National Society of Film Critics award Moonlight best picture
America's National Society of Film Critics has voted Moonlight the best picture of 2016. Society members who gathered on Saturday, January 7, at Lincoln Centre for the Performing Arts in New York also gave Barry Jenkins the best director award for the film. The movie is a coming-of-age tale about a young, black kid growing up in a poor, drug-ridden neighbourhood of Miami. The critics also passed out best acting awards to Casey Affleck for Manchester by the Sea and Isabelle Huppert for both Elle and Things to Come. Best supporting actor and actress winners were Mahershala Ali in Moonlight and Michelle Williams in Manchester by the Sea. — Associated Press
David Bowie not diagnosed at terminal until final months
Music icon David Bowie only discovered his cancer was terminal three months before he died, according to a new documentary. The legendary died on January 10, 2016, just two days after his 69th birthday and ahead of the release of his 25th studio album, Blackstar. A BBC documentary to be aired on what would have been Bowie's 70th birthday revealed the singer found out his treatment was to be stopped as he was starring in death-shrouded music video Lazarus, reports The Mirror. Speaking on David Bowie: The Last Five Years, director of the music video Johan Renck said: "I found out later that the week we were shooting is when he found out that it is over. We'll end treatment or whatever capacity that means, that his illness has won." Renck added the video, which features Bowie lying in a bed with his eyes covered by bandages and replaced with buttons, was not about the singer's illness. — IANS
It’s destination Morocco for Tiger Zinda Hai
Director Ali Abbas Zaffar is busy scouting locations in Morocco for the shoot of Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif vehicle Tiger Zinda Hai, a sequel to 2012 blockbuster Ek Tha Tiger. "Friday Azaan in Marrakech, Morocco. Kick start 'Tiger Zinda Hai' location scout. Countdown begins," Zaffar wrote on his Twitter page. Khan and Kaif will again be seen together in the sequel to their 2012 film Ek Tha Tiger, which revolved around an Indian spy code-named Tiger, who falls in love with a Pakistani spy during an investigation. Produced by Aditya Chopra under Yash Raj Films, the film is gearing up for a December release this year. — IANS
Indian DJ to collaborate with Maroon 5
Indian DJ Zaeden, whose given name is Sahil Sharma, is collaborating with American pop band Maroon 5 (pictured) for the official remix of Don't Wanna Know, featuring vocals by Kendrick Lamar. DJ Zaeden, a resident of New Delhi, is best known for his tracks Never Let You Go and Yesterday. "2017 is an exciting year for me. I'm a huge fan of Adam Levine since my school days so this is a big coup for me," DJ Zaeden said in a statement. "I am also looking to collaborate with a few mainstream artists this year apart from performing at the top international festivals and launching my own merchandise brand." – IANS
Japan’s Tuna King wins annual auction for $636,000
Japan’s self-styled “Tuna King” has done it again — paying more than $600,000 [Dh220,000] for a single fish. Sushi entrepreneur Kiyoshi Kimura paid top price at the first auction of the new year at Tokyo’s Tsukiji fish market on Thursday, January 5, bagging a prized bluefin tuna for an eye-watering 74.2 million yen ($636,000). The head of the Sushizanmai chain is now the proud, if temporary, owner of a 212kg fish. At that price a single piece of fatty tuna sushi would cost roughly $85, or 25 times the $3.4 that Kimura charges for the product at his 51 stores across Japan. “I feel it was a bit expensive, but I am happy that I was able to successfully win at auction a tuna of good shape and size,” Kimura said. — AFP
Jeff Bridges cements place in Hollywood
Oscar-winning actor Jeff Bridges was described as "royalty" by his peers as he sunk his hands and feet into the cement at Hollywood's TCL Chinese Theatre. The 67-year-old actor, who has been nominated for a Golden Globe this year for Hell or High Water, was surrounded by fellow actors and industry heavyweights at the ceremony on Friday, January 6, including Sharon Stone and Chris Pine, during the ceremony. "He is a pillar. He is a backbone. He may as well be royalty," said Pine as he introduced the veteran actor. Pine won an Oscar in 2010 for his performance in Crazy Heart. The actor has been a Hollywood leading man since the 1970s and is notably known for playing Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski in the 1998 Coen Brothers cult comedy classic The Big Lebowski. — AFP
Fallen entertainer Rolf Harris faces UK abuse trial
Australian-born entertainer Rolf Harris, who was a fixture on British television for six decades, will go on trial in London on Monday, January 9 for alleged assaults against minors. Harris, 86, who entertained millions of children until his fall from grace, will appear at the trial via video link. The case will focus on alleged incidents between 1971 and 2004, amounting to seven counts of indecent assault and one of sexual assault. The jury will be sworn in on Tuesday, and the case is expected to last up to five weeks. Harris has already been stripped of honours in Australia and Britain, where Queen Elizabeth II ordered the removal of his CBE (Commander of the British Empire), an honour one step below a knighthood. — Agence France Presse
Chris Brown to box Soulja Boy over social media feud
A social media war between Chris Brown and Soulja Boy (pictured) will apparently be settled in the ring with the help of boxer Floyd Mayweather. Both hip-hop stars have announced that they’ve signed on for a three-round bout that will be televised on pay-per-view and promoted by Mayweather’s companies. Soulja Boy put up a post promoting the fight on Instagram on Wednesday and said in the caption: “It’s going down! Signed my contract.” Soulja Boy says Mayweather himself is training him for the fight, which he says will take place in March in Las Vegas. Brown also said on Instagram that the match was set. The feud between the artists stems from Soulja Boy’s liking of an Instagram picture posted by Brown’s ex-girlfriend, Karrueche Tran. — AP
