NYFF Director and Selection Committee Chair Kent Jones said, “Francis Ford Coppola said that the cinema would become a real art form only when the tools of moviemaking became as inexpensive as paints, brushes, and canvases. That has come to pass, but at the same time it’s become increasingly tough to do serious work that is beholden to nothing but the filmmaker’s need to express these emotions in this form in moving images and sound. So if I were pressed to choose one word to describe the films in this year’s Main Slate, it would be: bravery. These films were made all over the globe, by young filmmakers like Dominga Sotomayor and masters like Fred Wiseman, by artists of vastly different sensibilities from Claire Denis to the Coen Brothers, Jafar Panahi to Jean-Luc Godard. And the unifying thread is their bravery, the bravery needed to fight past the urge to commercialized smoothness and mediocrity that is always assuming new forms. That’s what makes every single title in this year’s Main Slate so precious, and so vital.”
This year’s Main Slate showcases films from 22 different countries, including new titles from celebrated auteurs, extraordinary work from directors making their first NYFF bows, and captivating features that wowed audiences at international festivals. Five films in the festival were honored at Cannes, including Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Palme d’Or–winner Shoplifters; Jean-Luc Godard’s The Image Book, awarded a Special Palme d’Or; Cold War, which took home the Best Director prize for Paweł Pawlikowski; and Alice Rohrwacher’s Happy as Lazzaro and Jafar Panahi’s 3 Faces, which shared the Best Screenplay award. Returning to the festival for the sixth consecutive year is Hong Sangsoo with two new films, joined by his fellow NYFF54 filmmakers Olivier Assayas and Barry Jenkins. Frederick Wiseman makes his 10th appearance at the festival, while other returning filmmakers include Joel & Ethan Coen, Alex Ross Perry, Claire Denis, Ulrich Köhler, Lee Chang-dong, Jia Zhangke, and Christian Petzold. Making both their directorial and NYFF debuts are Paul Dano and Richard Billingham, and Louis Garrel makes his first NYFF showing as a director. Other filmmakers new to the festival include Dominga Sotomayor, Christophe Honoré, Tamara Jenkins, Mariano Llinás, and Ying Liang, as well as Bi Gan and Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, both alumni of New Directors/New Films 2016.
As previously announced, the NYFF56 Opening Night is Yorgos Lanthimos’s The Favourite, Alfonso Cuarón’s ROMA is Centerpiece, and Julian Schnabel’s At Eternity’s Gate will close the festival.
The 56th New York Film Festival Main Slate
Opening Night The Favourite
Dir. Yorgos Lanthimos
Centerpiece ROMA
Dir. Alfonso Cuarón
Closing Night At Eternity’s Gate
Dir. Julian Schnabel
3 Faces
Dir. Jafar Panahi
Asako I & II
Dir. Ryûsuke Hamaguchi
Ash Is Purest White
Dir. Jia Zhangke
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Dir. Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
Burning
Dir. Lee Chang-dong
Cold War
Dir. Paweł Pawlikowski
A Faithful Man/L’Homme fidèle
Dir. Louis Garrel
A Family Tour
Dir. Ying Liang
La Flor
Dir. Mariano Llinás
Grass
Dir. Hong Sangsoo
Happy as Lazzaro/Lazzaro felice
Dir. Alice Rohrwacher
Her Smell
Dir. Alex Ross Perry
High Life
Dir. Claire Denis
Hotel by the River
Dir. Hong Sangsoo
If Beale Street Could Talk
Dir. Barry Jenkins
The Image Book/Le Livre d’image
Dir. Jean-Luc Godard
In My Room
Dir. Ulrich Köhler
Long Day’s Journey Into Night
Dir. Bi Gan
Monrovia, Indiana
Dir. Frederick Wiseman
Non-Fiction
Dir. Olivier Assayas
Private Life
Dir. Tamara Jenkins
RAY & LIZ
Dir. Richard Billingham
Shoplifters
Dir. Hirokazu Kore-eda
Sorry Angel
Dir. Christophe Honoré
Too Late to Die Young
Dir. Dominga Sotomayor
Transit
Dir. Christian Petzold
Wildlife
Dir. Paul Dano
NYFF Special Events, Spotlight on Documentary, Retrospective, Revivals, Convergence, Shorts, and Projections sections, as well as filmmaker conversations and panels, will be announced in the coming weeks.
The 17-day New York Film Festival highlights the best in world cinema, featuring works from celebrated filmmakers as well as fresh new talent. The selection committee, chaired by Jones, also includes Dennis Lim, FSLC Director of Programming, and Florence Almozini, FSLC Associate Director of Programming.
Tickets for the 56th New York Film Festival will go on sale to the general public on September 9. Festival and VIP passes are on sale now and offer one of the earliest opportunities to purchase tickets and secure seats at some of the festival’s biggest events, including Opening and Closing Night. Learn more here.
Ariana Grande at iHeartRadio Wango Tango at the Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles on June 2, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for iHeartRadio via Freeform)
Shawn Mendes at iHeartRadio Wango Tango at the Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles on June 2, 2018. (Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images for iHeartRadio via Freeform)
Logic at iHeartRadio Wango Tango at the Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles on June 2, 2018. (Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images for iHeartRadio via Freeform)
The following is a press release from MTV:
MTV today announced that Ariana Grande, Shawn Mendes and Logic with Ryan Tedder will take the stage at the 2018 “VMAs.” Grande will perform her smash hit single “God is a Woman” from her forthcoming album “Sweetener,” while Mendes will deliver his chart-topping song “In My Blood,” and Logic will perform his new single, “One Day,” featuring Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic, for the first time.
As previously announced, Jennifer Lopez will be honored with the “Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.” She is also set to perform at this year’s show for the first time since 2001. The “VMAs” will air live from Radio City Music Hall on Monday, August 20 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT across MTV’s global network of channels in more than 180 countries and territories, reaching more than half a billion households around the world.
The full list of nominees for the 2018 “VMAs” is available here. Additional performers will be announced at a later date.
Multiplatinum, record-breaking superstar Ariana Grandehas delivered three platinum-selling albums and surpassed 18 billion streams, in addition to nabbing four Grammy Award nominations and landing eight hits in the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. With the release of “No Tears Left To Cry” she became the first artist in music history to see the lead single from her first four albums debut on the Top 10 on Billboard Hot 100. This year she has graced the prestigious magazine covers of TIME, British Vogue, ELLE, and Fader. Grande’s highly anticipated fourth studio album, Sweetener, will be released later this month.
