Latest news with #Barbera
Kuwait Times
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Kuwait Times
Julia Roberts, Jude Law to feature at star-packed Venice Film Festival
US megastar Julia Roberts is to make her debut at the Venice Film Festival this year, which will also feature Jude Law playing Russian leader Vladimir Putin and a hard-hitting film about Gaza. Roberts is one of many A-listers set to appear at the increasingly influential Venice film extravaganza from late August for the premiere of her latest movie, the Amazon-produced 'After the Hunt'. Directed by Italy's Luca Guadagnino, a Venice regular, it tells the story of a sexual assault case at a prestigious American university and will run outside the main film competition, according to festival director Alberto Barbera. 'It is the first time that Julia Roberts will walk the red carpet of the Venice Film Festival so we're very happy to have her,' Barbera told reporters in a presentation of the August 27-September 9 line up. The main competition category, where 21 features will vie for the prestigious Golden Lion for best film, includes a host of star-packed productions including 'The Wizard of the Kremlin' by Olivier Assayas. The movie is an adaptation by French director Assayas of a best-selling book about Putin's rise to power, featuring British actor Law as the Kremlin strongman. Law told Deadline in January that the role was 'an Everest to climb', adding that he was 'looking up thinking, 'Oh Christ'.' Other high-profile, in-competition movies selected by the festival include the latest thriller from American Oscar-winner Kathryn Bigelow titled 'A House of Dynamite' and 'Father Mother Sister Brother' by Jim Jarmusch, starring Adam Driver and Cate Blanchett. Benny Safdie's film about a wrestling champion 'The Smashing Machine' has Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson in the lead role alongside Emily Blunt, who delivers a 'memorable performance' as his wife, according to Barbera. A much-discussed new interpretation of 'Frankenstein' by Guillermo del Toro will also be in the running for prizes, with Barbera saying that producer Netflix 'has not skimped on the means made available to del Toro's imagination'. American director Noah Baumbach returns with 'Jay Kelly', a comedy co-written with his wife Greta Gerwig, featuring an A-list cast that includes George Clooney playing an actor with an identity crisis. Feature on Gaza Alongside five Italian films, a handful of arthouse productions as well as the Hollywood blockbusters, festival organizers have also selected a feature about the war in Gaza in what is the most overtly political offering in the main competition. 'The Voice of Hind Rajab', by Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania, reconstructs the death of six-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab, who was killed last year by the Zionist forces. She and several relatives were fleeing a Zionist offensive in Gaza City in January 2024 when their car came under attack. In a case that led to international outrage, Rajab could be heard pleading for help in a desperate phone call to rescuers from the Red Crescent after she was left as the sole survivor in the badly damaged vehicle. She and two Red Crescent workers who went to find her were later found dead. Barbera said it was one of the films that 'will have the biggest impact on audiences and critics, and I hope there will be no controversies'. 'I'm moved when I think of the movie,' he said, adding that Ben Hania had reproduced Rajab's phone calls in her film. Around 370 actors and directors signed an open letter during the Cannes film festival in May saying they were 'ashamed' of their industry's 'passivity' about the war in Gaza, including Cannes jury president Juliette Binoche. Other highlights in Venice will include the return of American director Gus Van Sant who is set to show his first movie since 2018, 'Dead Man's Wire', out of competition. Among the documentaries, German director Werner Herzog will project his latest film, 'Ghost Elephants', about 'a mysterious herd of ghost elephants in the jungles of Angola,' according to Barbera. Herzog will be presented with a Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement during the festival.—AFP Sofia Coppola will premiere a documentary about her friend and fashion designer Marc Jacobs, while fellow American directors Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus have persuaded veteran US journalist Seymour Hersh to collaborate for a film about him called 'Cover Up'. The head of the jury for the main competition at the 82nd edition of the festival will be US film director Alexander Payne who is best known for films such as 'Sideways', 'The Descendants' and 'About Schmidt'.--AFP
