Book Club provides inclusive discussion, welcoming space for GV students

Arts & Culture, Books

Grand Valley State University’s Book Club, a student-run organization, aims to create a positive space for all who enjoy reading and literature related activities. The club creates opportunities for discussion, and allows students to find books they relate to or might be entertained by. 
The club’s readings don’t have assigned chapters, and participants can read at their own pace. Certain attendees of the club are very voracious readers, while others merely want to participate in conversations about general themes of a book.
On top of discussing books, the book club provides an array of literature themed events. They play games, watch movie adaptations of books, throw literature themed parties and organize potlucks. For example, last year the group threw a Halloween costume party, and the club plans to throw more recreational events in the future.
“The book club is open to students, nontraditional students, grad students and anyone who wants to join” said the president of GVSU Book Club, Alex Olmstead.
Taking suggestions, the club votes on what novel will be their focus for the month. However, they also like to keep things fresh when choosing book options to vote on. Last semester, during Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week, club leadership chose books for voting that included aromantic characters. Participants in the club analyzed the political themes and representation of aromantic characters in Rosiee Thor’s “Fire Becomes Her.” The dystopian novel, set in an alternate 1920s universe dominated by class struggle, was the most voted for pick in honor of the awareness week.
The fantasy world novel explores the complexities of identity through a political lens, centering on issues like power, class and societal roles. As participants discussed the book, conversations naturally steered toward how these themes paralleled real-life political climates. Many emphasized the relevance of these topics, such as how marginalized identities are treated within institutional systems and the importance of self-advocacy. Participants contemplated how governments, both fictional and real, shape the experiences of communities. 
Olmstead emphasized that it’s important to club members that their space be welcoming of all views and thoughts about the readings.
“Book club remains a safe, fun and welcoming space, regardless of (a) student’s background,” said Olmstead.
The book club is currently reading “The Secret History” by Donna Tartt. The novel is a thriller about a group of college students who gradually lose their sense of morality while participating in their close-knit ancient Greek philosophy club. GVSU Book Club meets on Thursdays at 8 p.m., with the location being posted on their Instagram.

EL PAÍS and the Spain-US Chamber of Commerce present forum on ‘Latin America, the United States and Spain in the Global Economy’

Technology

The global economy is at a turning point full of uncertainty. Most central banks around the world have gone from fighting inflation to trying to avoid a recession, hoping to achieve a soft landing. This situation is taking place in an unstable world, with conflicts dominating the geopolitical agenda, and in an important election year, where numerous countries have seen changes of government, and all eyes are on the U.S. presidential election in November. In this turbulent and polarized world — which is also full of opportunities — EL PAÍS and the Spain-U.S. Chamber of Commerce will hold on Tuesday the forum Latin America, the United States and Spain in the Global Economy, which will once again highlight the importance of transatlantic ties.The event — which is being held in New York in parallel with the United Nations General Assembly — will be attended by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs José Manuel Albares, as well as a large panel of stakeholders and industry leaders.The event is organized by EL PAÍS and the Spain-U.S. Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by DLA Piper, Iberia, Inditex, Indra, NTT Data and Total Protect in collaboration with the Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI). The event can be followed live on the EL PAÍS website, from 8:15 a.m. New York time (until approximately 1:30 p.m. (from 2:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in mainland Spain).Joseph Oughourlian, the director of Prisa (the parent company of EL PAÍS), and Marco Antonio Achón, the chairman of the Spain-U.S. Chamber of Commerce, will open the event with a few words of welcome. The opening speech will be given by Albares. This will be followed by a conversation between Marco Antonio Achón and Juan Santamaría, the CEO of the ACS group, about the importance of infrastructure as a catalyst for economic growth.Alicia Montalvo, manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity at the CAF-Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean; Teresa Parejo, Head of Sustainability at Iberia; Javier Treviño, Senior Vice President for Corporate Affairs of Walmart of Mexico and Central America; and María de los Ángeles Useche, Sales Director at Total Protect, will take part in a debate on sustainability trends moderated by Ricardo Martínez, Sustainability and Climate Risk Leader at Deloitte & Touche LLP’s Risk & Financial Advisory practice.This will be followed by a conversation between Margarita Oliva Sainz de Aja, Head of Banking and Finance for Latin America at DLA Piper, and Pedro Azagra, the CEO of Avangrid, the U.S. subsidiary of the Iberdrola Group, on the challenges and opportunities of the energy transition. Robert da Silva Ashley, Partner at DLA Piper, will then speak with Miguel Stilwell de Andrade, the CEO of EDP, about strategies to achieve a greener global economy.Next, Pilar Manchón, Senior Director of Engineering, AI Research Strategy at Google, and Domingo González, Director of IT Innovation North America at Nestlé, will take part in a panel on generative artificial intelligence, moderated by Miguel Teixeira, Deputy CEO of IBIOL at NTT Data.Carme Artigas, co-chair of the United Nations AI High-Level Advisory Body, and Mariano Jabonero, secretary general of the Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI) will then discuss the common space of Ibero-America, Spain and the United States in digital transformation and AI in education, science and culture, in a panel moderated by journalist Inés Santaulalia.This will be followed by a conversation on the impact of technology multinationals in the Americas, featuring Indra president Marc Murtra, who will be interviewed by the director of EL PAÍS América, Jan Martínez Ahrens.The closing speech will be made by Pedro Sánchez, who will be introduced by EL PAÍS editor-in-chief Pepa Bueno.Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAÍS USA Edition

