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Hollywood stars descend on Morocco for Marrakech Film Festival

Hollywood stars descend on Morocco for Marrakech Film Festival
Prince Moulay Rachid of Morocco welcomes actress Vanessa Kirby ahead of the Royal Dinner during the 19th Marrakech International Film Festival, Marrakech, Morocco, Nov. 12, 2022. (Getty Images)
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Updated 13 November 2022
Arab News

Hollywood stars descend on Morocco for Marrakech Film Festival

Hollywood stars descend on Morocco for Marrakech Film Festival
  • French-Algerian actor Tahar Rahim, British star Vanessa Kirby and France’s Marion Cotillard all hit the red carpet and attended a gala dinner
  • Artistic director Rene Bonhomme: It is a source of pride to be able to host a festival of this size, with all the talents coming from all over the world to meet the public of Marrakech
Updated 13 November 2022
Arab News

DUBAI: Hollywood arrived in Morocco this week as actors assembled for the Marrakech Film Festival.

French-Algerian actor Tahar Rahim, British star Vanessa Kirby and France’s Marion Cotillard all hit the red carpet and attended a gala dinner.




Vanessa Kirby attends the Tribute to James Gray during the 19th Marrakech International Film Festival, Marrakech, Morocco, Nov. 12, 2022. (Getty Images)

The event, which is being held at the Palais des Congres, runs until Nov. 19 and features a diverse lineup of films from across the world.

Saturday’s stars did not fail to deliver when it came to fashion. Cotillard showed off a pinstripe number by Chanel, while German-American actor Diane Kruger opted for a glamorous evening gown by Givenchy. 

Belgian-French star Virginie Efira showed off a draped gown by Saint Laurent, which hailed from the label’s Spring/Summer 2023 collection. 




Diane Kruger attends the Tribute to James Gray during the 19th Marrakech International Film Festival, Marrakech, Morocco, Nov. 12, 2022. (Getty Images)

Rene Bonhomme, artistic director of the festival, told Arab News: “It is a source of pride to be able to host a festival of this size, with all the talents coming from all over the world to meet the public of Marrakech.

“It is an extraordinary chance to see talent of this scale, one of the few opportunities in the region, and to meet the big names of the cinema industry.”

Topics: Marrakech Film Festival Vanessa Kirby Diane Kruger

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Travis Scott, Calvin Harris hit the Formula 1 stage in Jeddah

Travis Scott, Calvin Harris hit the Formula 1 stage in Jeddah
Updated 20 March 2023
Arab News

Travis Scott, Calvin Harris hit the Formula 1 stage in Jeddah

Travis Scott, Calvin Harris hit the Formula 1 stage in Jeddah
Updated 20 March 2023
Arab News

JEDDAH: US rapper Travis Scott and Scottish DJ Calvin Harris took to the stage at MDLBEAST’s after-race concert at the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah on Sunday night, just after  Egyptian star Ahmed Saad performed a number of his hits.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by MDLBEAST (@mdlbeast)

Harris performed a number of his chart-topping hits, including “Feels So Close” and “This Is What You Came For,” which features vocals by US singer Rihanna.

Travis Scott got the audience jumping to such crowd-pleasers as “Goosebumps” and “Sicko Mode.”

Travis Scott performed in Jeddah. (Supplied)

US singer Charlie Puth and supergroup Swedish House Mafia performed at the event on Saturday night.

“Light Switch” singer Puth took to the stage with a number of hits from his stellar repertoire — including “One Call Away” — as members of the packed-out crowd held up banners calling for the star’s attention — a play on his chart-topping song “Attention.”

Meanwhile, “Don’t You Worry Child” EDM artists Swedish House Mafia had the crowd bouncing to their anthemic dance music.

Topics: Saudi Arabia Travis Scott Calvin Harris MDLBeast

Charlie Puth, Swedish House Mafia light up Formula 1 concert in Jeddah

Charlie Puth, Swedish House Mafia light up Formula 1 concert in Jeddah
Updated 19 March 2023
Arab News

Charlie Puth, Swedish House Mafia light up Formula 1 concert in Jeddah

Charlie Puth, Swedish House Mafia light up Formula 1 concert in Jeddah
Updated 19 March 2023
Arab News

DUBAI: US singer Charlie Puth and supergroup Swedish House Mafia performed at MDLBEAST’s after-race concert series at the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah on Saturday night.

“Light Switch” singer Puth took to the stage with a number of hits from his stellar repertoire — including “One Call Away” — as members of the packed-out crowd held up banners calling for the star’s attention — a play on his chart-topping song “Attention.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by MDLBEAST (@mdlbeast)

Meanwhile, “Don’t You Worry Child” EDM artists Swedish House Mafia had the crowd bouncing to their anthemic dance music.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by MDLBEAST (@mdlbeast)

Saudi Arabia-based DJ Sharkk also performed on March 18 during the event at Jeddah Corniche.

Topics: Saudi Arabia Charlie Puth MDLBeast

Will Smith jets to Saudi Arabia to attend AlUla Camel Cup 

Will Smith jets to Saudi Arabia to attend AlUla Camel Cup 
Updated 18 March 2023
Arab News

Will Smith jets to Saudi Arabia to attend AlUla Camel Cup 

Will Smith jets to Saudi Arabia to attend AlUla Camel Cup 
Updated 18 March 2023
Arab News

DUBAI: Hollywood actor Will Smith was spotted in Saudi Arabia this week attending the inaugural AlUla Camel Cup. 

