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Kamis, 25 Juli 2019

Kamala the cop calls Trump efforts to free imprisoned rapper 'abuse of power' - Washington Examiner

Presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris opposes President Trump’s efforts to free rapper A$AP Rocky, who has been in a Swedish prison since July 2 following a violent altercation in Stockholm.

Because if there is one thing the California senator is passionate about, it is putting (and keeping) people in prison. Automatic incarceration for any and all infractions is kind of her bag.

The senator said this week that Trump’s efforts to get Swedish authorities to release the Harlem-born rapper, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, constitute an “abuse of power.”

"There is no question that this White House is being — has been playing politics with his — his role of leadership, and it has to end," Harris said Wednesday during the annual NAACP conference in Detroit, segueing awkwardly into something about how she would "prosecute the case" against Trump.

The moderator, American Urban Radio Networks' April Ryan, who conducted the softest of softball interviews, pressed the senator on whether she believes the president’s efforts to secure A$AP Rocky’s release is a misuse of power.

Harris replied in the affirmative.

The president has taken steps to address the Grammy-nominated artist’s situation after it was brought to his attention first by Kanye West and Kim Kardashian West.

“I personally don’t know A$AP Rocky, but I can tell you that he has tremendous support from the African American community in this country,” Trump said last week. “And when I say African American, I think I can really say from everybody in this country, because we’re all one.”

The president added later in a tweet that he had "a very good call with [Swedish Prime Minister] Stefan Löfven who assured me that American citizen A$AP Rocky will be treated fairly."

Along with speaking directly to the prime minister about the rapper’s case, the White House also sent a State Department official to Sweden to lobby on A$AP Rocky’s behalf.

This is apparently a bridge too far for Harris, who may or may not actually know the details of the White House’s involvement in the A$AP Rocky case and instead spouted off with a reflexively anti-Trump position.

"So you’re saying this is another piece on the rap sheet of Donald Trump, this misuse of power in the A$AP Rocky case?" asked Ryan, who playacts as a serious, no-nonsense journalist when she appears at White House press briefings.

"Yes," said the senator.

For whatever reason, Harris and Ryan later chanted together:

"Alright, say it loud," the alleged straight-news journalist instructed the senator.

"Yes," said Harris, adding, "And I’m black and I’m proud!"

"Wait, say that again. I didn’t hear you. What did you say?" asked Ryan.

"Say it loud, I’m black and I’m proud!" the senator shouted.

On Thursday, a Swedish prosecutor charged A$AP Rocky with assault for the June 30 incident in Stockholm, according to the Associated Press.

Charges were filed against the rapper and two additional individuals “suspected of assault causing actual bodily harm, having come to the conclusion that the events in question constitute a crime and despite claims of self-defense and provocation,” prosecutor Daniel Suneson said in a statement.

A$AP Rocky and the two other suspects, who are described as being members of his entourage, face a maximum of two years in prison.

They “will remain in custody until trial,” the Associated Press reports.

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https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/kamala-the-cop-calls-trump-efforts-to-free-rapper-a-ap-rocky-from-foreign-prison-an-abuse-of-power

2019-07-25 13:30:00Z
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Tarantino Movie Aims to Tap a Bygone Era—and Formula for Success - The Wall Street Journal

The movie, from Sony Pictures Entertainment, stars, from left, Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio and Al... — The movie, from Sony Pictures Entertainment, stars, from left, Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio and Al Pacino. Photo: Andrew Cooper/Associated Press

R.T. Watson

Updated July 25, 2019 10:26 am ET

LOS ANGELES—Quentin Tarantino’s new movie “Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood” will have to do a lot more than summon the sizzle of 1960s Los Angeles if it is going to buck recent moviegoing trends. It will have to defy a harsh box-office reality.

With the summer movie season once again dominated by comic-book franchises, remakes and sequels, Mr. Tarantino’s $100 million love letter to Hollywood recalls a different time, when big-budgeted, R-rated dramas brandishing A-list movie stars stood a decent chance of turning a profit.

