NEWS

The Vincent van Gogh painting stolen from the Singer Laren museum in 2020 was damaged during the theft, but nut irreparably, said art restorer Marjan de Visser, Report informs via NL Times.

The painting was recovered last year when a man delivered it to art detective Arthur Brand one evening. It was shown to reporters during a media event a the Boijmans van Beuningen Depot in Rotterdam on Wednesday, where it will remain for several months.

The painting, known in Dutch as De Lentetuin and in English as The Parsonage Garden at Nuenen in Spring, will be further studied to determine the necessary repairs and restorations following the theft. De Visser said the top left corner likely broke when it was bumped against something,

Since the theft, the painting developed several deep scratches that broke through all layers of paint. One scratch cut all the way to the canvas. At other points, varnish was damaged. The experts who studied the painting said they believe all of the damage can be repaired.

"It's not too bad for us," said Andreas Blühm from the Groninger Museum. The painting is expected to be put on display at his museum from March 29, four years after it was stolen off the Singer Laren museum wall during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic. Until then, fans of the artwork can view it later this month while it undergoes restoration at the Boijmans van Beuningen Depot.

The 1884 painting was on loan from the Groninger Museum to the Singer Laren when it was stolen in a smash-and-grab on March 30, 2020. During the first coronavirus lockdown, a man entered the Singer at night, smashed the glass doors with a sledgehammer, and walked out with the multi-million euro work tucked under his arm.

In April 2021, the authorities matched DNA traces found after the theft to French-born career criminal Nils M. He was sentenced to eight years in prison for the robbery of The Parsonage Garden at Nuenen in Spring and another painting stolen from a museum in Leerdam in September 2020.

Billie Eilish has won the Grammy for song of the year, her second time taking home the Recording Academy’s marquee songwriting prize, Report informs via the Los Angeles Times.

Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?,” co-written with brother Finneas O’Connell, was the emotional centerpiece of last year’s “Barbie,” the box-office success of 2023. They also won earlier in the day for song written for visual media.

Eilish also thanked Greta Gerwig “for making the best movie of the year” with “Barbie.”

“It’s hard to feel deserving ever, but we certainly don’t right now,” O’Connell said. “We feel very humbled, very grateful.”

While the acclaimed film was largely a neon-pink romp and inescapable pop culture phenomenon, “What Was I Made For?” was a relatively somber and intimate single, built on sparse piano and existential lyrics that lent emotional depth to the film.

“The whole song was an excuse to say the truth,” Eilish told The Times last year. “When I did meet-and-greets back in the day, [fans] would be talking to me and I literally would think, ‘Oh my God, if you actually knew me, you would not like me.’ It’s very interesting to be an ideal in somebody’s mind, and they actually have no idea who you are.”

Eilish bested Taylor Swift (who struck out for the seventh time in a category the veteran songwriter has yet to win), fellow “Barbie” soundtrack artist Dua Lipa, SZA and Olivia Rodrigo for the Grammy. The ballad may also earn her a second Oscar for original song.

Eilish has been a Grammy favorite throughout her young career, coming into 2024 with seven wins and 25 nominations. She dominated the Grammys in 2020, winning all four top awards including album, song, record and best new artist.

An exhibition of the London-based Ghanaian artist Kojo Marfo “Crucible of hope” will be launched at the Heydar Aliyev Center on February 14.

The enchanting exhibition will display more than 20 works by the artist inviting viewers on an exploration into the intertwined realms of success, happiness, and the burdens that shape our very existence.

The striking work of this Ghanaian painter living in London, growing up amongst the influences of the ancient Akan art and artists, merging with the influences of graffiti art whilst living in new York City; fused with a strong appreciation of European figurative and surrealist artists.

Through his thought-provoking artworks, Marfo skillfully explores the intricate nature of shared and personal human stories, with each piece carrying the weight of experiences we have lived and continue to live today.

At the heart of ‘Crucible of Hope’ lies a powerful narrative that sheds light on the societal pressures placed upon us to succeed at any expense, often overshadowing the pursuit of true happiness. Marfo’s art becomes a mirror to society, inviting introspection and igniting a dialogue on the complex interplay between success and fulfilment, and how we can reach for a sense of equilibrium.

His paintings reflect a matriarchal energy, a combination of hometown traditions with a neo expressionist style. The vibrant acrylics of families, grandmothers and relationships painted in a luminosity of colour echoing a playful innocence. His artworks resonate the idea of a colour sunny disposition with a deep narrative and complex observations of society and humanity. Using the symbolisms of Kojo’s west African cultures, referencing flowers, gods, fertility dolls and vodou symbols, his work communicates the central aspect of living in this century.

His works have been exhibited internationally, including in Amsterdam, Barcelona, New York City, Paris, London, Tokyo and in other countries.

Azerbaijan`s animated film “Hadis” achieved remarkable success at the 14th edition of PIAFF, the Paris International Animation Film Festival, earning the prestigious “Audience Award”.

