In this Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011 file photo, Belgian director Chantal Akerman poses during the photo call for the movie La folie Almayer at the 68th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy. (AP Photo/Jonathan Short, file)
BRUSSELS (AP) --
Belgian film director Chantal Akerman, a champion of feminism during the heady days of French filmmaking in the 1970s and beyond, has died. She was 65.
Artemis Productions in Brussels, which worked with Akerman, confirmed her death on Tuesday but release no other details.
The minister responsible for francophone culture, Joelle Milquet, lauded "her abundant output which covered documentaries and fiction, often experimental and without concessions, which will have its place in world cinema."
Akerman started producing as a teenager after she was inspired by Jean-Luc Godard, a star of the French New Wave cinema. She gained critical acclaim with "Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles," and will be remembered as a major art house figure and a pioneering experimental filmmaker.
Jonathan Majors arrives at EBONY Power 100 on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, at nya studios WEST in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Jonathan Majors' ex-girlfriend has dropped her assault and defamation lawsuit against the once-rising Hollywood star after reaching a settlement.
Lawyers for Majors and Grace Jabbari agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice, according to a joint filing in Manhattan federal court Thursday.
Jabbari's lawyer said Friday that the suit was "favorably settled" but declined to elaborate.
"Grace Jabbari has exhibited tremendous courage throughout this very long and difficult process," attorney Brittany Henderson said in a statement. "We hope that she can finally put this chapter behind her and move forward with her head held high."
Representatives for Majors didn't respond to emails seeking comment Friday.
Jabbari, in her lawsuit filed in March, accused the 35-year-old Marvel and "Creed III" star of subjecting her to escalating incidents of physical and verbal abuse during their relationship, including assault, battery, defamation and infliction of emotional distress.
The British dancer filed the suit months after Majors was convicted of misdemeanor assault and harassment in connection with an altercation in Manhattan.
During a fight that began in the backseat of a chauffeured car before spilling out into the streets, Jabbari said Majors hit her head with his open hand, twisted her arm behind her back and squeezed her middle finger until it fractured.
Majors claimed Jabbari had flown into a jealous rage and was the aggressor and that he was only trying to regain his phone and get away safely.
Majors avoided jail time but was ordered by a judge in April to complete a yearlong counseling program.
Following the guilty verdict, Majors was immediately dropped by Marvel Studios, which had cast him as Kang... Read More
