Culture

France Launches Appeal to Acquire Proust’s ‘Madeleine’ Writings

France's National Library launched a public appeal for donations on Wednesday to acquire hundreds of unpublished documents belonging to Marcel Proust, including some showing how the famed writer settled on one of his most famous lines. Some of the roughly 900 documents were put up for show by the auction house Sotheby's on Wednesday morning and ...

Robert Redford’s Sundance Vision Shaped Generations of Filmmakers

Robert Redford was rarely spotted at Sundance in his final years, yet the late Hollywood legend forever looms large at the influential US movie festival he co-created. Set up in the 1980s to support creative, independent directors at a time when the blockbuster era launched by Jaws and Star Wars held sway over Hollywood, Sundance is for many ...

Downton Abbey Auction Raises Millions, Shatters Expectations Worldwide

Props, costumes and other items from the hit TV series Downton Abbey sold for £1.7 million ($2.3 million) at a London auction, six times the pre-sale estimate, Bonhams revealed Tuesday. The "bell wall", the servant's call system that appears from the first series to the last, proved to be the prize item, selling for an eye-watering £216,300 ...

'Friends' Fans Rejoice: Central Perk Cafe Coming to NYC

Devotees of fan favorite Friends will soon be able to sip a cup of coffee named after Joey in a Manhattan recreation of the "Central Perk" cafe made famous by the sitcom. Just don't expect the coffee to cost $3 a cup like it did in the acclaimed television show at the turn of the millennium. The latest reincarnation of the hot drink haunt will ...

Boualem Sansal Rejects Far-Right Nomination for Sakharov Prize

Franco-Algerian author Boualem Sansal has opposed his nomination for the 2025 Sakharov Prize by the far-right group in the European Parliament led by Jordan Bardella (RN), his publisher Gallimard confirmed on Monday. The group Patriots for Europe (PfE), which has 85 members of the European Parliament, put forward Sansal’s name for the annual ...

Four Voices Celebrate the Timeless Legacy of Céline Dion

To bring Céline Dion’s greatest hits to life, four singers are joining forces for Génération Céline, a tribute show created by Erick Benzi, one of Dion’s longtime collaborators and trusted arrangers. “There’s a real desire for people to come together, to sing and dance to songs we all know. Céline embodies that spirit,” says Benzi, ...

"The Dead Dance": Gaga and Burton Spotlight Mexico’s Haunted Doll Island

On the Island of the Dolls in Mexico City, hundreds of plastic toys wearing little more than rags hang from trees, their glass eyes staring down at visitors. The macabre site may spook many, but it intrigued gothic film director Tim Burton and pop superstar Lady Gaga, who used the island as the backdrop for the music video they shot together, The ...

Demon Slayer Breaks Records with Historic North America Debut

The latest entry in Crunchyroll's Demon Slayer anime film series took first place in the North American box office this weekend with a genre-record $70 million debut, industry estimates showed Sunday. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba -- Infinity Castle: Part 1, the first title in a new trilogy based on the popular manga series, opened to the top ...

'Hamnet' Wins Toronto Top Prize, Eyes Oscar Glory

Hamnet, a devastating period drama about the life of William Shakespeare and his family, won top prize Sunday at the Toronto International Film Festival. The heart-wrenching movie stars Paul Mescal as Shakespeare, who tries to forge a career as a playwright while his wife Agnes — played by Jessie Buckley — contends with the perils of plague ...

Winners of Emmy Awards Shine on Television’s Biggest Night

Television’s brightest talents came together in Los Angeles on Sunday for the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, where memorable performances and remarkable series were honored. The ceremony captured the wide range of stories captivating audiences today, from suspenseful dramas to sharp, witty comedies. Outstanding drama series: The Pitt Outstanding ...

Hermeto Pascoal, Brazilian Jazz Legend, Dies at Age 89

Celebrated Brazilian musician Hermeto Pascoal, who gained international fame for his collaborations with fellow jazz legend Miles Davis, has died aged 89, his family said Saturday. With his distinctive white beard and hair, Pascoal was known as "The Sorcerer" for his ability to create music with a variety of instruments and objects. "With ...