Directed by Nazrin Aghamaliyeva and produced by Rashid Aghamaliyev, “Hadis” portrays the story of a young girl`s quest for justice in a world dominated by symbolic crows.

The short animated film is dedicated to Hadis Najafi, a 22-year-old ethnic Azerbaijani Turk who was tragically killed by Iranian security forces during protests in Iran on September 21, 2022. It also pays homage to those who bravely oppose gender, ethnic and cultural discrimination in the country.

Co-written by Ismail Iman and Nazrin Aghamaliyeva, with Masud Panahi serving as a consultant, “Hadis” features lead animation by Andrea Szelesová and editing by Jorge Sánchez Calderón. Voice acting is performed by Zohre Karimi, while the captivating soundtrack showcases the music of renowned Azerbaijani musician Sevda Alakbarzade.

Produced by ANIMAFILM Studio with financial support from the Azerbaijan Cultural Society of Northern California, “Hadis” received media backing from the Azerbaijan Animation Association and the Akinchi platform.

Its premiere occurred at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival, a prestigious event in the animation world. The film has been submitted to 38 international festivals, four of which – such as the BUSAN International Film Festival, ANIMEST International Animation Film Festival, Annecy International Animated Film Festival and Izmir International Short Film Festival - are Oscar-qualifying festivals.

“Hadis” has won awards at various international film festivals in Türkiye, Germany, Italy, France, Kazakhstan, Georgia, and Azerbaijan.

David Ellison’s Skydance Media and its financial backers are exploring a deal to take private all of Paramount Global, people familiar with the matter told CNBC, Report informs.

Skydance, the film and TV studio run by Ellison, has exchanged preliminary information with Paramount, said the people, who asked not to be named because the deal talks are private. Full due diligence hasn’t started, the people said.

Skydance has been working with private equity firms RedBird Capital Partners and KKR & Co. on a deal to buy National Amusements, the holding company owned by Shari Redstone. It controls 77% of Paramount’s voting stock.

But that deal is contingent on merging Skydance with Paramount, and the likely structure for a merger would be a complete take private of the larger media company, said the people.

Redstone is considering selling as the media landscape shifts away from traditional TV toward streaming. While Paramount Global has run a profitable business for decades, it is smaller than Netflix, Google’s YouTube, Apple, Amazon, and other larger streamers that have bigger balance sheets to afford sports and entertainment content.

No acquisition is assured, and talks could fall apart.

It is unclear if Redstone would demand a different premium for selling National Amusements than the remaining shareholders of Paramount Global would obtain.

Skydance would need additional capital to acquire Paramount, which has a market capitalization of $8.2 billion and about $15 billion of debt. Some of that funding could come from Skydance’s private equity partners and Larry Ellison, the billionaire co-founder of Oracle and David Ellison’s father. Skydance hasn’t reached out for outside financing yet, as it hasn’t decided if it wants to move forward with a deal, said the people.

Skydance isn’t interested in a deal where it would only acquire National Amusements but not all of Paramount, said the people. While such a deal would give Skydance control of Paramount, it wouldn’t solve Paramount’s problems as a publicly traded company, which include running the growing but money-losing Paramount+ streaming service, and operating declining linear cable assets such as MTV, VH1, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon.

An exhibition of the famous Georgian artist Lado Gudiashvili has been opened at the Heydar Aliyev Center.

The exhibition was organized on the initiative of the Heydar Aliyev Center, with the support of the Embassy of Georgia in Azerbaijan and the Lado Gudiashvili Foundation in Georgia.

Addressing the event, the artist’s great-granddaughter Elizabed Lordkipanidze expressed her gratitude to the Heydar Aliyev Center for organizing such a high-level exhibition.

First Deputy Director of Heydar Aliyev Center Fargan Novruzov noted that the exhibition features a collection of works from all periods of Lado Gudiashvili's life.

He expressed his gratitude to the Lado Gudiashvili Foundation and the Embassy of Georgia in Azerbaijan for the organization of the exhibition.

Georgian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Zurab Pataradze said that the two countries have always enjoyed friendly and fraternal relations: "Our relations are developing successfully in both political and economic domains, and I would like to specially mention the humanitarian and cultural ties".

The diplomat emphasized that the exhibition would last for three months and visitors would be able to enjoy the exhibition. Zurab Pataradze expressed his gratitude to the Lado Gudiashvili Foundation, the Georgian National Museum, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Heydar Aliyev Center for organizing the exhibition.

Speaking about the paintings of Lado Gudiashvili, People's Artist, Chairman of Azerbaijan’s Union of Artists Farhad Khalilov underscored that Lado started painting since childhood, and his art still amazes everyone.

Then the guests viewed with the exhibition.

The 74th Berlin Film Festival runs from 15-25 February, and the freshly announced Competition line-up looks like cinephiles will be treated to a very strong edition, according to Euronews.

