back at the angry beast,and it appears to shut him up. Then he eventually wanders on off. It looks pretty cool. Check it out,below. The movie stars: Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron,...

Here’s what I think is the best image so for from Snow White and the Huntsman. It shows Kristen Stewart (Snow White) and Chris Hemsworth wielding an axe (The Huntsman) and in a tangle after looking like they’ve been chased by someone or something. Could it be the monster in the image I put up the other day? I dont think so but it could be! The film was shot right here at Pinewood Studios so it’s going to be good – Fact!

Snow White and the Huntsman is released 1st June, directed by Rupert Sanders and also stars Sam Claflin, Ray Winstone, Ian McShane, Eddie Izzard, Bob Hoskins, Toby Jones, Eddie Marsan, Stephen Graham, Ray Winstone, Lily Cole, Sam Spruell, Liberty Ross and Noah Huntley.

In the epic action-adventure Snow White and the Huntsman, Kristen Stewart (Twilight) plays the only person in the land fairer than the...

Kristen Stewart takes on huge beast in new 'Snow White Huntsman' movie photo. Universal Pictures released another amazing photo from their upcoming "Snow White and the Huntsman" flick,featuring beautiful Twilight Saga hottie Kristen Stewart as she stands in front of a huge beast. We're actually not sure if she has to fight the beast,but she definitely has her sword in hand, in case she does. It looks pretty dark and intense. The movie stars: Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth, Sam Claflin, Ray Winstone, Ian McShane, Eddie Izzard, Bob Hoskins, Toby Jones, Eddie Marsan, Stephen Graham, Ray Winstone, Lily Cole, Sam Spruell, Liberty Ross,and Noah Huntley. In the new movie,K-Stew plays a version of Snow White that is trained to become a warrior princess after the Huntsman that was sent to kill her,actually decides to protect her instead. From there on out,everyone else becomes...

"Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol" wont be in theaters until December 21st and Jeremy Renner isn't too worried about it. Recently at a press junket I interviewed Jeremy in regards to his new role in this million dollar franchise. Jeremy plays agent William Brandt, a desk jockey with little field experience, or so we think who squares off with Ethan through the course of the film. At least that's the impression we get from the trailer. Instead of screening the film for the press we were treated to six scenes, approximately 30 minutes of the film in IMAX, which was impressive. When it comes to story line, well I'm pretty much in the dark too. Although the IMAX scenes were incredible and well executed, it's almost the only way to see this film. I spoke to Jeremy about entering this franchise, doing stunt work, how life has changes since "The Hurt Locker...

To mark the release of Huge on DVD 3rd October, Independent have given us three copies of the movie to give away. In his “promising debut as a filmmaker” (The Observer), comedian Ben Miller (The Armstrong & Miller Show, Johnny English, Comic Relief) takes us on a hilarious and heartfelt journey to the dark side of stand-up comedy. BAFTA-winning actor Noel Clarke (Adulthood, 4.3.2.1) and BAFTA-nominated Johnny Harris (This Is England ’86, London To Brighton) are joined by BAFTA-winning actress Thandie Newton (Run Fat Boy Run, Crash), Michelle Ryan (Bionic Woman) and comedy’s finest names: Eddie Izzard, David Baddiel, Jo Brand, Jack Dee, Harry Hill and many more. Russell Tovey (Being Human) and Tamsin Egerton (St Trinian’s) also co-star.

Feuding comedy duo Warren & Clark (played by Johnny Harris and Noel Clarke) dream of making it Huge. As they gig around the comedy clubs of London they discover an unforgiving, cut-throat comedy...

Following on from the previews figures that we saw last week, it’s no surprise that we’ve just heard that The Inbetweeners Movie (our review here) has raked in a massive £13.2m at the UK box office in the past 4 days breaking the previous record for a UK comedy which was previously held by Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason.

I’ve placed the official press release below for your viewing pleasure but with figures like this, does that mean that there could be room (or requirement?!) for a sequel to the extremely popular Channel 4 series movie? As an UK going audience, the answer would surely be yes!

During the Big Screen weekend last week, I attended The Inbetweeners panel which was attended by the writers of both the series and the movie, I asked that very question to the writers of The Inbetweeners, Iain Morris, Damon Beesley...

