United News of Bangladesh

Veteran Hollywood actor Bruce Dern received a warm tribute at the Cannes Film Festival this week as a new documentary on his life and career premiered at the festival. The documentary, titled Dernsie: The Amazing Life of Bruce Dern, looks back at Dern’s decades-long journey in Hollywood. The actor, who turns 90 next month, attended the premiere on Thursday. Speaking at Cannes alongside his daughter, actress Laura Dern, Bruce Dern reflected on his long career in films. He recalled that acting legends Elia Kazan and Lee Strasberg once warned him that he was unlikely to become a leading man in Hollywood. Instead, they advised him to become “the most honest and unique fifth cowboy on the right.” Dern said he accepted that challenge and focused on building a lasting career. The actor first visited Cannes with legendary filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock during the release of Marnie. In 2013, he won the festival’s Best Actor award for his performance in Nebraska directed by Alexander Payne. Laura Dern, who has often accompanied her father throughout his career, joined him once again at Cannes. She said many people used to tell her they “loved to hate” her father because of the memorable villain roles he played on screen. Bruce Dern became famous for portraying intense and unpredictable characters in films such as The Cowboys, where he shot John Wayne, and Black Sunday, in which he played a troubled Vietnam War veteran planning an attack on the Super Bowl. Acclaimed filmmaker Quentin Tarantino praised Dern in the documentary, calling him “one of the finest and most entertaining examples of great American acting.” The documentary was directed by Mike Mendez, who described Dern as energetic and unpredictable during interviews, often moving from one story to another without warning. Dern also spoke about his famous improvisations on film sets, which friends and colleagues nicknamed “Dernsies.” He credited actor Jack Nicholson for creating the term after noticing one of Dern’s spontaneous acting moments in the film Drive, He Said. He also shared a memory from the set of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, saying actor Brad Pitt became emotional after one of his improvised lines during filming. Despite his age, Dern said he has no plans to retire and wants to continue acting for as long as possible. Over his career, Bruce Dern has appeared in more than 150 productions, including The Great Gatsby, Coming Home, The Hateful Eight and The 'Burbs. He has also received two Academy Award nominations.

Cannes Film Festival is becoming a major forum for debate over artificial intelligence, with filmmakers and industry leaders divided over whether the technology will help cinema evolve or threaten creative jobs. At this year’s festival, AI has emerged as one of the most discussed topics, reflecting growing concern over how the technology could reshape the global film industry. Scott Mann, co-chief executive of AI company Flawless, said the industry appears to be reaching a turning point. “It feels like a major shift,” he said, adding that AI could provide the technological boost the film business needs. AI is more visible than ever at Cannes this year. Meta has signed a multiyear partnership with the festival and set up a presence at the Majestic Hotel. Meta’s AI tools were also used in Steven Soderbergh’s documentary John Lennon: The Last Interview. The film explores a detailed interview that John Lennon and Yoko Ono gave on the day Lennon was killed in 1980. Soderbergh used AI to create surreal visuals to accompany the conversation. While some critics objected to the use of AI, Soderbergh said experimentation is necessary to understand the limits of the technology. Views at Cannes vary widely. Actor Demi Moore, a member of the festival jury, said resisting AI is likely to be futile. Filmmaker Peter Jackson compared AI to any other special effect, while director James Gray said AI may be useful but cannot replicate the depth of human emotion and creativity. Gray urged young people to study literature and the humanities to better understand human nature. The debate comes as Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recently introduced new rules stating that only performances actually given by human actors, with their consent, will be eligible for acting awards. At the same time, the Academy said the use of AI tools will neither help nor hurt a film’s Oscar chances. SAG-AFTRA has also reached a tentative agreement with studios to establish safeguards for the use of digital replicas and synthetic performers. Some developments have alarmed Hollywood, including the unveiling of Tilly Norwood, a fully AI-generated virtual actress, and a planned AI recreation of late actor Val Kilmer for a new film approved by his family. Kent Sanderson, CEO of Bleecker Street, said AI is likely to reduce production costs and make filmmaking more accessible. Cannes artistic director Thierry Frémaux said the festival supports artists and workers whose jobs could be affected by AI. He stressed the need for clear laws and regulations to ensure the technology is used responsibly. Mann agreed that unlicensed generative AI poses risks, but said the technology should not be viewed as a single, all-encompassing threat. He said AI, if used carefully and ethically, could help revitalize the film industry rather than replace the people who power it.

Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh has defended his decision to use artificial intelligence in his new documentary John Lennon: The Last Interview, saying he believes filmmakers should be fully transparent about how they use the technology. The film, which premiered Saturday at the Cannes Film Festival, is built around a two-hour interview that John Lennon and Yoko Ono gave to a San Francisco radio crew on Dec. 8, 1980, the day Lennon was shot and killed in New York. During the interview, the couple spoke openly about their relationship, love, creativity, life after The Beatles, raising their young son and songwriting. Soderbergh said he was deeply moved by their honesty and warmth. The documentary uses AI-generated visuals in about 10% of the film, mainly during more philosophical parts of the conversation where there was little archival material available. The decision sparked criticism after Soderbergh revealed it earlier this year, with some in the film industry expressing concern about the growing use of generative AI. However, Soderbergh said he wanted to be open about the process. "Transparency is very important," he said in an interview with The Associated Press. "People should know exactly how this technology is being used." The director said he understands why many people are worried about AI, but does not believe the technology will replace most essential jobs in filmmaking. He said his personal rule is that AI should only be used when it is truly necessary and when there is no better way to achieve a creative goal. "I think a lot of people will use AI in ways that fail those tests," he said. Soderbergh added that each part of the filmmaking process — from writing and acting to costume and sound design will have a different relationship with AI, making it difficult to set one universal standard for its use. Despite the controversy, he hopes younger viewers will focus on Lennon's message. Soderbergh said the documentary highlights Lennon's lifelong commitment to honesty and his desire to challenge the traditional image of the male rock star. "He wanted to tell the truth and ask how we could become better human beings," Soderbergh said.

Bangladeshi filmmaker Adnan Al Rajeev’s short film 'ALI' has been officially selected for the prestigious Official Competition at the Festival de Cannes — marking a historic first for Bangladesh. Announcing the news in a Facebook post on Friday, Rajeev shared his journey behind the film. “Some journeys don’t start with a script. They begin with a quiet belief — that the stories from where we come from deserve a place on the world’s biggest stages,” he wrote, stating that “ALI was that belief." Last year, he attended Cannes as a producer; this year, he returns as a director, stepping into the Official Competition. “Cinema was never meant to be a solo journey. It’s beautiful chaos, a symphony of hearts beating together,” he wrote, acknowledging the extensive team behind ALI, including producers Kristine De Leon and Tanveer Hossain, writer Arvin Belarmino, and several members of the cast and crew. Rajeev also highlighted 'Katalog.', the production company behind 'ALI', calling it “a bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia” that now stands tall at Cannes. He expressed deep gratitude to his wife and longtime partner, actress Mehazabien Chowdhury, calling her his “silent strength” and “lucky charm.” Curtain falls on Maheen Khan’s ‘Crafting The Many Threads of Cultural Textiles’ Renowned filmmaker and Cultural Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki also shared his excitement about the achievement. Adnan Al Rajeev was groomed as a director by Farooki, as part of his Chabial team. In a social media post, Farooki wrote, “Some news makes you emotional. This is one such! When Adnan first came to my den in Mohakhali some 18 years ago, I saw a boy eager to leave a mark! Yesterday when he called me to share the news… I was over the moon!” Farooki called it a “historic feat,” noting that ALI is the first Bangladeshi short film to be selected in competition at Cannes. “This is the best news from my gang of bhai-brothers so far! But I know this is not the last. More to follow!” he added. Rajeev ended his post with a powerful message for all South Asian storytellers: “This isn’t just a Cannes moment. It’s a message to every Bangladeshi filmmaker — we belong here. Our stories matter. And finally, the world is listening.” The 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival will take place from May 13 to May 23. This year, a total of 11 films will compete in the Short Film category, and Bangladesh’s 'Ali' is one of the contenders in the category.

