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French Riviera Film Festival 2020: Where to Watch Online

Joining the movement of award shows taking place online amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, French Riviera Film Festival (FRFF), a two-year-old festival that celebrates short films and short-form content from around the globe, is going virtual.

The second annual French Riviera Film Festival (FRFF) is broadcasting virtually from the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel on September 18th and September 19th. Partnering with PlayPlay.tv, the highly-anticipated festival kicked off Friday with a virtual Women Filmmaker Panel and will culminate with a special, free-of-charge virtual gala awards ceremony on Saturday at 5pm PST / 8pm ET.

French Riviera Film Festival Virtual Gala Registration | September 19 at 5 PM PST / 8 PM ET

First launched in 2019 during the time period of the Cannes Film Festival, FRFF fills a much-needed gap by recognizing and celebrating short-form content created for film, television, Web and all digital platforms.

“Hollywood needs the French Riviera Film Festival more than ever this year,” actress Yasmine Al Massri, who stars in the film Refugee – a finalist in the drama category this year, tells Pop News Edition. “FRFF is a platform that is open to everyone. There are no restrictions on format. The people behind the festival are highly educated, people who have experience in honest journalism and communications. I am going to show up in a gown and a mask!”

This year, the festival aims to connect virtually with a wider audience. “We’re delighted to partner with PlayPlay.tv as we take our festival online this year due to the pandemic,” says FRFF co-founder Nicole Goesseringer Muj. “Film lovers from around the world will now be able to enjoy the wonderful array of film submissions virtually via PlayPlay.tv”

FRFF co-founder Gotham Chandna adds, “While we’re optimistic that our festival will be held live again in May 2021 during the time period of Festival de Cannes, we’re now planning to also hold the online festival moving forward, thus inviting film fans from around the world to participate.”

Two-Day Film Festival Passes Available For $20 | Individual Day Pass $10 

The two-day festival celebrates short films and short-form content from around the globe and features the works of filmmakers from more than 20 countries. In addition to Refugee, other stand-out shorts for FRFF 2020 include The Tears Thing by French director Clémence Poésy; documentary The Power of Beauty by Italian director Alessandro Soetje; and She’s In My Head, the music video directorial debut by Lukas Haas (The Revenant).

The festival kicked off Friday with a virtual Women Filmmaker Panel and will culminate with a special, free-of-charge virtual gala awards ceremony, to be held at 5pm PST / 8pm ET on September 19th. EverTalkTV’s Jezlan Moyet will host the event, along with presenters Tony Potts, Shalini Vadhera Pottss,  and Emmy-winning actor Vincent DePaul. Special musical performances by DJ Gotta, Marina V., Grammy-winner Paulina Aguirre, and more surprises.

FRFF 2020 event partners include RMINÉ Bespoke, Beverly Hills HotelBel-Air Fine Art,  Chateau de Bernefilmfestivals.com, [http://www..indieentertainmentmagazine.com/]Indie Entertainment Magazine, The Good Gin, and  Weed Cellars. VIP gift bag sponsors include CelebLuxuryDavinesDiFiore New YorkMiraj EyewearMinnieologyMy Little Mascara ClubNestl BeddingPink MahoghanyReady Set JetRMINÉ,  Rosepops™Shhh!… It’s a Secret! and Sleepphones.

Watch the live virtual awards ceremony on Saturday, September 19 at 5 PM PST, 8 PM ET at: http://frenchrivierafilmfestival.com/awards2020. (Full schedule of FRFF is available at: https://frenchrivierafilmfestival.com/frff-2020-program)

Awards

Oscars Sets a Diversity Record Including a Breakthrough of Asian Actors

The 63rd Academy Awards nominate most diverse acting slate ever, including first Asian American contender for Best Actor.

The 93rd Academy Awards sets a diversity record with nine actors of color earning nominations, including many firsts amongst talents of Asians decent.

For the first time in the Oscars’ 93-year history, performers of color comprise the majority in both actor categories, with Riz Ahmed (“Sound of Metal”), Chadwick Boseman (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottoms”) and Steven Yeun (“Minari”) in the best actor category. In the supporting category, Leslie Odom Jr. (“One Night In Miami”) is competing with Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield from “Judas and the Black Messiah.”

