HFPA

Freida Pinto talks about her role in Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

See the stars turn out to deliver and accept checks on behalf of this year's HFPA grant recipients - totaling $1,500,000!.

Jason Bateman speaks about what its like to act with babies.

The Hollywood Foreign Press is giving away a record $1. 579,500 to film-related organizations and charities this year.

Mark Wahlberg had the guests at the HFPA Grants and Installation lunch roaring with laughter when he issued a jocular warning to his old pal Leonardo DiCaprio, who had introduced him as Marky Mark. "There's a guy on my table who's better looking than you and in better shape than me," he said.

  Leonardo DiCaprio with HFPA President Dr. Aida Takla-O'Reilly "Movies touch our hearts and awaken our vision, and change the way we see things.

Jessica  Chastain arriving at the Grant and Installation luncheon. The rising young actress is here to announce the 2011 HFPA grants for National Association of Latino Independent, Pablove and Film Independent.

  Mark Wahlberg at the Grants and Installation Luncheon On the day of the HFPA Grants and Installation luncheon Daily Variety published the following comprehensive round-up of how the association's donations are put to good use by the recipients. Five that thrive with org coin By Anna Stewart HFPA supports many industry causes and orgs.

Golden Globe winner Angelina Jolie was the star of the Sarajevo Film Festival, where she received an award in anticipation of her upcoming film In The Land of Blood and Honey (the “B” and “H” also signaling a metaphor for Bosnia-Herzegovina) about the tragic personal fallout of the war in  what was Yugoslavia. The English language version of the movie, also shot in Serbo-Croatian, will open in the US  on December 23.

Since Ukraine  became an independent country Odessa has transformed itself into a vibrant European resort full of cafes, night life and young people. The city was ripe for a major cultural event, and  the first Odessa Film Festival last year was a huge success.