LOS ANGELES: A galaxy of stars will descend on Beverly Hills Sunday to honor the best in film and television as the 2018 awards season officially kicks off with the Golden Globes, with the specter of sexual harassment scandals weighing on the party.
This year’s ceremony is seen as the first big opportunity for Hollywood to speak with one voice against a pervasive culture of misconduct brought to light by the downfall of movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, unmasked as a serial predator.
The focus Sunday night is expected to be as much on the stars’ acceptance speeches and the messages behind some of the prizes as on the performances being honored at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s glitzy bash.
“The deluge of sexual misconduct revelations has been the story of the year, so it’s safe to predict that it will be the story of the night at the Golden Globes,” Debra Birnbaum, executive editor for television at industry weekly Variety, said.
“It will influence everything from Seth Meyers’ monologue to impassioned acceptance speeches to the fashion.”
The ceremony at the Beverly Hilton — the first for late night NBC funnyman Meyers as host — is not as reliable at predicting Oscars glory as the galas held by Hollywood’s acting, producing and directing unions.
But it remains one of the most high-profile and glamorous — not to mention boozy — events of the awards calendar and tends to generate more headlines for tipsy tributes, daring gowns and wacky tuxedos.
Actors and actresses are however expected to turn out in black this year, in solidarity with victims of Weinstein and numerous other figures exposed by the harassment and abuse scandal, including Kevin Spacey, Brett Ratner and Dustin Hoffman.
Guillermo del Toro’s fantasy romance “The Shape of Water” leads the nominations with seven, while “The Post” and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” are tied for second, with six each.
Overall, 25 awards are given out — 14 for movies and 11 for TV — and, as usual, the 90-member HFPA has sprung more than a few surprises in the nominations, placing horror satire “Get Out” in the best comedy-musical category.
There were no nominations at all for female filmmakers despite huge successes in 2017 for Greta Gerwig (“Lady Bird“), Patty Jenkins (“Wonder Woman“), Dee Rees (“Mudbound“), Kathryn Bigelow (“Detroit“) and Sofia Coppola (“The Beguiled“).
Critics interpreted the organization’s nominations for Ridley Scott’s kidnap drama “All the Money in the World” as implicit support for Hollywood’s #MeToo social media campaign against sexual harassment.
Veteran actor Christopher Plummer (“The Sound of Music“), who was brought in as a last-minute replacement when Scott decided to expunge the disgraced Spacey from the movie, won a surprise nomination for best supporting actor.
Scott was also nominated for best director and Michelle Williams for best actress, after the HFPA were shown a rough cut of the Spacey-free film.
“The fact that Scott completed the film in time to show it to Globes voters might have been reason enough for them to bestow three surprise nominations on the film,” wrote Daniel Montgomery, a senior editor for awards prediction website Gold Derby.
“But the fact that it has now received positive reviews despite the emergency re-shoots might (have) inspired them to actually give the film a win, and Plummer is the logical choice for the impressive feat of taking on an emotionally demanding role at the 11th hour at age 87.”
Plummer has turned 88 since the filming was completed.
While many fields are wide open, James Franco (“The Disaster Artist“) is almost certain to win best actor in a musical/comedy movie, according to Gold Derby, ahead of Daniel Kaluuya (“Get Out“).
The site expects Saoirse Ronan (“Lady Bird“) to pip Margot Robbie (“I, Tonya“) in the parallel race for best actresses for her acclaimed performance as a troubled teen.
On the small-screen, HBO’s “Big Little Lies” leads with six nominations, followed by FX’s “Feud: Bette and Joan,” with four, and “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Fargo,” and “This Is Us” all picking up three nods apiece.
Gold Derby’s Amanda Spears speculated that the harassment scandal could boost “Big Little Lies” star Shailene Woodley in the race for best supporting TV actress for her Emmy-nominated performance as a single mother raising a child conceived by rape.
“Across film and TV, there’s also the opportunity to reward roles for women that are strong, powerful and compelling beyond simply their relationships to men,” Variety’s Birnbaum said.
“It’s just a shame that the Globes didn’t recognize any female directors.”
The star-studded roll call of presenters this year includes “Game of Thrones” duo Emilia Clarke and Kit Harington, as well as Penelope Cruz, Gal Gadot, Hugh Grant and Chris Hemsworth.
Golden Globes kick off post-Weinstein awards season
Golden Globes kick off post-Weinstein awards season
Hail museums: Treasure troves of history and heritage
- Samia Suleiman Al-Jabri: Museums play a vital role in preserving heritage, protecting it from extinction, and connecting generations to their civilizational and cultural legacy
- Al-Jabri: They (museums) provide an information-rich environment that enhances historical and scientific knowledge for both international visitors and tourists
Hail’s museums offer visitors a journey through time, bringing to life the ancient stories of the region’s ancestors.
A number of museums in the city highlight historical ways of life, traditional craftsmanship and an array of archaeological artifacts.
“Museums play a vital role in preserving heritage, protecting it from extinction, and connecting generations to their civilizational and cultural legacy,” Samia Suleiman Al-Jabri, associate professor of modern history at Hail University, told the Saudi Press Agency.