Forbes
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Wines From Four Italian Regions To Sample This Summer
The Italian wines listed below originate from the Veneto region in the northeast, Piedmont in the northwest, Emilia-Romagna on the northern/central eastern coast and Abruzzo on the central eastern coast. Additional information on wines from these producers is on my web log Vino Voices. Col Vetoraz. Valdobbiadene, Superiore de Cartizze. DOCG. 2024. 93+ points. This 11.5% sparkling wine made from Glera grapes using the charmat method originates in hills equidistant between the city of Venice and the Dolomite mountains. Wispy aromas of dry granite, meringue, limoncello. Brisk attack with fine bubbles, exploding mid palate with flavors of nectarines, banoffee pie and key lime pie. Brazen acidity, firm structure, semi-complex and a delicious accompaniment to prawns, crackers with hummus, or cacciatore chicken. Bold, gripping and well balanced. Confident, forward and an orchestra on the palate. Well done! Ambassadorial to Valdobbiadene. Vineyards in Valdobbiadene, Veneto, Italy getty Gianni Gagliardo. Tenuta Garetto. DOCG Nizza. Favà. 2021 92+ points. This 14.5% alcohol, 100% Barbera aged for 22 months in both concrete and wood casks. Complex and somewhat subdued aromas of dark mushrooms and cooked beef, with lavender, black cherries and red cherries. Sparky acidity on the attack, a landslide of fresh and ripe red fruit mid palate and a finish that lingers. Quiet tannins and dominant acidity. A rich gastronomic wine to pair with teriyaki beef or polenta with either bacon or mushrooms. Beguilingly different. Bersano. Cremosina. DOCG Nizza. 2022. 94+ points. This 14.5% alcohol Barbera includes aromas of red plums, wet earth, espresso, red cherries and eucalyptus. The mid palate is a swirling and juicy hit of cola, cherries, tarragon, sage, licorice and poppyseeds. Long finish that includes applesauce and roasted chestnuts. This is a balance between heft and fluidity, with gracious tannins and poised acidic undercurrents. Pair with butternut squash ravioli. Vineyards of Barolo, Piedmont, Italy getty Bersano. Cannubi Riserva. Barolo DOCG. 2017. 93-94 points. This 14% alcohol Barolo is the color of rum and orange juice. Beautifully perfumed nose—a floral and fresh spring garden with lilacs, roses and juniper. Firm tension between fruit and muscular tannins. Beefy yet creamy mouthful with rivulets of acidity enveloped by orange citrus. Pair with shish kebab or grilled lamb and orange sauce. Abruzzo Region Cantina Zaccagnini. Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. Riserva. DOC. 2020. 92 points. This dark 14% alcohol wine includes aromas of gum balls, leather, earth, stew, red plums and raspberries. A dark slumgullion of black and red fruit, anise and wild licorice flavors. Firm tannins and chewy chocolate brownies on the finish. Pair with cassoulet. Vineyards in Abruzzo, Italy. getty Emilia-Romagna Region Poderi dal Nespoli. Romagna Sangiovese Superiore. Riserva. 2021. 92-93 points. This 14% alcohol wine has aromas of smoke and sweetness, earth and orange grove, leather and licorice. Enticing, complex, overt and beguiling. Soft tannins covering deft and dusky dark fruit—well integrated flavors of wild fennel and red cherry with toned acidity. Pair with charcuterie or slumgullion. Additional notes on other wines from these producers can be found at my Vino Voices site here. Medieval castle in Cesena, Emilia Romagna, Italy getty
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kim Novak to Receive Venice Film Festival Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement
Legendary Hollywood actress Kim Novak (Vertigo, Picnic, Bell, Book and Candle) will be awarded the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival of La Biennale di Venezia (Aug. 27–Sept. 6). Venice also unveiled that the documentary Kim Novak's Vertigo by Alexandre Philippe, 'made in exclusive collaboration with the actress,' will be presented in its world premiere during the festival. More from The Hollywood Reporter BFI Report Sets Out 9 Recommendations to Ensure "Ethical, Sustainable, Inclusive AI" Use Indies and Icons, Tentpoles and Oscar Contenders: Annecy at 40 Sets the Animation Agenda Netflix Inks Creative Partnership With Ekta Kapoor's Balaji Telefilms in India The decision about the honor was made by the board of directors of La Biennale, based on the recommendation of the artistic director of the festival, Alberto Barbera, organizers said Monday. 