Riz Ahmed is the first actor of Pakistani decent and the first Muslim actor to receive an Oscar nomination in Best Actor category. Previously, Mahershala Ali became the first Muslim actor to win an Oscar when he took home the statuette for supporting actor for “Moonlight”. 

Steven Yeun is the first actor of Asian decent to receive a Best Actor nomination. Yeun’s “Minari” co-star Youn Yuh-jung also received a nomination in the supporting actress category. Youn becomes the first actress of Korean decent to be nominated in the category. 

Producer Christina Oh of “Minari” becomes the first Asian American woman to receive a nomination for Best Picture. “Minari” filmmaker Lee Isaac Chung becomes the second Asian American nominated for Best Actor. Previously, M. Night Shyamalan became the first director of Asian decent to win Best Director. 

Awards season top-runner Chloé Zhao made Oscars history as the first woman of color nominated for Best Director. Additionally, she is also the first woman of color up for adapted screenplay, and best picture. Between her and Emerald Fennell of “Promising Young Woman”, the roster of Oscar-nominated female directors has instantly expanded by 40 percent. 

The drastic shift towards a more diverse crowd came last summer when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences extended invitations to 819 artists and executives. The A2020 initiative was aimed to double the number of women and underrepresented ethnic/racial communities. The Academy surpassed its original goal to reach double the number of women and underrepresented ethnic/racial communities with the 2020 class breakdown of 45% women, 36% underrepresented ethnic/racial communities, and 49% international from 68 countries. 

The Academy Awards will take place April 25th at downtown Los Angeles’ Union Station and Hollywood’s Dolby Theater. 

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Awards

Grammys 2021 List of Winners: Beyoncé, Megan Thee Stallion, Taylor Swift & More

Megan Thee Stallion (right) won the Grammy Award for best new artist, and also for best rap performance and best rap song for “Savage,” which features Beyoncé (left). The four awards Beyoncé won Sunday brought her lifetime total to 28 Grammys — more than any other woman.

The 63rd Grammy Awards took place Sunday night at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles. With a new executive producer at the helm for the first time in a decade, a new host, and a pandemic, the show was jam-packed women making history.

Megan Thee Stallion owned the stage and took home three awards: Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance for the remix of “Savage” featuring Beyoncé, and Best New Artist. Blue Ivy Carter, the daughter of Beyoncé and Jay Z, won her first Grammy for Best Music Video for “Brown Skin Girl”. Blue Ivy received a writing credit for the song which made her, at the age of 9, the second youngest artist to win a Grammy Award.

Beyoncé broke the record for all-time wins by a woman and any singer male or female with 28 Grammys wins when she won best R&B performance for “Black Parade”.

Taylor Swift also made Grammys history. She took home Album of the year “Folklore”, becoming the first female artist – only the 4th ever – to win three times in the category. She previously won for “Fearless” in 2010, followed by “1989” in 2015.

Here’s the complete list of winners:

Album of the Year

“Chilombo,” Jhené Aiko

“Black Pumas (Deluxe Edition),” Black Pumas

“Everyday Life,” Coldplay

“Djesse Vol. 3,” Jacob Collier

“Women in Music Pt. III,” Haim

“Future Nostalgia,” Dua Lipa

“Hollywood’s Bleeding,” Post Malone

“Folklore,” Taylor Swift  WINNER

 

Record of the Year

“Black Parade,” Beyoncé

“Colors,” Black Pumas

“Rockstar,” DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch

“Say So,” Doja Cat

“Everything I Wanted,” Billie Eilish  WINNER

“Don’t Start Now,” Dua Lipa

“Circles,” Post Malone

“Savage,” Megan Thee Stallion

 

Song of the Year

“Black Parade,” (performed by Beyoncé)

“The Box,” (performed by Roddy Ricch)

“Cardigan,” (performed by Taylor Swift)

“Circles,” (performed by Post Malone)

“Don’t Start Now,” (performed by Dua Lipa)

“Everything I Wanted,” (performed by Billie Eilish)

