Photo Credit: Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Artists for Peace and Justice
ARTISTS FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
Thursday evening, BOVET 1822 and Artists for Peace and Justice (APJ) held their inaugural Songs from the Cinema benefit concert in Los Angeles, which raised much-needed funds to encourage peace and social justice and address issues of poverty around the world. The sold-out benefit was hosted by Artists for Peace and Justice (APJ) founder and Academy Award® winning filmmaker Paul Haggis, along with Pascal Raffy, Maxwell and Nicholas Jarecki. Longtime APJ member and music legend Jackson Browne conceived and curated the intimate concert, gathering a group of top artists, musicians and actors, each of whom sung a beloved song from an iconic film during the show. Performers included Rita Wilson, Academy Award nominee Jeff Bridges, Jack Black, Jenny Lewis, Moby, Catero Colbert, Jonathan Wilson, Judith Owen, Paul Beaubrun, The Living Sisters, The Songbirds and The Haden Triplets, who were backed by the Hot Club of Los Angeles, acting as house band for the evening. Other guests in attendance included APJ supporters Quincy Jones, Jeremy Renner, Sacha Baron Cohen, Petra Němcová, Claire Forlani, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Moran Atias, Aldis Hodge, among others.
As guests arrived, they were treated to a very generous donation of bubbly by Champagne Armand de Brignac. Dinner kicked off as APJ founder Paul Haggis and CEO David Belle raised their champagne glasses to thank guests and organizers for joining the special evening.A surprise of the evening took place during the pre-performance dinner when APJ CEO David Belle and Haggis called on guest attendees to join them in the sprit of social justice and activism to help serve the meal. Maxwell, Jeremy Renner, Petra Němcová and Swedish explorer Johan Ernst Nilson joined in.
Jackson Browne came up with the concept of Songs From The Cinema out of a desire to celebrate the best music from film while paying homage to this year’s Academy Awards. Browne, a longtime activist, has worked closely with Artists for Peace and Justice for many years, and has recently led trips to APJ’s Artists Institute in Haiti, bringing local and international musicians together to write and record. The still untitled project will be released as a world music album in the fall. Musicians including Jonathan Wilson, Paul Beaubrun, Jenny Lewis, Habib Koite, Raul Rodriguez and The Head and the Heart’s Jon Russell have all participated. Artists for Peace and Justice was born in a California living room, bringing together leading artists and social justice activists. In 2008, APJ’s meetings turned into direct actions to alleviate poverty, and they began working in Haiti with local grassroots leaders there. Following the 2010 Haitian earthquake, APJ and their partners took on strategic rebuilding efforts focused on education for the very poor, creating a high school, The Academy for Peace and Justice, and a post-secondary school, The Artists Institute. Today, as a group of artists committed to using their voices to inspire activism toward direct action, APJ works to ensure greater peace and justice both at home and abroad.
Songs From The Cinema celebrated music from movies we all know and love, including The Wizard of Oz, Jackie Brown, Goldfinger, High Noon and more. The complete lineup of performances is below.
· “Goldfinger” from Goldfinger (1964), sung by Judith Owen
· “Didn’t I Blow Your Mind This Time?” from Jackie Brown (1997), sung by Catero Colbet
· “Dancing Queen” from Mama Mia (2008), sung by Rita Wilson
· “Even More Mine” from My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016), sung by Rita Wilson
· Theme from The Valley of the Dolls (1967), sung by The Living Sisters
· “Fallin and Flyin” from Crazy Heart (2009), sung by Jeff Bridges
· “Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling” from High Noon (1952), sung by Jeff Bridges
· “Chattanooga Choo Choo” from Sun Valley Serenade (1941), sung by The Songbirds
· “School of Rock” from School of Rock (2003), sung by Jack Black
· Various songs from O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000), sung by The Haden Triplets
· “Natural Blues”, from It’s Only The End of the World (2016) and many other films, written and sung by Moby
· “Cancion Mixteca” from Paris, Texas (1984), sung by Jenny Lewis
· “Billy 4” from Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid (1973), sung by Jonathan Wilson
· “Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz (1939) and many other films, sung by Paul Beaubrun
· “A Thousand Kisses Deep” from The Good Thief (2002), sung by Jackson Browne
Photo Credit: Getty Images for Cadillac
CADILLAC CELEBRATES THE OSCARS
On Thursday night, Cadillac kicked off Oscar week with its annual cocktail party to celebrate the 89th Academy Awards. Held at Hollywood’s iconic Chateau Marmont, the exclusive event brought together some of the industry’s top insiders in addition to Oscar nominees Roger Ross Williams and Julie Goldman (Best Documentary Feature – Life, Animated) along with Naomi Watts, Zoe Saldana, Chrissy Metz, Christoph Waltz, Patricia Arquette, Jessica Paré, Michelle Dockery, Matthew Morrison, Abigail Spencer, Joel McHale, Rachel Griffiths, Milana Vayntraub, Perrey Reeves, Mamie Gummer, Angela Sarafyan and more. Cadillac was a sponsor of the Oscars for the fourth consecutive year and unveiled four new ad spots during the Academy Awards telecast.