Toronto born multi-platinum singer/songwriter Shawn Mendes released his highly anticipated self-titled third album in May 2018. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart as well as multiple additional worldwide markets, including Australia, Canada, Mexico, Belgium, Holland & more. Shawn Mendes made Shawn the third youngest solo artist to ever have three #1 albums and became one of the Top best-selling album debuts of 2018. Both “In My Blood” and “Lost In Japan,” the first two songs released off the new album, experienced massive success, soaring to the #1 and #2 spots on the overall iTunes chart in the U.S, Top 5 on iTunes in 50 countries, and held the #1 and #2 spots on Spotify’s “New Music Friday” playlist. With “In My Blood,” Shawn became the first artist to ever have had four #1 singles at AC radio before the age of 20. In April 2017, Shawn released his 3x Platinum hit “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back.” The track scored Shawn his second #1 single at Top 40 radio and on Billboard’s Pop Songs chart, joining 7x Platinum single “Stitches.” Throughout his career, Shawn has achieved 3 consecutive #1 album debuts, 2 Platinum albums, and 7 consecutive Platinum and multi-Platinum singles. Worldwide, he has sold over 11 million albums, 100 million singles, and has amassed over 15 billion song streams and 4 billion YouTube views. Shawn has completed two sold-out world tours with over one million tickets sold, selling out legendary arenas including NYC’s Madison Square Garden, Toronto’s Air Canada Centre, and London’s O2 Arena in minutes. Shawn Mendes: The Tour begins in March 2019, with over 60 dates currently announced across Europe, North American and Asia, with more to be announced soon. He topped Billboard’s “21 Under 21” in 2017 and has been featured on Forbes “30 Under 30,” Spotify’s “25 Under 25,” and Time Magazine’s “Time 100 Most Influential.”
Maryland-bred musician Logic burst onto the music scene through a series of mixtapes that led to a significant, rabid underground fan base. These mixtapes garnered millions of downloads and streams that jumpstarted a worldwide tour before signing a record deal with Def Jam Recordings in 2014. Logic’s last two releases – EVERYBODY and Bobby Tarantino 2 – have debuted consecutively at #1 on the US album charts. Logic has sold over 5 million albums worldwide and has been streamed over 2 billion times. At the 2017 “VMAs,” Logic performed his powerful single “1-800-273-8255,” which resulted in a 50% surge in calls to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Fans can vote for their favorites across 12 VMA categories, including “Video of the Year,” “Artist of the Year,” “Best Collaboration” and more by visiting vma.mtv.com until Friday, August 10. Voting for the “Best New Artist” award, presented by Taco Bell®, will remain active until the VMA broadcast.
MTV has teamed up with Amazon to release a skill for Alexa, the cloud-based voice service, that will allow customers to vote for “Artist of the Year.” This marks the first time ever that a major awards show has used Alexa for audience voting. To cast your vote, just say, “Alexa, vote for the VMAs” on any Alexa-enabled device.
Bruce Gillmer and Jesse Ignjatovic are Executive Producers for the 2018 “VMAs.” Melanie Block serves as Executive in Charge of Production. Amani Duncan is Executive in Charge of Music. Wendy Plaut is Executive in Charge of Celebrity Talent.
Official sponsors of the 2018 “VMAs” include PEPSI®, Swiffer®, Taco Bell® and truth®.
About MTV: MTV is the leading youth media brand inspired by music, in nearly 180 countries and 450 million homes around the world, connecting with over 350 million fans across all social media platforms. A unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), MTV operations span cable and mobile networks, live events, and the new MTV Studios unit which produces original and reimagined content for SVOD and linear networks based on MTV’s library of over 200+ youth titles and franchises.
Willem Dafoe in “At Eternity’s Gate” (Photo by Lily Gavin)
The following is a press release from the Film Society of Lincoln Center:
The Film Society of Lincoln Center announces Julian Schnabel’s “At Eternity’s Gate” as Closing Night of the 56th New York Film Festival (September 28 – October 14), making its North American premiere at Alice Tully Hall on Friday, October 12, 2018. CBS Films will release the film in November 2018.
Julian Schnabel’s ravishingly tactile and luminous new film takes a fresh look at the last days of Vincent van Gogh, and in the process revivifies our sense of the artist as a living, feeling human being. Schnabel; his co-writers Jean-Claude Carrière and Louise Kugelberg, also the film’s editor; and cinematographer Benoît Delhomme strip everything down to essentials, fusing the sensual, the emotional, and the spiritual. And the pulsing heart of At Eternity’s Gate is Willem Dafoe’s shattering performance: his Vincent is at once lucid, mad, brilliant, helpless, defeated, and, finally, triumphant. With Oscar Isaac as Gauguin, Rupert Friend as Theo, Mathieu Amalric as Dr. Gachet, Emmanuelle Seigner as Madame Ginoux, and Mads Mikkelsen as The Priest.
New York Film Festival Director and Selection Committee Chair Kent Jones said, “’At Eternity’s Gate’ is such a surprising film, for all kinds of reasons. Julian Schnabel makes use of the most up-to-date information about Vincent van Gogh, altering our accepted ideas of how he lived and died; he grounds the film in the very action of painting, the intense contact between an artist and the world of forms and textures colored by light; and he gives us Willem Dafoe’s performance as Vincent—acting this pure is endlessly surprising.”
“I would like to say thank you to Kent Jones and the NYFF selection committee on behalf of Willem Dafoe, who is Vincent van Gogh in the film, and the cast and crew, who I have been so privileged to work with, for choosing At Eternity’s Gate for Closing Night,” said Schnabel. “It is a profound honor to be included with the other films and to be part of the history of Closing Night films that came before us. Looking forward to sitting in the audience with everybody.”
The 17-day New York Film Festival highlights the best in world cinema, featuring works from celebrated filmmakers as well as fresh new talent. The selection committee, chaired by Jones, also includes Dennis Lim, FSLC Director of Programming, and Florence Almozini, FSLC Associate Director of Programming.
Earlier this summer, NYFF announced Yorgos Lanthimos’s “The Favourite” as Opening Night and Alfonso Cuarón’s “ROMA”as the Centerpiece selection. This year’s gala screenings, including Closing Night, will be held on Fridays instead of Saturdays.
Tickets for the 56th New York Film Festival will go on sale to the general public on September 9. Festival and VIP passes are on sale now and offer one of the earliest opportunities to purchase tickets and secure seats at some of the festival’s biggest events, including Closing Night.
FILM SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER
The Film Society of Lincoln Center is devoted to supporting the art and elevating the craft of cinema. The only branch of the world-renowned arts complex Lincoln Center to shine a light on the everlasting yet evolving importance of the moving image, this nonprofit organization was founded in 1969 to celebrate American and international film. Via year-round programming and discussions; its annual New York Film Festival; and its publications, including Film Comment,the U.S.’s premier magazine about films and film culture, the Film Society endeavors to make the discussion and appreciation of cinema accessible to a broader audience, as well as to ensure that it will remain an essential art form for years to come.
The Film Society receives generous, year-round support from Shutterstock, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. American Airlines is the Official Airline of the Film Society of Lincoln Center.
Support for the New York Film Festival is generously provided by Official Partners HBO® and The New York Times, Benefactor Partners Dolby and illy caffè, Supporting Partners Warby Parker, MUBI, and Manhattan Portage, and Hospitality Partner Hudson Hotel. JCDecaux, Variety, Deadline Hollywood, WABC-7, WNET New York Public Media, and The Village Voice serve as Media Sponsors.
