Indian-American filmmaker Mira Nair wins TIFF Tribute award, says important to tell our own stories

New Delhi: Indian-American filmmaker Mira Nair, two episodes of whose six-part television series "A Suitable Boy" will close the 45th Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday, received the Jeff Skoll Award for Impact Media on Monday evening at a remotely conducted TIFF Tribute Awards ceremony.

The presentation of the award to Nair was initiated by Tabu, star of "A Suitable Boy" as well as the director's critically acclaimed 2006 drama "The Namesake". The actor said: When Mira Nair was a kid, she asked herself, can art change the world? She has proven it can. And in doing so, the filmmaker has, Tabu added, set the very highest standards of cinema .

Nair was one of six recipients of the TIFF Tribute Awards alongside octogenarian actor Sir Anthony Hopkins, Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet, Chinese-American filmmaker Chloe Zhao (whose Venice Golden Lion-winning Nomadland is one of the highlights of TIFF 2020), indigenous Canadian director Tracey Deer and musician Terence Blanchard.


In her acceptance speech, Mira Nair said: When I work, it feels like fun, so I really want to thank the Toronto International Film Festival for giving me an award to have my fun and to be part of the extraordinary privilege of being able to make cinema.

After years of loving & matchmaking, I offer you #asuitableboy.

May you enjoy the ride.

Episode 1 - Sunday, July 26 @BBCOne 9pm. pic.twitter.com/NshMiiyb1O

— Mira Nair (@MiraPagliNair) July 25, 2020

Nair, who divides her time between homes in New York City, Kampala and New Delhi, added: I have often said if we don't tell our own stories no one else will. But it doesn't stop there. In telling these stories, I have also discovered the power of listening, of the possibility of making bridges, the possibility of translation, of being porous.

The award tells me, Nair said, that my art and my films have actually made change. That is such a beautiful feeling. The filmmaker signed off by saying, I accept the award in honour of all the stories that held the idiosyncratic, the unseen, the unspoken, the unsaid, and the baffling. Here's to them and they happen everywhere in the world.



The TIFF Tribute Awards is an annual fundraiser held as part of the festival that is regarded as one of the most important launching pads for cinema and a bellwether for the Oscars. The awards honour the film industry's outstanding contributors and their achievements.

I've read Vikram Seth's gorgeous novel seven times at least— and I never thought possible the beautiful & evocative version made by @MiraPagliNair for the screen. Breathtaking. pic.twitter.com/CYMOGWTTQt

— Noga Tarnopolsky (@NTarnopolsky) September 14, 2020

Sir Anthony Hopkins's TIFF Tribute Actor Award was presented by Olivia Colman, his on-screen daughter in the film "The Father", which is part of the festival programme. Accepting his award, the 82-year-old actor said: I am astonished that I am still in work at my age.

Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way inks first-look film deal with Sony

Los Angeles: Hollywood superstar Leonardo DiCaprio's banner Appian Way has signed a multi-picture, multi-year first look deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment.

As per the deal, the production house will produce scripted feature films for the studio, reported Deadline. DiCaprio's last film, Quentin Tarantino-directed "Once Upon A Time in Hollywood" was distributed by Sony. The companies are already in development on two projects, though no details were given. "I first met the supernova talented Leonardo DiCaprio over 24 years ago on 'Romeo and Juliet'. We then shipped out together on the 'Titanic' and my admiration for him as a fully-rounded filmmaking genius has only increased over the many years since.


"His producing and acting instincts superbly supported by Jennifer (Davisson) are both driven by service to the best material in the world. At Sony, we feel like we just landed a rare GOAT deal as Michael Jordan and Tom Brady are to basketball and football, so is Leo to film," said Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group Chairman Tom Rothman.

DiCaprio said he is excited to partner with Sony for his upcoming projects. "For over three decades in the business, Tom has never adhered to the traditional Hollywood norms. "Never once taking the safe route, he truly values filmmakers and their vision and is extremely supportive of the theatre-going experience. I could not be more excited to enter into a new phase of partnerships with Sony," he added.


Earlier this month, Appian Way signed a first-look deal with Apple that encompasses television projects and documentary features. On the acting front, DiCaprio will next star in frequent collaborator Martin Scorsese's upcoming feature "Killers of the Flower Moon", alongside Robert De Niro.

Priyanka Chopra finishes her memoir, said every word reflection into her life

Mumbai: Actor Priyanka Chopra on Tuesday revealed that she has completed the final manuscript of her memoir, "Unfinished", and the book is set to come out soon.

"Unfinished" is a collection of personal essays, stories and observations of the 38-year-old actor, to be published by Penguin Random House India. Priyanka took to Twitter and said the book comes from an extremely personal, introspective space.'Unfinished' is finished! Just about sent in the final manuscript! Wheee! Cannot wait to share it with you all. Every word in my memoir comes from a place of introspection and reflection into my life. #ComingSoon," she wrote.