17 years later, an acclaimed anime movie is finally getting a live-action adaptation

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Acclaimed anime movie 5 Centimeters per Second is being turned into a live-action movie, 17 years after the original debuted in 2007. The original film was written and directed by Makoto Shinkai and is split into three parts, which tell the life story of main character Takaki Tōno. Hokuto Matsumura has been cast to play Takaki in the live-action film; he had a lead voice role in Suzume, another anime film written and directed by Shinkai.”After transferring to the same elementary school, Takaki and Akari became best friends,” reads the live-action movie’s synopsis (H/T Crunchyroll). “However, their lives change when the families of both are forced to relocate. After a year of separation, Takaki is about to reunite with Akari. As he sits on the train from Tokyo, memories of the past rush through Takaki’s head, his meeting time with Akari drawing ever closer. Takaki and Akari begin to wonder if they will ever be able to see each other again, and share their secret feelings. Join Takaki on a journey into three interconnected tales of love and lost innocence that span the minutes and months of their lives.” Yoshiyuki Okuyama is directing a screenplay from Ayako Suzuki. “I feel that it is an important coincidence that I, at the age of 33, am being asked to film a story that Makoto Shinkai-san was weaving when he was 33 years old at the time, even though it is just a number,” Okuyama commented. “Every day I face 5 Centimeters per Second with the realization that there are things that can only be created now, and that there is a gaze that will eventually be forgotten.”Shinkai himself has also weighed in. “A live-action film adaptation of 5 Centimeters per Second has been announced,” he wrote on Twitter. “I am truly grateful to director Okuyama, Hokuto-kun, and the rest of the young team for giving new life to this old and poor (but favorite in my own way) work. I am also so motivated that I must make an anime film that can live up to their enthusiasm and talent. I am very much looking forward to seeing the new 5 Centimeters per Second in a theater!”While you wait for 5 Centimeters per Second, which will be released fall 2025, check out our guide to the best anime to watch now, or the most exciting upcoming anime, to fill out your watchlist. Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox

Local Author Nadja Maril Releases Two New Books, to Speak at Parole Rotary Club on October 8

Arts & Culture, Books

Annapolis-based author Nadja Maril has announced the release of two new books. Her poetry and essay collection Recipes from My Garden, nominated for the National Book Award, and the picture book Who IS Santa? are now available for purchase. In addition, Maril will be speaking at the Parole Rotary Club on October 8, where she will discuss her latest work and the importance of chapbooks.New Releases: Recipes from My Garden and Who IS Santa?Recipes from My Garden is Maril’s first chapbook, featuring a blend of poems and micro-essays that explore themes of nature, memory, and personal experience. Praised by Kirkus Reviews for its evocative writing, the 80-page collection is described as “a feast for the senses and a balm for the spirit” by fellow author Aaron Hamburger. Published by Old Scratch Press, the book is available for $8.95 on Amazon and in select bookstores.Maril’s second new release, Who IS Santa?, is a picture book for readers of all ages. Illustrated by the author, the book delves into the mystery of Santa Claus while celebrating the spirit of giving. Dylan Roche, author of The Tide and The Stars, recommends it as an “annual Christmas tradition for your family.” Proceeds from the book support the International Pleuropulmonary Blastoma (PPB)/DICER1 Registry, which funds research on a rare form of children’s cancer. Who IS Santa? is available on Amazon for $11.95.Nadja Maril is a seasoned writer and editor with a career spanning multiple genres. Her works have appeared in literary journals such as Lunch Ticket, Invisible City Literary Review, and Spry Literary Journal. Formerly the Editor-in-Chief of What’s Up? Publishing and Chesapeake Taste Magazine, Maril is also an expert on American antiques, having authored two books on antique lighting. Her previous publications include two children’s books, Me, Molly Midnight: The Artist’s Cat and Runaway Molly Midnight, illustrated by her father, artist Herman Maril.Maril will share insights into her latest chapbook, Recipes from My Garden, and the power of chapbooks as a literary form during her presentation at the Parole Rotary Club on October 8. The meeting will be held at 7:30 a.m. For more information on the event, visit the Parole Rotary Club’s website.To learn more about Nadja Maril and her work, visit nadjamaril.com.

