THANDIWE NEWTON accused the BFI London Film Festival of censoring her new film to appease the Zimbabwean regime.
The Bafta-winning actor produced documentary President, which explores alleged vote-tampering by president Emmerson Mnangagwa over the 2018 election. It was not shown at last October’s festival. Newton later took back her claim.
Following the film’s subsequent success, which has included making the Oscars shortlist, Newton has said: “I’m just thinking London Film Festival, ‘Where were you?’
“The reason they weren’t there was because it was the week before Mnangagwa went to Scotland with 100 delegates from Zimbabwe, invited by the United Kingdom. That wouldn’t have been a great way to have him arrive the week before, right? That’s why I think it wasn’t screened,” Newton told Variety.
The Film Festival have denied the claims, saying: “Our selection decisions…are based on the merits of the film and whether it fits into the overall texture of the programme and not guided by external factors.”
In 2018 a Zimbabwean court dismissed opposition claims of electoral fraud.
Newton later apologised to the BFI for the claim, saying her “upset was personal, and I was wrong to accuse”.
.@BFI I apologise for my comments @Variety challenging your integrity in not accepting #President #LFF2021. As a British Zimbabwean I’m devastated by the human rights abuses being suffered in our ex colony. My upset was personal, and I was wrong to accuse. Thandiwe #LoveZimbabwe pic.twitter.com/oxFzuCLBc8
— Thandiwe Newton (@ThandiweNewton) January 30, 2022
Laughter is best medicine, Mr Fox
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Kitchen disco is a winning recipe
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Rude awakening for humming host
DAPPER PRESENTER Rick Edwards doesn’t look like a man in need of a wash, but appearances can be deceptive. The new presenter of the breakfast show on Radio 5Live, who has replaced Nicky Campbell, explains: “The other night I had gone to bed early… my wife had gone out and when she came in, I sort of vaguely woke up to find her lavender-spraying me and the rest of the bed.”
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SW1A
EMILY THORNBERRY had a strong start to Monday this morning. Journalist Kay Burley pressed the Labour frontbencher on Sky: “What’s the answer to my question?” Thornberry paused then replied: “I can’t remember what your question was”, before breaking into infectious laughter. Speaking for the nation.
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FANCY working for Sir Geoffrey Cox QC? The former Attorney General is looking for a senior parliamentary assistant. Cox was last in the news for having spent a month in the British Virgin Islands doing his second job as a lawyer, and voting in Parliament by proxy. His advert doesn’t specify whether staff can work from home.
There’s no hiding place for Rafferty
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