<span class="s2">The British TV mogul Simon Cowell says he's looking forward to being a father, his first public confirmation that he is having a child with the New York socialite Lauren Silverman, 36. Cowell, who had previously dodged questions about the relationship, told the BBC that "things are changing in my life right now, for the better". He added: "I'm proud to be a dad." Cowell, 53, said Silverman is "a very special girl" and that, while he hadn't thought of fatherhood before, "now I know I feel good about it". </span><span class="s3">– AP</span> <strong>‘N Sync rumoured to reunite at VMAs</strong> <span class="s2">The 1990s boy group 'N Sync will reportedly reunite at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday. Justin Timberlake was already announced to receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the ceremony. On Wednesday, the web was abuzz with speculation that Timberlake will be joined on stage by his 'N Sync members Joey Fatone, Chris Kirkpatrick, J?C Chasez and Lance Bass for a performance. MTV has yet to confirm the reports. This year has seen the reunions of the boy bands Backstreet Boys, New Kids on the Block and 98 Degrees. </span><span class="s3">– The National staff</span> <span class="s1"><strong>Doha Film Institute to celebrate the Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami</strong></span> <span class="s4">The Doha Film Institute will celebrate the Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami with a showcase of 14 of his films next month. The retrospective will be held from September 13 to 21 at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha. Kiarostami is expected to attend and make appearances at screenings between September 13 and 16. A master of conceptual cinema and the first Iranian filmmaker to win a Palme d'Or at Cannes in 2007, Kiarostami has more than 70 movie credits to his name, making him one of the most celebrated filmmakers in the region. Tickets are available at -www.dohafilminstitute.com. </span><span class="s5">– The National staff</span> <span class="s1"><strong>Toronto film festival promises Oscar bait</strong></span> <span class="s2">The 38th Toronto International Film Festival, which starts on September 5, promises a heavy dose of celebrities, with past Oscar winners such as Meryl Streep, Colin Firth and Julia Roberts all expected to attend the 11-day event. Widely considered the kick-off to the Oscar season, the festival will feature 146 world premieres, including films from the Canadian directors Paul Haggis and Denis Villeneuve. Streep and Roberts are set to walk the red carpet for the world premiere of the John Wells film <em>August: Osage County</em>. Firth has the lead role in the Second World War film <em>The Railway Man</em>, directed by Jonathan Teplitzky and co-starring Nicole Kidman. Audiences will also get a first glimpse at a dramatically thinner Matthew McConaughey, who lost nearly 40 pounds to play the real-life Aids activist Ron Woodroof in <em>Dallas Buyers Club</em>. Directed by </span><span class="s1">Montréal's </span><span class="s2">Jean-Marc Vallée, McConaughey's performance is already being tipped for an Oscar. Haggis, who won several Oscars for <em>Crash </em>(2004), will be back in Toronto with the world premiere of <em>Third Person</em>, which traces the hidden connections between three men played by Liam Neeson, Adrien Brody and James Franco. </span><span class="s3">– Reuters</span> Follow us Follow us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thenationalArtsandLife">Facebook</a> for discussions, entertainment, reviews, wellness and news.
