According to the BBC, the Irish government is taking measures to crack down on internet piracy, in a move that could see offenders banned from the web for a year.
Eircom, the nation's largest Internet Service Provider, has begun writing to those guilty of illegal file-sharing - with specific emphasis on those who share rather than simply download copyrighted material - requesting that they cease doing so, which will then be followed by further warnings if necessary. If after four warnings the individual is still persisting with illegal activities, they will be cut off for a year.
The BBC writes:
"It is the first nation to implement such a system. France is also planning to introduce a similar policy. UK watchdog Ofcom is due to publish its code of conduct for how UK ISPs should deal with net pirates later this week."
Read more here.
Wednesday, 26 May 2010
Tuesday, 25 May 2010
Iranian director Panahi released on bail
Jafar Panahi, the acclaimed Iranian director imprisoned for more than two months by his government, has been released on bail today. The director had been on hunger strike for over a week in protest at his arrest and subsequent incarceration.
A vocal critic of the Iranian regime, Panahi’s films portray everyday life in Iran, paying special attention to its women and their struggles in the conservative Islamic state. He is a previous recipient of the Camera d’Or at Cannes (for The White Balloon) and was invited to sit on the jury at this year’s festival. Instead, he was a symbolic guest of honour, and his detainment was criticised by award-winning actress Juliette Binoche in her acceptance speech at the festival’s closing ceremony.
According to the Iranian Culture Minister Mohammad Hosseini, Panahi was arrested for directing an “anti-regime” film about the disputed election result last year that saw President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reinstated under a cloud of controversy. He is one of thousands to have been detained as a result of the protests that followed, and although most have since been freed, a number were sentenced to lengthy prison spells, whilst two of those put on trial were executed.
A vocal critic of the Iranian regime, Panahi’s films portray everyday life in Iran, paying special attention to its women and their struggles in the conservative Islamic state. He is a previous recipient of the Camera d’Or at Cannes (for The White Balloon) and was invited to sit on the jury at this year’s festival. Instead, he was a symbolic guest of honour, and his detainment was criticised by award-winning actress Juliette Binoche in her acceptance speech at the festival’s closing ceremony.
According to the Iranian Culture Minister Mohammad Hosseini, Panahi was arrested for directing an “anti-regime” film about the disputed election result last year that saw President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reinstated under a cloud of controversy. He is one of thousands to have been detained as a result of the protests that followed, and although most have since been freed, a number were sentenced to lengthy prison spells, whilst two of those put on trial were executed.
Monday, 24 May 2010
BBC4's night at the opera
The Opera Italia series kicks off on BBC4 tonight at 9pm with Beginnings, followed next week by Viva Verdi, and Flavia Rittner is responsible for directing both episodes.
The programme sees Antonio Pappano, Music Director of The Royal Opera, trace the history of Italian opera, and explore the central role it plays in the country's history and culture. For more info, click here.
The programme sees Antonio Pappano, Music Director of The Royal Opera, trace the history of Italian opera, and explore the central role it plays in the country's history and culture. For more info, click here.
A look at Longinotto's career in C21Media
C21Media recently published an article focussing on the career of acclaimed British filmmaker Kim Longinotto, chronicling her work so far and speaking to the director about her past and present projects.
Longinotto’s films, which include Rough Aunties and The Day I Will Never Forget, are renowned for speaking out about women’s issues across the globe, and latest documentary Pink Saris, which centres on a group of female vigilantes looking to bring greater social justice to India, is a good example of this.
The director spoke to C21Media about what attracted her to this project, how she is developing as a filmmaker and how she believes a director’s gender is having less influence on the films they make.
""Men are starting to make very sensitive, very beautiful films and women - like, say, Kathryn Bigelow - are making manly films. So maybe that question of gender is gradually becoming obsolete."
To read more, click here.
Longinotto’s films, which include Rough Aunties and The Day I Will Never Forget, are renowned for speaking out about women’s issues across the globe, and latest documentary Pink Saris, which centres on a group of female vigilantes looking to bring greater social justice to India, is a good example of this.