Nancy Tyagi, a Delhi-based fashion influencer, made her Cannes red carpet debut in a stunning pink gown. The influencer turned to Instagram to describe her "dream come true" experience. She disclosed in the post that her outfit was her own design rather than one from a designer house, reports NDTV. She dedicated her "heart and soul" into making her Cannes debut dress, which took her 30 days to complete. Sadia Khalid Reeti invited back as Fipresci jury at Cannes "Stepping onto the red carpet at the 77th Cannes Film Festival as a debutant feels surreal," Tyagi wrote. She also posted a series of images of herself on the famed red carpet. "I poured my heart and soul into creating this pink gown, which took 30 days, 1000 meters of fabric, and weighs over 20kg. The journey has been intense, but every moment was worth it. I'm overwhelmed with joy and gratitude for the love and support from all of you. This is a dream come true, and I hope my creation dazzles you as much as your support has inspired me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!" the influencer added. Tyagi's post has received over 310,000 likes within a few hours of sharing. In the comments section, individuals complimented the fashion influencer, calling her "legendary." Cannes 2023: Johnny Depp overcome with emotion as film gets 7-min standing ovation "I don't why but it feels like we all have won here. I mean it's a dream for every small city ppl and she has done it so gracefully.. it feels like a personal win," one netizen wrote. "The happiest I've been for someone I don't personally know!" said another. "A story like this restores my belief in the power of hard work and goodness. Literally the most well deserved of all!" commented another person. Who Is Nancy Tyagi? Tyagi is from Uttar Pradesh. She graced the red carpet as a member of the Brut India squad. The content maker has 1.3 million Instagram followers and over a million YouTube subscribers. She is well-known for her amazing DIY talents. Over the years, she has even reproduced designs worn by celebrities from around the world. "I'm Nancy Tyagi, and I love anything and everything about Fashion! I create outfits from scratch and style them in my own way. Apart from that, I love trying out new makeup and skincare products, so check out my videos to know more!" — according to her YouTube page. Aishwarya Rai and Eva Longoria’s “spectacular” reunion on Cannes Red Carpet

Cannes veteran and Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is making waves in the French Riviera once again. This time, she crossed paths with US actress and fellow L'Oreal ambassador Eva Longoria. On Friday, the duo attended the screening of "Kinds Of Kindness" at the 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, and their reunion was nothing short of spectacular, reports NDTV. Sadia Khalid Reeti invited back as Fipresci jury at Cannes The actresses posed happily for photographers, capturing picture-perfect moments that lit up the red carpet. Aishwarya graced the red carpet twice this year, first at the screening of Francis Ford Coppola's "Megalopolis" earlier in the week, it said. This isn't the first time the two have shared the spotlight at Cannes. They were also seen together on the red carpet and at a L'Oreal event in 2022. Cannes 2023: Johnny Depp overcome with emotion as film gets 7-min standing ovation Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has been a regular at Cannes for over two decades, often promoting her films such as "Devdas," "Sarbjit," and "Bride and Prejudice." She continues to represent L'Oreal at the prestigious event, said the report. In terms of her recent film work, Aishwarya was last seen in Mani Ratnam's “Ponniyin Selvan 2”. Released last year, the film was a box office hit. 'Squid Game' star Lee Jung-jae debuts as director in Cannes

