Silver Linings Playbook won the Best Film prize at the Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday, as well as a Best Actress gong for Jennifer Lawrence and the Best Director award for David O -Russell.
Receiving a publicity boost on the eve of the Oscars, the film stars Bradley Cooper as the recovering bipolar Pat who falls for Lawrence’s mixed-up Tiffany.
The Austrian director Michael Haneke’s Cannes Palme d’Or-winning Amour took the Best Foreign Film prize.
Best Actor went to John Hawkes for playing a man paralysed from the neck down in The Sessions.
Russell stressed the health issues behind Silver Linings Playbook, saying: “I just want to say on behalf of any family that ever faced mood disorder or the stigma of mood disorder, any mental illness: this film is for you.
“I think that when you make a film from the heart, there’s no such thing as genre, there are just real people,” he told reporters.
Lawrence said: “I love doing independent films. The only thing that’s keeping you there is not money, it’s just the belief in the story and passion.”
Haneke said the Spirit award “was given by a younger audience and that’s an important thing for a movie that deals with such a serious theme”.
The stats
Ship name: MSC Bellissima
Ship class: Meraviglia Class
Delivery date: February 27, 2019
Gross tonnage: 171,598 GT
Passenger capacity: 5,686
Crew members: 1,536
Number of cabins: 2,217
Length: 315.3 metres
Maximum speed: 22.7 knots (42kph)
Indika
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