'I am deeply, deeply touched to receive the prestigious Golden Lion Award from such an enormously respected film festival,' said Novak. 'To be recognized for my body of work at this time in my life is a dream come true. I will treasure every moment I spend in Venice. It will fill my heart with joy.' Said Venice artistic director Barbera: 'Inadvertently becoming a screen legend, Kim Novak was one of the most beloved icons of an entire era of Hollywood films, from her auspicious debut during the mid-1950s until her premature and voluntary exile from the gilded cage of Los Angeles a short while later. She never refrained from criticizing the studio system, choosing her roles, who she let into her private life and even her name. Forced to renounce her given name, Marilyn Pauline, because it was associated with Monroe, she fought to conserve her last name, agreeing, in exchange, to dye her hair that shade of platinum blonde which set her apart. Independent and nonconformist, she created her own production company and went on strike to renegotiate a salary that was much lower than that of her male co-stars.' Barbera continued: 'Thanks to her exuberant beauty, her ability to bring to life characters who were naïve and discreet, as well as sensuous and tormented, and her seductive and sometimes sorrowful gaze, she was appreciated by some of the major American directors of the period, from Billy Wilder (Kiss Me, Stupid), to Otto Preminger (The Man With the Golden Arm), Robert Aldrich (The Legend of Lylah Clare), George Sidney (The Eddy Duchin Story, Jeanne Eagels, Pal Joey), and Richard Quine, with whom she made unforgettable romantic comedies (Pushover, Bell, Book and Candle, Strangers When We Meet, The Notorious Landlady). But her image will remain forever linked to the dual characters she played in Hitchcock's Vertigo, which became the role of her life. This Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement celebrates a star who was emancipated, a rebel at the heart of Hollywood who illuminated the dreams of movie lovers before retiring to her ranch in Oregon to dedicate herself to painting and to her horses.' Best of The Hollywood Reporter 13 of Tom Cruise's Most Jaw-Dropping Stunts Hollywood Stars Who Are One Award Away From an EGOT 'The Goonies' Cast, Then and Now
Forbes
11-06-2025
- Forbes
Autumn In Piedmont's Langhe Hills: Fine Wines, Food And Stunning Landscapes
Rows of the colorful autumnal vineyards on the hills of Langhe in Piedmont, Italy. The autumn harvest season is one of the best times to visit the Langhe Hills of Piedmont. Visitors can enjoy the region's bounty of fine wines and cuisine amidst breathtaking views of vineyards, rolling hills, and woodlands, swathed in vibrant shades of red, orange, gold and brown. Located in northwestern Italy (in the southern part of the Piedmont region), the Langhe Hills are framed by the Maritime Alps and the Ligurian Apennines. Eleven small villages (communes), including the town of Barolo, are spread over this hilly area, which comprises the official Barolo DOCG wine production zone. Nebbiolo Grapes Located northeast of Alba, the Langhe Hills are the exclusive home to Barolo and Barbaresco, two of Italy's most prestigious red wines. The wines are named after these two tiny villages. Both wines are made from 100% Nebbiolo grapes and are favorites among wine enthusiasts. Often described as siblings, Barolo is known as the "King," and Barbaresco as the "Queen." However, the region produces other high-quality reds and whites, including Barbera, Pinot Nero, and Chardonnay. The Piedmont Langhe/Monferrato wine region was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014 for its stunning vineyard landscapes and rich winemaking traditions. (The only other Italian wine region to achieve this status is the Conegliano and Valdobbiadene wine region, which produces Prosecco.) Italian white truffles at the Truffle Fair in Alba, Piedmont (Italy), the most important international truffle market in the world. The regional cuisine of Piedmont is also legendary among food lovers, perhaps only second to Emilia Romagna. The town of Alba is the epicenter of white truffles, known for its yearly International White Truffle Fair. The fair's 95th edition will be in October. Steeped in agricultural and culinary traditions, the Langhe Hills are known for their regional pastas (tagliarini, tajarin and agnolotti), risotto, polenta, and