“I Can’t Breathe,” (performed by H.E.R.)  WINNER

“If the World Was Ending,” (performed by JP Saxe featuring Julia Michaels)

 

Best New Artist

Ingrid Andress

Phoebe Bridgers

Chika

Noah Cyrus

D Smoke

Doja Cat

Kaytranada

Megan Thee Stallion  WINNER

 

Best Pop Vocal Album

“Changes,” Justin Bieber

“Chromatica,” Lady Gaga

“Future Nostalgia,” Dua Lipa ­  WINNER

“Fine Line,” Harry Styles

“Folklore,” Taylor Swift

 

Best Rock Album

“A Hero’s Death,” Fontaines D.C.

“Kiwanuka,” Michael Kiwanuka

“Daylight,” Grace Potter

“Sound & Fury,” Sturgill Simpson

“The New Abnormal,” The Strokes  WINNER

 

Best Alternative Music Album

“Fetch the Bolt Cutters,” Fiona Apple  WINNER

“Hyperspace,” Beck

“Punisher,” Phoebe Bridgers

“Jamie,” Brittany Howard

“The Slow Rush,” Tame Impala

 

Best Progressive R&B Album

“Chilombo,” Jhené Aiko

“Ungodly Hour,” Chloe X Halle

“Free Nationals,” Free Nationals

“____ Yo Feelings,” Robert Glasper

“It Is What It Is,” Thundercat  WINNER

 

Best Rap Album

“Black Habits,” D Smoke

“Alfredo,” Freddie Gibbs and the Alchemist

“A Written Testimony,” Jay Electronica

“King’s Disease,” Nas  WINNER

“The Allegory,” Royce Da 5’9″

 

Best Country Album

“Lady Like,” Ingrid Andress

“Your Life Is a Record,” Brandy Clark

“Wildcard,” Miranda Lambert  WINNER

“Nightfall,” Little Big Town

“Never Will,” Ashley McBryde

 

Best Pop Solo Performance

“Yummy,” Justin Bieber

“Say So,” Doja Cat

“Everything i Wanted,” Billie Eilish

“Don’t Start Now,” Dua Lipa

“Watermelon Sugar,” Harry Styles  WINNER

“Cardigan,” Taylor Swift

 

Best Latin Pop or Urban Album

“YHLQMDLG,” Bad Bunny  WINNER

“Por Primera Vez,” Camilo

“Mesa Para Dos,” Kany García

“Pausa,” Ricky Martin

“3:33,” Debi Nova

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Awards

Golden Globes 2021: The Coziest, Fan-Favorite Looks From Home

Awards season 2021 kicked off with the first-ever virtual Golden Globes on Sunday night. While many presenters and nominees dressed up for the occasion as they dialed in from home, a few stars took the liberty to ditch the formal attires this time around for a much cozier show.

Jason Sudeikis went live in a tie-dye hoodie, paying homage to what could have been awards season’s biggest loungewear party. The 45-year-old actor won his very first Golden Globe for Best Performance in a Television Series – comedy or musical – for “Ted Lasso”. While the internet applauded the star for being relatable and real in times of pandemic, Sudeikis told reporters backstage that he shares a special connection to that hoodie, which was from his sister’s New York City-based dance studio called @Forward_Space. 

Bill Murray was the epitome of #weekendgoals as he appeared in a Hawaiian shirt in his backyard. Since Golden Globes is known to be the unofficial kick-off party to Awards Season – and the only red carpet where alcohol is served to the celebrities – it is only fitting that Murray made a toast to the occasion with a cool drink in his hand!

Jodie Foster ditched the gown for a set of printed pajamas as she received a win for Best Supporting Actress for her role in “The Mauritian”. With her partner Alexandra Hedison by her side and their dog, she couldn’t have looked more cozy. 

Chloe Zhao, who made Golden Globes history for being the first woman of color, first Asian woman and second woman ever to win Best Director, also appeared in a T-shirt. 

Joaquin Phoenix presented the award in a mostly empty auditorium in a casual hoodie over a shirt and tie. The Oscar-winner famously stated last awards season that he intended to wear the same tuxedo throughout the shows in an attempt to reduce waste.

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