The Tree Of Life (12A)

(Terrence Malick, 2011, Us) Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain, Hunter McCracken, Laramie Eppler, Sean Penn, Tye Sheridan. 139 mins

Successor to Kubrick's 2001 or extended perfume ad? Either way, Malick's macro/microcosmic take on life, the universe and family life makes most films look unadventurous. Beyond the head-trip "creation of the universe" sequences, it's largely Sean Penn's impressionistic reminiscence of his conflicted childhood, rendered in gorgeous imagery, with introspective voiceovers and a dreamy intensity.

The Princess Of Montpensier (15)

(Bertrand Tavernier, 2010, Fra) Mélanie Thierry, Gaspard Ulliel, Lambert Wilson. 140 mins

There's costumes and courtliness, but this 16th-century saga remains unstuffy. Sought-after Thierry's quest for self-determination is the focus, and the treatment is modern and immediate.

Trust (15)

(David Schwimmer, 2010, Us) Liana Liberato, Clive Owen, Catherine Keener. 106 mins

Those who saw Catfish will know where this teen's online relationship with an apparently nice boy is headed. But what follows is an exercise in parent-worrying technophobia.

Ben Miller's Huge (2010) is a film about comics but it certainly isn't 80 minutes of riotous laughs. As everyone knows, real-life comedians are often depressed, repressed or just boring to be around. You won’t be falling off your chair laughing at well-crafted gags or moments of slapstick hilarity, but if their oft-repeated “Knock, knock” joke is any indicator, that’s probably a good thing.

(...)...

A directorial debut from Ben Miller set in the world of standup comedy, with Noel Clarke and Thandie Newton

This debut feature from TV comic Ben Miller goes behind the scenes of the open-mic circuit where it proceeds to trip over the cables and get tangled in the curtains. Huge is woozy, it's reeling; it doesn't know which end is up. The tale is heartfelt but the technique is shot. Johnny Harris and Noel Clarke play Warren and Clark, two struggling Rupert Pupkin types, and Miller has them shuffling lugubriously from one indignity to the next (including one brief firecracker of a scene featuring Thandie Newton as a coke-fuelled Hollywood agent). The stench of desperation is all-pervading. It rises off the characters and affects the film at large.

Rating: 2/5

DramaComedyXan Brooks

guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2011 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds...

Transformers: Dark Of The Moon (12A)

(Michael Bay, 2011, Us) Shia Labeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Josh Duhamel, Frances McDormand, John Turturro, Josh Dempsey, John Malkovich. 155 mins

Despite the bombastic patriotism, drooling machine porn, all-round political dodginess, atrocious comedy, antiquated alien-invasion plot, etc, there's something oddly compelling about metropolitan destruction and high-tech combat rendered on this scale. If only there weren't those irritating humans getting in the way. It's an improvement on the last one, but this is so defiantly crass, it's almost admirable. Best watched with a 10-year-old boy, a hangover, or a cultural historian by your side to tell you how wrong it all is.

A Separation (PG)

(Asghar Farhadi, 2011, Iran) Peyman Moaadi, Leila Hatami. 123 mins

The complete opposite of Transformers: a complex, intricate and deeply satisfying study of Iranian society. Built around a divorcing couple, but ranging far wider, it's a web of social taboos, domestic clashes and building tension.

This week Jason Solomons meets British character actor Johnny Harris, fresh from This is England 86 and currently starring with Noel Clarke in new comedy Huge. Johnny talks to Jason about his role as a budding comedian and what it was like to perform alongside the UK's stand-up royalty, from Jo Brand to Eddie Izzard.

Irish director Juanita Wilson chose a deeply disturbing subject for her directorial debut, As If I'm Not There. The film tells the tale of a school teacher from Sarajevo caught up in the breakdown of the former Yugoslavia. Jason discusses Juanita's connection with this particular story and discovering a powerful young acting talent in her star, Natasa Petrovic.

Peter Bradshaw joins Jason to review some of this week's other releases including Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Julia Roberts and Tom Hanks finding love in Larry Crowne and The Conspirator.

Subscribe for free via iTunes to ensure every episode gets delivered.

Anchor Bay Entertainment will do right by the legend of King Arthur with the release of the Starz Original TV series Camelot : The Complete First Season on Blu-ray and DVD on September 13.

The Blu-ray and DVD will by priced at $59.99 and $49.98, respectively.

Jamie Campbell Bower is the young Arthur in Camelot.

The 10-episode epic adventure-drama offers offers a fresh, violent and sexy telling of the classic medieval tale of King Arthur and his castle and court of Camelot. The series begins in the wake of King Uther’s sudden death, when the sorcerer Merlin (Joseph Fiennes, The Red Baron) has visions of a dark future and installs young Arthur (Jamie Campbell Bower, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1) as king. But Arthur’s cold and ambitious half-sister Morgan (Eva Green, Casino Royale) will fight him to the bitter end for control of the crown. Faced with the challenge...

