Hollywood Week: Berlin Film Festival, Superbowl Breakfast 2024, Bart Starr Award, European Film Market
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- Category: Entertainment News
- Published on Saturday, 10 February 2024 17:29
- Written by Janet Walker
The Berlin Film Festival has rescinded the opening night invitations to five right-wing members of the AfD party, after a social media campaign opposing their attendance persuaded the governing board to reconsider and after debate made the decision.
"Especially in light of the revelations that have been made in recent weeks about explicitly anti-democratic positions and individual politicians of the AfD, it is important for us - as the Berlinale and as a team - to take an unequivocal stand in favour of an open democracy. We have therefore today written to all previously invited AfD politicians and informed them that they are not welcome at the Berlinale," says the Berlinale's director duo, Mariëtte Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian," as per a previous press release.
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The world premiere of the Cillian Murphy's film, "Small Things Like These," based on the Irish author Claire Keegan's bestselling novel, will open the 74th edition of the festival.
Simultaneously, the European Film Market, EFM, the largest gathering of film buyers and sellers arrive in Berlin, Germany to begin a week of deal making, coinciding with the 74th Berlin Film Festival, for a week of cinema celebration.
Super Bowl Breakfast Bart Starr Award
The 2024 Super Bowl Breakfast, an NFL sanctioned event, was held at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, where the San Francisco 49ers and the Kanas City Chiefs will gather at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday, February 11, 2024, for Super Bowl LVIII.
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The Super Bowl Breakfast, emceed by Akbar Gbajabiamila, co-host of "American Ninja Warrior" and "The Talk," and former ESPN Analyst Sage Steele. The event included the presentation of the Bart Starr Award to Minkah Fitzpatrick of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and included in person special guests Tony Dungy, Super Bowl Champion Coach, Pro Football Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz, and Mike Singletary. Via video past winners Peyton Manning and Eli Manning introduced Minkah to the audience.
The Bart Starr Award is given annually to an NFL player who best exemplified character, integrity and leadership on and off the field. Besides his NFL career, Minkah founded Unshackled!, a faith based foundation to provide resources and raise awareness for children and families in need.. He has also partnered with KidsVoice and Dreambuilders Foundation and is in his third year of sponsoring tailgates at every Pittsburgh Steelers home game with the Pittsburgh Police Department to build positive relationships with the community. Minkah doesn't hide his faith in Christ, and serves as a leader in the locker room during weekly Christian bible studies.
The event also featured a spectacular celebrity and sports memorabilia themed silent auction, including signed football helmets, team jerseys, and photographs of great moments in sports history, and Hollywood and music stars and icons including special edition, signed, framed pictures of The Rolling Stones, Taylor Swift, Jack Nicholson, Clint Eastwood, Steve McQueen, and Mickey Mouse,
The program included a presentation on the great Jim Thorpe, which many understand, and many know the name as part of the NFL legacy and historical past, but what many don't know is that Thorpe, an American Indian at birth, with intense early childhood trauma, was able to overcome the challenges, and excel at every sport, from Lacrosse to Track & Field to football and was the first American Indian to win an Olympic Gold for the United States. His athletic legacy which was once erased by the Olympic Committee has been restored, and a film, Thorpe, has been endorsed by all American Indian tribes.
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The breakfast sponsored by Athletes in Action, a Cru Ministries organization, is a widely supported faith based and the introduction to this year's announcement seemed to resonate, as the late Bart Starr spoke about this award explaining, "isn't it time we stand and cheer the doer, the leader, the winner, someone who looks for something extra to do for their God, their family, their country, their community, the word football's not in there."
When athletes thank God in the end zone it can seem like simply being thankful for the touchdown but to hear these athletes stand in front of a crowd of people that they don't know and explain how faith has been important in their life it's a different story.
The program included three of the wives of previous Bart Starr Award winners, Kim Singletary wife of Mike Singletary, Tommi Vincent wife of Troy Vincent, and Kirsten Watson, wife of Benjamin Watson, who all talked openly to the large audience of their faith in Jesus Christ.
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Throughout the program it began evident that the Christian faith, and it sounded like a doctrine that was rooted and established in the teaching of Christ, and forged in years of practice and prayer, was an important foundation in their homes and more than just in their homes, it presented like a faith that extended from the player's locker room to life.
Any football fan, who has ever watched a televised game will explain that somewhere in the end zone is a fan holding a sign that reads, John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
For the Athletes in Action organization this message is the foundation of their life.