The director spoke to C21Media about what attracted her to this project, how she is developing as a filmmaker and how she believes a director’s gender is having less influence on the films they make.
""Men are starting to make very sensitive, very beautiful films and women - like, say, Kathryn Bigelow - are making manly films. So maybe that question of gender is gradually becoming obsolete."
To read more, click here.
Catch The Curse of the Hope Diamond tonight
The Curse of the Hope Diamond, which was directed by Mark Radice, is to be broadcast tonight at 8pm on Channel 4.
Filmed in Europe, India and the US, the documentary tells the story of the largest blue diamond in the world: its history, owners and infamous curse - and its mysterious physical properties, which include a red glow that has baffled scientists for decades.
For more info, click here. If you're a Directors UK member and would like to tell us about your recent project, why not get in touch?
Filmed in Europe, India and the US, the documentary tells the story of the largest blue diamond in the world: its history, owners and infamous curse - and its mysterious physical properties, which include a red glow that has baffled scientists for decades.
For more info, click here. If you're a Directors UK member and would like to tell us about your recent project, why not get in touch?
Thai film surprise recipient of 2010 Palme d’Or
Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives was the winner of this year’s Palme d’Or – the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival – beating the favourite Another Year by British director Mike Leigh.
Uncle Boonmee..., directed by Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul, is a supernatural drama which tells the story of a dying man visited by his deceased wife and missing son, who has taken the form of an ape.
Weerasethakul’s film had received mostly positive reviews, but was seen as an outsider to former Palme d’Or winner Leigh’s latest feature. Another Year, featuring long-time Leigh collaborators Jim Broadbent and Lesley Manville, was similarly lauded by Cannes’ critics, but lost out to the esteemed Thai director.
For all the other winners, please click here.
Uncle Boonmee..., directed by Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul, is a supernatural drama which tells the story of a dying man visited by his deceased wife and missing son, who has taken the form of an ape.
Weerasethakul’s film had received mostly positive reviews, but was seen as an outsider to former Palme d’Or winner Leigh’s latest feature. Another Year, featuring long-time Leigh collaborators Jim Broadbent and Lesley Manville, was similarly lauded by Cannes’ critics, but lost out to the esteemed Thai director.
For all the other winners, please click here.
Martin wins with Mo and Forbes for The Force at the BAFTA Craft Awards
Directors Philip Martin and Patrick Forbes were celebrating last night, after triumphing at the prestigious BAFTA Television Craft Awards in London.
Martin was awarded Best Director (Fiction) for his work on Mo, the acclaimed drama starring Julie Walters as the late Mo Mowlam. He prevailed in a strong category that also featured James Hawes, for his work on Enid, Yann Demange, who was nominated for the second series of Criminal Justice, and Wallander director Aisling Walsh.
In Factual, Forbes secured the BAFTA for his direction on The Force, a three-part documentary on modern policing. Forbes beat off tough competition in his category too, with Nick Read (The Slumdog Children of Mumbai), Dan Reed (Dispatches: Terror in Mumbai) and Annabel Gillings (How the Earth Made Us: Water) also nominated.
Directors UK would like to congratulate all the winners and nominees at this year’s BAFTA Television Craft Awards. For a full list of winners, click here.
Martin was awarded Best Director (Fiction) for his work on Mo, the acclaimed drama starring Julie Walters as the late Mo Mowlam. He prevailed in a strong category that also featured James Hawes, for his work on Enid, Yann Demange, who was nominated for the second series of Criminal Justice, and Wallander director Aisling Walsh.
In Factual, Forbes secured the BAFTA for his direction on The Force, a three-part documentary on modern policing. Forbes beat off tough competition in his category too, with Nick Read (The Slumdog Children of Mumbai), Dan Reed (Dispatches: Terror in Mumbai) and Annabel Gillings (How the Earth Made Us: Water) also nominated.
Directors UK would like to congratulate all the winners and nominees at this year’s BAFTA Television Craft Awards. For a full list of winners, click here.
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