Reuters Entertainment Summary

"Little Miss Sunshine" wins top SAG award

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Quirky comedy "Little Miss Sunshine" won the top prize at the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday, giving the underdog film about a family of losers a big boost in the race for the Oscars on February 25. Meanwhile, Forest Whitaker and Helen Mirren seemed to solidify their Oscar hopes by winning SAG's best actor and actress awards for their uncanny performances of world figures.

Cruz and "Volver" take top Spanish film awards

MADRID (Reuters) - The tragicomic tale of a mother's survival, "Volver" swept to a triumphant victory at Spain's top film awards early on Monday, grabbing best movie, director and best actress for Oscar hope Penelope Cruz. The movie, set in Spain's barren La Mancha region, won five prizes at the Goya awards ceremony in Madrid, beating off "Pan's Labyrinth," which was last week chosen ahead of "Volver" as a nominee for best foreign language film at next month's Oscars.

Sundance closes with nods to war and family

PARK CITY, Utah (Reuters) - The Sundance Film Festival drew to a close on Sunday with organizers calling it a landmark year for independent filmmakers who added breadth and depth to movies dealing with global issues, war and family. "Padre Nuestro" on Saturday won the jury prize for best film drama by a U.S. filmmaker with a tale of a young illegal immigrant from Mexico who travels to New York seeking a father he never knew.

Indian star wins British TV show after racism row

LONDON (Reuters) - Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty clinched a public vote on Sunday to win "Celebrity Big Brother" after her treatment on the British television show sparked an international row amid fears of racist bullying. Shetty, whose victory will be seen as a triumph for racial equality, beat 13 other contestants, including those who were accused of tormenting her.

Comedy spoof "Epic Movie" leads U.S. box office

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The lowbrow comedy spoof "Epic Movie" opened at No. 1 at the weekend box office in North America, while several newly minted Oscar nominees enjoyed solid sales, according to studio estimates issued on Sunday. "Epic Movie," one of four new wide releases in the marketplace, earned about $19.2 million since opening Friday, exceeding industry expectations.

Actor awards show may be the key to Oscar victories

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - It is a question sometimes asked with scorn in the film industry: Who cares what actors think? Right now, the answer is maybe all of Hollywood. The 13th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday have assumed more importance than usual this year because a surprise snub of a major film at the Oscar nominations created a wide open race for best picture.

Hollywood stars choose between Clinton, Obama

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Even as they ponder their Oscar votes, the wealthy stars of Hollywood's liberal establishment are sizing up the choice between the Democratic Party's two leading lights for president in 2008. The entertainment industry has long been a cornerstone of support for Democrats seeking public office, and New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, like her husband, former President Bill Clinton, has been one of the chief beneficiaries.

100-year-old Butoh dancer fetes the art of darkness

By Sophie Hardach YOKOHAMA, Japan (Reuters Life!) - No chickens were strangled at the gala performance for Butoh dancer Kazuo Ohno's 100th birthday, a sign of just how much Japan's most provocative dance has changed since its debut after World War Two.

Bollywood music maestro Nayyar dies aged 81

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Indian music director O.P. Nayyar, who composed some of Bollywood's most memorable tunes of the 1950s and 60s, died on Sunday after a heart attack at his home outside Mumbai, a news agency reported. Nayyar, 81, was famous for the use of Punjabi rhythms in his music and is credited with making stars of several leading singers, including Asha Bhosle, Press Trust of India said.

"Padre Nuestro," "Manda Bala" top Sundance awards

PARK CITY, Utah (Reuters) - Sundance Film Festival juries on Saturday gave top prizes to two films, "Padre Nuestro" and "Manda Bala," highlighting a range of movies here that concerned world issues, the war in Iraq and families. "Padre Nuestro," which tells of an illegal immigrant from Mexico looking for his father in New York City, won the Grand Jury Prize for best drama made by a U.S filmmaker, while "Manda Bala," a look at crime and corruption in Brazil, earned the jury honor for top U.S. documentary.