The star was spotted watching the race with Grammy-winning record producer Swizz Beatz, the first American to own a camel racing team in the Kingdom. 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Swizz Beatz (@therealswizzz)

 

Smith was snapped with Beatz who attended the race to watch competitors from his Saudi Bronx team in action at the venue.

In the series of pictures posted on Saudi Bronx’s Instagram, Smith and Beatz were seen sipping Arabic coffee, which is an essential in Saudi culture.

“Today at the first annual Alula Camel Cup, I had some surprise guest that came to support my team,” Beatz captioned his posts with Smith on Instagram. 

Topics: Will Smith AlUla Camel Cup

Netflix season two trailer of Georgina Rodriguez’s documentary features glimpses of Dubai

Netflix season two trailer of Georgina Rodriguez’s documentary features glimpses of Dubai
Updated 16 March 2023
Arab News

Netflix season two trailer of Georgina Rodriguez’s documentary features glimpses of Dubai

Netflix season two trailer of Georgina Rodriguez’s documentary features glimpses of Dubai
  • Riyadh-based Argentinian model recalls painful loss of baby boy
  • Trailers share glimpses of Rodriguez’s 28th birthday in Dubai, interaction with Palestinian-Dutch supermodel Bella Hadid
Updated 16 March 2023
Arab News

LONDON: Argentinian model Georgina Rodriguez’s hit Netflix documentary “I am Georgina” is set to return to screens on March 24.

 

The trailer for season two was released on Wednesday, revealing a more up close and personal look behind the seemingly glamorous life of the 29-year-old influencer.

In the opening of the trailer, she said: “Over 40 million people follow me. But no one really knows how I feel.”

Rodriguez recalls the loss of her and Saudi Arabia-based footballer Cristiano Ronaldo’s baby boy, who died during childbirth in April.

“This year I had the best and the worst moment of my life in an instant. Life is hard. Life goes on. I have reasons to move on and be strong,” she added.

Rodriguez noted that partner Ronaldo had encouraged her to strive forward through life, and said her family was now her priority.

The trailer also shared a glimpse from the Riyadh-based celebrity’s 28th birthday in Dubai, when Ronaldo lit up the famous Burj Khalifa tower with clips from Rodriguez’s Netflix show.

Among shots of her with friends, family, and colleagues, were images of her posing alongside Palestinian-Dutch supermodel Bella Hadid. 

 

In January, Rodriguez posted on Instagram that she was, “back on the pitch. #SoyGeorgina: MARCH 2023,” a subtle nod to Ronaldo’s recent move to Saudi football club Al-Nassr.

Topics: Georgina Rodriguez Netflix

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REVIEW: ‘Luther: The Fallen Sun’ — Idris Elba’s antihero faces his toughest foe yet 

REVIEW: ‘Luther: The Fallen Sun’ — Idris Elba’s antihero faces his toughest foe yet 
Updated 16 March 2023
Adam Grundey

REVIEW: ‘Luther: The Fallen Sun’ — Idris Elba’s antihero faces his toughest foe yet 

REVIEW: ‘Luther: The Fallen Sun’ — Idris Elba’s antihero faces his toughest foe yet 
Updated 16 March 2023
Adam Grundey

DUBAI: This feature-length crime thriller follows on from the acclaimed TV series starring Idris Elba as detective John Luther, a man who doesn’t just not go by the book, but tears the pages out and sets it on fire — probably after beating a suspect senseless with it. Like the show, this new film, directed by Jamie Payne, gets pretty silly at times, pushing even the most zealous fan’s ability to suspend incredulity, but the power and charisma of Elba’s performance is generally enough to keep it on track. 

Andy Serkis in 'Luther - The Fallen Sun.' (Supplied)

Luther is tracking a serial killer (played with convincing unhinged creepiness by Andy Serkis) who has spent years building up a backlog of hundreds of people’s dirty secrets through online digging. He then uses that information to blackmail them into doing his bidding. Concerned that Luther is getting too close to finding him after his latest abduction, the killer unearths some of the many illegal acts Luther has committed in the line of duty, resulting in his removal from the force and imprisonment. Luther, of course, escapes in order to pursue the villain, with some help from his old boss and while himself being hunted by the police, including his replacement, the straight-edged DCI Odette Raine (Cynthia Erivo).  

His pursuit of the killer leads Luther through the dark, wet streets of London (given a definite Gotham City vibe here by Payne) to the frozen vistas of Estonia (where the killer plans to livestream his latest atrocities) via a whole lot of pain.  

Payne paces the whole thing well, and puts the bigger budget to good effect, with some gripping set pieces — particularly a grim showdown in Piccadilly Circus when the killer’s voyeuristic nature allows the police, and Luther, to catch up with him. The climax is genuinely uncomfortable viewing, with the killer demanding Luther and Raine turn on each other for the entertainment of his audience. 

Elba has long been touted as a potential James Bond, and this will likely boost those claims, as it contains many Bond-like elements (and similarities to the BBC’s “Sherlock”). It’s a gripping watch, marred only slightly by a too-calculated Hollywood ending that shamelessly sets up a sequel. If that matches the overall quality of this, though, no one will be complaining. 

Topics: Luther: The Fallen Sun Idris Elba

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