When Sony Corp. ’s Sony Pictures Entertainment releases “Hollywood” this Friday, it won’t have recent history on its side. The movie is expected to take in around $30 million during its first weekend in the U.S. and Canada, a lukewarm start for a project that once had studios competing for the chance to make it.

Despite stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt, and Mr. Tarantino’s penchant for cinematic showmanship, the film is an anomaly today, a 161-minute movie based on an original concept and marketed primarily to adults. Mr. DiCaprio plays a has-been star of westerns who, with his best friend (Mr. Pitt), navigates a changing Hollywood and a Los Angeles taken over by hippies and the mysterious Manson Family cult.

The Tarantino movie features scenes with actors portraying high-profile figures of the time, like Bruce Lee and Steve McQueen, and draws inspiration from the film industry during the ’60s, an era when westerns and gritty dramas were able to rank among the most commercially successful films.

Unlike in the heady days of 1969, the year when “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” was No. 1 at the box office and when “Hollywood” is set, the marketplace today is crowded with family-friendly films and franchises based on existing characters and stories. “Hollywood” is the only big-budget summer release that isn’t based on a comic book or existing franchise.

The movie’s biggest challenge will be persuading adults, who are increasingly likely to stream R-rated content at home, to go to the movie theater. Since 2016, only one R-rated drama, “A Star Is Born,” has ranked among the year’s 20 most-successful theatrical releases.

Big studios eager to land Mr. Tarantino’s next film began wooing him in 2017. AT&T Inc. ’s Warner Bros. had 1960s vintage cars parked on the studio lot when the director came for his meeting. Ultimately, though, the studio decided “Hollywood” was too costly a bet, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Sony won the movie, agreeing to Mr. Tarantino’s request for a $100 million budget. Besides some middling returns with lower-budget thrillers like “Escape Room” and “The Intruder,” the studio has managed only one hit this year, “Spider-Man: Far From Home,” which has grossed $320 million domestically. Sony’s other big summer sequel, “Men in Black International,” flopped despite costing $110 million.

Sony gave Mr. Tarantino a long leash, even agreeing to let him film in Hollywood, an unlikely location. Filming in Los Angeles, while key to the movie’s story, breaks with recent norms. Feature-film productions have fled California in search of savings as generous tax-subsidy programs have grown in Georgia and the U.K. The California state tax credit that “Hollywood” received brought the budget down to about $90 million.

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The movie’s filming took over Los Angeles in a way that hasn’t been seen since the tax-credit exodus. Background actors in bouffant hairstyles sat in idling retro cars on the freeway, waiting for Mr. Tarantino to begin shooting. The production even shut down a portion of the 101 Freeway the afternoon of the 2018 midterm elections.

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With so many streaming services available at home, how likely are you to go to the theater to watch an adult drama?

A $30 million debut would put “Hollywood” slightly behind Mr. Tarantino’s previous summer release, 2009’s “Inglourious Basterds,” which opened with $38.1 million before going on to make a respectable $120.5 million in the U.S. and Canada.

Mr. Tarantino’s highest-grossing film, “Django Unchained,” starred Mr. DiCaprio, and his second-highest, “Inglourious Basterds,” featured Mr. Pitt. Those two, and the cult classic “Pulp Fiction,” are the only three of his films to surpass $100 million at the domestic box office.

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https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-tarantino-movie-aims-to-tap-bygone-hollywood-eraand-box-office-11564062896

2019-07-25 14:26:00Z
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A$AP Rocky Charged With Assault in Sweden - The Root

Rakim Mayers, aka A$AP Rocky, arrives at the Gucci Cruise 2020 on May 28, 2019 in Rome, Italy.

A$AP Rocky, born Rakim Mayers, has been charged in connection with the June confrontation in Stockholm, Sweden.

According to CNN, prosecutors charged the 30-year-old rapper with assault. Two other men involved in the confrontation also remain in custody and have been charged with assault, as well.

Prosecutor Daniel Suneson alleges the three men assaulted a man by “kicking and beating him with a whole or part of a glass bottle,” CNN reports via court documents. While two people were ultimately injured, charges in relation to the other person were dropped due to insufficient evidence.

“We think it was self-defense, but the prosecutor has chosen to go with the injured party’s version,” A$AP’s attorney Slobodan Jovicic said, maintaining his client’s innocence and noting he is “very disappointed” at the recent decision.