British audiences are being spoiled by a stream of innovative native films – and they're from industry outsiders with little or no formal training in cinema

It must be a combination of delight and relief that film-makers feel when the work they've slaved over starts picking up buzz – even before release, when the chat on messageboards and social networking sites is positive. The fear of failure must diminish, replaced by the hope the film might become a cult hit, maybe even a bona fide commercial success.

Think how much more delighted and relieved the film-makers must be if they're not really, well, film-makers.

That's the situation Attack the Block and its director are in. A streetwise, genre-bending rocket of a film, powered by pounding hip-hop and grime beats, and peppered with teen gangsta patois, Attack the Block is knowing and authentic enough to deserve its likely success. But what has really...

Lucy and Sarah Unwin’s first attempt at bring a U.S style convention to the U.K. was, in this writer’s opinion, an eventful and successful experience. It’s a bit silly to try and fully compare this comic-con and its baby steps to its American cousins for many reasons. For one: not only does the share size of San Diego’s event eclipses ours in good old Blighty, but it’s been going on for a whole lot longer.

I wouldn’t be surprised that some of the rougher patches that some might have found in Kapow would most likely be smoothed out to non-existence in San Diego. That’s not a “I’m better than you” thing more of a “I’ve been around the block” thing, so to speak.

Comparisons are also useless in a sense. While there’s much to learn from watching our...

On this lovely evening, after filming the glamorous arrivals on the red carpet at the Jameson Empire Awards in Mayfair, London, I headed back to the press room where we were greeted with the winners from the night.

———————

It started off with a select few of the cast and crew from Four Lions, all very excitable with their award for Best Comedy:

HeyUGuys Kelly: Did you expect the film to be such a huge success?

(Producer) Barry Ryan: No, it’s been amazing. I knew it was a good film when I went to my local pub and someone offered me 3 on pirate. I thought ‘I’ve turned a corner as a producer.’ I’m in with Harry Potter!

———————

After this I was greeted with Noel Clarke, who seemed to be having a lot of interest from the press, and totally loved our name:

Noel: Heeey Yooou Guys!

HeyUGuys Kelly: Hey!

Brit Noel Clarke is one busy fellow.

Here’s a look at one of 5 films he’s been involved with (whether acting, writing, producing or directing) this year, titled Huge.

It premiered at the Edinburgh Film Festival over the summer, and last screened at Raindance Film Festival last month, but I couldn’t find any info on any further play dates, or distribution prospects.

Synopsis: Warren and Clark meet when Clark heckles Warren on stage in a crowded comedy club. Their improvised banter goes down a storm, and Warren becomes convinced that destiny has spoken: Warren and Clark are meant to be the biggest comedy double act of all time. There’s only one slight problem: they are terrible and can’t get a gig. As their frustration mounts, and their efforts to get noticed become increasingly desperate, their bosom-buddy friendship begins to curdle into bitter rivalry. In a world...

Before HeyUGuys sets you free to read our rollercoaster interview with Noel Clarke we need to set the conversation below in a little context. On 21st of May one of our team, reviewed 4.3.2.1 for its cinema release. It would be fair to say the film wasn’t his cup of tea. Incensed at some of the content of that review Noel made his displeasure extremely clear, blocked HeyUGuys from his Twitter account and crossed us off his Christmas card list. You can read the review here and Noel’s objections below.

When I was approached to conduct a telephone interview with Noel for the DVD/Blu-ray release of 4.3.2.1 I did so on the understanding that it would be a frank discussion about all that had passed. The interview was dramatic and impassioned and therefore contains occasional uses of adult language. The conversation has been transcribed from a recording of that...

The line-up for the 18th Raindance Film Festival was announced today at a press launch held at the May Fair Hotel in London. This years line-up includes 77 feature films, 69 UK premieres and 133 short films, special live events, exclusive Q&As and masterclasses.

The festival will run from September 29 – October 10.

Opening the festival on Wednesday 29th September is Jackboots On Whitehall – a satirical animation about an alternative history of World War II where the Nazis seize London and England must band together to prevent a full on invasion. Star voiceover cast includes: Ewan McGregor, Rosamund Pike,Richard E. Grant, Timothy Spall, Tom Wilkinson, Alan Cumming, Richard Griffiths, Stephen Merchant and Richard O’Brien. It will be followed by an after-party with live set from rising Us indie band stars Airborne Toxic Event and DJ set from one of the most influential DJs in the UK – Andrew Weatherall. The following day will...