Jennifer Lopez (Photo by Virginia Sherwood/Telemundo)
The following is a press release from MTV:
MTV today announced that global superstar Jennifer Lopez will receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the 2018 MTV VMAs. She is also set to perform live at this year’s show for the first time since 2001 and is nominated for two VMAs for her most recent single, “Dinero.” With a legacy that spawns over two decades, Lopez is one of the most iconic and influential multi-hyphenates across music, film, television, fashion, business and philanthropy.
Lopez joins a prestigious list of past Vanguard recipients that includes Michael Jackson, Madonna, Guns N’ Roses, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Kanye West, Rihanna and P!nk.
The VMAs will air live from Radio City Music Hall on Monday, August 20 at 9:00 PM ET/PT across MTV’s global network of channels in more than 180 countries and territories, reaching more than half a billion households around the world.
Since her first album, “On the 6,” debuted in 1999, Lopez has transformed the global music scene, including selling over 80 million records worldwide, 40 million albums, 16 top 10 hit songs, and three #1 albums. In addition to her music, Lopez has made her mark in film and television. Her films have grossed over $2.9 billion worldwide, five of which opened at #1. Her portrayal of the Latin music sensation “Selena” earned her widespread acclaim. Lopez’ simultaneous release of her second studio album “J.Lo” and her romantic comedy “The Wedding Planner” paved the way for her to become the first woman to have a number one album and film in the same week.
Lopez’s production company Nuyorican Productions has produced numerous film and television projects, including the box office hit “Boy Next Door,” Freeform’s award-winning series “The Fosters,” and the NBC hit drama “Shades of Blue.” In addition to starring in “Shades of Blue,” Lopez also serves as an executive producer and a judge on NBC’s hit dance competition show “World of Dance.” Lopez will next be seen starring in and producing STX’s upcoming feature film “Second Act,” slated to release in November 2018, alongside Leah Remini, Milo Ventimiglia and Vanessa Hudgens.
Furthermore, Lopez dedicates her time to support humanitarian causes. Following Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria, Lopez and Alex Rodriguez personally donated $1 million to humanitarian aid for Puerto Rico and helped launch a humanitarian relief campaign, “Somos Una Voz,” an effort supported by celebrities to rush supplies to areas affected by Hurricane Maria. Lopez and Rodriguez then organized a star studded telethon event for disaster relief, “One Voice: Somos Live!,” which raised over $35 million. In April 2018, Lopez was named one of TIME’s “100 Most Influential People.”
Fans can vote for their favorites across 12 VMA categories, including “Video of the Year,” “Artist of the Year,” “Best Collaboration” and more by visiting vma.mtv.com until Friday, August 10. Voting for the “Best New Artist” award, presented by Taco Bell®, will remain active until the VMA broadcast.
MTV has teamed up with Amazon to release a skill for Alexa, the cloud-based voice service, that will allow customers to vote for “Artist of the Year.” This marks the first time ever that a major awards show has used Alexa for audience voting. To cast your vote, just say, “Alexa, vote for the VMAs” on any Alexa-enabled device.
Bruce Gillmer and Jesse Ignjatovic are Executive Producers for the 2018 “VMAs.” Melanie Block serves as Executive in Charge of Production. Amani Duncan is Executive in Charge of Music. Wendy Plaut is Executive in Charge of Celebrity Talent.
Official sponsors of the 2018 “VMAs” include PEPSI®, Swiffer®, Taco Bell® and truth®.
About MTV: MTV is the leading youth media brand inspired by music, in nearly 180 countries and 450 million homes around the world, connecting with over 350 million fans across all social media platforms. A unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), MTV operations span cable and mobile networks, live events, and the new MTV Studios unit which produces original and reimagined content for SVOD and linear networks based on MTV’s library of over 200+ youth titles and franchises.
The following is a press release from the Film Society of Lincoln Center:
The Film Society of Lincoln Center announces Yorgos Lanthimos’s The Favourite as Opening Night of the 56th New York Film Festival (September 28 – October 14), making its New York premiere at Alice Tully Hall on Friday, September 28, 2018. The Favourite is a Fox Searchlight Pictures release and opens November 23, 2018.
In Yorgos Lanthimos’s wildly intricate and very darkly funny new film, Sarah Churchill, the Duchess of Marlborough (Rachel Weisz), and her servant Abigail Hill (Emma Stone) engage in a sexually charged fight to the death for the body and soul of Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) at the height of the War of the Spanish Succession. This trio of truly brilliant performances is the dynamo that powers Lanthimos’s top-to-bottom reimagining of the costume epic, in which the visual pageantry of court life in 18th-century England becomes not just a lushly appointed backdrop but an ironically heightened counterpoint to the primal conflict unreeling behind closed doors.
New York Film Festival Director and Selection Committee Chair Kent Jones said, “The Favourite is a lot of things at once, each of them perfectly meshed: a historical epic; a visual feast; a wild, wild ride; a formidable display of the art of acting from Rachel Weisz, Emma Stone, and Olivia Colman, abetted by a brilliant cast; a tour de force from Yorgos Lanthimos. And… it’s a blast. We’re very excited to have it as our opening night film.”
“It’s a great privilege to be showing The Favourite for the opening night of the New York Film Festival, which is a very special place for the film,” said Lanthimos. “I had a wonderful experience screening The Lobster at this distinct festival and I’m looking forward to sharing The Favourite with audiences in New York. I was envisioning this film for many years and eventually had a lot of fun making it.”
The 17-day New York Film Festival highlights the best in world cinema, featuring works from celebrated filmmakers as well as fresh new talent. The selection committee, chaired by Jones, also includes Dennis Lim, FSLC Director of Programming, and Florence Almozini, FSLC Associate Director of Programming.
Tickets for the 56th New York Film Festival will go on sale to the general public on September 9. Festival and VIP passes are on sale now and offer one of the earliest opportunities to purchase tickets and secure seats at some of the festival’s biggest events, including Opening Night.
Photo credit: Yorgos Lanthimos.
