This is Beirut

'The Brutalist': Fact, Fiction, and the Architect Debate Sparks

This is Beirut, 21/02 10:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

United States Cinema Oscars Film Art Culture

The Brutalist, an epic drama loosely inspired by the life and work of architect Marcel Breuer, is one of the favorites for Sunday’s Oscars. However, the film has drawn scorn from design experts, who accuse it of glaring errors and question whether its main character is even a Brutalist architect. Here are five things to know about the film, ...

Adrian Quesada’s Oscar Journey: Music, Representation, and Hope

This is Beirut, 20/02 18:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Music Oscars Culture Art

As a child, Adrian Quesada dreamed of success at the MTV Video Music Awards, but now, he is on an even bigger stage—with an Oscar nomination. The American musician with Mexican roots hopes the presence at the Academy Awards of someone from the Texas border town of Laredo will help serve as an inspiration for other people from minority ...

'Emilia Pérez': French Cinema Renaissance at 2025 Oscars Nominations

This is Beirut, 24/01 10:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Oscars Film Cinema France Culture Hollywood

The 2025 Oscars are marked by a strong presence of French cinema, with several films in contention in top categories. Among them, Emilia Perez by Jacques Audiard has set a record with 13 nominations, a rare feat for a non-English language film. This musical drama on gender transition has been praised for its cosmopolitan dimension, with sets ...

Oscars Nominees’ Lunch Cancelled, Industry Rallies Amid LA Wildfires

This is Beirut, 14/01 16:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Los Angeles Oscars Nominees Culture US

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Monday the cancellation of its glitzy nominees’ luncheon, as Los Angeles grapples with devastating wildfires. Nominations will now be revealed during a virtual event on January 23, marking a major adjustment to the traditional awards season. “We are all devastated by the impact of the ...

Olivia Hussey, the Star of Shakespearean Hollywood

Bélinda Ibrahim, 2024-12-29 18:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Film Actress Homage Oscars Culture Cinema

Olivia Hussey, forever remembered as Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 masterpiece, passed away at the age of 73 on Friday, December 27, 2024, in her California home, surrounded by her loved ones. Her passing marks the end of an era in cinematic history, as her portrayal of Shakespeare’s heroine resonated deeply with generations of viewers ...

Exiled Filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof Represents Germany at Oscars

This is Beirut, 2024-11-25 18:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Iran Germany Cannes Oscars Film

After his hasty escape from Iran, his latest film will represent Germany at the Oscars: a symbolic escape for director Mohammad Rasoulof, both grateful and overwhelmed by having to reach this point to have his art recognized. The Seed of the Sacred Fig, his paranoid thriller shot clandestinely in Iran, has enchanted critics and won the Special ...

Quincy Jones Posthumously Honored with Governors Awards Oscar

This is Beirut, 2024-11-18 15:50 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Oscars Music Awards Hollywood

A titan of the music industry, Jones produced iconic records for legends such as Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, and countless others. Beyond music, he left an indelible mark on Hollywood, producing films like The Color Purple and earning Oscar nominations for his work on In Cold Blood and The Wiz. He passed away two weeks ago at the age of 91, ...

Comedian Conan O'Brien to Host 97th Academy Awards

This is Beirut, 2024-11-17 10:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Oscars Cinema Hollywood Actor

The 97th Academy Awards will be held on March 2, 2025, at the iconic Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. O'Brien, an Emmy-winning comedian, will preside over the ceremony during a pivotal moment for the Oscars as they work to retain and grow their viewership. The most recent Oscars attracted nearly 20 million viewers, a much-needed ratings boost for the ...

Beirut Shorts International Film Festival Achieves Oscars Qualifying Status

This is Beirut, 2024-11-06 10:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Beirut Film Oscars

The Beirut Shorts International Film Festival has reached a significant milestone, becoming an Oscars Qualifying Film Festival—the first in Lebanon and one of the few in the Arab world. This recognition offers a unique opportunity for Lebanese and international filmmakers, as winning films in the categories of Best Live Action, Best Documentary, ...

‘Arzé’: A Tribute to Lebanese Women’s Strength, All the Way to the Oscars

Marie-Christine Tayah, 2024-10-28 18:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Lebanon Oscars Cinema

Lebanon recently celebrated with pride the announcement of the nomination of Arzé, a film by Mira Shaib, for the upcoming Oscars on March 3. Chosen by Lebanon’s Oscar preselection committee, this feature film will represent Lebanon in the Best Foreign Film category. The nomination of Arzé has been hailed on social media by the cast as a ...

Indian Female Directors Poised to Break Oscars Barriers

This is Beirut, 2024-10-18 10:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Oscars India film

Despite Bollywood’s global popularity, the mammoth Hindi-language film industry has made barely a dent in the Academy Awards, with just 10 Indian Oscar wins since 1957. Kiran Rao hopes to change that with Lost Ladies, India’s official entry for Best International Film in 2025, which she says comes at a “special moment” for South Asian ...

Clint Eastwood Unveils 'Juror #2,' His 40th and Possibly Last Masterpiece

2024-10-09 16:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Movie Oscars

Clint Eastwood unveils the trailer of his 40th film Juror #2, which could be his last. At 94, the legendary American director returns with a gripping thriller that follows the story of a juror who discovers he is responsible for the murder he is supposed to judge. A moral dilemma ensues: should he protect his freedom or face the truth? Nicholas ...

Oscars