The Raindance Film Festival has announced its programme, and this year the festival will be jam-packed with 77 features, 69 UK premieres and over 133 shorts, as well as special live events and masterclasses for attendees

Kicking things off on 29 September will be a screening of Jackboots on Whitehall, a satirical animation set during World War II featuring the voices of Ewan McGregor, Richard E. Grant and Stephen Merchant.

British filmmaking will be celebrated with the Homegrown UK section, showcasing Ben Miller’s directional debut, Huge, as well as Legacy, starring The Wire’s Idris Elba, and Five Daughters, a film based on the 2006 Ipswich murders.

It’s not just a British affair though, with dark comedy Armless leading the pack from America, and the controversial A Serbian Film also making an appearance. Documentaries also get a billing, with Stolen, This Way of Life and When the World Breaks all showing throughout the week-long event.

I'm always bewildered by how much Mondays still manage to suck even when you're basically unemployed. It's like some kind of Pavlovian conditioning that even when you can sleep in, spend the whole day in pajama pants, and your most strenuous decision is what to heat up for lunch, you're like "Goddammit, it's Monday." But not this week, because this week is Shark Week! So it's not just another Monday, it's another opportunity to watch sharks being totally terrifying and awesome. Here's your Monday night TV:

8:00pm: "The Bachelorette" on ABC. Sixth season finale.

"Lie to Me" on Fox

"Video Games Live" on PBS. My siblings saw this a couple years back when it was in Philly and both of loved it. It's an orchestral show that performs music from popular video games, everything from Super Mario Brothers to Zelda to Halo. Sadly, it does not feature live action...

Michelle Ryan is to appear in The Talented Mr Ripley, it's been announced today.

Michelle takes to the Royal & Derngate stage in Northampton as Marge Sherwood in the psychological thriller. It's on from Friday, September 17, until Saturday, October 9.

Michelle's recent films include 4,3,2,1, directed by Noel Clarke, and Huge, directed by Ben Miller.

She gained international status in the Us revival of the Bionic Woman, but is also well known from her earlier role as Zoe Slater in BBC drama EastEnders.

Last year she starred in a Dr Who special with David Tennant as Lady Christina De Souza. She has also appeared recently in BBC's Merlin and ITV's Mr 11.

Adapted by contemporary dramatist Phyllis Nagy from Patricia Highsmith's bestselling novel, the tale follows Tom Ripley, an enigmatic conman with a flair for manipulation and deceit. Sent to Italy under the guise of coaxing home the wayward son of a wealthy financier,...

The former Doctor Who sidekick and star of Kidulthood is a role model for the next generation of actors, writers and directors

Job: actor, writer, director

Age: 34

Industry: film, broadcasting

2009 ranking: 83

Having made his name with Kidulthood and Adulthood, a brace of hard-hitting urban dramas from the streets of west London, Noel Clarke followed it up with a school nativity play and a Tarantino-esque comedy-thriller. Never let it be said he lacks versatility.

Nor does he want for awards, having already won a Bafta, an Olivier, and a gong from the readers of Doctor Who magazine for the BBC1 role that made him a household name, Mickey Smith, the on-off boyfriend of the Doctor's companion played by Billie Piper.

A role model for the next generation of actors, writers and directors on both the big and small screen, straight-talking Clarke has now set his sights on Hollywood.

"The films that...

Since I'm working from home this summer, I've discovered a few benefits and pitfalls to not having to go somewhere to do my job. Benefit: Work appropriate dress is whatever I feel like wearing or not wearing on that particular day. Pitfall: With no hard and fast schedule I've found it's very easy for me to hit 2 p.m. and go "Why am I dizzy? Oh, right, I haven't eaten yet." Similarly, I have a tendency to forget what day of the week it is. During the school year I have class and the regular TV series I watch to keep me on track. Summertime though? I haven't really found anything that's worthy of being appointment TV other than "Friday Night Lights" which the DVR records for me because I keep forgetting it's on. Anyway, here's Monday's TV:

8:00 p.m.: "The Bachelorette" on ABC.

"Kid in a Candy Store" on Food Network.

Carl England checks out the underwhelming Huge and The Sentimental Engine Slayer at the Edinburgh International Film Festival...