‘Modern Family’ star Sofia Vergara ‘would die to’ film a reboot 15 years later: Cast then and now

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

“Modern Family” is celebrating its 15th anniversary.The show premiered in September 2009 and aired on ABC for 250 episodes throughout 11 seasons, before ending in April 2020. The hit show followed Jay Pritchett (Ed O’Neil) and his two children, as they navigate their separate marriages and parenthood.Over the years, the show won 20 Emmy Awards, including five in the outstanding comedy series category. Many of the show’s lead actors received multiple Emmy nominations for their work on the show, with Julie Bowen winning two years in a row.Here is what the cast has been up to since the show premiered.  “Modern Family” is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. (Bob D’Amico/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)HOW HOUSEHOLD TV SHOWS LIKE ‘MODERN FAMILY’ AND ‘FULL HOUSE’ COMPARE TO ‘THE BRADY BUNCH’Ed O’Neil O’Neill was known for starring in “Married … with Children.” (Getty Images)Ed O’Neill already had one successful sitcom under his belt, having starred in 260 episodes of “Married … with Children,” before taking on the role of Jay Pritchett in “Modern Family,” a role that earned him three Emmy nominations.During his time on the show, O’Neil continued to act in other projects, eventually voicing the character Mr. Litwak in “Wreck-It Ralph,” and its sequel, as well as the character Hank in “Finding Dory.” Since the end of “Modern Family,” O’Neill has appeared in the FX miniseries “Clipped.””The last two weeks of shooting, there was a build-up of emotion, and you could feel it all around you,” he told Business Journal Daily in March 2020 about filming “Modern Family’s” final episode. “It got inside of you. People were getting choked up, and it built up to that last day. The last two days were long ones, because the [whole cast] was together filming for 12-hour days, and it became very emotional.”O’Neill married Catherine Rusoff in 1986, and together they have two daughters; Sophia and Claire.Sofía Vergara Vergara’s first big role was playing Gloria in “Modern Family.” (Getty Images)Sofía Vergara got her start appearing in telenovelas and small roles in TV and movies, before starring as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett in “Modern Family,” a role which earned her four Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.The show launched her into mega-stardom, leading to starring roles in “Happy Feet Two,” “Machete Kills,” “Chef” and “Hot Pursuit,” alongside Reese Witherspoon. While still on the show, she starred in “The Emoji Movie” and “Bottom of the 9th.”Following the end of the show, she voiced characters in “Koati,” “Strays” and “Despicable Me 4,” and starred in “Griselda,” which earned her an Emmy Award nomination, and appeared in Jennifer Lopez’s “This Is Me … Now.” Fast-forward to today, Vergara is more than ready to step back into Gloria Delgado-Pritchett’s shoes.”I’d die to be on that set. It’d be so much fun. A TV movie, maybe?” — Sofia Vergara”I’d die to be on that set,” she told Variety in August 2024. “It’d be so much fun. A TV movie, maybe?”SOFIA VERGARA WANTS ‘EVERY PLANTS SURGERY THAT I CAN DO’Vergara was married to Joe Gonzalez from 1991 to 1993, and together they have a son, Manolo. She was then married to Joe Manganiello from 2015 to 2024.Julie Bowen Bowen had starred in many projects before playing Claire in “Modern Family.” (Getty Images)Julie Bowen had already starred in “Happy Gilmore,” “Ed” and “Boston Legal,” before getting cast as Claire Dunphy in “Modern Family,” for which she was nominated for six consecutive Emmy Awards, winning two.She continued to act in other projects while starring on the show, including “Horrible Bosses,” “Life of the Party” and “Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure,” in addition to appearing as a guest on various TV shows.When the show came to an end, she starred in “Hubie Halloween,” “The Fallout” and “Mixtape.” Most recently, she starred in “Totally Killer” and in episodes of “Hailey’s On It.” She also created JB SKRUB, a self-care product line designed for young boys.Bowen married Scott Phillips in 2004, and they have three sons; Oliver, and twins John and Gus. Ty Burrell Ty Burrell acted mainly in supporting roles in TV and movies before he got his big break starring as Phil Dunphy in “Modern Family.” (Getty Images)Ty Burrell acted mainly in supporting roles in TV and movies before he got his big break starring as Phil Dunphy in “Modern Family,” a role that earned him seven consecutive Emmy nominations.While on the show, Burrell found starring roles in “The Skeleton Twins,” “Mr. Peabody and Sherman,” “Muppets Most Wanted” and “Finding Dory.” Later, he starred in three episodes of “Boondoggle,” which earned him an Emmy nomination, before starring in “Storks” and “Rough Night.”Following the end of “Modern Family,” his only acting credit has been voicing a character in “Duncanville,” which ended in 2022.Burrell married Holly Burrell in 2000, and they have two daughters, Frances and Greta.Jesse Tyler Ferguson Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s big break in Hollywood came when he began playing Mitchell Pritchett