Iran has cancelled a ceremony in honour of the country’s Oscar-winning director even though the government had hailed his victory as a triumph over a competitor from Israel.
The event for Asghar Farhadi (pictured), whose film, A Separation, won the Oscar for best foreign film last month, was abruptly scrapped after authorities denied permission, according to the semi-official Ilna news agency.
There were no details as to why a permit was denied but some Iranian conservatives were upset with the film’s themes: domestic turmoil, gender inequality and the desire by many to leave the country.
Ilna said two cinema groups, the Centre for Directors of Iranian Cinema and the High Council of Producers of Iranian Cinema, issued a statement decrying the cancellation. All public events in Iran need government approval.
Nasa man sacked for his beliefs
Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory has landed robotic explorers on the surface of Mars, sent probes to outer planets and operates a worldwide network of antennae that communicates with interplanetary spacecraft.
Its latest mission is defending itself in a workplace lawsuit filed by a former computer specialist who claims he was demoted – and then let go – for promoting his views on intelligent design, the belief that a higher power must have had a hand in creation because life is too complex to have developed through evolution alone.
David Coppedge, who worked as a “team lead” on the Cassini mission exploring Saturn and its many moons, alleges that he was discriminated against because he engaged his co-workers in conversations about intelligent design and handed out DVDs on the idea while at work.
Night out for Beyonce and Jay-Z
Sunday was “fun day” for Beyonce and Jay-Z: The new parents enjoyed a concert by R&B singer The-Dream in New York.
The couple jammed to the singer-songwriter in the VIP section of SOB’s, a small club that houses a few hundred people.
The-Dream co-wrote and co-produced Beyonce’s massive hit Single Ladies.
He also worked his magic on Rihanna’s Umbrella, Justin Bieber’s Baby and Touch My Body by Mariah Carey.
He performed a number of his own hits, including Shawty In a 10, Falsetto and I Luv Your Girl. He will release his fourth album later this year.
The Grammy winner thanked the crowd for coming out, saying: “I know some of ya’ll got kids at home.”
Beyonce gave birth to daughter Blue Ivy in January.
Snail seeks Indianapolis title
A cinematic snail will seek the Indianapolis 500 title in an animated feature film Turbo set to be released next year, IndyCar and DreamWorks Animation SKG announced yesterday.
The movie is planned for a July 19, 2013, release and will feature tie-ins with the US-based open-wheel series in a partnership with the animation studio that launched such projects Shrek and Kung Fu Panda.
In the film, a garden snail who dreams of winning the Indy 500 accidentally receives extraordinary speed, giving Turbo the chance to make his dream come true.