After my previous round-up of some pretty good movies from the Edinburgh International Film Festival, I'm afraid that in this latest I must head to the opposite end of the scale and talk about the underperformers.

Huge

The story of Huge follows Clark (Noel Clarke) and Warren (Johnny Harris) as they go from their humble beginnings to slightly less humble middles through the art of comedy. Clarke works in a restaurant and is told by his family and friends that he is funny, but he doesn't want to change his life and doesn't do anything about it. Warren is a new stand-up comedian, who can't help but fail at his act.

When an uncharacteristically drunk Clark heckles Warren, they spark a relationship that starts them off on a journey towards their idea...

The Edinburgh film festival aims to surprise. But in order to do that, it needs less Toy Story, less iffy Britcoms, less big name documentarians, and a little more clout

For the last couple of years, ever since the UK Film Council offered it a substantial grant linked to a change in the way it presented itself, the Edinburgh film festival has constantly referred to itself as a festival of "discovery" – in contrast, presumably, to the London film festival, which perhaps considers itself a festival of "celebrity".

But what does this mean in practice? All film festivals, by definition, enable people to "discover" films they may not yet know about or have forgotten; their stock-in-trade, however specialist, is a mix of pre-release previews, archive retrievals – and squads of that odd beast known as the "festival film", the submerged nine-tenths of the film production world that gets only one or two screenings in its lifetime,...

The Illusionist and Ben Miller's directing debut, Huge, are two of the gems this year

Magicians don't exist is the forlorn message of Sylvain Chomet's beautiful animation The Illusionist, which opened the 64th Edinburgh international film festival. I should think film festival organisers often reach a similarly prosaic conclusion, for they can only work with what's in front of them. But the collection of films on show this year has certainly got some style about it, if not quite magic.

After complaining for the past few years about Edinburgh holding its gala nights in the unattractive multiplex on the edge of town, I was delighted with the transformation of the lovely old Festival theatre on Nicolson Street into an atmospheric cinema. It gave the opening night a real flourish, complete with dancing girls in feathers, a brass band and moustached mime-artists performing magic.

The Illusionist, the follow-up to the director's award-winning Belleville Rendez-Vous,...

The 64th Edinburgh International Film Festival is well under way I’m here to bring you all the news, including this – my take on the first two days of the festival.

I’ll be keeping you in touch with everything that is happening here in Edinburgh on HeyUGuys along with reviews, you can read my take on Soulboy here.

Day 1 – Opening Gala, Red Carpet, The Illusionist & Opening ‘Do.

The Edinburgh International Film Festival’s 65th year began in style last night with the classiest of red carpet events. The Opening Gala film, The Illusionist, attracted guests from Scotland and beyond. With showgirls, ladies on 6-foot stilts, strongmen, and a jazz band, the red carpet rolled out upon Nicholson Street in front of Eiff’s newest venue, the Festival Theatre.

Guest stars included newly-Knighted Sir Patrick Stewart, Scotland’s own Sir Sean Connery and Ewen Bremner, comedians Scott Hill and Ben Miller,...

London -- Former Bond girl Britt Ekland, director Mike Hodges, New York's Museum of Modern Art's senior film curator Laurence Kardish and Iranian director Rafi Pitts have all been called to jury duty as the Edinburgh International Film Festival (Eiff) is due to kick off June 16.

The quartet have signed up for the festival's main draw jury, the Michael Powell jury, and will assemble under the panel's president Patrick Stewart, organizers said.

Named in homage to the U.K. filmmaker and inaugurated in 1993, the Michael Powell Award is sponsored by the U.K. Film Council and carries a prize of £15,000 ($22,000).

The prize aims to reward imagination and creativity in British filmmaking and 2009 saw Duncan Jones walk off with the prize for his debut "Moon," while the jury gave Katie Jarvis last year's best performance in a British film for "Fish Tank."

The winner of 2010's Michael Powell Award will come from Ashey Horner's "brilliantlove,...

As the Edinburgh film festival kicks off, Peter Bradshaw chooses his top 10 movies

The Edinburgh international film festival is now settling nicely into its new slot in June, away from the city's many August festivals. Under artistic director Hannah McGill, the event is consolidating its reputation as the equal of Sundance and SXSW, a place where young film-makers can make a name for themselves, alongside the big hitters and some fascinating retrospective strands. Here are my 10 films to watch out for from next week.

The Illusionist

Dir. Sylvain Chomet

Chomet's animation is based on an unfilmed script by Jacques Tati, with the action transplanted to 1950s Scotland. Accompanied by a starstruck little girl, an over-the-hill magician treks wearily to Edinburgh, where he hopes to find work and an audience for his old-school entertainment. The director will be attending the festival.

