Jamaican writer awarded Man Booker Prize

Also, Emirati director on DIFF IWC award shortlist, Emirati line-up at Euro film event, Donald Trump to appear on SNL, Rushdie talks human rights in Frankfurt, Taylor Swift leads AMA nominations, and UK film critic to host Mumbai workshop.

Marlon James. Neil Hall / Reuters
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Author Marlon James was awarded the Man Booker Prize on Tuesday for his novel A Brief History of Seven Killings, based on the attempted assassination of musician Bob Marley. James, 44, is the first Jamaican to win the award in its 47-year history. "Oh my God, oh wow," James said as he took to the podium, in dreadlocks and a tuxedo, after being announced as the winner during the ceremony in London. One of the world's most prestigious literary awards, the Man Booker Prize carries a £50,000 prize, and the winners enjoy a boost in sales and a global ­readership. – AFP

Emirati director on DIFF IWC award shortlist

Emirati Layla Kaylif is one of three regional directors on the shortlist for the ­prestigious IWC Filmmaker Award at the 12th Dubai International Film Festival. Kaylif was nominated for her film The Letter Writer. The other nominees are Qatari director Khalifa Al Muraikhi, for his project Sahaab, and Saudi director Shahad Ameen, for her feature, Scales. They will present their films at Diff, which runs from December 9 to 16. The winner of the award, sponsored by Swiss luxury-watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen, will receive a US$100,000 (Dh367,294) cash prize at a gala event on December 10. – The National staff

Emirati line-up at Euro film event

The second edition of the European Film Screenings programme has announced the full programme of Emirati shorts that will be screened before the main movies that are showing. They are Sunset State by Mustafa Abbas; The Intruder! by Majid Al Ansari; The Journey by Hana Makki; The Pillars by Moustafa Zakaria; Sabeel by Khalid Al-Mahmood; Sarab by Mariam Ferouhi; Once by Nayla Al Khaja; Mirrors of Silence by Nawaf Al-Janahi, and Half Emirati by Amal Al-Agroobi. The European Film Screenings run from next Wednesday until October 30 at Novo cinemas at WTC Mall in Abu Dhabi, and from Thursday until October 31 at the cinema in Ibn Battuta, Dubai. All screenings are free, on a first-come, first-served basis. Check The National next week for a full preview of all the films. – The National staff

Donald Trump to appear on SNL

NBC has confirmed that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump will be the guest host of long-running sketch-comedy show Saturday Night Live on November 7. It will be the second time the former Celebrity Apprentice presenter has hosted the show. It comes hot on the heels of OSN's announcement on Monday that SNL Arabia is in development. Trump has been ratings gold since his presidential campaign began, helping to generate record viewing figures for televised debates between the Republican contenders in August and last month. NBC said that singer Sia will be the musical guest on the night that Trump hosts SNL. – AP

Rushdie talks human rights in Frankfurt

British/Indian author Salman Rushdie said that all attempts to curb free speech are "an attack on human nature", when he delivered the keynote speech at the opening of the world's biggest book fair, in Frankfurt on Tuesday. He added: "Expression of speech is fundamental to all human beings. We are language animals, we are storytelling animals. Without that freedom of expression, all other freedoms fail." Rushdie has lived with an Iranian fatwa hanging over his head for a quarter of a century over his 1989 book The Satanic Verses. It was issued by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who called for the author to be killed, forcing him into hiding under police protection. The decision to invite him to speak at the Frankfurt Book Fair sparked a boycott by Iran. – AFP

Taylor Swift leads AMA nominations

Taylor Swift leads the list of nominations for the American Music Awards, with six. If she wins them all, she would be the most-honoured female artist in the event's history. Ed Sheeran and the Weeknd had five nominations each. Neither has won an AMA. Sam Hunt, Nicki Minaj, Sam Smith, Meghan Trainor and Walk the Moon picked up three nominations each. Swift is one of 10 nominees for artist of the year, and her track Blank Space was nominated for song of the year. She was also nominated for collaboration of the year for her work on Bad Blood with Kendrick Lamar, and her blockbuster 1989 is competing for album of the year. She already has 16 American Music Awards. Whitney Houston holds the AMA record for a female artist, with 21 awards. Michael Jackson holds the overall record, with 24 awards. – AP

UK film critic to host Mumbai workshop

The Guardian's film writer Peter Bradshaw is set to host the final workshop at this year's Mumbai Jio MAMI Mumbai film festival's Young Critics lab. The lab is an attempt to hone and mentor future film journalists in India. Two-day workshops will also be held at colleges all across Mumbai in the run-up to the festival. Globally renowned British writer and critic Bradshaw will conduct the final workshop two days before the festival starts on October 30. Meenakshi Shedde mentored the previous workshops and chose 20 students for the final workshop. They will write reviews during the festival and the best will win an award. The Jury for the Young Critics lab includes film critic Mihir Phadnavis and Film Writer Pronoti Datta. – The National staff