Cannes: 'Wolf and Sheep' Tops Directors' Fortnight Awards

'Wolf and Sheep'

Courtesy of Cannes Film Festival

The top honors for the sidebar were awarded Friday night.

The Directors' Fortnight sidebar awards were given out Friday night, with Wolf and Sheep by Shahrbanoo Sadat taking the top prize.

The film, based in the central Afghanistan village where Sadat grew up, follows a group of young children who work as shepherds.

THR's review described Wolf and Sheep as "an absorbing ethnographic docudrama hybrid, marbled with a curious vein of phantasmagoric storytelling."

The SACD Prize, awarded to a French-language film, went to L'Effet aquatique (The Together Project), directed by Sólveig Anspach. The comedy from the late French-Icelandic filmmaker finds a man pretending he can't swim in order to get closer to the lifeguard he loves.

Mercenaire, directed by Sacha Wolff, won the Europa Cinemas award, which aims to enhance the promotion, circulation and box-office runs of European award-winning films on the screens of a cinema network stretching across Europe.

The Illy prize for short film went to Chasse Royale, directed by Lise Akoka and Romane Gueret. Plus a special mention was given to Zvir (The Beast), directed by Miroslav Sikavica.

The top prizes for the main selection will be awarded on Sunday night during the closing ceremony at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes.

ICC T20 World Cup 2016: MS Dhoni plays Holi with fans ahead of Bangladesh clash

MS Dhoni with fans ahead of Bangladesh clash

India will take on Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni played Holi with some of his greatest fans in Bangalore on 22 March. Dhoni celebrated with Indian super fans Sudhir Gautam and Ram Babu, who were given access to the Indian team bus to meet the captain.

The India team is scheduled to play Bangladesh in an ICC T20 World Cup 2016 group stage match at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on 23 March and India require winning the game by a big margin to make sure their net run rate can catch up with the other teams in the group after their 47-run defeat against New Zealand in the first match of the tournament.

In spite of heavy security arrangements, Dhoni allowed Sudhir, Ram, and some other young fans to put gulal powder on his forehead. Sudhir is an iconic fan of Sachin Tendulkar who travels with the Indian cricket team all over the world and cheers for the men in blue. Ram Babu is also a devoted fan of the Indian team and attends all major tournaments and series.

Sudhir is conspicuous by his appearance, his unorthodox style of support to Indian team has been captured several times on the lenses of cameramen across the globe. On Tuesday, he was draped in the tri-colours and met his favourite captain. After applying gulal on Dhoni’s forehead he also touched his feet. The entire country will celebrate Holi on Thursday.

Must win game for both the teams 

The game against Bangladesh is a must win game for the Indian team to stay in the hunt for a semifinal berth from Group 2. New Zealand have already qualified after their 22-run win against Pakistan on Tuesday night.

India needs to put up a good performance against their neighbours and the 6 wicket win over arch-rivals Pakistan will surely boost their confidence.  

India recently defeated Bangladesh in the Asia Cup T20 final in Mirpur on 6 March. The Bangladesh team look depleted with two losses in their last two matches in World T20 and they are almost out of the tournament. Bangladeshi pacer Taskin Ahmed and spinner Arafat Sunny are suspended for a faulty bowling action and with star opener Tamim Iqbal unwell this will be a tough ask for them. A defeat will surely knock them out of the tournament. 

India vs Bangladesh World T20: Shah Rukh Khan to Team Up With Shoaib Akhtar on TV

Ahead of the India versus Bangladesh World T20 match in Bangalore, Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan will appear in a 20-minute TV show alongside Shoaib Akhtar and Zaheer Khan

Shah Rukh Khan will be part of a 20-minute show that will build-up to Wednesday's
match between India and Bangladesh at Chinnaswamy Stadium.

He missed the India versus Pakistan blockbuster at the Eden Gardens on March 19 but Shah Rukh Khan will all eyes and ears ahead of Wednesday's World T20 match between India and Bangladesh. (Read More in World Twenty20)

Shah Rukh will be part of a 20-minute show that will build-up to Wednesday evening's match at Bangalore's Chinnaswamy Stadium. India must win to stay in contention for a semifinal berth. New Zealand have already qualified for the last four from India's group.

Owner of two-time Indian Premier League champions Kolkata Knight Riders, Shah Rukh missed India's win against Pakistan at Eden last week. Mumbai bigwigs turned up in numbers with Amitabh Bachchan singing the national anthem to boost MS Dhoni's Indian team.

A victory for India in Bangalore tonight will take Dhoni's team closer to a semifinal spot. But Sunday's battle with Australia in Mohali could decide the second team from this group of death.