My Son, My Son What Have Ye Done?

Dir. Werner Herzog

Herzog's latest project,...

Sir Patrick Stewart heads the jury at Edinburgh this year, with some strong British films in contention. Meanwhile, Madonna is to make a second foray into direction and lost gem Bronco Bullfrog is restored to its full youthful East End glory. By Jason Solomons

Tartan up the juries

Sir Patrick Stewart - we do not yet know if he will insist on using the full, grand title - is to head the Jury at the 64th Edinburgh international film festival. The actor, who can legitimately be called "Mr President" for the duration of the event, will sit in judgment over the prestigious Michael Powell award, given to the best British film at the festival. Competitors include: Paul Andrew Williams's Cherry Tree Lane (his searing debut London to Brighton premiered at the festival in 2006); Nick Moran's The Kid; Huge, the directing debut of comic actor Ben Miller; and Soulboy,...

Two highly-anticipated second feature films from U.S. underground filmmakers will be making their World Premieres all the way over at the 64th annual Edinburgh International Film Festival, which will run for twelve days on June 16-27. The films are Rona Mark’s The Crab and Zach Clark’s Vacation!.

The Crab, which screens on June 21, is the touching story of a verbally abusive man born with two enormous, mutant-like hands; while Vacation!, which screens on June 20, tracks four urban gals let loose in a sunny seaside resort down South.

Both Mark and Clark previously screened their debut features at Eiff. Mark’s Strange Girls screened there in 2008 and Clark’s Modern Love Is Automatic screened in 2009. Both films also ended up as runners-up in Bad Lit’s annual Movie of the Year award, again Strange Girls in 2008 and Modern Love in 2009. Sadly, these two masterpieces are still unavailable on...

New films from Werner Herzog and Steven Soderbergh will screen at the 64th Edinburgh International Film Festival. This year's program includes 133 features from 34 countries.

Sylvain Chomet’s “The Illusionist” will open the festival at the June 16 gala, while the world premiere of “Third Star,” from first-time British director Hattie Dalton, will close the festivities on June 26.

Herzog’s “My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done” (produced by David Lynch) and Soderbergh’s documentary “And Everything is Going Fine” are among the marquee titles on the Edinburgh docket. Morag McKinnon’s “Donkeys,” the second of the Scottish-Danish Advance Party features, receives a World Premiere in a strong British field that also features Paul Andrew William’s thriller “Cherry Tree Lane,” Ben Miller’s comedy about comedians “Huge” and Bernard Rose’s Howard Marks biopic “Mr. Nice.”

The festival runs June 16-27.

London -- This year's Edinburgh International Film Festival will close with the world premiere of "Third Star," a British tragicomedy from newcomer Hattie Dalton starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Burke, Jj Feild and Adam Robertson.

The movie will bookend the Scottish shindig with the previously announced opening gala of Sylvain Chomet's "The Illusionist" at the festival boasting 133 movies from 34 countries, organizers said Tuesday.

British galas competing for the U.K. Film Council sponsored Michael Powell Award for best British feature include world debuts for Paul Andrew Williams' "Cherry Tree Lane," "Huge" by Ben Miller, Edward McHenry and Rory McHenry's "Jackboots On Whitehall," Nick Moran's "The Kid," Viv Fongenie's "Ollie Kepler's Expanding Purple World," "Pelican Blood," by Karl Golden and "Soulboy" by Shimmy Marcus.

Organizers picked Ryan Piers Williams' "The Dry Land," Werner Herzog's "My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done?," Floria Sigismondi's...

. Colin Firth and Carey Mulligan take top acting awards

. The Hurt Locker sweeps the board, winning six Baftas including best film and best director for Kathryn Bigelow

. Avatar picks up only two awards

Read Xan Brooks's liveblog from London's Royal Opera House and find out how the 2010 British Academy Film Awards unfolded at the scene

Gallery: Bafta arrivals

Gallery: Bafta winners

Full list of awards

6.32pm: If it's a rainy Sunday night in London, sometime between the Golden Globes and the Oscars, then it must be the British Academy of Film and Television Arts' annual film awards. And, as luck would have it, so it is. By God, it comes around quicker every year.

6.34pm: Up the red carpet come the nominated and the not-nominated; the 100-watt stars and the stars whose radiance is pitched at such a dull shimmer that even their companions seem to be looking at them askew.