Berlinale 2024: Honorary Golden Bear For Martin Scorsese
The 74th Berlin International Film Festival will award US-director, producer and screenwriter, Martin Scorsese, the Honorary Golden Bear for his lifetime achievement in an award ceremony at the Berlinale Palast on February 20, 2024. “For anyone who considers cinema as the art of shaping a story in such a way that is both completely personal and universal, Scorsese is an unmatched role model. His films have accompanied our history as spectators and human beings, his characters have lived and grown within us, his view of history and mankind has helped us to understand and question who we are and where we come from. Killers of the Flower Moon, his latest film, is one of his greatest achievements.

As Scorsese himself so eloquently has said, the film is an ‘offering that acknowledges the extent of the terror the Osage community experienced, and one that might also give some kind of solace’. It is a great pleasure to welcome once more a good friend of the festival and offer him our most prestigious prize of honour,“ says the Berlinale director duo, Mariëtte Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian. Since the 1970s, the Oscar-winning director has been one of the most influential filmmakers in the world of cinema. The directorial works of the Italian American with Sicilian roots alone comprise more than 70 films. Many of his works have written film history and the versatility of his oeuvre is unique. His best-known films include, Taxi Driver (1975, Palme d’Or Cannes 1976), After Hours (1985, Best Director at Cannes 1986), Shine a Light (2008 Berlinale Opening Film), and The Irishman (2019). His latest film, Apple Original Films’ Killers of the Flower Moon, was recently voted the best film of 2023 by the renowned US film association ‘National Board of Review’ and has been named one of the top 10 Films of the Year by the American Film Institute, as well as No. 1 Best Film of 2023 by The New York Times, The New Yorker and the New York Film Critics Circle. The Berlinale associates Scorsese with presenting many of his films – including the spectacular concert film, Shine a Light, about the Rolling Stones, which opened the Berlinale 2008. In addition, some Berlinale Classics were supported by The Film Foundation and the world’s first exhibition on the director was shown by the Deutsche Kinemathek from January to May 2013.

iREP International Documentary Festival Announces Call For Entries For 2024 Edition
ORGANISERS of the iRep International Documentary Film Festival have announced call for entries for the 2024 edition, which has as theme: Righting The Future. Co-founder and Executive Director of the festival, Femi Odugbemi, disclosed that entries opened on December 19, 2023 and will close on January 31, 2024. “Calling all documentary filmmakers to share your impactful stories with the world. Submit your films now and be part of our documentary film festival in 2024,” Odugbemi said, adding, guidelines on entry submission can be found at: www.freefilmway.com/irepfilmfestival. This edition, the 14th edition is scheduled to hold in the festival traditional month of March and it is dedicated to the celebration of Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, at 90.

Jo Koy Is Host Of 81st Golden Globe Awards
THE organisers of the Golden Globes on Thursday announced that premier standup comedian and actor, Jo Koy, will kick off award season as host of the highly-anticipated 81st Golden Globe award, airing live on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Koy will host the show for the first time, bringing his unique charm, energy and unpredictable humour to the three-hour broadcast. We are thrilled to have Jo host the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards and bring his infectious energy and relatable humor to kick off Hollywood’s award season. We can’t wait to see what he has in store for the stars in the room and a global audience, said Helen Hoehne, Golden Globes’ President. I have stepped onto a lot of stages around the world in my career, but this one is going to be extra special. I am so excited to be hosting the Golden Globes this year, said Koy.

Widely recognised as a leading stand-up comedian, actor and author, Koy’s uniquely relatable comedy pulls inspiration from his colorful family and has reached audiences of all kinds and resulted in sold-out arenas around the world. His recent Funny Is Funny World Tour broke sales records at some of the most prestigious venues around the world. Koy starred in the Universal Picture film, Easter Sunday, based on his own experiences and stand-up comedy. This year’s show boasts two newly added awards – Best Stand-Up Comedian on Television and Cinematic and Box Office Achievement. Multi-Emmy Award-winning producing duo, Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner of White Cherry Entertainment (WCE), will serve as executive-producing showrunners, with Weiss also set to direct. Barry Adelman and Helen Hoehne are also executive producers. Dick Clark Productions will plan, host and produce the show, which has been viewed in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. As a premier entertainment award since 1944, the annual Golden Globe Awards has honored achievements in both television and film.