in “Modern Family.” (Getty Images)Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s big break in Hollywood came when he began playing Mitchell Pritchett in “Modern Family,” a role that earned him five Emmy nominations and won him four SAG Awards with the rest of the cast.While on the show, he also appeared in episodes of “Web Therapy” and “Hot In Cleveland,” and also voiced a character in the film “Ice Age: Collision Course.” He later starred in “Cocaine Bear” and “All That We Love.”Before getting cast on the show, Ferguson had a career on Broadway, making his debut in 1998 in a production of “On the Town,” later originating a character in “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” and starring in “On the Twentieth Century” and “Fully Committed.” He won a Tony Award in 2022 for playing Mason Marzac in “Take Me Out,” a role he originated.‘MODERN FAMILY’ STAR JESSE TYLER FERGUSON DISHES ON DAVID BECKHAM HOT TUB SCENE: IT WAS ‘REALLY INTENSE’Ferguson married Justin Mikita in 2013, and they have two children together, Beckett and Sullivan.Eric Stonestreet Stonestreet played Cameron Tucker in “Modern Family.” (Getty Images)Eric Stonestreet mostly appeared in small roles in TV and movies, including a 13-episode arc on “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” before landing the role of Cameron Tucker in “Modern Family.” He would go on to win two Emmy Awards and three Golden Globe nominations for the role.During the show, Stonestreet continued to appear in episodes of popular shows, including “Monk” and “The Mentalist,” and also appeared in “Bad Teacher” and “Identity Thief.” Later, he voiced a character in “The Secret Life of Pets” and its sequel, as well as in the animated shows “Sofia the First” and “Madagascar: A Little Wild.”Most recently, he has appeared in “American Auto” and “The Santa Clauses.”Stonestreet is engaged to Lindsay Schweitzer.Rico Rodriguez Rodriguez played Manny Delgado in “Modern Family.” (Getty Images)Rico Rodriguez was still new to Hollywood when he won the part of Manny Delgado in “Modern Family.”While on the show, he appeared in the movies “Opposite Day” and “Babysitters Beware,” later appearing in an episode of Disney’s “Austin & Ally,” alongside his sister, Raini Rodriguez.Sarah Hyland Hyland had appeared on Broadway before starring as Haley in “Modern Family.” (Getty Images)Sarah Hyland got her start playing Howard Stern’s daughter in “Private Parts,” later starring on Broadway and “Lipstick Jungle,” before starring as Hailey Dunphy in “Modern Family.”In addition to starring on the show, Hyland starred in “Geek Charming,” “Scary Movie V,” “Dirty Dancing” and “The Wedding Year.” She also voiced characters in animated shows and films, including “Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja,” “The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar.” Since the show ended, she went on to host “Love Island: USA” season five, and is currently starring in an off-Broadway production of “Little Shop of Horrors.”‘MODERN FAMILY’ STAR SARAH HYLAND CLAIMS SHOW ‘INSISTED’ SHE WEAR HEELS WHILE SUFFERING FROM GOUTHyland was diagnosed with kidney dysplasia as a child and has received two kidney transplants.In August 2022, she married Wells Adams, after first meeting in 2017.Nolan Gould Gould’s breakthrough was playing Luke in “Modern Family.” (Getty Images)Nolan Gould’s career breakthrough was in 2011, when he was cast as Luke Dunphy in “Modern Family.” While on the show, he appeared in “Friends with Benefits,” an episode of “Sophia the First” and “Field of Lost Shoes.” Since the show ended, he’s appeared in “Miranda’s Victim,” “The Nana Project” and an episode of “Grey’s Anatomy.”LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSAriel Winter Winter portrayed Alex Dunphy in “Modern Family.”  (Getty Images)Ariel Winter had appeared mostly in small roles in both movies and TV, before being cast as Alex Dunphy in “Modern Family.” While starring on the show, she also voiced the titular character in “Sofia the First,” which ran from 2012 to 2018. During this time, she also appeared in “Killers,” “ParaNorman,” “Captain Jake and the Never Land Pirates,” “Minnie’s Bow-Toons” and “Smurfs: The Lost Village.” She also voiced a character on “Phineas and Ferb” from 2007 to 2024, “American Dad” and “Star Trek: Lower Decks.”In 2014, Winter’s sister, Shanelle Workman, became her legal guardian after she accused her parents of being abusive. A year later, she became fully emancipated from her parents, at the age of 15.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTERAubrey Anderson-Emmons Aubrey Anderson-Emmons joined the cast of “Modern Family” in 2011 at the age of four.  (Getty Images)Aubrey Anderson-Emmons joined the cast of “Modern Family” in 2011 at the age of four, as the replacement for the baby who played Mitchell and Cameron’s baby, Lily Tucker-Prichett. She became the youngest person to win a SAG Award in 2011 when the cast won the best ensemble that year.When the show came to an end, Anderson-Emmons returned to school, and she remains active in her high school’s theater program. She has a YouTube account with her mother, called FoodMania Review, which has over 40,000 subscribers.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP 