A$AP has been in custody since July 3. While A$AP remains in custody, the man who the rapper claims to be the aggressor was recently released and is now free.

“It is worth noting that I have had access to a greater amount of material than that which has previously been available on the internet. In addition to video material, the injured party’s statements have been supported by witness statements,” Suneson noted, referring to the videos shared on Instagram.

Commander-In-Carrot—also known as Donald Trump—unsuccessfully attempted to save the day by discussing the matter with the prime minister of Sweden, Stefan Löfven.

However, as prosecutors have noted, the country doesn’t have a bail system in place. Plus, Sweden is an independent nation, thus even the prime minister wouldn’t be able to step in and get involved.

Ouch.

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2019-07-25 12:39:00Z
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Venice Film Festival 2019 Lineup: Polanski, ‘Joker’, ‘The Laundromat’, ‘Ad Astra’, ‘Marriage Story’ In Competition – Full List - Deadline

UPDATE: Much of the Venice Film Festival’s 2019 competition field, which was announced this morning in Rome, lines up as expected with Warner Bros/DC origns story Joker; Fox/Disney’s Brad Pitt space drama Ad Astra; Steven Soderbergh’s starry Netflix dark comedy, The Laundromat; and Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story from Amazon making the cut to begin potential awards-season runs.

Kristen Stewart drama Seberg (formerly Against All Enemies) is also an official selection entry, though in something of a surprise is taking an out-of-competition slot. Other intriguing titles include Haifaa Al-Mansour’s The Perfect Candidate (she is one of just two female filmmakers in the competition); Olivier Assayas’ Wasp Network, a thriller with Penelope Cruz and Edgar Ramirez; and Pablo Larrain’s Ema.

Fest chief Alberto Barbera is already facing criticism from European Cinema groups over the inclusion of three Netflix titles. He’s also likely to stir further debate over the light showing for female filmmakers; and the choice of An Officer And A Spy (J’Accuse), the latest film by Roman Polanski, a highly controversial figure in the #MeToo era.

We’ll be back with a deeper analysis of the titles announced this morning. See the full list across all sections below the original post.

PREVIOUS, 1:45AM PT: The Venice Film Festival is unveiling its lineup for the 76th edition of the event this morning in Rome. The world’s oldest film festival has in recent years cemented its status as the go-to fall launchpad for awards hopefuls, including hosting three of the last five Best Picture Oscar winners. Fest chief Alberto Barbera will run down the roster in the next hour, so check back for updates as we post the titles live below.

Speculation has been swirling for several weeks and with the bulk of the Toronto lineup revealed, films now strongly tipped to make their world premieres on the Lido include such big-ticket titles as Warner Bros/DC’s Joker starring Joaquin Phoenix; Fox/Disney’s space drama Ad Astra with Brad Pitt; Kristen Stewart-starrer Seberg (formerly known as Against All Enemies) from Amazon; Steven Soderbergh’s politically charged dark comedy The Laundromat with Meryl Streep and Gary Oldman; and Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story with Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver. The latter two films are from Netflix which is expected to have a strong presence. Last year’s Golden Lion winner, Alfonso Cuaron’s Roma — also a Netflix title — kicked off its awards season run on the Lido.

Zama helmer Lucrecia Martel is President of the jury, and folks will be keen to see if the gender imbalance in films from female directors is in any way corrected this year. The fest runs from August 28-September 7, bookended by opener The Truth from Hirokazu Kore-eda and closer Giuseppe Capotondi’s The Burnt Orange Heresy. See below for the official selection of films as they are announced today.