“They provide an information-rich environment that enhances historical and scientific knowledge for both international visitors and tourists, including students, researchers and cultural enthusiasts.
“Moreover, museums are key tourist destinations that promote cultural tourism, offering visitors access to diverse collections of rare heritage artifacts, which in turn significantly boosts the local economy.”
Al-Jabri said that Saudi Arabia’s leadership was committed to enhancing the role of museums nationally, which strengthened national identity by showcasing the Kingdom’s cultural heritage.
The Authenticity Museum is one of the most prominent cultural, heritage and tourist landmarks in Hail.
It features a diverse collection of artifacts and tools that provide insight into the past.
The museum also highlights traditional furniture, from historical majlis (sitting rooms), heritage seating, and intricately hand-crafted cabinets once used in traditional homes.
Ali Bakhrisa, owner of the “Asalah” Museum, said: “Among the most notable items on display are ancient heritage tools, including pottery, cooking implements and hunting gear.
“The museum also showcases a collection of traditional clothing worn by the region’s tribes, featuring men’s garments such as the sadiriyya, dagla, kut and bisht, alongside women’s attire, which is hand-embroidered and woven, including the dagla, sabah, burqas and dara’a once worn by Hail’s women.
“In addition, the museum proudly exhibits a selection of classic cars from various manufacturers.”
The museum, which Bakhrisa said took 20 years to curate through extensive research trips across the Kingdom and beyond, boasts a rich collection of traditional weapons, including swords, daggers and antique rifles.
It also features an exquisite array of traditional jewelry and ornaments, historically worn by women on social occasions and renowned for their authentic heritage designs.
The museum also highlights traditional architecture once common in the region, showcasing distinctive architectural styles and locally sourced building materials.
One of the most renowned museums in Hail is the Found Influence from the Past Museum, housed in a clay structure more than a century old.
Its owner, Khaled Al-Matroud, has carefully transformed this historic home into a museum that showcases a remarkable collection of more than 2,000 artifacts, elegantly arranged across its wings and corridors.
A standout feature is the heritage majlis, known for its soaring ceilings — reaching up to eight meters — and its impressive 15-meter width, reflecting the region’s architectural style.
This majlis was ingeniously designed to adapt to seasonal needs, with distinct shapes for summer and winter.
The museum also preserves the charm of a traditional Hail house, featuring numerous rooms and an open courtyard that facilitates natural ventilation, further enhanced by the lush greenery of palm, orange and lemon trees at its entrance.
Fadi Al-Abdullah, a passionate admirer of historical artifacts, praised these museums for preserving and documenting the intricate details of a past era.
Antar Al-Kilani, an Egyptian resident, views these museums as a gateway to discovering the cultural and historical heritage of the region.
Saudi content creators win big at TikTok Awards in Dubai
DUBAI: Two Saudi content creators made a mark at the TikTok Awards ceremony on Wednesday.
Mohammed Hemex was honored with the Sports Creator of the Year Award, while Emad Ramen earned the title of Food Creator of the Year.
The event drew a star-studded crowd, including US-Iraqi entrepreneur and fragrance mogul Mona Kattan, accompanied by her co-stars from Netflix’s “Dubai Bling.” Among them were Ebraheem Alsamadi, who decorated the venue with centerpieces from his brand Forever Rose, Safa Siddiqui, Danya Mohammed, Marwan Al-Awadhi (DJ Bliss), and Jwana Karim. Also in attendance were “Love is Blind Habibi” stars Mohammed AlKiswani and Nour El-Hajj.
The Creator of the Year award was presented to Yara Aziz. Ahead of her win, Aziz, who boasts 6.5 million TikTok followers, told Arab News: “I started everything on TikTok. It’s been five years now, and this is my first award ever with them. I am nervous, I am excited, I am happy, I am content and I am grateful.”
Originally a medical student, the TikToker attended the event wearing a dress handmade by her grandmother, a process she documented on TikTok for her followers.
Reflecting on the experience, Aziz described the process as “extremely stressful.” She explained, “Honestly, it was stressful for my grandma, she felt like she was under pressure to make something quick and fast. But honestly, it turned out perfect.”
Before the announcement, Aziz mentioned that winning this award would mark the most memorable moment of her social media career — and it did.
The night included performances by Haitian-French artist Naika, known for the viral hit “Sauce,” and Egyptian rapper Marwan Moussa, a TikTok favorite, who thrilled the audience with tracks such as “Tesla,” “Batal Alam” and “Hob Khenaa,” joined by co-singer Nourine Abouseada for the latter.
The night celebrated other talents including Syrian Canadian Osama Marwah, who won the Video of the Year, while Egyptian singer Tul8te was named Breakthrough Artist of the Year. Lebanese chef Abir El Saghir received the Visionary Content Award, Abdullah Annan was honored as Changemaker of the Year, Shihab Al-Hashemy won Education Creator of the Year, and Nouran El-Sayed took home the Fashion & Beauty Creator of the Year award.
