US bars Syrian Oscar contender from entering country
WASHINGTON: US immigration authorities are barring entry to a 21- year- old Syrian cinematographer who worked on a harrowing film about his nation’s civil war, “The White Helmets,” that has been nominated for an Academy Award.
According to internal Trump administration correspondence seen by The Associated Press, the Department of Homeland Security has decided at the last minute to block Khaled Khateeb from traveling to Los Angeles for the Oscars.
Khateeb was scheduled to arrive Saturday in Los Angeles on a Turkish Airlines flight departing from Istanbul. But his plans have been upended after US officials reported finding “derogatory information” regarding Khateeb.
Derogatory information is a broad category that can include anything from terror connections to passport irregularities. Asked for comment, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, Gillian Christensen, said, “A valid travel document is required for travel to the United States.”
“The White Helmets,” a 40-minute Netflix documentary, has been nominated for Best MILAN: Supermodel Gigi Hadid had a little stumble on the Moschino runway in Milan when her shoe caught the hemline of a dress fashioned to look like it was recycled from a Persian carpet. With a few high steps, she recovered with aplomb. Keeping a straight face throughout, the star seemed to be unfazed by her mishap.
This is the second time the Dutch-Palestinian model has managed to save herself, as she almost fell while walking for Mugler last season.
On Friday, Hadid drew a crowd to Milan’s Rinascente Department store where she was showing off Tommy Hilfiger’s latest fall-winter collection.
Hundreds of fans showed up, and she obliged a few with the chance at a selfie. Hadid leads the pack of “It” models headlining Milan Fashion Week, which was in its third day on Friday.
So far this week, Hadid has walked the runways for Max Mara and Moschino, where she was joined by her sister Bella and Kendall Jenner. Documentary Short. If the film wins the Oscar, the award would go to director Orlando von Einsiedel and producer Joanna Natasegara. The film focuses on the rescue workers who risk their lives to save Syrians affected by civil war. Many of the group’s members have been killed by Syrian President Bashar Assad’s air forces.
The group also was nominated for last year’s Nobel Peace Prize.
Meanwhile, an Oscarnominated Iranian film director has sent a video message to a rally attended by celebrities and top talent agents. It is intended to thank the Hollywood community for its support during his boycott of the awards ceremony.
In it, Asghar Farhadi condemns the new US president’s policies and says they are “trying to promote hate.”
The director chose an Iranian- American female engineer and a former NASA scientist to represent his film “The Salesman” at Sunday’s Oscar ceremony.