VENEZIA 76 COMPETITION
The Truth, dir: Hirokazu Kore-eda
The Perfect Candidate, Haifaa Al Mansour
About Endlessness, dir: Roy Andersson
Wasp Network, dir: Olivier Assayas
Marriage Story, dir: Noah Baumbach
Guest Of Honor, dir: Atom Egoyan
Ad Astra, dir: James Gray
A Herdade, dir: Tiago Guedes
Gloria Mundi, dir: Robert Guediguian
Waiting For The Barbarians, dir: Ciro Guerra
Ema, dir: Pablo Larrain
Saturday Fiction, dir: Lou Ye
Martin Eden, dir: Pietro Marcello
La Mafia Non E Piu Quella Di Una Volta, dir: Franco Maresco
The Painted Bird, dir: Vaclav Marhoul
The Mayor Of Rione Sanita, dir: Mario Martone
Babyteeth, dir: Shannon Murphy
Joker, dir: Todd Phillips
J’Accuse, dir: Roman Polanski
The Laundromat, dir: Steven Soderbergh
No. 7 Cherry Lane, dir: Yonfan

OUT OF COMPETITION – FICTION
Seberg, dir: Benedict Andrews
Vivere, dir: Francesco Archibugi
The Burnt Orange Heresy, dir: Giuseppe Capotondi
The King, dir: David Michod
Adults In The Room, dir: Costa Gavras
Mosul, dir: Matthew Michael Carnahan
Tutto Il Mio Folle Amore, dir: Gabriele Salvatores

OUT OF COMPETITION – SPECIAL SCREENINGS
No One Left Behind, dir: Guillermo Arriaga
Electric Swan, dir: Konstantina Kotzamani
Irreversible – Integral Verson, dir: Gaspar Noe
ZeroZeroZero, dir: Stefano Sollima
The New Pope, dir: Paolo Sorrentino
Never Just A Dream: Stanley Kubrick And Eyes Wide Shut, dir: Matt Wells
Eyes Wide Shut, dir: Stanley Kubrick

OUT OF COMPETITION – NON-FICTION
Woman, dirs.: Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Anastasia Mikova
Roger Waters Us + Them, dir: Sean Evans, Roger Waters
I Diari Di Angela – Noi Due Cineaste. Capitolo Secondo, dirs: Yervant Gianikian, Angela Ricci Lucchi
Citizen K, dir: Alex Gibney
Citizen Rosi, dirs: Didi Gnocchi, Carolina Rosi
The Kingmaker, dir: Lauren Greenfield
State Funeral, dir: Sergei Loznitsa
Collective, dir: Alexander Nanau
45 Seconds Of Laughter, dir: Tim Robbins
Il Pianeta In Mare, dir: Andrea Segre

HORIZONS
Zumiriki, dir: Osker Alegria
Blanco En Blanco, dir: Theo Court
Mes Jours De Gloire, dir: Antoine De Bary
Pelican Blood, dir: Katrin Gebbe
Un Fils, dir: Mehdi M Barsaoui
Nevia, dir: Nunzia De Stefano
Moffie, dir: Oliver Hermanus
Hava, Maryam, Ayesha, dir: Sahraa Karimi
Rialto, dir: Peter Mackie Burns
The Criminal Man, dir: Dmitry Mamuliya
Revenir, dir: Jessica Palud
Giants Being Lonely, dir: Grear Patterson
Verdict, dir: Raymund Ribay Gutierrez
Balloon, dir: Pema Tseden
Just 6.5, dir: Saeed Roustaee
Shadow Of Water, dir: Sanal Kumar
Sole, dir: Carlo Sironi
Atlantis, dir: Valentyn Vasyanovych
Madre, dir: Rodrigo Sorogoyen

SPECIAL EVENT
Goodbye Dragon Inn, dir: Tsai Ming-Liang

SCONFINI
Effeto Domino, dir: Alessandro Rossetto
Once More Unto The Breach, dirs: Federico Ferrone, Michele Manzolini
The Scarecrows, dir: Nouri Bouzid
Chiara Ferragni – Unposted, dir: Elisa Amoruso