Virat Kohli A "Very Well-Mannered Kid", Says Shah Rukh Khan

Virat Kohli has won two man of the awards in the World T20 so far.
Shah Rukh Khan is impressed with Virat Kohli not just for his cricketing skills but for his mannerisms as well. The world may know Kohli as a furious competitor who never shies away from a bit of banter, but Shah Rukh thinks India's young Test captain is a "very well-mannered kid." (India vs Bangladesh World T20: Shah Rukh Khan Team Up With Shoaib Akhtar on TV)

Shah Rukh turned up on STAR Sports ahead of the ICC World Twenty20 match between India and Bangladesh in Bangalore on Wednesday. Flanked by speedsters Zaheer Khan and Shoaib Akhtar, Shah Rukh shared his memorable cricketing moments and how Twenty20 cricket has changed the definition of entertainment. (World T20: Virat Kohli is a Man in Control of his Batting, Feels Ian Chappell)

The Bollywood superstar was all praise for Kohli, whose form has been a hallmark for Indian cricket in recent years. "Ever since he led India in the Under-19 World Cup, I have found him to be a very well behaved kid. He knows how to pay respect," said Shah Rukh.

The purists of the game may not fully agree with Shah Rukh's observation, but another cricketer, known for his fiery temper, found Kohli to be a "good boy." Shoaib Akhtar lauded Kohli's demeanour and said the talented batsman "knew how to respect elders."

Shah Rukh said he was amazed with Kohli's "controlled aggression" and how he has matured over the years. Shah Rukh said Kohli had all the signs to become a worthy successor to Sachin Tendulkar.

India's victory in the 2007 World Twenty20 final against Pakistan in South Africa was his favourite cricketing moment, said Shah Rukh. "My son got attracted to cricket only after that. My heart was in my mouth when Misbah (ul Haq) played that scoop and Sreesanth held that towering catch," recollected Shah Rukh.

Shah Rukh Khan is the co-owner of IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders.

Shah Rukh co-owns two-time Indian Premier League champions side Kolkata Knight Riders. When IPL's doors were open to Pakistanis, KKR bought Akhtar in the auctions. Shah Rukh revealed why.

"We were so scared of Shoaib's pace that Dada (Sourav Ganguly) said we must buy him so that our batsmen didn't have to face him. I promptly agreed." Shah Rukh said.

Former Pakistan Players Slam Team For Poor Show During World T20

Shahid Afridi has failed to inspire Pakistan team during the World T20.

Karachi: Pakistan's floundering World Twenty20 campaign has been lambasted by former pacer Shoaib Akhtar, who said he is not the least bit surprised by the poor run as people given key positions in the team have only bothered about their earnings. (World T20: New Zealand Beat Pakistan, Qualify For Semifinals)

Pakistan are all but out of contention in the event after losing to India and New Zealand in the last two games. (World T20: Pakistan Team Plagued by 'Groupism, Politics', Says Minister)

"This downslide didn't happen overnight it started happening few years ago and I kept on warning a day will come when we will even find it hard to beat Bangladesh. No one listened including the board," Akhtar said.

"What can one say I can only hope now that sensible decisions are taken now and those people brought in to serve Pakistan cricket who don't care about their salaries, fees and perks but about Pakistan," Akhtar said. (Pakistan Not Good Enough to Enter World T20 Semis: Waqar Younis)

"What is tragic is that over the years people given key positions in Pakistan cricket and the team have only worried about how much they are earning not about the system or performances."

Pakistan's former captain and great, Javed Miandad also criticised outgoing captain Shahid Afridi and coach Waqar Younis for their comments made after the New Zealand match.

"I say everyone is responsible for the defeats. The board, the selectors, the captain and coach. Why are they complaining now about the players. What were they doing in the last one year?" he questioned.

Waqar lashed out at the players last night for their inapt performances but Miandad said bad tactical decisions, wrong selections and a lack of pride had led to Pakistan's downfall in the last one year.

"Where is the pride and passion in this team to do well. I don't see it. The selectors, captain and coach have all made repeated blunders and now they are complaining. It is a joke," Miandad said.

Former senior batsman Mohammad Yousuf said the team management had erred in the batting order against New Zealand.

"Why did they send in Khalid Latif after such a good start. Why didn't they utilise Sarfaraz or Malik," he added.

Yousuf said Pakistan's cricket standards had gone down because of poor batting and the decline would continue until quality players were brought forward.

I don't see any reason for Muhammad Hafeez not playing in such a crucial match. Even if he had some injury he could have taken injections and played. It was a must win match and in the past our players have played with injuries," Yousuf noted.

Former captain turned commentator, Ramiz Raja said Pakistan had fallen behind other cricket playing nations and one should not keep hopes that the team could beat Australia.

"Neither can we take the right strategic decisions nor can we bat well. And we expect to win," he said.