Venice Director Alberto Barbera Says September Fest May Use Masks & Social Distancing, Hints At Cannes Collaboration

More details have emerged about Anna Kendrick and Bill Hader‘s low key relationship.

Vladimir Putin once demanded that Arsenal paid twice as much as they wanted to for a transfer and the Gunners obliged, it was claimed in a book.According to agent Jon Smith's 2016 autobiography, 'The Deal', Putin was underwhelmed by Arsenal's initial offer as they attempted to sign Andrey Arshavin from Zenit Saint Petersburg in 2009.Zenit are operated by the state-owned corporation Gazprom, giving Putin power when it comes to the high-profile transfers of his boyhood club.As a result, the Russian president took it upon himself to ensure his valuation was met before he allowed Arshavin to complete his move to the Premier League side.According to Smith, Arsenal had only been willing to pay £7million for Arshavin, while Putin valued the player at closer to £15million.It is said that Putin was able to hold up the deal as he demanded Arsenal met his valuation, with the deal not completed until Deadline Day in January 2009.The book also claims that Arsene Wenger even resorted to offering Zenit a place at that summer's Emirates Cup tournament.Shareholder Alisher Usmanov is also believed to have been asked to use his connections in Russia in a desperate attempt to get the deal over the line.Will Arsenal finish in the top four this season? Let us know in the comments section below.Putin eventually got his way as Arshavin moved to the Emirates Stadium on the final day of the window for just under £15million.He went on to make 145 appearances for the club, scoring a total of 31 goals and adding as further 46 assists for his team-mates.Arshavin also famously scored four goals in one match as Arsenal played out a thrilling 4-4 draw away at Liverpool in April 2009.After four-and-a-half years in north London, Arshavin returned to Zenit

The César Awards ceremony held tonight in Paris included a poignant tribute by Canadian filmmaker Xavier Dolan to late actor Gaspard Ulliel who died in January at age 37 following a skiing accident.

Did Rob Kardashian reveal he’s in a new relationship? And is it even that new? How long has this been going on and we had no idea??

Roy Keane believes Manchester United will need "a lot more" than Cristiano Ronaldo if they are to return to their Premier League perch.

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Former 16 & Pregnant star Josh Rendon has reportedly found himself in major trouble!

The 53rd NAACP Image Awards will be held Saturday, February 26 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET. The show returns to an in-person gala this year live from the Pasadena Civic Center, and in addition to BET will run as a simulcast across 11 Paramount Global networks: BET Her, CMT, Comedy Central, Logo, MTV, MTV2, Paramount, Pop, Smithsonian Channel, TV Land and VH1.

Travis Barker and Shanna Moakler’s daughter Alabama Barker has something to say about her momma’s ex-boyfriend Matthew Rondeau following his profanity-riddled tirade on Instagram and subsequent domestic violence arrest!

Milla Jovovich is speaking out about the Russian attacks against Ukraine.

Manchester United are reportedly keen on signing Antonio Rudiger as a free agent this summer amid doubts over Harry Maguire.

Jason Momoa, 42, and Lisa Bonet, 54, have decided to give their marriage another chance. After revealing in a joint Instagram post on Jan. 12 that they had decided to split, stating, “We free each other to be who we are learning to become,” a friend of the Aquaman star tells HollywoodLife EXCLUSIVELY that they’ve had a change of heart – and they are already living together again!

Amelia Hamlin, 20, is a Versace girl! The California-born model sizzled in a Barbie pink latex dress by the designer as she headed to their Milan Fashion Week show in Italy on Friday, Feb. 25. Amelia took to Instagram to show off the look as she posed in the back of a vehicle, looking like a total 2000s babe. “hi,” she wrote with several heart emojis, as well as a flower and purse. She added tags for the brand and Donatella Versace, also shouting out Pat McGrath for her glam.

Cruz Beckham made his magazine cover debut in a big way this week!

Piers Morgan has bashed Vladimir Putin after Russia launched a "full-scape invasion" on Ukraine. According to reports, Ukraine's interior ministry has said they are already "hundreds of casualties" in what many are flagging could be the most disastrous European war since 1945.

By Elsa Keslassy

The Venice International Film Festival has "a concrete will" to collaborate with Cannes this year, in what Venice artistic director Alberto Barbera says would be a "sign of solidarity towards the cinema world" during the coronavirus crisis. In an interview with Italian news agency ANSA on Tuesday, Barbera said he was open to an idea, first floated by Cannes boss Thierry Frémaux, that the two European festivals collaborate on this 2020 editions.

By Nick Vivarelli

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has wreaked havoc across the globe, we’ve seen damn near every film festival from this spring and summer canceled, or at least, drastically altered. However, according to Venice Film Festival director, Alberto Barbera, this year’s Italian film event will be the first one since the pandemic shut everything down to closely adhere to the structure of previous editions.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentThe upcoming Venice Film Festival, which is scheduled to run Sept. 2-12, is expected to be the first major international film event to hold a physical edition after the coronavirus crisis, albeit with a somewhat slimmer but still substantial lineup.Variety spoke exclusively to Venice Artistic Director Alberto Barbera about how he’s been navigating the crisis, which has now led him to reduce the number of movies but keep the official selection structure intact.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentThe upcoming Venice Film Festival’s reconfiguration due to coronavirus safety measures has been officially unveiled.Barring complications, Venice, which runs Sept.