Mel Gibson wins Capri Fest’s director award for “Hacksaw Ridge”December 30, 2016 - 11:36 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Mel Gibson has been awarded the Director of the Year honor for World War II drama “Hacksaw Ridge” at the 21st edition of the Capri Hollywood International Film Festival, Variety reports. Bill Mechanic, one of the film’s producers, accepted the award on Gibson’s behalf. Mechanic has already been honored with the festival’s Producer of the Year award for the movie. “Hacksaw Ridge” tells the story of Desmond Doss, played by Andrew Garfield, who was a conscientious objector for religious reasons and saved 75 lives in the Battle of Okinawa without firing a single shot. Doss became the first conscientious objector to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. “Hacksaw Ridge” premiered at the Venice Film Festival and has grossed $64 million domestically and $40 million internationally since opening in November. “It took me 15 years to make this movie,” Mechanic said on receiving the award at the Anacapri Cinema Paradiso stage. “Mel will be very happy to receive this award. I always thought he was perfect for this film, but he only accepted the ask on my third request! It was very important to make this movie.” It’s Gibson’s first directing job since 2006’s “Apocalypto.” His other directing credits are “The Man Without a Face,” “Braveheart” and “The Passion of the Christ.” “Hacksaw Ridge” will be screened in Italian cinemas beginning Feb. 7 through the Leone Film Group and Eagles Pictures. Top stories The creative crew of the Public TV had chosen 13-year-old Malena as a participant of this year's contest. She called on others to also suspend their accounts over the companies’ failure to tackle hate speech. Penderecki was known for his film scores, including for William Friedkin’s “The Exorcist”, Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining”. The festival made the news public on March 19, saying that “several options are considered in order to preserve its running” Partner news | Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Azerbaijan must respect human rights, Scholz tells Aliyev German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for greater respect for human rights in Azerbaijan. Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush. Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. |