New York Film Festival Opening Night Films
2017 Last Flag Flying (Richard Linklater, US)
2016 13TH (Ava DuVernay, US)
2015 The Walk (Robert Zemeckis, US)
2014 Gone Girl (David Fincher, US)
2013 Captain Phillips (Paul Greengrass, US)
2012 Life of Pi (Ang Lee, US)
2011 Carnage (Roman Polanski, France/Poland)
2010 The Social Network (David Fincher, US)
2009 Wild Grass (Alain Resnais, France)
2008 The Class (Laurent Cantet, France)
2007 The Darjeeling Limited (Wes Anderson, US)
2006 The Queen (Stephen Frears, UK)
2005 Good Night, and Good Luck. (George Clooney, US)
2004 Look at Me (Agnès Jaoui, France)
2003 Mystic River (Clint Eastwood, US)
2002 About Schmidt (Alexander Payne, US)
2001 Va savoir (Jacques Rivette, France)
2000 Dancer in the Dark (Lars von Trier, Denmark)
1999 All About My Mother (Pedro Almodóvar, Spain)
1998 Celebrity (Woody Allen, US)
1997 The Ice Storm (Ang Lee, US)
1996 Secrets & Lies (Mike Leigh, UK)
1995 Shanghai Triad (Zhang Yimou, China)
1994 Pulp Fiction (Quentin Tarantino, US)
1993 Short Cuts (Robert Altman, US)
1992 Olivier Olivier (Agnieszka Holland, France)
1991 The Double Life of Veronique (Krzysztof Kieslowski, Poland/France)
1990 Miller’s Crossing (Joel Coen, US)
1989 Too Beautiful for You (Bertrand Blier, France)
1988 Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (Pedro Almodóvar, Spain)
1987 Dark Eyes (Nikita Mikhalkov, Soviet Union)
1986 Down by Law (Jim Jarmusch, US)
1985 Ran (Akira Kurosawa, Japan)
1984 Country (Richard Pearce, US)
1983 The Big Chill (Lawrence Kasdan, US)
1982 Veronika Voss (Rainer Werner Fassbinder, West Germany)
1981 Chariots of Fire (Hugh Hudson, UK)
1980 Melvin and Howard (Jonathan Demme, US)
1979 Luna (Bernardo Bertolucci, Italy/US)
1978 A Wedding (Robert Altman, US)
1977 One Sings, the Other Doesn’t (Agnès Varda, France)
1976 Small Change (François Truffaut, France)
1975 Conversation Piece (Luchino Visconti, Italy)
1974 Don’t Cry with Your Mouth Full (Pascal Thomas, France)
1973 Day for Night (François Truffaut, France)
1972 Chloe in the Afternoon (Eric Rohmer, France)
1971 The Debut (Gleb Panfilov, Soviet Union)
1970 The Wild Child (François Truffaut, France)
1969 Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (Paul Mazursky, US)
1968 Capricious Summer (Jiri Menzel, Czechoslovakia)
1967 The Battle of Algiers (Gillo Pontecorvo, Italy/Algeria)
1966 Loves of a Blonde (Milos Forman, Czechoslovakia)
1965 Alphaville (Jean-Luc Godard, France)
1964 Hamlet (Grigori Kozintsev, USSR)
1963 The Exterminating Angel (Luis Buñuel, Mexico)
The Film Society receives generous, year-round support from Shutterstock, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. American Airlines is the Official Airline of the Film Society of Lincoln Center.
Support for the New York Film Festival is generously provided by Official Partners HBO® and The New York Times, Benefactor Partners Dolby and illy caffè, Supporting Partners Warby Parker, MUBI, and Manhattan Portage, and Hospitality Partner Hudson Hotel. JCDecaux, Variety, Deadline Hollywood, WABC-7, WNET New York Public Media, and The Village Voice serve as Media Sponsors.
Alfonso Cuarón and Yalitza Aparicio on the set of “Roma” (Photo by Carlos Somonte/Netflix)
The following is a press release from the Film Society of Lincoln Center:
The Film Society of Lincoln Center announces Alfonso Cuarón’s ROMA as Centerpiece of the 56th New York Film Festival (September 28 – October 14), making its New York premiere at Alice Tully Hall on Friday, October 5, 2018. Produced by Esperanto Filmoj and Participant Media, ROMA is a Netflix release and will launch globally and in theaters later this year.
In Alfonso Cuarón’s autobiographically inspired film, set in Mexico City in the early ’70s, we are placed within the physical and emotional terrain of a middle-class family whose center is quietly and unassumingly held by its beloved live-in nanny and housekeeper (Yalitza Aparicio). The cast is uniformly magnificent, but the real star of ROMA is the world itself, fully present and vibrantly alive, from sudden life-changing events to the slightest shifts in mood and atmosphere. Cuarón tells us an epic story of everyday life while also gently sweeping us into a vast cinematic experience, in which time and space breathe and majestically unfold. Shot in breathtaking black and white and featuring a sound design that represents something new in the medium, ROMA is a truly visionary work.
New York Film Festival Director and Selection Committee Chair Kent Jones said, “I was absolutely stunned by ROMA from beginning to end—by the craftsmanship and the artistry of everyone involved, by the physical power and gravitational force of the images, by the realization that I was seeing something magical: a story of ongoing life grounded within the immensity and mystery of just being here on this planet. Alfonso Cuarón’s film is a wonder.”
“I am honored ROMA has been selected for the Centerpiece slot at this year’s New York Film Festival,” said Cuarón. “NYFF has a longstanding history of celebrating meaningful and compelling filmmaking and it felt right to return to the festival with ROMA—an incredibly personal, illuminating, and transformative project for me.”
The 17-day New York Film Festival highlights the best in world cinema, featuring works from celebrated filmmakers as well as fresh new talent. The selection committee, chaired by Jones, also includes Dennis Lim, FSLC Director of Programming, and Florence Almozini, FSLC Associate Director of Programming.
Tickets for the 56th New York Film Festival will go on sale to the general public on September 9. Festival and VIP passes are on sale now and offer one of the earliest opportunities to purchase tickets and secure seats at some of the festival’s biggest events, including Centerpiece.
The Film Society receives generous, year-round support from Shutterstock, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. American Airlines is the Official Airline of the Film Society of Lincoln Center.
Support for the New York Film Festival is generously provided by Official Partners HBO® and The New York Times, Benefactor Partners Dolby and illy caffè, Supporting Partners Warby Parker, MUBI, and Manhattan Portage, and Hospitality Partner Hudson Hotel. JCDecaux, Variety, Deadline Hollywood, WABC-7, WNET New York Public Media, and The Village Voice serve as Media Sponsors.
MTV today announced nominations across all gender neutral categories for the 2018 “VMAs.” The list includes dozens of artists whose reach and influence have elevated music’s relevancy within the cultural conversation. Cardi B received nods in 10 categories, including “Video,” “Song” and “Artist of the Year,” and The Carters secured eight, including “Video of the Year,” “Best Collaboration” and “Best Hip Hop” for their recent hit single “APES**T.” Other top contenders include Childish Gambino, Drake and Bruno Mars. The “VMAs” will air live from Radio City Music Hall on Monday, August 20 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT, and across MTV’s global network of channels in more than 180 countries and territories, reaching more than half a billion households around the world.
“It has already been a monumental year in music, and this year’s ‘VMAs’ will take things to a whole new level,” said Bruce Gillmer, Head of Music and Music Talent, Global Entertainment Group, Viacom. “The extraordinary group of nominees have amazed us with their talent and inspired us with their creativity – and when you get them together for one night, anything is possible.”
MTV’s collaboration with Instagram to reveal the nominees on IGTV with an all-star group of creators is the first time an awards show has used the new platform in this capacity. With a combined reach of more than 23 million followers on Instagram alone, the team included Nyle DiMarco, Tessa Brooks, Bretman Rock, Scotty Sire, Toddy Smith and more. From live parrots to gospel choirs, workout videos to bathtubs filled with rubber duckies, each of the creators was tasked with revealing a category and its nominees in eccentric vignettes that emphasize that everything might happen at the “VMAs.”