Hong Kong ASEAN Foundation Joins Hands with the Local Community to Celebrate Films and Cultural Diversity from 10 ASEAN Nations

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

ASEAN Film Festival 2024 introduces over 20 free film screenings and 9 sharing sessions, receiving an enthusiastic response with over 3,500 tickets being redeemed
HONG KONG, Sept. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The ASEAN Film Festival (AFF) 2024, organised by the Hong Kong ASEAN Foundation (HKAF), commenced earlier this month, introducing films from all 10 ASEAN countries to Hong Kong for the first time in a single festival, that runs till 28 September. With the Hong Kong Government’s active engagement with various ASEAN countries to foster connections and open up new opportunities, AFF aims to enhance cultural connectivity under the Belt and Road Initiative. The response to the festival from students and the public has been overwhelmingly positive, with over 3,500 tickets redeemed for all screening and sharing sessions. The festival hosted a celebration cocktail reception last Friday (20 September), where representatives from the government and affiliated organisations, Consulates-General of the 10 ASEAN countries, partners and supporting organisations gathered with film industry professionals to celebrate the cinematic diversity of ASEAN.

The reception was attended by distinguished guests, including The Honourable Michael Wong Wai-lun, GBS, JP, Acting Financial Secretary of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mrs Ainatol Zahayu Mohammad, Dean of the ASEAN Consuls-General and Consul-General of Brunei Darussalam in Hong Kong, Mr Nicholas Ho Lik-chi, Commissioner for Belt & Road, the Government of HKSAR, The Honourable Bernard Charnwut Chan, GBM, GBS, JP, HK-ASEAN Foundation Advisory Council Member, Mr Daryl Ng Win-kong, SBS, JP, Chairman of Hong Kong-ASEAN Foundation, and the Consuls-General or representatives of Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, along with representatives from co-presenters, venue partners and supporting organisations of AFF 2024. 
“Hong Kong, as a place where the East meets the West, and as the super connector between Mainland China and the rest of the world, is proud to be associated with ASEAN films,” said The Honourable Michael Wong Wai-lun, GBS, JP, Acting Financial Secretary of the Government of HKSAR. “I must pay tribute to all ASEAN filmmakers for their dedication of time, creativity and passion which have resulted in the excellent collection of movies featured in the Festival. I believe that their skills, passion and commitment to storytelling will inspire others, in ASEAN and in Hong Kong, to follow their footsteps; and their wonderful efforts and generosity in sharing will allow us to see in the future another generation of filmmakers who will continue to carry the torch.”
“ASEAN boasts a rich tapestry of diverse cultures, stories and artistic expressions making it a vibrant region in its own right. Meanwhile, Hong Kong remains a pivotal international hub that bridges ASEAN countries and China. Beyond trade and commerce, it is crucial to foster stronger cross-regional relationships among ASEAN countries, Hong Kong and mainland China by promoting cultural exchanges, shared values and collaborative initiatives.” said Mrs Ainatol Zahayu Mohammad, Dean of the ASEAN Consuls-General and Consul-General of Brunei Darussalam in Hong Kong. “The ASEAN Film Festival marks a pivotal milestone in our ongoing cultural collaboration, highlighting the importance of both cultural exchange and co-creation. By harnessing the power of film as a universal language, the Film Festival transcends borders and fosters connections among us all, as viewers are invited to immerse themselves in the stories and perspectives of their ASEAN neighbours, thus creating an environment of understanding and appreciation.”
“The bond between people is at the very heart of the Belt and Road Initiative. Film possesses a remarkable power to unite us, to foster respect and understanding, and ultimately, to touch our souls. The ASEAN Film Festival stands as a vibrant testament to our cultural connectivity and diversity. I want to congratulate the Hong Kong-ASEAN Foundation for yet another successful edition of the Belt and Road series of events. Together, we are not just celebrating film; we are celebrating the ties that connect us all.” said Mr Nicholas Ho Lik-chi, Commissioner for Belt & Road, the Government of HKSAR.
“Hong Kong is known for its diverse art and cultural landscape, offering a wide range of art events and festivals for visitors and tourists to enjoy. The increasing presence of both local and international events on the city’s art and culture calendar amplifies the vibrancy and cultural richness of Hong Kong,” said The Honourable Bernard Charnwut Chan, GBM, GBS, JP, HK-ASEAN Foundation Advisory Council Member. “The ASEAN Film Festival successfully showcases Southeast Asia’s vibrant and diverse cultures and artistic expressions, offering opportunities for the youth to explore ASEAN countries’ culture through different genres of films. We appreciate the Consulates-General of ASEAN countries in Hong Kong, our valued partners and all the parties and organisations involved for their invaluable contribution. It is gratifying to see our shared vision of strengthening Hong Kong – ASEAN relations coming to fruition.” 
Showcasing ASEAN’s cinematic prowess to deepen cultural exchange
Films from ASEAN countries have been gaining popularity in Asia and international markets, with many films, filmmakers and artists from the region receiving prestigious recognition for their work. AFF 2024 features a diverse lineup of over 20 films and 9 sharing sessions with ASEAN filmmakers. Local film industry professionals such as Oliver Chan, director of ‘Still Human’, and Eric Tsang, director of ‘Hong Kong Family’, as well as university students from both local and ASEAN countries, were invited to participate in dialogues spanning regions, cultures, and generations. During these sessions, participants showed a keen interest in understanding the idea cultivation process, varied cultural backgrounds, and perceptions of Hong Kong from ASEAN filmmakers. Meanwhile, many of the ASEAN filmmakers expressed their excitement about visiting Hong Kong and mainland China and their eagerness to collaborate across regions to infuse the film industry with fresh ideas and energy. 
AFF is a collaborative endeavour involving HKAF, the Consulates-General of ASEAN countries in Hong Kong, and other esteemed partners, including the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, M+, Asia Society Hong Kong Center, Belt and Road office, Financial Services Development Council, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Invest Hong Kong, Our Hong Kong Foundation, and all the chambers and associations. For more information about the festival, please visit the AFF 2024 website: https://aseanfilmfest.org/.
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SOURCE Hong Kong-ASEAN Foundation

