Jeremy Renner, known for his role as Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, discussed his recovery from a severe snow plow accident at the Red Sea Film Festival. Despite suffering significant injuries, including 38 broken bones, Renner has returned to acting and is working on a book about his experience. He humorously noted that he's "25% titanium," jokingly comparing himself to Iron Man. Renner has resumed filming for "Mayor of Kingstown" and will appear in the upcoming film "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery."
Spike Lee discussed his upcoming film 'Highest to Lowest' with Denzel Washington, a reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa's 'High and Low,' at the Red Sea International Film Festival. He reflected on the challenges of making 'Malcolm X,' which he described as nearly killing him due to budget constraints and studio pressures. Lee also shared insights on his filmmaking philosophy, his partnership with Washington, and his views on retirement, expressing gratitude for his career and the opportunity to mentor new talent.
"Dreaming of Lions," an absurdist black comedy by Greek-Portuguese director Paulo Marinou-Blanco, explores themes of euthanasia and assisted suicide, inspired by his personal experiences with his father's prolonged illness and his own struggles with insomnia. The film, featuring Denise Fraga and João Nunes Monteiro, was well-received at the Red Sea International Film Festival. Marinou-Blanco's work reflects on the choice of life and death, drawing from his family's experiences and symbolically referencing Ernest Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea."
Cynthia Erivo discussed the success of 'Wicked' and her bond with co-star Ariana Grande at the Red Sea International Film Festival. She emphasized the importance of portraying Elphaba with her personal experiences as a Black woman and addressed the dangers of cyberbullying, particularly against Grande. Erivo highlighted the significance of the color green in the film as a symbol for those who feel "othered" and expressed her aspirations in directing. She also shared insights on maintaining her voice and her admiration for role models like Cicely Tyson and Barbra Streisand.
Cynthia Eviro has condemned cyber-bullying, particularly in response to online attacks against her 'Wicked' co-star Ariana Grande. Speaking at the Red Sea Film Festival, Eviro emphasized the importance of countering negativity with positivity and highlighted the supportive relationship she shares with Grande. The film 'Wicked: Part One' has been a box office success, grossing over $400 million since its release.
Cynthia Erivo has condemned cyber-bullying, particularly in response to online attacks against her 'Wicked' co-star Ariana Grande. Speaking at the Red Sea Film Festival, Erivo emphasized the importance of countering negativity with positivity and highlighted the supportive relationship she shares with Grande. The film 'Wicked: Part One' has been a box office success, grossing over $400 million since its release.
The Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, commenced its fourth edition with a star-studded opening ceremony featuring celebrities like Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Spike Lee, and Vin Diesel. Spike Lee, serving as jury president, expressed his enthusiasm for the role, while Vin Diesel reminisced about his early career experiences with Lee. The festival, returning to the historic Al-Balad neighborhood, will showcase 120 films from 81 territories over nine days.
The Red Sea Film Festival in Saudi Arabia commenced its fourth edition with the premiere of "The Tale of Daye’s Family" and a star-studded red carpet featuring celebrities like Vin Diesel, who received the Iconic Characters Award. Diesel remarked on the abundance of familiar faces compared to American award shows, highlighting the festival's warm atmosphere. The event, themed "Home," marks its return to Al-Balad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and includes career tributes to Emily Blunt, Aamir Khan, and Mona Zaki. Spike Lee, head of the jury, expressed excitement about the future of cinema showcased at the festival.
Emily Blunt hinted at the possibility of a sequel to 'The Devil Wears Prada' during the Red Sea Film Festival, expressing enthusiasm about reuniting with Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci. She praised the unique musical film 'Emilia Pérez' and shared her joyful experience during the awards season for 'Oppenheimer.' Blunt also discussed her role in the upcoming film 'The Smashing Machine,' where Dwayne Johnson stars as MMA fighter Mark Kerr.
Andrew Garfield discusses his career and love for Spider-Man at the Red Sea Film Festival, sharing anecdotes about his early days in Hollywood and his experiences playing real-life characters. He also reflects on his role as Spider-Man and the opportunity to tie up loose ends with the character in "Spider-Man: Homecoming." Garfield praises the festival and expresses excitement about exploring Saudi Arabia.
Halle Berry revealed that she and her Maude v Maude co-star Angelina Jolie had a "rocky start" but eventually bonded over their shared experiences with divorce and exes. Berry expressed excitement about working with another woman and crafting a story from their perspective. She described the film as a mix of Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Mission: Impossible with a comedic twist. Berry also mentioned that the film will feature unique locations never seen on screen before.
Will Smith posted a clip on Instagram showing him hugging and chatting with Johnny Depp at the Red Sea Film Festival in Saudi Arabia, making him the first A-lister to publicly embrace Depp since his trial with Amber Heard. Smith's gesture comes as he has been on a healing journey and trying to adjust his outlook on life, demonstrating a willingness to not judge others who have been labeled a certain way. Depp's "comeback" in Hollywood has been lukewarm, and it remains to be seen if other celebrities will follow Smith's lead in accepting him back into the fold.
