Asoka -- Going places

After the Toronto Film Festival, the epic Asoka will also premiere at the Venice Film Festival.

The film, one of the most ambitious in recent times, boasts of a cast of over 7,000 extras.

Asoka’s star and co-producer, Shah Rukh Khan, said that the film's appeal lay in the universal relevance of Buddha’s message.

The film will hit the marquee on October 26, 2001. A special screening will be held for the Dalai Lama in Paris.

AB -- 'Actor of the Century'

Amitabh Bachchan will be honoured with the 'Actor of the Century' Award at the Alexandria International Film Festival in Egypt in recognition of his contribution to cinema.

Bachchan, will be presented with the award at the concluding ceremony of the festival to be held from September 5-10.

Jaya Bachchan, who is the president of the jury of the festival, said the festival will largely screen films from the Mediterranean region.

Sri Lankan film bags top honours at CINEFAN

This Is My Moon -- a Sri Lankan film by Asoka Handagama bagged the award for the best film at the week-long third Cinemaya Festival of Asian Cinema, which concluded in Delhi on Sunday, September 2.

Ibrahim Kadir, the lead actor of the Indonesian film A Poet, won the best actor while Ellie Suriarty Omar walked away with the best actress prize for her portrayal in the Malaysian film Spinning Top.

The awards were chosen by a five-member panel, consisting of film actress Sharmila Tagore, Iranian director Pouran Derakhshandeh, Georgian director Nana Djorjadze and director of Singapore International Film Festival and the lone male member, Philip Cheah. Sushma Swaraj presented the awards and said that good films gave one new energy to deal with everyday life.

John Abraham to take the plunge in London

John Abraham, the ex- face of Provogue is off to London for his debut in Rahul Rawail's next film.

With the success of Arjun and Rahul, John hoping to make it to the bigtime too.

Compiled by Vivek Fernandes
Design: Imran Shaikh