Poitras doc wins top prize in Venice
“All the Beauty and the Bloodshed,” Laura Poitras’ epic documentary about photographer Nan Goldin and her activism against the Sackler family and their art connections, has been awarded the Golden Lion for best film at the 79th Venice International Film Festival.
American filmmaker Poitras thanked the festival for recognizing that “documentary is cinema” at the ceremony Saturday in Venice. Neon is expected to release the film in theaters this fall and HBO Documentary Films recently acquired it for a television run.
Runner up went to Alice Diop’s “Saint Omer,” the narrative debut from the documentarian about a young novelist observing the trial of a woman accused of infanticide.
Cate Blanchett and
Colin Farrell won the top acting prizes. Blanchett won for her performance as a renowned conductor in Todd Field’s “Tar” and Farrell for playing a man who has broken up with by his longtime friend in Martin McDonagh’s “The Banshees of Inisherin.”
“Thank you so much, it’s such an enormous honor,” Blanchett said. Her performance as a successful woman in the world of international music whose reputation comes under threat has gotten nearly universal acclaim.
“I’m shocked to get this and thrilled,” Farrell said in a live video message. McDonagh was on site to collect the prize before he got one of his own for screenplay.
Luca Guadagnino won the Silver Lion award for best director for the cannibal romance “Bones and All” starring Timothee Chalamet and Taylor Russell, who also was recognized for her performance with the award for
best young actress.
The jury, led by Julianne Moore, also gave a special jury prize to “No Bears,” by imprisoned Iranian director Jafar Panahi.
Virus forces Michele off stage:
Lea Michele, who is starring as Fanny Brice in “Funny Girl” on Broadway, tested positive for COVID19, missed Saturday’s performances and must quarantine. After only starting Sept. 6, Michele is set to return to the show Sept. 20. Julie Benko, who had been slated to play Fanny on Thursdays, will be performing the role until Michele is back.
Fisk Jubilee Singers director dies:
Paul T. Kwami, 70, who served as musical director of the Grammywinning Fisk Jubilee Singers for nearly 30 years, has died, Fisk University said in a statement.
During Kwami’s tenure from 1994 to 2022, the
singing group based at the historically Black university in Nashville, Tennessee, also received other accolades, including a
Dove Award and a National Medal of the Arts in addition to being inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. They performed in venues such as Carnegie Hall, Ryman Auditorium, Apollo Theater and the White House.
The a cappella ensemble performs Negro spirituals originally sung by slaves prior to the Civil War, the school says on its website.
Sept. 13 birthdays: Actor Barbara Bain is 91. Actor Eileen Fulton is 89. Singer Peter Cetera is 78. Actor Jacqueline Bisset is 78. Actor Jean Smart is 71. Actor Isiah Whitlock Jr. is 68. Actor Geri Jewell is 66. Host Tavis Smiley is 58. Actor Roger Howarth is 54. Singer Fiona Apple is 45. Singer Niall Horan is 29. Actor Lili Reinhart is 26.