4 ways to celebrate Banned Books Week in Madison

Arts & Culture, Books

Banned Books Week is back, and Madisonians are celebrating alongside other librarians, educators, authors, booksellers and readers across the nation from Sept. 22 through Sept. 28.Launched in 1982 when its founders noticed a rise in attempts at book censorship, the annual campaign aims to highlight the value of free, open access to information in schools, public libraries and other community centers. Special events like lectures, theater performances, donation drives and more mark the week of action. This year’s theme? “Freed Between the Lines.”In Wisconsin alone, one in four school districts received requests to remove various books between Jan. 1, 2020, and Oct. 13, 2023, a Wisconsin Watch report detailed in July. Their investigative reporters also found 667 instances where a book was actually restricted or removed from a school library after an inquiry during the same time period.Champions of Banned Books Week in Wisconsin have suggested several different ways to get involved and combat what the American Library Association (ALA) calls “the harms of censorship.” Here’s how to participate in Madison this week.Read a banned book (and get a discount if it’s purchased at a local bookstore)Several different organizations track which books get challenged in the U.S. throughout the year, and libraries and bookstores often platform these specific titles during Banned Books Week. Lake City Books (107 N. Hamilton St.), for example, is offering its patrons 10% off books on their Banned Books displays.Need recommendations? “Gender Queer: A Memoir” by Maia Kobabe topped both the ALA’s 2023 “Most Challenged” list with 106 challenges and Wisconsin Watch’s list with 47 flags. The graphic novel recounts Kobabe’s adolescence and explores issues of sexuality and gender identity. Like Kobabe’s, the “vast majority” of other flagged titles in the state “dealt with LGBTQ+ themes, gender, sexual development and race,” reported Wisconsin Watch’s Rachel Hale.Other frequently challenged titles in Wisconsin schools include: “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie, “Lawn Boy” by Johnathan Evison, “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas, “This Book is Gay” by Juno Dawson, “Tricks” by Ellen Hopkins, “Eleanor and Park” by Rainbow Rowell, “Julian is a Mermaid” by Jessica Love, “George” by Alex Gino, “l8r, g8r” by Lauren Myracle and “Out of Darkness” by Ashley Hope Perez.Longer, nationwide lists of banned books can be found on the ALA’s website.Join a banned book clubBeyond the Page, a Dane County Library service, partnered with several South Central Library System members to facilitate banned book clubs, with meetings stretching into October.At the Cambridge Community Library, patrons will discuss Toni Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye” on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. The Oregon Public Library takes on “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood on Thursday, Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. Later in October, selections include “Drama” by Raina Telgemeier and “All Boys Aren’t Blue” by George M. Johnson, both at the Stoughton Public Library.A full schedule of book club meetings throughout the county is available on Beyond the Page’s website.Hear from librarian and author Amanda JonesLouisiana librarian Amanda Jones went viral when she spoke out against book censorship at a local public hearing in 2022. Just days after the meeting, she woke up to death threats, attacks and insults from strangers and friends alike.Since then, Jones has sued her harassers for defamation and become a prominent voice in the movement against censorship. And now, in partnership with the Wisconsin Book Festival, Beyond the Page is hosting Jones at Madison’s Central Library to discuss her new book “That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America” on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m.