Beginning today, fans can vote for their favorites across 12 VMA categories, including “Video of the Year,” “Artist of the Year,” “Best Collaboration” and more by visiting vma.mtv.com until Friday, August 10. Voting for the “Best New Artist” award, presented by Taco Bell®, will remain active until the VMA broadcast.
COMPLETE LIST OF NOMINEES
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Ariana Grande – “No Tears Left to Cry” – Republic Records
Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B – “Finesse (Remix)” – Atlantic Records
Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug – “Havana” – Syco Music/Epic Records
The Carters – “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment
Childish Gambino – “This Is America” – mcDJ / RCA Records
Drake – “God’s Plan” – YMCMB/Cash Money/Republic Records
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Ariana Grande – Republic Records
Bruno Mars – Atlantic Records
Camila Cabello – Syco Music/Epic Records
Cardi B – Atlantic Records
Drake – YMCMB/Cash Money/Republic Records
Post Malone – Republic Records
SONG OF THE YEAR
Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B – “Finesse (Remix)” – Atlantic Records
Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug – “Havana” – Syco Music/Epic Records
Drake – “God’s Plan” – YMCMB/Cash Money/Republic Records
Dua Lipa – “New Rules” – Warner Bros. Records
Ed Sheeran – “Perfect” – Atlantic Records
Post Malone ft. 21 Savage – “rockstar” – Republic Records
BEST NEW ARTIST (Presented by Taco Bell®)
Bazzi – iamcosmic/Atlantic Records
Cardi B – Atlantic Records
Chloe x Halle – Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records
Hayley Kiyoko – Atlantic Records
Lil Pump – Warner Bros. Records
Lil Uzi Vert – Atlantic Records
BEST COLLABORATION
Bebe Rexha ft. Florida Georgia Line – “Meant to Be” – Warner Bros. Records
Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B – “Finesse (Remix)” – Atlantic Records
The Carters – “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment
Jennifer Lopez ft. DJ Khaled & Cardi B – “Dinero” – Epic Records/Nuyorican Productions
Logic ft. Alessia Cara & Khalid – “1-800-273-8255” – Def Jam Recordings
N.E.R.D & Rihanna – “Lemon” – i am OTHER/Columbia Records
PUSH ARTIST OF THE YEAR
JULY 2018 – Chloe x Halle – Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records
JUNE 2018 – Sigrid – Island Records
MAY 2018 – Lil Xan – Columbia Records
APRIL 2018 – Hayley Kiyoko – Atlantic Records
MARCH 2018 – Jessie Reyez – Island Records
FEBRUARY 2018 – Tee Grizzley – 300 Entertainment
JANUARY 2018 – Bishop Briggs – Island Records
DECEMBER 2017 – Grace VanderWaal – Syco Music/Columbia Records
NOVEMBER 2017 – Why Don’t We – Atlantic Records
OCTOBER 2017 – PRETTYMUCH – Syco Music/Columbia Records
SEPTEMBER 2017 – SZA – TDE/Aftermath/Interscope Records
AUGUST 2017 – Kacy Hill – Def Jam Recordings
JULY 2017 – Khalid – RCA Records
JUNE 2017 – Kyle – Atlantic Records
MAY 2017 – Noah Cyrus – Republic Records
BEST POP
Ariana Grande – “No Tears Left to Cry” – Republic Records
Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug – “Havana” – Syco Music/Epic Records
Demi Lovato – “Sorry Not Sorry” – Island Records
Ed Sheeran – “Perfect” – Atlantic Records
P!nk – “What About Us” – RCA Records
Shawn Mendes – “In My Blood” – Island Records
BEST HIP HOP
Cardi B ft. 21 Savage – “Bartier Cardi” – KSR/Atlantic Records
The Carters – “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment
Drake – “God’s Plan” – YMCMB/Cash Money/Republic Records
J. Cole – “ATM” – Dreamville/Roc Nation/Interscope Records
Migos ft. Drake – “Walk It Talk It” – Quality Control/Capitol Records
Nicki Minaj – “Chun-Li” – Young Money/Cash Money Records
BEST LATIN
Daddy Yankee – “Dura” – El Cartel Records/UMLE
J Balvin, Willy William – “Mi Gente” – UMLE/Republic Records
Jennifer Lopez ft. DJ Khaled & Cardi B – “Dinero” – Epic Records/Nuyorican Productions
Luis Fonsi, Demi Lovato – “Échame La Culpa” – UMLE/Republic/Island/Universal Music Latino
Maluma – “Felices los 4” – Sony Music Entertainment US Latin
Shakira ft. Maluma – “Chantaje” – Sony Music Entertainment US Latin
BEST DANCE
Avicii ft. Rita Ora – “Lonely Together” – Geffen Records
Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa – “One Kiss” – Columbia Records
The Chainsmokers – “Everybody Hates Me” – Disruptor Records/Columbia Records
David Guetta & Sia – “Flames” – Atlantic Records
Marshmello ft. Khalid – “Silence” – RCA Records/Ultra Records
Zedd & Liam Payne – “Get Low (Street Video)” – Interscope Records
BEST ROCK
Fall Out Boy – “Champion” – Island Records
Foo Fighters – “The Sky Is A Neighborhood” – RCA Records
Imagine Dragons – “Whatever It Takes” – KIDinaKORNER/Interscope Records
Linkin Park – “One More Light” – Warner Bros. Records
Panic! At The Disco – “Say Amen (Saturday Night)” – Fueled By Ramen/Atlantic Records
Thirty Seconds to Mars – “Walk On Water” – Interscope Records
VIDEO WITH A MESSAGE
Childish Gambino – “This Is America” – mcDJ / RCA Records
Dej Loaf and Leon Bridges – “Liberated” – Columbia Records
Drake – ‘God’s Plan” – YMCMB/Cash Money/Republic Records
Janelle Monáe – “PYNK” – Bad Boy Records/Atlantic Records
Jessie Reyez – “Gatekeeper” – Island Records
Logic ft. Alessia Cara & Khalid – “1-800-273-8255” – Def Jam Recordings
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Alessia Cara – “Growing Pains” – Def Jam Recordings – Cinematography by Pau Castejón
Ariana Grande – “No Tears Left to Cry” – Republic Records – Cinematography by Scott Cunningham
The Carters – “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment – Cinematography by Benoit Debie
Childish Gambino – “This Is America” – mcDJ / RCA Records – Cinematography by Larkin Seiple
Eminem ft. Ed Sheeran – “River” – Shady/Aftermath/Interscope Records – Cinematography by Frank Mobilio & Patrick Meller
Shawn Mendes – “In My Blood” – Island Records – Cinematography by Jonathan Sela
BEST DIRECTION
The Carters – “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment – Directed by Ricky Saix
Childish Gambino – “This Is America” – mcDJ / RCA Records – Directed by Hiro Murai
Drake – “God’s Plan” – YMCMB/Cash Money/Republic Records – Directed by Karena Evans
Ed Sheeran – “Perfect” – Atlantic Records – Directed by Jason Koenig
Justin Timberlake ft. Chris Stapleton – “Say Something” – RCA Records – Directed by Arturo Perez Jr.
