Abu Dhabi Film Festival 2014 announces line-up for its seminars

Also, Sotheby's art auction in Doha totals US$8 million; a new album by Noel Gallagher is on the way; the Walking Dead premiere breaks TV-viewing records; Iggy Pop delivers a BBC lecture; and Reese Witherspoon describes Wild as the toughest movie she's ever made.

Iggy Azalea at the 2014 BET Awards in Los Angeles, California. Mario Anzuoni / Reuters

ADFF reveals its film talks line-up

The Abu Dhabi Film Festival (ADFF) Talks Film programme has been unveiled and includes masterclasses and panel discussions on topics ranging from film preservation, crowdfunding campaigns, international acting techniques, Arab diaspora filmmaking, international co-productions and short film marketing. Festival director Ali Al Jabri said: "An important part of our work is creating connections between local film talent and the wider industry. ADFF Talks Film provides film buffs, students and filmmakers with a rare chance to interact with leading filmmakers and actors on a range of issues spanning the colourful world of cinema. The seminars, which are open to the general public, offer a refreshing and incisive behind-the-scenes look at the business of films." Filmmakers taking part include Emirati director Ali Mostafa, whose film From A to B will open the festival on October 23, and the French-Algerian director and producer, Rachid Bouchareb. Visit www.adff.ae for more details.– The National staff

Sotheby’s art auction in Doha totals US$8 million

Sotheby's Contemporary Art Doha auction on Monday night achieved sales totalling US$8 million (Dh29.4m), with 84.6 per cent of the lots selling. In addition, 13 artists set records for sales of their work. The top sale was Anish Kaproor's 2009 Untitled stainless-steel work, which sold for $1.6m, double its pre-sale estimate. Lina Lazaar, Sotheby's director of international contemporary art, said: "We're extremely pleased with tonight's strong result, reflecting the demand for the artists we are honoured to have presented for sale in Doha. The enthusiastic bidding tonight demonstrates the appetite for the artists we had very much wished to introduce to our clients in the region for the first time, as well as the wonderful pieces by established artists." – The National staff

New album on the way from Noel Gallagher

Former Oasis singer-songwriter Noel Gallagher will release a new solo album in March. Chasing Yesterday will be his third solo effort, after The Dreams We Have as Children in 2009 and 2011's Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds. The British pop bad boy, who was the main songwriter and guitarist for British chart-toppers Oasis until his acrimonious 2009 split from brother Liam Gallagher, also announced a European tour. It will kick off in March in the United Kingdom before moving to Europe with dates in Paris, Milan, Copenhagen and Brussels. A pillar of the Britpop movement, Oasis were a huge success in the 1990s, selling 50 million records. – AFP

Walking Dead season premiere breaks TV-viewing records

The opening episode of the fifth season of the acclaimed zombie drama The Walking Dead was watched by 17.3 million people when it aired in the United States on Sunday, a new record for the show and for a non-sport cable-TV programme. The show, broadcast on the AMC network in the US, beat its previous record of 16.1 million for the fourth season opener last year. It also attracted a staggering 11 million viewers among 18-to-49-year-olds, considered the most valuable to advertisers, beating every other scripted show on TV this season – even ratings-smash The Big Bang Theory only managed 6.9 million in that demographic. The numbers will increase when time-delayed viewing is added in. – AP

‘Music’s not about money’, says godfather of punk Iggy Pop

The godfather of punk Iggy Pop has urged young performers to relax about changes to the music industry changes and to set their financial expectations low, saying that music was never meant to make money. The American singer, who captured the punk era's energy with 1977's Lust for Life, made his his comments as he delivered an annual BBC lecture named in honour of the late radio DJ John Peel. Pointing out that the industry will always put profit over musicians, he said: "If I had to depend on what I actually get from sales, I'd be tending bar between sets. Personally, I don't worry too much about how much I get paid for any given thing, because I never expected much in the first place and the whole industry has become bloated in its expectations." Referring to a TV advertisement he made recently, he said: "If I want to make money, well, how about selling car insurance? At least I'm honest – it's an ad, and that's all it is." – AFP

Witherspoon talks about ‘toughest movie I’ve ever made’

The Oscar-winning actress Reese Witherspoon says her new film Wild was the hardest role of her career. She plays Cheryl Strayed, a woman who trekked across a vast tract of wilderness in the United States for three months to recover from the death of her mother, a marriage break-up and heroin abuse. "It was more challenging in a way that I've never had before," Witherspoon said at the biopic's premiere at the London Film Festival on Monday. "It's definitely the hardest movie I've ever made – physically, emotionally, mentally – but when I got through it I was so happy." The actress, who also produced the film, was joined in London by the real-life Strayed, whose memoir was adapted by About A Boy novelist Nick Hornby for the film. The film was highly praised at the Toronto International Film Festival and Witherspoon has been tipped for an Oscar nomination. The 38-year-old won the Oscar for best actress in 2006 for her role in Walk the Line, about the US singer-songwriter Johnny Cash. – AFP

Iggy Azalea leads the way at American Music Awards

Hip-hop newcomer Iggy Azalea dominates the shortlist for the American Music Awards, with nods in six categories just months after her debut album. The Australian-born singer was nominated for artist of the year as well as song of the year for Fancy. Azalea, whose first studio album, The New Classic, was released in April, received more nominations than any other artist, even though it was only the first year she had made the list. Pharrell Williams is in contention for artist of the year and top single for his global blockbuster song Happy. Other artists in the running for artist of the year are Beyoncé, Luke Bryan, Eminem, Imagine Dragons, John Legend, Lorde, One Direction and Katy Perry. The American Music Awards, launched in 1973, recognise commercial success and public appeal, with fans voting for their choices. The winners will be announced on November 23 in Los Angeles. – AFP

Katie Holmes to play Jackie O for second time

Katie Holmes is to play Jackie Kennedy Onassis again in a TV miniseries. The 35-year-old actress has signed on to star in The Kennedys - After Camelot, a sequel to The Kennedys miniseries, for the ReelzChannel based on a book by Randy Taraborrelli. The four-hour miniseries will be broadcast in 2016. – AP

Chris Brown tops list of Soul Train Awards nominees

Chris Brown is the leading nominee for the Soul Train Awards. The R&B singer racked up seven nominations, including best R&B/soul male artist and song of the year for Loyal. Beyoncé earned six nominations, followed by Pharrell Williams with five. Williams and Beyoncé will be competing against each other for album of the year along with John Legend, Drake, Janelle Monáe and Michael Jackson. The Soul Train Awards will be presented on November 7 in Las Vegas. – AP