“Part memoir, part manifesto,” as Beyond the Page describes it, Jones’ book recounts her experiences at the center of a vicious moment and “draws the battle lines in the war against equity and inclusion, calling book lovers everywhere to rise in defense of our readers.”Further information about the event — and other Wisconsin Book Festival events — can be found on WBF’s website. Madison Magazine’s Senior Editor Maggie Ginsburg recently highlighted the full festival line-up, too.Donate a banned book to a Little Free LibraryNational Banned Books Week organizers encourage bookworms to share banned books in Little Free Libraries, free book-sharing boxes where anyone may leave or take a book.Luckily for Madison residents, there are over 400 Little Free Libraries in the city, with the Madison Literacy Project, private citizens and others installing more across the community on a regular basis. Anyone in or around the Madison area can find the nearest Little Free Library to drop off a book with the nonprofit’s Little Free Library World Map.Alisyn Amant is an editorial intern at Madison Magazine.​COPYRIGHT 2024 BY MADISON MAGAZINE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.

8 Indian movies competing with Laapataa Ladies for Oscar 2025

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Now that Laapataa Ladies has become India’s official entry for Oscars 2025, everyone is celebrating the Kiran Rao directorial once again. As they say, good films always find a way to woo the audiences. Do box office collections matter? Laapataa Ladies is that film that minted only Rs 20 crores at the box office in its 13-week run. ‘Laapataa Ladies’ is India’s official entry to the Oscars in the Best Foreign Film Category 2025. pic.twitter.com/2gjzgzsDDJ— ANI (@ANI) September 23, 2024While it didn’t get the limelight it deserved back then, it won people’s hearts when it was released on OTT. So much so, that almost everyone was talking about it. From great performances to a stellar storyline, the film caught people’s fancy. Pratibha Ranta who essayed the pivotal role of a bride in the movie became a national crush. Others including Nitanshi Goel, Sparsh Shrivastava, Ravi Kishan, and Chhaya Kadam also won applause. Laapataa Ladies for Oscars 2025#LaapataaLadies will India’s Official Entry to Oscars 2025 ✅❤️Well Deserved Film 💯pic.twitter.com/mRUipK6PzJ— Filmy Bowl (@FilmyBowl) September 23, 2024Several other Indian movies were running in the race to become India’s official entry at the Academy Awards in the Best International Film category. However, the 13-member selection committee headed by Assamese director Jahnu Barua unanimously decided on Laapataa Ladies, a film produced by Aamir Khan and Rao. Here are eight other films that were competing alongside Laapataa Ladies[embedded content]Animal (starring Ranbir Kapoor, directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga)Aattam (Malayalam film which was recently awarded National Award for Best Feature)All We Imagine As Light (Payal Kapadia directorial that won Cannes this year)Maharaja (Tamil film starring Vijay Sethupathy and Anurag Kashyap with biggest plot twist) Kalki 2898 AD (Prabhas and Deepika starrer based on Mahabharata)Hanu-Man (Telugu language superhero film directed by Prashath Varma)Swatantraya Veer Savarkar (Randeep Hooda starrer biopic on Indian freedom fighter and reformer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar)Article 370 (The Yami Gautam starrer film based on the central government’s decision to revoke Article 370, which gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir). Sandeep Reddy Vanga after realising that Laapataa Ladies named official entry for Oscars 2025.pic.twitter.com/CkpZCvWhNc— Sai Teja (@csaitheja) September 23, 2024Another Aamir Khan movie at the Oscars!This isn’t the first time an Aamir Khan movie has been sent to Oscars as India’s official entry. Lagaan in 2001, Rang De Basanti in 2006 and Taare Zameen Par in 2007 were also India’s official entries for the Academany Awards. While Lagaan received a nomination, other two films weren’t selected. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.