VENICE CLASSICS
The Incredible Shrinking Man, dir: Jack Arnold
The Grim Reaper, dir: Bernardo Bertolucci
The Spider’s Strategem, dir: Bernardo Bertolucci
The Criminal Life Of Archibaldo De La Cruz, dir: Luis Bunuel
The Crossing Of The Rhine, dir: André Cayette
Maria Zef, dir Vittorio Cottafavi
Crash, dir: David Cronenberg
Francisca, dir: Manoeul De Oliveira
The House Is Black, dir: Forough Farrokhzad
The White Sheik, dir: Federico Fellini
Current, dir: Istvan Gaal
The Hills Of Marlik, dir: Ebrahim Golestan
Death Of A Bureaucrat, dir: Tomas Gutierrez Alea
Out Of The Blue, dir: Dennis Hopper
Ecstasy, dir: Gustav Machaty
Mauri, dir: Merata Mita
Pigeon Shoot, dir: Giuliano Montaldo
New York, New York, dir: Martin Scorsese
The Red Snowball Tree, dir: Vasiliy Shukshin
Way Of A Gaucho, dir: Jacques Tourneur

VENICE VIRTUAL REALITY (In competition – Interactive)
These Sleepless Nights, dir: Gabo Arora
Loveseat, dirs: Kiira Benzing, Kevin Laibson
Glimpse (Preview), dirs: Benjamin Cleary, Michael O’Connor
Porton Down, dir: Callum Cooper
Bodyless, dir: Hsin-Chien Huang
Pagan Peak VR, dirs: Ioulia Isserlis, Max Sacker
A Life In Flowers, dir: Armando Kirwin
The Line, dir: Ricardo Laganaro
Inori, dir: Miwa Komatsu
Cosmos Within Us, dir: Tupac Martir
Doctor Who The Edge Of Time, dir: Marcus Moresby
Britannia VR: Out Of Your Mind, dir: Kim-Leigh Pontin
Downloaded, dir: Ollie Rankin
The Key, dir: Celine Tricart

VENICE VIRTUAL REALITY (In competition – Linear)
Battle Hymn, dir: Yair Agmon
Battlescar – Punk Was Invented By Girls, dirs: Martin Allais, Nico Casavecchia
Daughters Of Chibok, dir: Joel Benson
Only the Mountain Remains (5×1 Project), dir: Chiang Wei Liang
Ghost In The Shell: Ghost Chaser, dir: Hirokai Higashi
Passenger, dirs: Isobel Knowles, Van Sowerwine
The Waiting Room VR, dir: Victoria Mappleback
Black Bag, dir: Qing Shao
VR Free, dir: Milad Tangshir
Gloomy Eyes, dirs: Tereso Jorge, Fernando Maldonado
O [5×1 Project], dir: Qiu Yang
Ex Anima Experience, dirs: Pierre Zandrowicz, Bartabas

BIENNALE COLLEGE CINEMA
The End Of Love, dir: Keren Ben Rafael
Lessons Of Love, dir: Chiara Campara
This Is Not A Burial, It’s A Resurrection, dir: Jeremiah Lemonhang Mosese

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https://deadline.com/2019/07/venice-film-festival-2019-lineup-full-list-1202653335/

2019-07-25 11:20:00Z
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Venice 2019 line-up includes 'Joker', 'Ad Astra', Roman Polanski's 'J'Accuse' - Screen International

The line-up of the 76th Venice Film Festival (August 28 – September 7) has been announced.

Scroll down for the full line-up

This year features some high-profile projects including Todd Phillips’ The Joker and James Gray’s Ad Astra, a lack of female directors in competition once again, and the controversial selection of Roman Polanski’s latest film.

Australian titleBabyteeth, from first time director Shannon Murphy, and Saudi filmmaker Haifaa Al-Mansour’s The Perfect Candidate are the two films in the 21-strong competition from female filmmakers. Last year festival chief Alberto Barbera was heavily criticised for including just one women director in competition; Jennifer Kent’s The Nightingale.

An even bigger talking point this however will be the inclusion of Roman Polanski’s J’Accuse, previously titled An Officer And A Spy, based on the novel by Robert Harris and starring Louis Garrel, Jean Dujardin, Mathieu Amalric and Emmanuelle Seigner. Polanski’s well-documented legal problems don’t seem to stopped his films being selected for major European festivals – his previous effort Based On A True Story played out of competition in Cannes in 2017.