cheeses. Meat lovers enjoy the uniquely lean, tender Fassona beef, from a breed of cattle native to the region. The area is also famous for Piedmont IGP hazelnuts, which are valued by chefs and chocolatiers worldwide. In Turin, the nuts are used to craft gianduia (a chocolate-hazelnut confectionery). Alba is home to Nutella, the popular spread that is considered a descendant of the candy. Mauro and Giovanni Manzone in the wine cellar A consortium, Consorzio Di Tutela Barolo Barbaresco Alba Langhe E Dogliani, oversees the strict procedural guidelines for its 500 members that govern the production of Barolo and Barbaresco as well as other denominations like Dolcetto di Dogliani, Barbera d'Alba and Langhe DOC. Only vineyards located on the slopes of the hills, with the best sun exposure and an altitude between 170 and 540 meters above sea level, are allowed to produce Nebbiolo grapes for Barolo. Grape quantity is also capped to guarantee high quality. Most wineries in this region are small, family-owned, and produce site-specific wines. Each village (commune) has distinct soil types, altitudes, exposures and microclimates. Giovanni Manzone Winery is located in Monforte d'Alba, one of the 11 communes in the province of Cuneo. The winery's namesake inherited a house and farm from his father, Stefano, located in what is now called the Castelletto MGA (Menzione Geografica Aggiuntiva), a recognized Cru (single-vineyard designation) within the Barolo DOCG. The steep, stony ground made cultivation challenging. But through perseverance and hard work, he began to produce wine and bottled his first Barolo Ciabot del Preve in 1961. Following long-standing tradition, his Barolos were and still are aged in large oak barrels with long maceration times. In the 70s, the family acquired another plot of land in Gramolere, now considered a Menzione Geografica Aggiuntiva (MGA) or Cru within the Barolo DOCG, which has been known historically for grapes that produce wines of incredible structure. At the end of the 1980s, Marc de Grazia, an influential American wine importer who promoted Barolo wines, recognized the quality of Manzone wines, leading to their fame worldwide. This was the start of a 23-year successful partnership with the importer. A fifth generation of the Manzone family, Mauro and Mirella, now oversee operations of their 14.3 hectares of land. About 8.5 hectares are used to produce Rossese Bianco, Dolcetto, Barbera, and Nebbiolo wines within the Barolo appellation. The grapes are hand-harvested and the winery follows a Colderetti protocol to ensure environmental sustainability. Manzone Famiglia Manzone Winery welcomes visitors for guided tastings and tours of the cellar and vineyards. 'We can't compete with the marketing of large, commercial wineries,' says Mauro over a Zoom call. 'The best way to show our work is through tastings of our wines.' The Manzone tasting room offers expansive views of the Barolo region. Mauro compares the small villages dotting the Langhe Hills to 'small jewels,' each with its own charm, characteristics, and customs. Plans are underway to renovate the farmhouse to host overnight stays. Visitors meandering the cobblestone streets of the well-preserved medieval centers will find historic castles, churches, markets and museums (including a Barolo wine museum and a corkscrew museum). More active wine tourists can book popular e-bike tours, plan walks, or run beside the photogenic hills and vineyards. 'Wine and food show their best together,' says Mauro. The Langhe Hills do that in spades. Local trattorie, osterie and ristoranti offer food enthusiasts opportunities to savor authentic farm-to-table regional Piedmontese cuisine paired with exquisite wines. One of the most convenient ways to explore the region is by car, allowing stops at wineries, wine shops and other attractions in the scenic villages. Unlike more trafficked wine regions, visitors appreciate the authenticity of the small hotels, agriturismi, and guest houses in the Langhe Hills. The passionate winemakers of the Langhe Hills are warm and welcoming. They are rightly proud of their terroir, which offers tourists a perfect mix of gastronomical, historical, and cultural treasures. Manzone Wines The Nebbiolo grapes of this complex and balanced wine come from vineyards with the Castelletto MGA. A traditional single-vineyard Barolo made from older grapes in the Gramolere MGA, full-bodied and well-structured with excellent aging potential A just-released special edition Barolo from the 2009 vintage, offering depth, structure