Renowned Bangladeshi film critic, screenwriter and journalist Sadia Khalid Reeti has been invited to the Fipresci (International Federation of Film Critics) jury at the upcoming 77th Cannes Film Festival, one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world in which she was a jury member before in 2019 when she became the second Bangladeshi to receive this honour. A Screenwriting graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Reeti has served as a jury member at different international film festivals in Italy, India, England, Nepal, France, Russia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. She also served as a Fipresci jury at the Bengaluru International Film Festival, International Film Festival of Kerala and Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF), and is currently serving as the Co-Convenor of the West Meets East Screenplay Lab at DIFF, one of the leading script development labs in the country. With 'Tati', Coke Studio Bangla launches season 3 paying homage to Jamdani Reeti became Bangladesh's first international voter for the Golden Globe Awards in 2022. A Berlinale Talents alumna, she attended prestigious mentorship programs with Film Independent and Locarno Open Doors. Alongside her responsibilities as the Cultural Editor of Dhaka Tribune, one of the leading English dailies in the country, Reeti teaches film studies at different universities and institutions. She is a recipient of the Charles Wallace Fellowship from the British Council, as a part of which she trained in surreal filmmaking at the British Film Institute in 2023. Regarding her return to Cannes, Reeti said: “Cannes is the biggest and most prestigious film festival in the world. It’s an incredible honour to be invited back. Having our film critics on the jury board more often will enable us to convey our cultural point of view and help world cinema move away from its Eurocentric lens.” “The invitation always arrives so late that it’s difficult to arrange the visa and other necessities with a green passport,” she said about her travel preparations. “The festival has grown so much over the years that it’s now a logistical nightmare trying to find suitable lodging. Hopefully, when more of us participate in such festivals, the authorities will keep provisions to reduce the stress.” From Bangladesh, Ahmed Muztaba Zamal was the first Fipresci jury at Cannes in 2002, 2005, and 2009. Reeti came next in 2019, followed by Bidhan Rebeiro in 2022. They joined as members of the IFCAB (International Film Critics Association of Bangladesh). ‘Adyontor’ to release their first song ‘Opekkhar Chithi’ tomorrow The 77th annual Cannes Film Festival is due to take place from 14 to 25 May 2024. American filmmaker and actress Greta Gerwig will serve as jury president for the main competition, and the main competition at Cannes will include veteran filmmakers like Coppola, Audiard, Cronenberg, Arnold, Lanthimos, Sorrentino, Abbasi and so on this year.

Lee Jung-jae, the award-winning star of Netflix's “Squid Game,” spent years developing the 1980s-set Korean spy thriller “Hunt” before electing to direct himself. He did it a little reluctantly, without big plans to continue filmmaking. But Lee did have a vision for what it could be — and where it could premiere. “Before deciding to direct, I thought I just wanted to make a very fun film,” Lee says. “After I got my hands on it and started writing the script myself, I actually wanted to come to Cannes. Because I wanted to come to Cannes, I had to find the subject matter that would resonate with the global audience.” Few actors know more about capturing the attention of the global audience than Lee. Already one of Korea's top movie stars, the 49-year-old Lee is at the nexus of the “Squid Game” phenomenon, starring in the dystopic series that — subtitles and all — became Netflix's most-watched show in some 90 countries. Now, Lee is in Cannes to premiere “Hunt," which is playing in Cannes’ midnight section and being shopped for international distribution. The film will test how far Lee can further extend his already borderless career. Earlier this year, Lee signed with the Hollywood powerhouse agency CAA. And he grants that he has some Hollywood ambitions. Also read: Walking the red carpet at Cannes, Shuvoo skims the zenith “Working in Hollywood would definitely be a good experience for me,” Lee said in an interview in Cannes shortly before “Hunt” premiered. “If there was a good fit for me, a good character, I’d definitely like to join. But right now, I feel like global audiences are wanting more Korean content and Korea-made TV shows and films. So I would work in Korea as well very diligently. I might seem a little greedy, but if there was a role for me in Hollywood, I’d definitely like to do that, too.” But if Lee's ascension to being an increasingly world-renown actor typifies the pop-culture power of today's Korea, his film is set in an earlier, less harmonious chapter in Korean history. “Hunt” takes place several years after South Korean president Park Chung-hee was assassinated in 1979 by the chief of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency, a coup that ushered in the military dictatorship of Chun Doo-hwan. “Hunt” is loosely inspired by his subsequent 1983 assassination attempt orchestrated by North Korea. “The ’80s in Korea was when we had the rapidest growth ever,” says Lee. “But democracy didn’t grow as much because there was a military dictatorship and the media was under full control of the government. So I did hear a lot from the older generation and my parents about those government controls. I also witnessed myself college protests.” “Hunt” grippingly follows a pair of agents (one is played by Lee, the other by Jung Woo-sung) who are both assigned to uncover a North Korean mole within the agency. Lee — not merely dipping his toe into a modest directorial debut — proves skilled at mounting large-scale action sequences and marshalling a dense plot while managing to keep the suspense up. Also read: Tom Cruise and 'Top Gun: Maverick' touch down in Cannes “A lot of people told me that I should change the setting to now,” Lee said, speaking through an interpreter. “But in the ’80s, there was a lot of control of information and people were trying to benefit from fake information and misinformation. I think that still exists now in 2022. Still there are groups that try to benefit from these controls of information and propaganda. “We now live in a global world that’s connected,” he adds. “We don’t have any silos between us. If there’s a problem or issue, we have to all work on it to overcome it.” Lee is often asked how his life has changed since “Squid Game” by Western journalists who might be less familiar with his nearly three decades as a top star in Korea in films like “An Affair,” “New World” and “The Housemaid.” Lee laughs. “It’s natural because a lot of people in the West might not have known me before ‘Squid Game.'" That's changing rapidly, though. Lee will return for season two of “Squid Game,” which the series' creator Hwang Dong-hyuk recently said should be expected in 2023 or 2024. The first season already led to Lee becoming the first Asian actor win the Screen Actors Guild Award for best male performer. Lee was so surprised — aside from considering himself an underdog, he’s a big “Succession” fan — that he never managed to pull out the speech he had written in his pocket. “It still,” Lee says smiling and shaking his head, “seems like a dream to me.”