On the US side, as expected two high profile Netflix titles made the cut in competition; Steven Soderbergh’s Panama Papers project The Laundromat with Meryl Streep and Gary Oldman, and Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story starring Scarlett Johansson, Laura Dern and Adam Driver. They are joined by James Gray’s Fox sci-fi Ad Astra starring Brad Pitt, also hotly tipped for the festival. Warner Bros are premiering Joker (also selected for Toronto) starring Joaquin Phoenix on the Lido. The same studio debuted A Star Is Born in Venice last year, and have secured a competition berth for their DC Comics drama.

Competition

No. 7 Cherry Lane (HONG KONG)
Dir. Yonfan

The Laundromat (USA)
Dir. Steven Soderbergh

J’Accuse (FRA/ITA)
Dir. Roman Polanski

Joker (USA)
Dir. Todd Phillips

Babyteeth (AUS)
Dir. Shannon Murphy

Marriage Story (USA)
Dir. Noah Baumbach

Il Sindaco Del Rione Sanità (ITA)
Dir. Mario Martone

The Painted Bird (CZE/UKR/SLO)
Dir. Václav Marhoul

La Mafia Non È Più Quella Di Una Volta (ITA)
Dir. Franco Maresco

Martin Eden (ITA/FRA)
Dir. Pietro Marcello

Saturday Fiction (CHI)
Dir. Lou Ye

Ema (CHILE)
Dir. Pablo Larraín

Waiting For The Barbarians (ITA)
Dir. Ciro Guerra

GloriaMundi (FRA/ITA)
Dir. Robert Guéndiguian

Ad Astra (USA)
Dir. James Gray

Guest OfHonour (CAN)
Dir.Atom Egoyan

Wasp Network (FRA/BEL)
Dir. Olivier Assayas

About Endlessness (SWE/GER/NOR)
Dir. Roy Andersson

The Perfect Candidate (SAU/GER)
Dir. Haifaa Al-Mansour

A Herdade (POR/FRA)
Dir. Tiago Guedes

The Truth (JAP/FRA) - OPENING FILM
Dir. Hirokazu Kore-eda

Out Of Competition (fiction)

The King (UK/HUN)
Dir. David Michod

Seberg (USA)
Dir. Benedict Andrews

Vivere (ITA)
Dir. Francesca Archibugi

The Burnt Orange Heresy (USA/ITA) - CLOSING FILM
Dir. Giuseppe Capotondi

Mosul (USA)
Dir. Matthew Michael Carnahan

Adults In The Room (FRA/GRE)
Dir. Costa-Gavras

Tutto Il Mio Folle Amore (ITA)
Dir. Gabriele Salvatores

Out of Competition (non-fiction)

Il Pianeta In Mare (ITA)
Dir. Andrea Segre

Citizen K (UK/USA)
Dir. Alex Gibney

Woman (FRA)
Dir. Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Anastasia Mikova

Roger Waters Us + Them (UK)
Dir. Sean Evans, Roger Waters

I Diari Di Angela - Noi Due Cineasti. Secondo Capitolo. (ITA)
Dir. Yervant Gianikian, Angela Ricci Lucchi

Citizen Rosi (ITA)
Dir. Didi Gnocchi, Carolina Rosi

The Kingmaker (USA)
Dir. Lauren Greenfield

State Funeral (NET/LIT)
Dir. Sergei Loznitsa

Collective (ROM/LUX)
Dir. Alexander Nanau

45 Seconds Of Laughter (USA)
Dir. Tim Robbins

Out of competition (special screenings)