Shawn Mendes – “In My Blood” – Island Records – Directed by Jay Martin
BEST ART DIRECTION
The Carters – “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment – Art Direction by Jan Houlevigue
Childish Gambino – “This Is America” – mcDJ / RCA Records – Art Direction by Jason Kisvarday
J. Cole – “ATM” – Dreamville/Roc Nation/Interscope Records – Art Direction by Miles Mullin
Janelle Monáe – “Make Me Feel” – Bad Boy Records/Atlantic Records – Art Direction by Pepper Nguyen
SZA – “The Weekend” – TDE/RCA Records – Art Direction by SZA and Solange
Taylor Swift – “Look What You Made Me Do” – Big Machine Records – Art Direction by Brett Hess
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Ariana Grande – “No Tears Left to Cry” – Republic Records – Visual Effects by Vidal and Loris Paillier for Buf
Avicii ft. Rita Ora – “Lonely Together” – Geffen Records – Visual Effects by KPP
Eminem ft. Beyoncé – “Walk On Water” – Shady/Aftermath/Interscope Records – Visual Effects Supervisor Rich Lee for Drive Studios
Kendrick Lamar & SZA – “All The Stars” – TDE/Aftermath/Interscope Records – Visual Effects by Loris Paillier for BUF Paris
Maroon 5 – “Wait” – 222/Interscope Records – Visual Effects by TIMBER
Taylor Swift – “Look What You Made Me Do” – Big Machine Records – Visual Effects by Ingenuity Studios
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B – “Finesse (Remix)” – Atlantic Records – Choreography by Phil Tayag & Bruno Mars
Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug – “Havana” – Syco Music/Epic Records – Choreography by Calvit Hodge and Sara Bivens
The Carters – “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment – Choreography by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and Jaquel Knight
Childish Gambino – “This Is America” – mcDJ / RCA Records – Choreography by Sherrie Silver
Dua Lipa – “IDGAF” – Warner Bros. Records – Choreography by Marion Motin
Justin Timberlake – “Filthy” – RCA Records – Choreography by Marty Kudelka, AJ Harpold, Tracy Phillips, and Ivan Koumaev
BEST EDITING
Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B – “Finesse (Remix)” – Atlantic Records – Editing by Jacquelyn London
The Carters – “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment – Taylor Ward and Sam Ostrove
Childish Gambino – “This Is America” – mcDJ / RCA Records – Editing by Ernie Gilbert
Janelle Monáe – “Make Me Feel” – Bad Boy Records/Atlantic Records – Editing by Deji Laray
N.E.R.D & Rihanna – “Lemon” – i am OTHER/Columbia Records – Editing by Taylor Ward
Taylor Swift – “Look What You Made Me Do” – Big Machine Records – Editing by Chancler Haynes for Cosmo
Cardi B – 10 Nominations
VIDEO OF THE YEAR – “Finesse (Remix)” – Atlantic Records
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
SONG OF THE YEAR – “Finesse (Remix)” – Atlantic Records
BEST NEW ARTIST
BEST COLLABORATION – “Finesse (Remix)” – Atlantic Records
BEST COLLABORATION – “Dinero” – Epic Records/Nuyorican Productions
BEST HIP HOP – “Bartier Cardi” – KSR/Atlantic Records
BEST LATIN – “Dinero” – Epic Records/Nuyorican Productions
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY – “Finesse (Remix)” – Atlantic Records
BEST EDITING – “Finesse (Remix)” – Atlantic Records
The Carters – 8 Nominations
VIDEO OF THE YEAR – “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment
BEST COLLABORATION – “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment
BEST HIP HOP – “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY – “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment
BEST DIRECTION – “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment
BEST ART DIRECTION – “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY – “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment
BEST EDITING – “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment
Childish Gambino– 7 Nominations
VIDEO OF THE YEAR – “This Is America” – mcDJ / RCA Records
VIDEO WITH A MESSAGE – “This Is America” – mcDJ / RCA Records
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY – “This Is America” – mcDJ / RCA Records
BEST DIRECTION – “This Is America” – mcDJ / RCA Records
BEST ART DIRECTION – “This Is America” – mcDJ / RCA Records
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY – “This Is America” – mcDJ / RCA Records
BEST EDITING – “This Is America” – mcDJ / RCA Records
Drake – 7 Nominations
VIDEO OF THE YEAR – “God’s Plan” – YMCMB/Cash Money/Republic Records
ARTIST OF THE YEAR – “God’s Plan” – YMCMB/Cash Money/Republic Records
SONG OF THE YEAR – “God’s Plan” – YMCMB/Cash Money/Republic Records
BEST HIP-HOP – “God’s Plan” – YMCMB/Cash Money/Republic Records
BEST HIP-HOP – “Walk It Talk It” – Quality Control/Capitol Records
VIDEO WITH A MESSAGE – “God’s Plan” – YMCMB/Cash Money/Republic Records
BEST DIRECTION – “God’s Plan” – YMCMB/Cash Money/Republic Records
Bruno Mars – 6 Nominations
VIDEO OF THE YEAR – “Finesse (Remix)” – Atlantic Records
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
SONG OF THE YEAR – “Finesse (Remix)” – Atlantic Records
BEST COLLABORATION – “Finesse (Remix)” – Atlantic Records
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY – “Finesse (Remix)” – Atlantic Records
BEST EDITING – “Finesse (Remix)” – Atlantic Records
Ariana Grande – 5 Nominations
VIDEO OF THE YEAR – “No Tears Left to Cry” – Republic Records
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
BEST POP – “No Tears Left to Cry” – Republic Records
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY – “No Tears Left to Cry” – Republic Records
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS – “No Tears Left to Cry” – Republic Records
Camila Cabello – 5 Nominations
VIDEO OF THE YEAR – “Havana” – Syco Music/Epic Records
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
SONG OF THE YEAR – “Havana” – Syco Music/Epic Records
BEST POP – “Havana” – Syco Music/Epic Records
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY – “Havana” – Syco Music/Epic Records
Ed Sheeran – 4 Nominations
SONG OF THE YEAR – “Perfect” – Atlantic Records
BEST POP – “Perfect” – Atlantic Records
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY – “River” – Shady/Aftermath/Interscope Records
BEST DIRECTION – “Perfect” – Atlantic Records
Khalid – 4 Nominations
BEST COLLABORATION – “1-800-273-8255” – Def Jam Recordings
PUSH ARTIST OF THE YEAR
BEST DANCE – “Silence” – RCA Records/Ultra Records
VIDEO WITH A MESSAGE – “1-800-273-8255” – Def Jam Recordings
Young Thug – 4 Nominations
VIDEO OF THE YEAR – “Havana” – Syco Music/Epic Records
SONG OF THE YEAR – “Havana” – Syco Music/Epic Records
BEST POP – “Havana” – Syco Music/Epic Records
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY – “Havana” – Syco Music/Epic Records
Alessia Cara – 3 Nominations
BEST COLLABORATION – “1-800-273-8255” – Def Jam Recordings
VIDEO WITH A MESSAGE – “1-800-273-8255” – Def Jam Recordings
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY – “Growing Pains” – Def Jam Recordings
Dua Lipa – 3 Nominations
SONG OF THE YEAR – “New Rules” – Warner Bros. Records
BEST DANCE – “One Kiss” – Columbia Records
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY – “IDGAF” – Warner Bros. Records
Janelle Monáe – 3 Nominations
VIDEO WITH A MESSAGE – “PYNK” – Bad Boy Records/Atlantic Records
BEST ART DIRECTION – “Make Me Feel” – Bad Boy Records/Atlantic Records
BEST EDITING – “Make Me Feel” – Bad Boy Records/Atlantic Records
Shawn Mendes – 3 Nominations
BEST POP – “In My Blood” – Island Records
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY – “In My Blood” – Island Records
BEST DIRECTION – “In My Blood” – Island Records
SZA – 3 Nominations
PUSH ARTIST OF THE YEAR
BEST ART DIRECTION – “The Weekend” – TDE/RCA Records
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS – “All The Stars” – TDE/Aftermath/Interscope Records
Taylor Swift – 3 Nominations
BEST ART DIRECTION – “Look What You Made Me Do” – Big Machine Records
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS – “Look What You Made Me Do” – Big Machine Records
BEST EDITING – “Look What You Made Me Do” – Big Machine Records
Radio City Music Hall was the home of the inaugural “VMAs” in 1984 and this will mark the 12th time the show has been held there – the most for any “VMAs” location.Official sponsors of the 2018 “VMAs” include PEPSI®, Swiffer® and Taco Bell®.
