In this Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2015 file photo, Meryl Streep poses for photographers upon her arrival at the premiere of the film "Suffragette" at the opening gala of the London film festival. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP, File)
BERLIN (AP) --
Meryl Streep has been chosen to head the jury at the Berlin International Film Festival in February.
Organizers said Wednesday it will be the first time in her career that the Oscar-winning 66-year-old actress has served on a film festival jury.
Streep said in a statement released by the festival: "The responsibility is somewhat daunting, as I have never been president of anything before." She added that she is "grateful for the honor."
The Berlin festival honored Streep for her lifetime achievement in 2012.
The 2016 event, the first of the year's major European film festivals, runs Feb. 11-21. The seven-member jury at this year's event was led by American director Darren Aronofsky.
There was no immediate word on who will serve alongside Streep on the 2016 jury.
This image released by Hallmark Media shows Hunter King, left, and Tyler Hynes in a scene from "Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story. (Joshua Haines/Hallmark Media via AP)
Two new Christmas TV movies have a Taylor Swift connection that her fans would have no problem decoding.
"Christmas in the Spotlight" debuts Saturday on Lifetime. It stars Jessica Lord as the world's biggest pop star and Laith Wallschleger as a pro football player, who meet and fall in love — not unlike Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
"It's clearly inspired by Taylor and Travis, but I don't know them and I don't know what is going on behind the scenes. I only know what's been put out there," said Eirene Tran Donohue, a longtime, devoted fan who jumped at the opportunity to write a script even loosely based on her favorite musician.
She was inspired by the couple's support of each other's accomplishments, particularly Kelce's ease with dating the star despite the glare of the spotlight, adding, "I love the way that he celebrates her."
Tran Donohue wants fellow Swift fans to know she wrote the script with them in mind.
"There are so many Easter eggs," she said of little details added that a Swift fan would pick up on. "I put in as many as I could."
Then, on Nov. 30, Hallmark will air "Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story." Instead of a nod to Swift, it's an ode to family traditions and bonding, like rooting for a sports team. Hallmark's headquarters is also in Kansas City, so it makes sense why the company chose the Chiefs to be highlighted.
In this story, written by Julie Sherman Wolfe, sparks fly when a new employee for the Chiefs organization (Tyler Hynes) meets a woman — played by Hunter King — whose family's dedication to the team goes back generations.
Sherman Wolfe, a San Francisco 49ers fan, said she got the call a week after Super Bowl LVIII, when the Chiefs... Read More