Priyanka forayed into the entertainment industry at the age of 17 when she became Miss India and went on to win Miss World the following year. Besides acting in several Bollywood movies such as Aitraaz , Barfi! , 7 Khoon Maaf and Bajirao Mastani , Priyanka earned acclaim for her work as Alex Parrish on ABC's show "Quantico", becoming the first South Asian to headline an American network drama series.

She made her Hollywood debut as antagonist Victoria Leeds in Seth Gordon's action comedy Baywatch and followed it up with A Kid Like Jake co-starring Jim Parsons and Claire Danes. Priyanka also had a supporting part in Todd Strauss-Schulson's comedy "Isn't It Romantic", which starred Rebel Wilson. Last year she returned to Hindi cinema with Shonali Bose's The Sky is Pink .

The actor's future projects include Netflix's adaptation of Aravind Adiga's satirical novel The White Tiger , Robert Rodriguez's superhero film We Can Be Heroes , thriller series Citadel and much-anticipated Matrix 4. Priyanka also has a production banner Purple Pebble Pictures, under which she produces global TV and film content.

Cinema: Tom Hanks in talks to play Geppetto in Disney's 'Pinocchio'

Los Angeles: Actor Tom Hanks is in early negotiations with Disney to take on the role of Geppetto in the studio's upcoming live-action remake of "Pinocchio". 

Robert Zemeckis, who previously worked with Hanks on critically-acclaimed features such as "Forrest Gump", "Cast Away" and "Polar Express", will helm the project. According to Deadline, Hanks has reached out to Zemeckis to let him know he wants to do the film after the veteran star read the script. Chris Weitz has written the script with Zemeckis. The writer will also produce the film with Andrew Miano through their company Depth of Field.

Disney's original film, which released in 1940, was based on the 1883 Italian children's novel "The Adventures of Pinocchio" by Carlo Collodi. The animated feature centres on a wood-carver named Geppetto who carves a wooden puppet brought to life by a fairy and told him that he will become a real boy if he proves himself to be "brave, truthful, and unselfish".

The project is the latest in a long line of Disney's live-action remakes of its animated movies such as "Aladdin", "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Lion King". Hanks, 64, is currently working on Warner Bros' "Elvis Presley" biopic, which had to halt production after he and his wife, Rita Wilson, contracted coronavirus.

They have since recovered and the studio is hoping to start production again in the fall in Australia. Hanks recently starred as commander in the World War II combat drama "Greyhound", which premiered on Apple TV Plus in July.

Danielle Brooks to play gospel legend Mahalia Jackson in biopic

Los Angeles: Orange Is the New Black alum Danielle Brooks has signed on to play gospel music icon and civil rights activist Mahalia Jackson in an upcoming biopic in the works at Lifetime.

The movie, titled Robin Roberts Presents: The Mahalia Jackson Story , is the first in a four-film deal with the Good Morning America anchor. According to Deadline, Kenny Leon is on board as the director. The biopic will trace Jackson's life and career as she rose to become the best known gospel singer in the mid-20th century and a civil rights activist who sang at the 1963 March on Washington alongside Martin Luther King, Jr. She also sang at John F. Kennedy's inaugural ball in 1961.


The project is produced by Rock'n Robin Productions and Lincoln Square Productions. Roberts and Linda Berman serve as executive producers. Having had the privilege of working with Kenny on Steel Magnolias' and Robin Roberts on Stolen by my Mother', I am ecstatic to have them join forces to work together on this special project, said Tanya Lopez, EVP of Movies, Limited Series & Original Movie Acquisitions, Lifetime and LMN.

Adding Danielle Brooks as Mahalia is icing on the cake. This team is committed in celebrating the legacy of Mahalia and reintroducing her to a world that needs her spirit more than ever, she added. Leon and Brooks previously worked together on the stage production of William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing .

Leonardo DiCaprio signs Overall film and TV deal with Apple

Los Angeles: Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio's production banner Appian Way has inked a first-look film and TV deal with Apple, under which the company will develop new TV series and films for the technology giant.

Appian Way, ran by DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson, previously had a three-year film deal with Paramount Pictures and, prior to that, was working in collaboration with Warner Bros. The banner already has two projects set up at Apple TV Plus the feature Killers of the Flower Moon directed by Martin Scorsese and starring DiCaprio and Robert DeNiro, as well as thriller series Shining Girls, featuring Elisabeth Moss.
Under the company, the Oscar-winning actor and Davisson have also produced films like The Aviator, Shutter Island, The Ides of March, Runner Runner, The Wolf of Wall Street, Robin Hood and Richard Jewell .