No-One Left Behind (MEX)
Dir. Guillermo Arriaga

Zerozerozero - Episodes 1 & 2 (ITA)
Dir. Stefano Sollima

Electric Swan (FRA/GRE/ARG)
Dir. Konstantina Kotzamani

Irréversible - Inversion Intégrale (FRA)
Dir. Gaspar Noé

The New Pope - Episodes 2 & 7 (ITA/FRA/SPA)
Dir. Paolo Sorrentino

Never Just A Dream: Stanley Kubrick And Eyes Wide Shut (UK)
Dir. Matt Wells

Eyes Wide Shut (USA/UK)
Dir. Stanley Kubrick

Horizons

Zumiriki (ITA)
Dir. Oskar Alegria

Pelican Blood (GER/BUL)
Dir. Katrin Gebbe

Bik Eneich - Un Fils (TUN/FRA/LEB/QAT)
Dir. Mehdi M. Barsaoui

Blanco En Blanco (SPA/CHI/FRA/GER)
Dir. Théo Court

My Days Of Glory (FRA)
Dir. Antoine de Bary

Nevia (ITA)
Dir. Nunzia di Stefano

Moffie (SOUTH AFR)
Dir. Oliver Hermanus

Hava, Maryam, Ayesha (AFG)
Dir. Sahraa Karimi

Rialto (IRE/UK)
Dir. Peter Mackie Burns

The Criminal Man (GEO/RUS)
Dir. Dmitry Mamuliya

Revenir (FRA)
Dir. Jessica Palud

Giants Being Lonely (USA)
Dir. Grear Patterson

Verdict (PHIL)
Dir. Raymond Ribay Gutierrez

Balloon (CHINA)
Dir. Pema Tseden

Just 6.5 (IRAN)
Dir. Saeed Rouastaee

Shadow Of Water (INDIA)
Dir. Sasidharan Sanal Kumar

Sole (ITA/POL)
Dir. Carlo Sironi

Madre (SPA/FRA)
Dir. Rodrigo Sorogoyen

Atlantis (UKR)
Dir. Valentyn Vasyanovych

Sconfini (formerly Cinema in the Garden)

Unposted (Chiara Ferragni)
Dir. Elisa Amoruso

The Scarecrows
Dir. Nouri Bouzid

The Gap
Dir. Federico Ferrone, Michele Manzolini

Domino Effect
Dir. Alessandro Rossetto

As previously announced, Hirokazu Kore-eda’s The Truthwill open the festival in competition. Giuseppe Capotondi’s The Burnt Orange Heresy starring Claes Bang and Elizabeth Debicki will close the festival on September 7.

Director Lucrecia Martel will preside over the International Jury of the Competition this year.

The Venice Critics’ Week and Venice Days line-ups were anounced earlier this month.

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https://www.screendaily.com/news/venice-2019-line-up-includes-joker-ad-astra-roman-polanskis-jaccuse/5141480.article

2019-07-25 10:37:14Z
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Rapper A$AP Rocky charged with assault in Sweden - NBC News

LONDON — American rapper A$AP Rocky has been charged with assault in Sweden and will be go on trial next week, Swedish prosecutors and his lawyer said Thursday.

Rocky's lawyer, Slobodan Jovicic, announced in a news conference that the trial will start on Tuesday.

The public prosecutor recommends that three days be set aside for the hearing, the Swedish Prosecution Authority said in a separate statement, adding that Rocky will remain in jail until the trial date.

President Donald Trump has involved himself in the case at the behest of first lady Melania Trump and rapper Kanye West and has offered to "personally vouch" for Rocky's bail.

In a response to a question about whether Rocky had heard about Trump's statements, Jovicic said his client was thankful for the support shown "by a lot of different people."

July 19, 201901:06

The rapper, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, 30, was detained on "probable grounds for serious assault" on July 3. He was in Sweden to headline Smash x Stadion, a two-day hip-hop festival in the country's capital.

"I have today commenced criminal proceedings against the three individuals suspected of assault causing actual bodily harm, having come to the conclusion that the events in question constitute a crime and despite claims of self-defense and provocation,” public prosecutor Daniel Suneson Thursday.

Rocky and members of his entourage were alleged to have been involved in a brawl on June 30 in downtown Stockholm in which authorities said a person was beaten and cut with broken bottles. He has denied the assault accusation.

Jovicic has maintained that Rocky and his associates were acting in self-defense after being provoked by the other men on the street.

"They begged and pleaded to be left alone," he said.

Last week, a district court judge ruled that Rocky was a flight risk and should remain in jail while the prosecutor’s office investigated the case.

Rocky’s arrest has caused an uproar among celebrities in the U.S., with Kim Kardashian West and Justin Bieber among those calling for Sweden to free him.

Trump responded to calls to help Rocky and tweeted last week that he would call “the very talented Prime Minister of Sweden to see what we can do about helping" Rocky.

However, the next day Sweden’s Prime Minister Stefan Löfven warned that Rocky would not get special treatment despite Trump’s public intervention in the case.