and elegance, celebrating the winery's 100th anniversary A delicate, juicy red wine from a new vineyard planted in 2020 Barolo village road sign, Piedmont, Italy Before visiting any winery, check its website for its offerings, opening hours, and cost. It is always prudent to make reservations in advance. These wineries are proud of their history and heritage and are happy to share their stories with visitors. Located close to the center of the village of Barolo, this family-owned winery was established in 1972 by Aldo Vajra, who inherited parcels of land from his grandfather. The estate emphasizes sustainability and focuses on the unique characteristics of its Barolo Cru vineyards. The winery offers tastings and guided tours. Considered one of the region's oldest wineries, Coppo cellars date back to 1892. Located in Canelli in Monferrato, the winery's tours and tastings offer valuable insights into Piedmont grape varieties, vineyard management and winemaking methods. The cellars (known as 'Underground Cathedrals') include 5000 square meters of tunnels with vaulted ceilings and natural Canelli tufa rock that are recognized as part of the Piedmont UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ceretto, based in Alba, is considered a leader in the single-vineyard Barolo movement. Known for its commitment to sustainability, it has implemented various organic and biodynamic practices in its vineyards. The winery offers private tours, Cru tastings of Barolo and Barbaresco, and vertical tastings. Located in the village of La Morra, about 9 miles from Alba, Renato Ratti offers guided tours of the cellars, special visits, and Barolo tastings. The property rents rooms and suites in the family estate at Costigliole d'Asti in the Monferrato hills, with a restaurant and wellness area. The winery plans to open a museum in 2025. This fifth-generation family-owned winery is located in Alba's historical center, built on the city's 2000-year-old walls. The vineyards are in multiple communes in the Barolo and Barbaresco appellations. Tours and tastings are by appointment. Information about the Langhe Hills from the Italian Tourist Board
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
New statues at St. Dominic's Church symbolize new life and hope
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) — A painful memory for one Brooklyn parish has turned into a moment of renewal. Religious statues destroyed outside St. Dominic's Church in Bensonhurst have now been beautifully rebuilt. Cellphone video from a neighbor captured the dramatic moment a man destroyed the statues of Pope Saint John XXIII and Mother Teresa outside St. Dominic Roman Catholic Church in Bensonhurst. But on Wednesday, the scene was very different as two newly restored figures stood in their place. More Local News Church members Barbera and Immacolata visited the site and were pleasantly surprised to see the newly refinished statues for the first time. Barbera said, 'People have to be sick to do something like that.' Immacolata added, 'They did a beautiful job, we're happy to see it back in place but I just hope that nobody disturbs it again.' After nearly a year, the statues now stand proudly in their original spots, thanks to the support and donations from parishioners and the local community. Police quickly arrested a man who was also accused of breaking the church's glass doors during the same rampage. The old statues were made of fiberglass and broke very easily, but the new ones are bronze and weatherproof so they will last for many years. Deacon Anthony Mammoliti said, 'Good always triumphs over evil.' He spoke about how meaningful it was to have the statues return during this important season for the Church, saying the timing made their restoration even more special. 'We are in the Easter season, and it's so fitting that the Easter season reminds us of new life, resurrection,' Deacon Anthony said. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State He explained that the statues are now a strong symbol for the community, especially as the Church picks a new pope. 'These beautiful statues have been resurrected to a certain extent as a constant reminder that the love of Christ is present here at St. Dominic's Church,' he said. 'It's also fitting that as we come to elect our new Pope, this statue is very symbolic.' Many months after a neighbor's cellphone video captured the destruction, the site now tells a different story, with the new statues standing proudly for everyone to see. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
