In this July 11, 2016 file photo, actor Viggo Mortensen participates in AOL's BUILD Speaker Series to discuss the film "Captain Fantastic" in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
WATERTOWN, NY (AP) --
Viggo Mortensen will return to his northern New York hometown this month to kick off a film festival with a screening of his 2016 movie "Captain Fantastic."
Organizers of the Snowtown Film Festival say the 58-year-old actor will be in Watertown on Jan. 27 for the screening, which will be preceded by a "flannel-casual" red carpet and followed by a panel session featuring Mortensen.
Mortensen graduated from Watertown High School and St. Lawrence University in northern New York. His other films include "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy and "Eastern Promises."
He has been nominated for multiple awards for his starring role in "Captain Fantastic." He plays the father of six children faced with suddenly coping with society after being raised off the grid in the Pacific Northwest forests.
Pepsi soft drinks in plastic bottles are on sale at a grocery store in New York on Weds., Nov. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)
PepsiCo confirmed Friday that it's ending some of its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, even as rival Coca-Cola voiced support for its own inclusion efforts.
In a memo sent to employees, PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said the company will no longer set goals for minority representation in its managerial roles or supplier base. The company will also align its sponsorships to events and groups that promote business growth, he said.
Laguarta wrote that inclusion remains important to PepsiCo, whose brands include Gatorade, Lay's potato chips, Doritos, Mountain Dew as well as Pepsi. The Purchase, New York-based company's chief diversity officer will transition to a broader role focused on employee engagement, leadership development and ensuring an inclusive culture, he said.
Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House last month, U.S. government agencies, companies and schools have rushed to reevaluate policies and programs they adopted with the goal of reducing discrimination against members of minority groups, women and LGBTQ+ people.
Trump ended DEI programs within the federal government and has warned schools to end DEI programs or risk losing federal money.
PepsiCo's rollback came as Coca-Cola reaffirmed support for its DEI efforts.
In its annual report, Atlanta-based Coke warned that its business could be negatively affected if it is unable to attract employees that reflect its broad range of customers.
"Failure to maintain a corporate culture that fosters innovation, collaboration and inclusion … could disrupt our operations and adversely affect our business and our future success," the company said.
Coca-Cola has set a goal of having women in 50% of its senior leadership roles by... Read More