Qatar exhibition explores relationship between AI and humanity
DOHA: The Media Majlis Museum at Northwestern University in Qatar launched “Ai or Nay? Artificial vs. Intelligent,” a thought-provoking exhibition exploring humanity’s evolving relationship with machine learning.
Running until May 15, the exhibition brings together over 20 works by international and regional artists.
Directed by Alfredo Cramerotti, the exhibition emphasizes interdisciplinary dialogue, he said. “For me, it’s important as a curator to combine arts with something else and have a foot in art and a foot in something like technology or media,” Cramerotti told Arab News.
“We’re embedded in an environment of communication, technology, and media and (in this exhibition) we bring in artistic elements… to tackle themes that are relevant for society now.”
On display are installations from international creatives such as Jan Zuiderveld (Netherlands), Patrick Tresset (France/Belgium), and Adnan Ayub Aga (UAE/Portugal), alongside interactive and visual works by Amr Alngmah (Yemen/Egypt), Farjana Salahuddin (Bangladesh), graphic designer Hind Al-Saad (Qatar), Hadeer Omar (Egypt) and Bilge Emir (Turkey/Germany).
“We thought, let’s bring in in different voices — from the region and internationally, from different sectors of society and cultures — to help us understand the different pinch points of AI to make the general public more aware of certain issues,” explained Cramerotti.
The exhibition also addresses the tension between digital and physical experiences, he added: “This hybridity is central to the show. It’s about being aware of how AI and information flows shape our identities and impact our lives.”
As an example, Cramerotti highlighted the work of Al-Saad and Omar, which features screen walls offering a glimpse into how AI works in our everyday lives.
“The idea of how computers see us is actually quite central, but it’s completely invisible — like facial recognition,” he said. “It is integrated in your life flow. You don’t notice it. But there is an incredible amount of ‘bio-politics’ behind it.”
Italian sculptress Arianna Palmieri contemplates world’s cyclicity at Tuwaiq Sculpture
RIYADH: With the theme “Then and Now: Joy in the Struggle of Making,” the sixth edition of the Tuwaiq Sculpture symposium has brought together 30 sculpture artists from around the world.
Among them is Italian artist Arianna Palmieri, whose piece “Motion of Revolution” was inspired by the movement of the solar system around the sun. Depicting the inevitable cycles of birth and death, the work contemplates the notion that birth is conditioned by assured fatality.
“It’s all about the circularity of life — you are born, you are a child, then you are an adolescent, then you grow older, and then you die. But your life will continue after this, and we give life to other things. So it’s more about how everything is connected and a circularity of life; as humans move within the planets, the planets are moving around the sun,” Palmieri told Arab News.
Originally from Milan, Palmieri moved to Carrara, a town known worldwide for its white marble, to study sculpting. She graduated in 2023 and the 26-year-old is one of the youngest artists amongst the group at the symposium.
She says it is an opportunity to learn and grow as an artist.
“It’s like a dream. I didn't think they would choose me because I am so young,” she said. “The last edition was more about people that had experience. This edition, they tried to concentrate more (on) the artwork and the background of the artist,” she said.
The finished works will be exhibited from Feb. 12-24 and moved to various locations across the city as part of Riyadh Art’s initiative to beautify the capital.
“Public art is the main thing that our sculptures can achieve because you can do big stuff and they will be like a journal in some way. I’m really, really happy that I can do something so big that will stay there so much longer than me,” she said.
Palmieri’s work is not merely a reflection of planetary movement but contemplates the existence of the human race and its role within a larger picture. Her work itself is a representation of this thought: As every human diminishes, remnants of them and their work on earth will be set in stone — waiting to be discovered by another.
“I thought about nature a lot, and all of humanity. I hope at least that my art can get through this idea, to connect all the people,” she said.
Ian McDiarmid, Hideo Ishikawa to headline Middle East Film & Comic Con 2025
DUBAI: Scottish actor and director Ian McDiarmid, known for his portrayal of Emperor Palpatine in the “Star Wars” saga, has been announced as the first confirmed celebrity guest for the Middle East Film & Comic Con (MEFCC) 2025.
The region’s largest pop culture event will take place from April 18 to 20, 2025, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).
In addition to his role as the “Star Wars” saga, McDiarmid is also known for his performances in films such as “Sleepy Hollow” and “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” as well as his extensive work in theater, including his Olivier Award-winning role in “Faith Healer.”
Anime fans are also in for a treat with the announcement of Japan’s leading voice actor, Hideo Ishikawa, best known as the voice of Itachi Uchiha from “Naruto.”
His notable roles include Toyotomi Hideyoshi in “Samurai Warriors,” Kyo-ya Onizuka in “Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero,” Ray Penber and Hideki Ide in “Death Note,” and Squall Leonhart, Auron, and Cait Sith in the “Final Fantasy” series.
Loy Pinheiro, show director of MEFCC said in a statement: “MEFCC 2025 is set to be our most diverse and engaging event yet. From casual fans to devoted collectors, we’ve created an experience that celebrates every aspect of pop culture with something for everyone.”
The event is organized in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi.