"I will explain that the Swedish judicial system is independent," Löfven said of a possible call with the president.

"In Sweden, everyone is equal before the law, and this includes visitors from other countries."

Saphora Smith

Saphora Smith is a London-based reporter for NBC News Digital.

Cat Corrigan

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https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/rapper-ap-rocky-charged-assault-will-remain-swedish-custody-n1034321

2019-07-25 10:08:00Z
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A$AP Rocky charged with assault after Stockholm brawl - CNN

The 30-year-old -- whose real name is Rakim Mayers -- has been in custody since July 3, following a confrontation in the Swedish capital on June 30.

The rapper's lawyer, Slobodan Jovicic, has maintained he was defending himself after being assaulted and that his client is innocent.

But Swedish public prosecutor Daniel Suneson claims A$AP Rocky and two other men assaulted the victim by kicking and beating him with a whole or part of a glass bottle, according to court documents seen by CNN.

All three have been charged for their involvement in the brawl and will remain in custody until the trial.

Suneson said that he had determined the events constituted a crime "despite claims of self-defense and provocation" after reviewing video material and witness statements.

Sweden drops investigation into alleged victim in A$AP Rocky brawl

"It is worth noting that I have had access to a greater amount of material than that which has previously been available on the internet. In addition to video material, the injured party's statements have been supported by witness statements," Suneson said.

The prosecutor is relying on cell phone videos, surveillance video from the Grand Hotel and a burger restaurant, text messages from A$AP Rocky's body guard where he talks about the assault and where they say they've recorded it, texts from the assistant's phone and DNA analysis from a bottle used in the assault.

Footage posted by TMZ and others posted by A$AP Rocky of the brawl have been at the heart of the investigation.

Video clips shared on Instagram by A$AP Rocky show the rapper and his companions repeatedly ask two men to stop following them. The rapper wrote in a caption that one of the men hit a member of his security "in the face with headphones," and reasserted that he was "innocent."

But, in another video posted by TMZ, A$AP Rocky appears to grab one of the men and throw him to the ground. Another angle appeared to show the rapper and members of his entourage kicking and punching the man.

A$AP Rocky latest: Trump weighs in on rapper's jail treatment, Swedish prime minister won't intervene

Suneson said there were two injured in the assault, but allegations of one were dropped due to insufficient evidence and the prosecution only related to one injured party.

Court documents claim that A$AP Rocky forcefully threw the victim to the ground before assaulting him.

A counter allegation was also made by the rapper's bodyguard, but that case was closed, Suneson added.

A$AP Rocky's case has drawn the attention of recording artists like Justin Bieber, as well as US President Donald Trump, who have called for his release. But authorities in Sweden have said they will not be swayed by international pressure.

"The Swedish judicial system is completely independent and does not take into consideration outside pressure from politicians or others," a spokesman for the Swedish prosecution authority told CNN on Sunday.

And, while Trump has offered to personally vouch for the 30-year-old rapper's bail, the bail system does not exist in Sweden.

As Dennis Martinsson, a legal expert in Sweden, told CNN: "If you know the Swedish legal system you know that there is no bail system."

Justin Bieber: I appreciate Trump helping A$AP Rocky, but 'can you also let those kids out of cages?'

"Actually, the Swedish constitution prevents any minister, even the Prime Minister, getting involved, or even saying something about an individual case," he added.

The President's involvement in the case came at the request of celebrities and the First Lady -- the latest incident in which star influence has swayed Trump to make certain decisions.

Trump on Friday credited Melania Trump with bringing A$AP Rocky's plight to his attention.

The President added: "Many members of the African American community have called me -- friends of mine -- and said, 'Could you help?'"

Trump also revealed on Twitter that he spoke to Kanye West about the matter. On Thursday, Kim Kardashian West thanked Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Trump's son-in-law and senior White House adviser Jared Kushner for their efforts in trying to get A$AP Rocky released.

CNN's Veronica Stracqualursi contributed to this report.

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https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/25/europe/asap-rocky-charged-assault-scli-intl/index.html

2019-07-25 09:13:00Z
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