Walking on the glamorous and prestigious red carpet of the 75th Cannes Film festival was like the utmost fulfillment of life, said popularBangladeshi actor Arifin Shuvoo. The Dhallywood actor walked on the red carpet dressed in a white tuxedo by Dapper Bespoke on the fourth day of the festival Saturday. After his glamorous appearance at the red carpet, the actor told Bangladeshi journalists, “It was like touching something out of a dream. I am grateful to my fans, audience, director and producer for bringing me this far. I’ll try to maintain the trust they have shown in me.” Also read: Trailer of "Mujib --The Making of a Nation" is out at Cannes festival On May 19, the trailer of ‘Mujib– The Making of a Nation’ was released at the festival's commercial counterpart Marché du Film (Film Market). Shyam Benegal, director of the Bangabandhu biopic, said the film is currently going through a long VFX process while updating the media. 'Mujib: The making of a Nation' is slated to release in September this year. Also read: Trailer of Shyam Benegal's 'Mujib - The Making of a Nation' premiered at Cannes Arifin has played the role of Bangabandhu in the film while Nusrat Imroz Tisha plays Sheikh Fazilatunnesa (Renu). The film is co-produced by the Bangladesh and India governments.

The much-anticipated trailer of the biopic on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's life titled 'Mujib - The Making of a Nation', premiered on the third day of the 75th edition of the world-famous Cannes Film Festival's Marche du Film section in the south of France. The 99-second trailer of the biopic, a joint venture between Bangladesh and India directed by the acclaimed Indian director Shyam Benegal, was premiered at the Indian pavilion at 6pm local time.  The trailer launching ceremony was joined by Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, Indian Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur, Bangladesh Ambassador to France Khondker M Talha, Bangladesh Film Development Corporation Managing Director Nuzhat Yeasmin and others, alongside lead actors of the film Arifin Shuvoo and Nusrat Imrose Tisha. In his speech, Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said, "The film 'Mujib' depicts the glorious life of our Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, his victorious struggle for the nation and his absolute self-sacrifice." The film also stars Nusraat Faria Mazhar as Sheikh Hasina, and Riaz Ahmed as Tajuddin Ahmed among others. 'Mujib: The making of a Nation' is slated to release in September this year. Also read: World premiere of ‘Mujib Amar Pita’ held