Category Archives: Political

Film director Alex Galvin talks about opera singing, film festivals and Beirut.

An early 20th-century socialite who left a lasting impression right around the world has barely rated a mention in history.

Life unscripted is the theme of this year’s ninth international documentary film festival. Kicking off at Auckland’s Q Theatre on Wednesday (before heading to Wellington’s Roxy Cinema on June 5), the Documentary Edge Festival (as it is more commonly known) is billed as an annual celebration of local and international film-making.

What started as a tweeted “selfie” of President Enrique Pena Nieto with actor Kevin Spacey last week has devolved into a debate about politicians paying for positive coverage on social media. In the photo, a relaxed Pena Nieto beams next to the grinning star of the Netflix television drama “House of Cards,” in which he plays Francis Underwood, a fictitious politician who moves into the White House.

Jane Campion hit out at gender inequality as her presidency of the Cannes Film Festival jury began, bemoaning “inherent sexism” in the film industry.

Erykah Badu The Civic, Auckland, April 10 Erykah Badu is many things: an artist, an activist, a mother. But last night she was a performer.

Oh dear, poor London Grammar. The young English trio may be one of the most talked about groups in Britain but they may have been given the kiss of death.

The critically acclaimed New Zealand filmed drama Top of the Lake has been nominated for a prestigious Bafta television award. The nomination puts the Jane Campion drama, which starred Elisabeth Moss, David Wenham and Holly Hunter, up against the hit British crime drama Broadchurch, the working-cl ass period drama The Village, and the comedy-drama My Mad Fat Diary.

OPINION: Does swearing offend you Do you stay away from most acts at the comedy festival because there’s too much bad language and rude topics Australian comedian Dean Watson believes comedians are too rude and swear too much, as he laid out in this opinion piece on the joys of ‘clean comedy’.