Film festival seeks chief to replace Minghella

Film festival seeks chief to replace Minghella

HONG KONG — Organizers of the 11th Shanghai International Film Festival are looking for a new jury chairman following the death of Anthony Minghella. “This [Minghella’s death] happened so suddenly. We’re in the process of looking for a replacement,” festival spokeswoman Crystal Yu told The Associated Press in a phone interview Friday. The British filmmaker, who won an Oscar for “The English Patient,” died Tuesday in London of a hemorrhage after surgery. He was 54. He also directed “Cold Mountain” and “The Talented Mr. Ripley.”

Yu said the festival, scheduled for June 14-22, plans to stage a retrospective of Minghella’s works. The Shanghai event announced its selection of Minghella as jury chairman in February.

Cox and Arquette spearhead fund drive

LOS ANGELES — Courteney Cox and David Arquette have a challenge for their famous friends: Help raise $1 million in two weeks for Epidermolysis Bullosa, a rare skin condition that primarily affects children. Joining Cox and Arquette in the awareness- and money-raising effort are Jennifer Aniston, Orlando Bloom, Kate Beckinsale, Rashida Jones, James Marsden and Eva Longoria Parker. All will lend their famous faces and financial support to the Epidermolysis Bullosa Medical Research Foundation, where Cox, Arquette and Aniston serve on the honorary advisory board. (Brad Pitt, Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale are also members.) “EB is very personal to me so I’m happy to be a part of this $1 million challenge,” Cox said in a statement to The Associated Press. “Now is such an important time to put the spotlight on EB and ensure that research can continue at a fast pace.” Epidermolysis Bullosa is a debilitating genetic disorder that causes the skin to blister and break at the slightest touch. Victims are often covered in burnlike sores that never heal and most don’t live beyond age 30.

Today’s birthdays

Comedian Marty Allen is 86. Singer-producer Ric Ocasek is 59. Singer Chaka Khan is 55. Actress Amanda Plummer is 51. Actress Hope Davis is 44. Comedian John Pinette is 44. Actor Richard Grieco is 43. Rock singer-musician Damon Albarn (Blur) is 40. Actress-singer Melissa Errico is 38. Rock musician John Humphrey (The Nixons) is 38. Actress Michelle Monaghan is 32. Actress Keri Russell is 32. Actress Nicholle Tom is 30. Country singer Paul Martin (Marshall Dyllon) is 30.