Bruce Gillmer and Jesse Ignjatovic are Executive Producers for the 2018 “VMAs.” Melanie Block serves as Executive in Charge of Production. Amani Duncan is Executive in Charge of Music. Wendy Plaut is Executive in Charge of Celebrity Talent.
MTV is the leading youth media brand inspired by music, in nearly 180 countries and 450 million homes around the world, connecting with over 350 million fans across all social media platforms. A unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), MTV operations span cable and mobile networks, live events, and the new MTV Studios unit which produces original and reimagined content for SVOD and linear networks based on MTV’s library of over 200+ youth titles and franchises.
August 13, 2018 UPDATE:
SONG OF THE SUMMER
Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa – “One Kiss” – Columbia Records
Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin – “I Like It” – KSR/Atlantic Records
DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper, Quavo – “No Brainer” – We the Best/Epic Records
Drake – “In My Feelings” – YMCMB/Cash Money/Republic Records
Ella Mai – “Boo’d Up” – 10 Summers/Interscope Records
Juice WRLD – “Lucid Dreams” – Interscope Records
Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B – “Girls Like You” – Interscope Records
Post Malone – “Better Now” – Republic Records
For the first time, New York Comic Con has partnered with Anime Expo to create Anime Fest, which will take place on the same days as New York Comic Con 2018 in New York City: October 4 to October 7. Anime Fest is a separate event that will be held at Pier 94. New York Comic Con takes place at various locations in New York City, but the main hub is at Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.
New York Comic Con badge purchases are not required to attend Anime Fest, and vice versa, but New York Comic Con badge holders get a discount on Anime Fest badges from July 15 to August 19, or until all these discounted badges are sold out.
The regular prices for Anime Fest 2018 are $20 each for October 4 or October 5; $25 each for October 6 or October 7; and $10 each for children on October 7 only.
New York Comic Con badge holder discount prices for Anime Fest 2018 are $15 each for October 4 or October 5; $20 each for October 6 or October 7; and $5 each for children on October 7 only.
According to an announcement on the New York Comic Con website, Anime Fest will have “Japanese guests, a curated Artist Alley, creative classes, Instagram-worthy activations, cosplay and a few more surprises we’ll announce closer to the event.”
The following is a press release from Ashley Stewart:
Ashley Stewart®, a leading fashion and social commerce brand, is excited to announce additional award-winning celebrities and an initial slate of judges for the second annual #FindingAshleyStewart Finale event at the historic Kings Theater in Brooklyn, NY on Saturday, September 15th.
The legendary, award-winning hip-hop trio, Naughty By Nature, comprised of Treach, Vin Rock and DJ Kay Gee, will be performing at this year’s star-studded event and help celebrate the crowning of Miss Ashley Stewart 2018. They will be joining previously announced performers SWV, MC Lyte, Denise Belfon and DJ Kid Capri.
There will also be a special presentation by award-winning broadcast journalist and executive producer, Soledad O’Brien, who will help award Ashley Stewart College Tour scholarships to deserving students selected from local institutions as part of the #AshleyCollegeTour. Ms. O’Brien is the founder and CEO of Starfish Media Group and an award-winning journalist, public speaker, author and philanthropist.
The exciting, initial lineup of celebrity judges represent leaders from industries ranging from fashion and wellness to entertainment and technology. Joining Ashley Stewart for the evening will be Sonia Jackson Myles, Founder of The Sister Accord® and Author of “The Sister Accord: 51 Ways To LOVE Your Sister”; Kathryn Finney, Founder and Managing Director of the groundbreaking social enterprise didtechnology/digitalundivided (DID); Sharon Quinn, Pioneer, Talk Show Host and The ORIGINAL Runway Diva!; and Mikki Taylor, ESSENCE Magazine Editor-at-Large, Leading Authority on “Inner and outer” beauty and Author of “Editor in Chic.”
A total of 20 semi-finalists will be selected from the expansive seven month-long national tour and digital search, and narrowed down through an online voting contest from July 27 to August 8, resulting in the top eight finalists who will be named on August 10 These eight women will be competing at the Finding Ashley Stewart Finale at the Kings Theatre on September 15th in front of a panel of influential judges to be crowned as Miss Ashley Stewart 2018. The Finale winner will also receive a $10,000 prize package, head-to-toe makeover, new Ashley Stewart wardrobe, exclusive photoshoots, Ashley TV segments, sponsored prizes, and so much more! There is still time to enter the digital contest, before it closes on Saturday, July 21. Visit AshleyStewart.com/FindingAshleyStewartDigitalContest to register.