The Berlin International Film Festival has revealed the 20 titles selected for its official Competition.

It’s a promising selection of films with several star-driven projects and some arthouse favourites. We don’t envy this year’s jury, led by Lupita Nyong’o, but we can’t wait to feast our eyes on what has got to be the most eclectic Berlinale line-up in recent years.

New films from Olivier Assayas, Bruno Dumont, Mati Diop are among those selected for the Competition line-up, with stars including Rooney Mara (La Cocina), Gael García Bernal and Renate Reinsve (Another End), Sebastian Stan (A Different Man – also starring Reinsve), Isabelle Hupert (A Traveler’s Needs) and Cillian Murphy, whose new film, Small Things Like These, will open this year’s Berlinale.

Small Things Like These is directed by Peaky Blinders’ Tim Mielants, and is based on the 2021 book by Irish author, Claire Keegan.

Set in 1980s Ireland, it sees the Oppenheimer star play a devoted father who discovers unsettling truths about the Magdalene Laundries, the horrific asylums run by Roman Catholic institutions said to house “fallen women”. The cast includes Ciaran Hinds and Emily Watson.

The Berlinale's Artistic Director Carlo Chatrian said: “We are confident that this story that allies the kindness to be directed to the more fragile, and the willpower to stand up against injustice, will resonate with everyone.”

He continued: “We are looking forward to launching this quiet yet quite exceptional film at the start of Zeitgeist Irland 24, a year-long celebration of Irish culture in Germany."

Several films in the line-up already stand out as particularly alluring, such as Mexican director Alonso Ruizpalacious’ (A Cop Movie) new film La Cocina. Billed as a love story set in the kitchen of a Manhattan restaurant, it sees Rooni Mara playing an American waitress named Julia who becomes romantically entangled with the prime suspect of an in-house theft, an undocumented Mexican cook named Pedro (Raúl Briones).

Elsewhere, Another End by Italian director Piero Messina (The Wait) stars García Bernal as a man whose wife dies, and Renate Reinsve as the woman who rents out her body - in which the memory and consciousness of his former wife are temporarily implanted – and becomes his partner. As you do.

Reinsve, who wowed audiences in The Worst Person in the World, also stars alongside Sebastian Stan (Logan Lucky, I, Tonya, the MCU’s Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier) in A Different Man, which follows an actor who has facial reconstruction surgery and who must come to terms with the fact that a theatre role based on his life is given to another actor. The film had its world premiere in Sundance earlier this month, and audiences were reportedly impressed by the film's performances, use of body horror, and one kinky sex scene that had viewers squirming in their seats.

The Nizami Cinema Center in Baku has hosted a presentation of the documentary film “In the Footsteps of One Visit – Japan,” dedicated to the official visit of national leader Heydar Aliyev to this country, Report informs.

The film tells about the interesting moments of Heydar Aliyev’s first official visit to Japan in 1998.

Filming took place in the cities of Tokyo and Kyoto.

The head of the project, Azerbaijani traveler Azer Garib, said during the presentation that the film takes viewers to the historical cities of Japan, which were visited by the national leader, and shows the unofficial sides of the official visit.

The creative team of the film, the author of the idea of which is Azer Garib, includes editor Ayaz Mirzeyev, producer Asgar Garibzada, cameramen Ali Aliyev and Violetta Matsue, editing specialist Elmar Tarieloglu.

According to Garib, interesting details of other visits of the national leader will also be filmed. Before this, a film about a trip to Italy was shot as part of the project.

German music producer Frank Farian died aged 82, his agency announced on behalf of his family on Tuesday, Report informs, citing DW.

He passed away peacefully at his home in Miami, Florida.

Farian achieved international success in the 1970s and sold more than 800 million records with various artists throughout his career.

As the producer of Boney M., Farian was responsible for hits including "Daddy Cool," "Rasputin" and "Brown Girl in the Ring." The group sold more than 150 million records worldwide.

He would also work with the likes of Stevie Wonder and Meat Loaf.

A meeting of the Tourism Committee under the chairmanship of Azerbaijan has been held in Tehran, Iran, within the framework of the 34th meeting of the Regional Planning Council of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).

Deputy Chief of the Staff of Azerbaijan’s State Tourism Agency and head of the International Relations Department Jalil Malikov represented the country at the event.

In accordance with the organization’s action plan for 2024, the event focused on establishing of a Consultative Committee on tourism for the ECO region states, general criteria for the sustainability of accommodation facilities operating in the ECO region that was established by the working group on tourism standardization, as well as setting up a working group to expand cooperation on Silk Road tourism among the member states.

The participants also discussed the organization of relevant measures for the protection of ancient Silk Road monuments and cultural heritage with ECO and UNESCO’s cooperation, as well as the appointment of "Tourism Ambassadors of the ECO" as a new project to promote the existing tourism potential of the member states within the framework of the organization.