Photo Credit: Piaget
PIAGET CELEBRATES INDEPENDENT FILM
Piaget kicked off the awards weekend with an elegant cocktail party in the Hollywood Hills to celebrate its tenth year supporting the Film Independent Spirit Awards. The Swiss jeweler and watchmaker teamed up with The Weinstein Company for the affair, attended by actress Kate Beckinsale, who dazzled in the Extremely Piaget Palm Tree earrings in 18-carat white gold set with diamonds. Longtime friend of the brand and “Outlander” star, Sam Heughan, looked dashing in a Piaget Altiplano 38mm timepiece in 18-carat white gold, and was joined by his girlfriend, actress Mackenzie Mauzy. Also in attendance were Spanish actress, Paz Vega, who wore Piaget Rose earrings in 18-carat rose gold with diamonds and a matching Rose ring, “Lion” star Sunny Pawar, Billy Brown from “How to Get Away with Murder,” and director John Singleton. To mark the 60th anniversary of the launch of the Piaget Altiplano, the Maison displayed five new limited edition timepieces set with vibrant colored dials of blue, green, grey and pink, as well as high jewelry from the Piaget Rose collection. In addition to the jewelry and watches on display, guests enjoyed breathtaking views of Los Angeles from the private villa’s sweeping terrace, while DJ Alex Merrell provided a festive soundtrack for the magical evening.
Photo Credit: Gemfields
GEMFIELDS CELEBRATES RUTH NEGGA AND KARLA WELCH
The stars lit up West Hollywood on Friday night as Gemfields kicked off the industry’s biggest weekend with an intimate cocktail party at the Chateau Marmont to honor Academy Award nominee, Ruth Negga and her stylist, Karla Welch. High profile attendees including Michelle Dockery, Busy Philipps, Kat Graham, Louise Roe, Garcelle Beauvais and more stepped out in support of Ms. Negga, who is nominated for an Oscar for her role as Mildred in the film, Loving, and Ms. Welch, the woman behind her celebrated red carpet looks. Collaborating with Ms. Welch, the Ethiopian-Irish actress has quickly risen to the top of fashion’s best-dressed lists throughout the season for her inspired style, which has incorporated vibrant jewelry featuring Gemfields rubies and emeralds. For the cocktail party, Ms. Negga chose a Fred Leighton choker featuring an impressive 24 carat heart-shaped Gemfields Mozambican ruby in a rich midnight red hue framed by ruby pavé to accompany her Rodarte top and pants. When asked about her unique style, Ms. Negga states, “The most important thing is that you go out feeling confident about what you are wearing and how you look and feel…that imports an inner confidence that I think really translates.” Ms. Welch added, “I love that Ruth is fearless and so unique. I love that she loves color. She’s inspired me greatly in the jewelry department and has brought out a true love of jewelry for me.” Several guests showed off a dazzling array of Gemfields colored gemstone jewelry, and party-goers enjoyed Perrier-Jouët’s Belle Epoque Rosé champagne while celebrating the guest of honor.
Photo Credit: Getty Images for Grey Goose
BEYONCE & JAY Z TOAST THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY
THE INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS
The Independent Spirit Awards returned to the beach for another informal affair honoring independent film on Saturday. The event, which was hosted by Nick Kroll and John Mulaney and included Andy Samberg performing Pearl Jam’s “Alive” as a tribute to the living, the 2017 ceremony ushered in the Oscars in an eccentric, spirited way. See the full list of winners below.
BEST FEATURE – Moonlight
BEST DIRECTOR – Barry Jenkins, Moonlight
BEST FEMALE LEAD – Isabelle Huppert, Elle
BEST MALE LEAD – Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea
BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE – Molly Shannon, Other People
BEST SUPPORTING MALE – Ben Foster, Hell or High Water
BEST SCREENPLAY – Barry Jenkins, Tarell Alvin McCraney, Moonlight
BEST EDITING – Joi McMillon, Nat Sanders, Moonlight
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE – O.J.: Made In America
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY – James Laxton, Moonlight
BEST FIRST FEATURE – The Witch
BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY – Robert Eggers, The Witch
JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD – Spa Night
ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD – Moonlight
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM – Toni Erdmann
PIAGET PRODUCERS AWARD – Jordana Mollick
KIEHL’S SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD – Anna Rose Holmer, The Fits
TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD – Nanfu Wang, Hooligan Sparrow
KARI FEINSTEIN’S STYLE LOUNGE
Stars like Miles Teller, Ruby Rose, Jeremy Piven and Malin Akerman came out to scoop up essentials from Pikagos, iDeal of Sweden, Skin Inc, Polaroid Pimax- virtual reality headsets, ULA Launch and Casper at Kari Feinstein’s annual style lounge, which was held at the Andaz West Hollywood hotel.
Photo Credit: Todd Williamson/Getty Images for Artists for Peace and Justice
Photo Credit: Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Artists for Peace and Justice
Photo Credit: Todd Williamson/Getty Images for Artists for Peace and Justice
Photo Credit: Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images for Cadillac
Photo Credit: Getty Images for Cadillac)
Photo Credit: Getty Images for Cadillac)
Photo Credit: Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images for Cadillac)
Photo Credit: Piaget 
Photo Credit: Piaget 
Photo Credit: Gemfields
Photo Credit: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Film Independent
Photo Credit: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Film Independent)
Photo Credit: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Film Independent)
Photo Credit: Getty Images for Grey Goose 
Photo Credit: Getty Images for Grey Goose 
Photo Credit: Getty Images for Grey Goose 
Photo Credit: Getty Images for Grey Goose 
Photo Credit: Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Audi
Photo Credit: Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Audi
Photo Credit: Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Audi
Photo Credit: Rebecca Sapp/WireImage
Photo Credit: WireImage 
Photo Credit: WireImage 
Photo Credit: Wireimage 
News
February 27, 2017Weekend Recap: Steph Curry Helps a Fan, Wife Ayesha Cooks at