Dazzle amongst your favorite stars on the Pink Carpet with your friends and family, and join us in celebrating this powerful night. Tickets are selling out quickly, get yours now at Ticketmaster before it’s too late. Learn more about #FindingAshleyStewart, our partners including Creme of Nature®, the exclusive hair product sponsor for a second year in a row, and #AshleyCollegeTour news by visiting AshleyStewart.com/FindingAshleyStewart and following @ByAshleyStewart and @ByAshleyTV on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
About Ashley Stewart
Ashley Stewart is a global fashion and lifestyle brand that has propelled itself to be on the vanguard of social commerce. Since its founding in 1991 in Brooklyn, New York, Ashley Stewart has always stood for uncompromising style, fashion, confidence & empowerment for the woman who flaunts her curves. Today, Ashley Stewart offers the hottest looks with 89 stores across the United States, a leading and global e-commerce presence at www.ashleystewart.com, a powerful social media presence @byashleystewart and a growing multimedia and events arm at AshleyTV. Every year, through the Findiing Ashley Stewart Tour, Ashley Stewart traverses the country looking to recognize women who embody the ideals of the Ashley Stewart women: kindness, resilience, confidence, community and fashion. Through #ASGives, Ashley Stewart engages in programs such as the #AshleyCollegeTour to make long-term investments into the communities that have supported the brand for close to 30 years.
The following is a press release from Food Network:
New York baker Ashley Foxen is known for creating unique, unexpected cupcakes that resemble whatever her clients imagine. Joined by her mom Denise, brother Alex and sister Lindsay, her up-and-coming business has become the go-to spot for bite-sized edible art that can fool even the most discerning eye. In the new series “Reality Cupcakes,” Food Network takes viewers behind-the-scenes as Ashley and her family create cupcakes that look like anything but cupcakes. The eight-episode series premieres Monday, August 6 with back-to-back episodes at 10pm (all times ET/PT) and 10:30pm.
“Ashley’s creativity has a unique twist – her cupcakes are so realistic that guests are in for a big surprise when they take a bite,” said Courtney White, General Manager and Executive Vice President, Programming, Food Network and HGTV. “That’s not a sushi roll, flower pot or T-bone steak – it’s a fully edible sweet creation that fools the senses!”
In the 10pm premiere episode, Ashley debuts her pastrami on rye cupcakes for a thrilled crowd at the 130th anniversary party for New York’s famous Katz’s Deli. Later, a super-chic succulent arrangement is created for sports personality Hannah Storm’s get-together and finally, the Foxen family delivers mouthwatering lamb chop cupcakes with a side of mint jelly to a backyard barbecue. Immediately following at 10:30pm, the crowds at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! are stunned by a magician’s trick using a shrunken head cupcake. Later, the gang brews up a latte made of cupcakes at a local coffee shop, complete with an edible cup and then a bachelorette party brunch toasts with Foxen-made margaritas and burrito cupcakes. Upcoming episodes feature a Shark Week-themed rooftop party with shark head cupcakes, peanut-butter and jelly school lunch cupcakes with edible milk cartons for a milestone performance of Broadway’s School of Rock and a special creation for Coney Island’s Mermaid Parade.
Head online to see the best of Ashley’s unique creations at FoodNetwork.com/RealityCupcakes and on Food Network’s Facebook and Instagram pages. Tell us which ones are your favorites using the hashtag #RealityCupcakes.
Premiering Monday, August 6 at 10pm – “All That Katz”
Ashley Foxen debuts her pastrami-on-rye cupcakes for a thrilled crowd at the 130th anniversary party for Katz’s Deli. Later, a super-chic succulent arrangement is created for a Hannah Storm get together. Finally, the Foxen family delivers mouthwatering lamb chop cupcakes complete with a side of mint jelly at a backyard barbecue.
Premiering Monday, August 6 at 10:30pm – “Thanks a Latte”
Ashley Foxen’s cupcakes aren’t just tasty — they’re magical! Crowds at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! are stunned by a magician’s trick using a shrunken head cupcake. Later, the gang brews up a latte made of cake at a local coffee shop whose patrons are delighted when they bite right through the cup. Finally, a bachelorette party toasts with margaritas and burrito cupcakes over brunch.
Premiering Monday, August 13 at 10pm – “Cupsteaks!”
The Reality Cupcakes team serves up some of the zaniest treats around! Ashley Foxen starts by tricking the owners of a New York City steakhouse with red velvet T-bone steak cupcakes. Later, the Foxens fool some kids at the Staten Island Children’s Museum by making yummy life-like cockroaches and tarantulas. Finally, the team from the Billion Oyster project orders a cupcake seafood tower with oyster cupcakes and cake shrimp cocktail.
Premiering Monday, August 13 at 10:30pm – “Killer Cupcakes”
Ashley Foxen’s cakes jump right off the plate at a rooftop Shark Week party. The Foxens then make spring roll cupcakes for an important fashion event hosted by fashion icon Nicole Miller. Finally, the hit Broadway musical School of Rock orders up a wacky school lunch in the form of peanut butter and jelly cupcakes!
Premiering Monday, August 20 at 10pm – “Cupcake Comfort Food”
Ashley Foxen makes amazing hot wing and macaroni and cheese cupcakes so realistic the Fleet Week sailors returning home can’t decide if they’re eating appetizers or desserts! She then heads to Times Square where she serves a cupcake twist on the classic New York pizza slice with famous running back David Johnson. Then in preparation of the upcoming basketball season, the folks from Excel Sports Management treat the new recruits to a backyard barbecue with corn on the cob and grilled chicken cupcakes.
Premiering Monday, August 20 at 10:30pm – “Give a Dog a Cupcake”
Ashley Foxenmakes dog-bone cupcakes for puppies and their owners at a New York City dog cafe. Later, a local influencer hosts a prom throwback party on a double-decker bus and the team from Reality Cupcakes is there for the occasion serving up edible boutonnieres, corsages and even crown cupcakes for the king and queen. Finally, some dancing stars order cupcake canapes for their soiree.
Premiering Monday, August 27 at 10pm – “Cupcakes on Parade!”
It’s summertime in NYC and Ashley Foxen is serving up some radical steampunk cupcakes at the famous Coney Island Mermaid Parade! Po’ boy cupcakes will then be served at Brooklyn’s Smorgasburg outdoor food festival and some grilled cheese cupcakes will be taken to Central Park.
Premiering Monday, August 27 at 10:30pm – “Dirt, Grease and Cupcakes”
Ashley Foxen and the gang serve up a 1950s greaser party complete with milkshake cupcakes! Later, the zany fans of the Philadelphia Union order up some Philly pretzel cupcakes and a Ben Franklin skull cupcake. Finally, the wackiest twist on a twist is when vegetarian chef Amanda orders up turkey drumstick and fried chicken cupcakes for her whole staff!
Online, see the best of Ashley’s unique creations and check them out on Food Network’s Facebook and Instagram pages. Tell us which ones are your favorites using #RealityCupcakes!
# # #
FOOD NETWORK (www.foodnetwork.com) is a unique lifestyle network, website and magazine that connects viewers to the power and joy of food. The network strives to be viewers’ best friend in food and is committed to leading by teaching, inspiring, empowering and entertaining through its talent and expertise. Food Network is distributed to nearly 100 million U.S. households and draws over 46 million unique web users monthly. Since launching in 2009, Food Network Magazine’s rate base has grown 13 times and is the No. 2 best-selling monthly magazine on the newsstand, with 13.5 million readers. Food Network is owned by Discovery, Inc., a global leader in real life entertainment whose portfolio also includes Discovery Channel, HGTV, TLC, Investigation Discovery, and OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network.