We’re in a golden age for body horror films – as Demi Moore’s The Substance proves

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

In the 1980s, film scholar Barbara Creed coined the term the “monstrous-feminine”. It refers to the way that female monsters are typically portrayed as threatening and disgusting for reasons connected to their bodies and their sexuality. New film The Substance takes a leaf out of Creed’s book by proposing a feminist critique of female experience through the visceral language of the body horror, a sub-genre preoccupied with the transformation, destruction or grotesque exaggeration of the human body.

The Substance is a film about a fading Hollywood star who will go to any lengths to stay beautiful. After having her TV aerobics show cancelled, Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore) resorts to a mysterious serum that can create a “better” version of her – a younger double she can inhabit a few days at a time.

As the pull of success and the return of public recognition lure Sparkle away from her older, now abandoned self, horrendous mutations ensue. It seems poignant that the protagonist of this dark parable should be played by Moore, an actor whose looks have long been scrutinised.

In the October issue of Sight and Sound, the film’s director, Coralie Fargeat, explains that it’s not intended as a caricature, but “a mirror of society’s misogynistic mentality”. It really is “that gross … that violent in the real world,” she argues.

Many agree with her. In a review for Film International, film critic Alexandra Heller-Nicholas goes as far as to call The Substance a “documentary”, due to its “emotional fidelity”. That is, its ability to make literal the disconnection between body and consciousness caused by ageing, which impacts women particularly negatively.

The trailer for The Substance.

A growing body of films

The Substance is not the only major film in 2024 to be marketed, either fully or in part, as “body horror”. This is surprising because body horror originally emerged as a niche, often independently produced, sub-genre.

Body horror’s gruesome aesthetic and themes of corporeal decay, transformation and mutilation can be off-putting for many viewers. Yet films like Love Lies Bleeding, Tiger Stripes and I Saw the TV Glow (which all had wide releases in 2024) have turned to the sub-genre. Their directors have been drawn to its ability to tell timely stories about the way corporeality, identity and social interactions cannot be separated.

These films are largely about marginalised or maladjusted people. They show how our personal actions and sense of identity are always affected by the availability of role models and the limitations imposed on people by governmental, educational, religious and familial forces. For example, the teenage protagonist in Tiger Stripes rebels against the expectations that, because she is a girl, she should cover her hair, show modesty and be courteous.

From Poor Things and Infinity Pool (both 2023) to Hatching (2022) and Titane (2021), the 2020s are shaping up into something of a new golden age for body horror.

Novelist A.K. Blakemore has written of the rise of “femcore” – a literary trend of “ultraviolent body-horror”. Eliza Clark’s Boy Parts (2020), Alison Rumfitt’s Brainwyrms (2023), Monika Kim’s The Eyes Are the Best Part (2024) and the anthology Of the Flesh (2024) are included under this label.

And there’s a similar trend emerging in streaming shows, from the episode The Outside from Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities (2022) to Alice Birch’s remake of David Cronenberg’s Dead Ringers (2023).

The body horror in The Substance.
Courtesy of Mubi

A sub-genre with substance

One of the key things that characterises this contemporary wave of body horror is the influx of directors who identify as women and as queer.

There were far fewer women and queer directors in the late 1970s and 1980s, when body horror gained popularity thanks to films like The Evil Dead (1981), The Fly (1986) and Hellraiser (1987), than there are now. This decade has made big moves towards inclusion, and the film industry has been greatly impacted by social movements like Me Too, Trans Lives Matter and Black Lives Matter, even if much work is yet to be done.

Body horror is particularly appealing to creators who would have previously found it difficult to make a living in the world of commercial filmmaking. Filmmakers (including Rose Glass, Amanda Nell Eu, Jane Schoenbrun, Hanna Bergholm, Julia Ducournau, Michelle Garza Cervera, Natalie Erika James, Alice Maio Mackay, Nia DaCosta and Coralie Fargeat) have found a valuable lexicon for feminist, trans-activist and anti-racist messages in the sub-genre. Many of them talk about their work as highly personal – if not based on their direct experience.

The body horror sub-genre is attuned to the violence of social exclusion and discrimination. Its metamorphic, painful, insidious and carnal nightmares help articulate the concerns of a new generation of artists for whom corporeality, and sometimes simply being visible, has become a political statement.

David Cronenberg closed his classic body horror film Videodrome (1983) with the emblematic line: “Long live the new flesh!” He needn’t have worried. It’s here to stay.

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