Oscars

LOS ANGELES: The organizers of the Oscars announced a string of new initiatives on Thursday aimed at encouraging female filmmakers. Called “Action: The Academy Women’s Initiative,” the program will include a one-year fellowship for women filmmakers and executives, a lunch that will bring together women across the industry, and a directory aimed at improving female networking and hiring opportunities. The announcement by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences follows pressure from women in the movie industry…

LOS ANGELES: The organizers of the Oscars said on Wednesday they would create a new award category for popular movies and limited the annual, televised ceremony to three hours. The sweeping changes, to be introduced for the February 2019 ceremony in Hollywood, will also include handing out some of the 24 Academy Awards during commercial breaks in the televised broadcast. “We have heard from many of you about improvements needed to keep the Oscars and our Academy relevant in a changing world. The board of governors took…

Television’s Bill Cosby and Oscar-winning director Roman Polanski were expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

WASHINGTON: John Bailey, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the body which hands out the Oscars, is being investigated for sexual harassment, a report says. The trade publication said the Academy immediately opened an investigation after receiving three harassment claims against Bailey on Wednesday. Bailey, 75, a cinematographer whose credits include "Groundhog Day" and "The Big Chill," was elected to a four-year term as head of the Academy in August. His brief tenure has been marked…

LOS ANGELES: Oscar-winner Frances McDormand had her statuette stolen at a post-show party by a man who allegedly snatched it from her table before he was arrested, witnesses and police said Monday. McDormand, 60, won best actress for her role as a rage-filled mother seeking justice for her murdered daughter in Martin McDonagh's "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri." "Security at the Governors Ball are looking for this guy, who grabbed Frances McDormand's Oscar and ran out with it," said New York Times writer Cara…

WASHINGTON: "The Shape of Water" on Sunday won top honors at the Oscars including the coveted best picture statuette, bringing the curtain down on a Hollywood awards season overshadowed by scandal over sexual misconduct in showbiz. Guillermo del Toro's fairy tale romance led the charge going into the show with 13 nominations, and took home best picture -- the top prize of the night -- as well as best director and statuettes for production design and best original score. In an night of honors being shared fairly evenly…

LOS ANGELES: For some, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” is a movie about an angry mother seeking justice. But others cannot get past its racist cop, who they feel is unfairly redeemed. Recent years have seen the Oscars attacked for under-representing women or people of color, this year’s contenders have been plagued by backlash and scandals ranging from accusations of plagiarism, sexual misconduct, and criticism from African-American community. “Every main contender seems to have a knock on it,” said Dave…

LOS ANGELES: The Oscar nominations for the 90th annual awards were announced on Tuesday morning in all the twenty-four categories. The Oscar nominations were announced from the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, California with pre-taped category introductions. Academy President John Bailey was joined by Tiffany Haddish and Andy Serkis to reveal the nominees. Guillermo del Toro’s fantasy drama “The Shape of Water” continued its awards show streak, leading with 13 nominations, including the top prize for…

LOS ANGELES: Guillermo del Toro's fantasy romance "The Shape of Water" took home best movie at the Producers Guild Awards on Saturday, putting it in pole position for Oscars glory in March. The movie bested leading Academy Awards contenders including "Call Me by Your Name," "Dunkirk," "Get Out," "I, Tonya" and "Lady Bird." In a crowded field, it also saw off "The Big Sick,"  "Molly's Game," "The Post," "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri," and "Wonder Woman." The 1960s-set fairytale about a mute government…

LOS ANGELES: Putting aside the sexual harassment scandal for a night, the stars of Hollywood came out on Saturday to celebrate the work of actor Donald Sutherland and four other filmmakers awarded honorary Oscars. Sutherland, 82, has appeared in more than 140 films including "The Dirty Dozen", "MASH" and "Don’t Look Now" and is familiar to a younger generation for the "Hunger Games" franchise, but had never won an Oscar. "This is very important to me, to my family," Sutherland said at the annual Governors Awards, where…