Two aspiring Emirati filmmakers spent four days working as interns on the set of Star Trek Beyond in Vancouver. Mohammad Ahmed Fikri and Abdulrahman Saleh Al Madani got a chance to work with about 200 crew members and learn how a large international film production operates, as part of an initiative sponsored by the Dubai Film and TV Commission. The pair have written and directed films of their own, winning awards at local and regional film festivals. They will also get to work on Star Trek when it films in Dubai next month. Al Madani said: "This was the opportunity of a lifetime and I am extremely thankful to DFTC. The environment was like nothing we have ever experienced before, and it was extremely interesting to see the level of work that goes into this kind of film. It was a truly memorable experience, and we look forward to participating in the Dubai shoot." Fikri added: "Our experience was really fun and unique – we had the chance to see how everything works when it comes to creating Hollywood films, particularly around visual and practical effects." – The National staff
Swara Bhaskar wins best actress award
Indian actress Swara Bhaskar has won the Best Actress award at a film festival in the capital city of China's Fujian province, for her role as a mother to a teenager in Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari's directorial debut Nil Battey Sannata (The New Classmate). The Raanjhanaa actress was honoured at the second Silk Road International Film Festival, which concluded on Saturday. Hong Kong superstar Andy Lau was awarded the Best Actor prize for his performance in Saving Mr Wu. Winning features included Saving Mr Wu, Russian movie Puppet Syndrome and Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass from Vietnam. Jackie Chan, who is in the UAE to start filming his latest movie, Kung Fu Yoga, is the ambassador of the Silk Road Film festival and said that he hopes the Festival can draw attention worldwide and become the Chinese equivalent to the Oscars. – IANS
Harry Styles donates his clothes
One Direction star Harry Styles has been donating his designer clothes to charity shops. The 21-year-old singer reportedly gets so much free clothing that he has decided it is best to send a sizeable amount of it to charity stores, according to femalefirst.co.uk. A source said: "Harry was casually talking about all the free stuff he gets sent and how he can't keep up with all of it. He said he gives a lot of it away to friends and family but also drives up to charity shops and drops bin bags of designer clothes at a time." – IANS
Olly Murs splits from girlfriend
The X Factor host Olly Murs has reportedly split from his girlfriend of three years, and is "numb" over the break-up. Murs, who performed at the Dubai Jazz Festival last year, had been dating 26-year-old property manager Francesca Thomas. They called time on their relationship following a holiday last week, according to The Sun newspaper, which reported that Murs was struggling to juggle the long-term romance with a hectic work schedule. The Heart Skips a Beat hitmaker was said to be particularly upset because Francesca was "the first woman he planned a future with". – IANS
Bobbi Kristina Brown's Death still a mystery
The cause of Bobbi Kristina Brown's death has been determined – but the autopsy results are not as yet being revealed. The Fulton County Medical Examiner said on Sunday that their office is not releasing the findings because of a Fulton County Superior Court order to seal the results. Brown, 22, died in hospice care on July 26. The only daughter of Bobby Brown and the late Whitney Houston was found facedown and unresponsive in a bathtub on January 31 at the home she shared with Nick Gordon. A police report described the incident as a drowning. – AP
