By Thomas Adamson
PARIS (AP) --The European Union has congratulated director Ken Loach, who took the Palme d'Or in Cannes for "I, Daniel Blake," a film partly funded by the European Commission.
Loach received the French Riviera festival's top prize Sunday night for the film about a disabled carpenter in northern England fighting for social assistance. The production received almost 100,000 euros ($112,000) from the Creative Europe program.
Romanian Cristian Mungiu's film "Graduation," which won Sunday's Best Director award, also received support.
The program, which has supported 14 other Palme d'Or winners, co-funds the development and distribution to several EU countries of films that contribute to "cultural diversity."
Commissioner Gunther H. Oettinger, responsible for digital economy and society, congratulated both the teams "for this extraordinary success."
“Scandal” cast will reunite for online script reading for hurricane relief in western North Carolina
The cast of ABC's hit political drama "Scandal" may need to brush up on their snappy, speedy delivery known as "Scandal-pace," because they're reuniting for a good cause. Its stars including Kerry Washington, Tony Goldwyn and Bellamy Young will take part in a live virtual script reading on Nov. 17 to raise money for hurricane relief in western North Carolina.
Beginning Friday, fans can go online and donate to reserve a spot for the online reading. Proceeds will benefit United Way of North Carolina. Everyone who donates will be able to take part in a virtual pre-event with the cast and Shonda Rhimes will give an introduction.
Additional guest stars will also be announced. The online fundraising platform Prizeo is also holding a contest where one person who donates online via their site will be selected to read a role from the script with the actors. The winner should not worry about the "Scandal"-pace, assured Young over Zoom.
"Whomever the lucky reader is can read at whatever pace they want," she said.
Young, who played Mellie Young, the first lady and later Republican presidential nominee on "Scandal," was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina. She came up with the idea for the effort with a friend and took it to her fellow "Scandal" actors, who all jumped on board. Young said this is the first script reading the cast has all done together since the show ended after seven seasons in 2018.
Which episode they will be reading has not been announced yet.
Young said it's "been devastating" to see so many parts of her hometown badly damaged by Hurricane Helene, which ravaged western North Carolina one month ago.
To research the best use for donations, Young spoke with numerous political leaders, including North... Read More