Entertainment News Roundup: Cillian Murphy shoulders a society's shame in Berlinale opener; Paul McCartney's stolen Beatles bass guitar found after 51 years and more

The cast of the Irish historical drama "Small Things Like These," including the Oscar-nominated Cillian Murphy as well as Matt Damon in a producer role, were on the carpet, as were German stars Lars Eidinger, in competition film "Sterben," and Heike Makatsch, known for "Love Actually," among others. Berlin Film Festival jury questions move to uninvite far right Two star members of the Berlin Film Festival's jury on Thursday criticised a decision to withdraw invitations to hard-right politicians, with one suggesting the event could have broadened the lawmakers' horizons.

Following is a summary of current entertainment news briefs.

Cillian Murphy shoulders a society's shame in Berlinale opener

Hauling coals against a leaden sky, Cillian Murphy opened the Berlin Film Festival on Thursday with "Small Things Like These", in which the "Oppenheimer" star portrays a man sagging under the twin burdens of a traumatic childhood and an oppressive present. Set in Catholic Ireland in the 1980s and based on Claire Keegan's novel of the same name, the film casts Murphy as a coal merchant father consumed by guilt and indecision over whether to save a girl locked up in a "Magdalene laundry" run by nuns.

BAFTA Film Awards: Will lead nominee 'Oppenheimer' be the big winner?

Historical drama "Oppenheimer" leads nominations for the BAFTA Film Awards in London this weekend, but will the movie about the making of the atomic bomb during World War Two, which has already picked up prizes elsewhere, be the winner on the night? Directed by Briton Christopher Nolan, "Oppenheimer", one of last year's highest-earning movies, has 13 nods at Britain's top movie honours, followed by sex-charged gothic comedy "Poor Things" starring Emma Stone, with 11.

Jennifer Lopez launches 'This Is Me...Now' with muse Affleck by her side

Jennifer Lopez explores her experiences of love and relationships in her new movie "This Is Me...Now: A Love Story" that premiered in Hollywood on Tuesday, where she walked the carpet with her husband, actor-director Ben Affleck. The musical film, which coincides with the release of Lopez' new album entitled "This is Me...Now", delves into her love life and the nature of relationships, including with herself, through the characters in her self-penned drama.

Paul McCartney's stolen Beatles bass guitar found after 51 years

A stolen Hofner bass guitar belonging to Paul McCartney and used to record The Beatles' first two albums has been found and returned after 51 years following a global hunt. The guitar, dubbed the "most iconic lost musical instrument of all time" by the team behind the search, The Lost Bass Project, was used in Beatles singles including 1963 hits "She Loves You" and "All My Loving."

'Bridgerton' returns for new season and new romance

The cast of "Bridgerton" offered fans a sneak peek of its third season on Wednesday, sharing a glimpse of the latest budding romance in the hit Netflix drama that has gained fans around the world. Characters and longtime friends Penelope Featherington, played by Nicola Coughlan, and Colin Bridgerton, portrayed by Luke Newton, take centre stage in the new season of the show, which is set in Regency-era London.

Iranian directors say 'forbidden' to join Berlin premiere

Empty chairs marked the absence of Iranian directors Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha who should have presented "My Favourite Cake", a late-in-life romance of liberation from morality rules, at the Berlin Film Festival on Friday. "We are forbidden from joining you and watching a movie on the silver screen that is about love, about life, and also about freedom, a lost treasure in our country," the directors said in a statement read to journalists by lead actor Lily Farhadpour, who was able to attend the news conference alongside fellow star Esmail Mehrabi.

Factbox-Key nominations for the 2024 BAFTA Film Awards

Nominations for the annual BAFTA Film Awards were announced on Thursday, led by historical drama "Oppenheimer" with 13 nods. Britain's top film award ceremony will take place on Feb. 18 in London.

Star-studded 'Dune: Part Two' rolls into London for world premiere

The desert planet Arrakis came to London's Leicester Square on Thursday as the star-studded "Dune: Part Two", the second instalment of the sci-fi epic featuring Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya, rolled into town for the movie's world premiere. Canadian director Denis Villeneuve takes audiences back to Arrakis for his follow-up to 2021's "Dune", with Chalamet's lead character Paul Atreides joining forces with Zendaya's Chani and the Arrakis locals, called the Fremen, to seek revenge against those who killed his father.

Politics and glamour mark Berlin Film Festival's opening night

Even the red carpet at the Berlin Film Festival's opening ceremony was not free of politics on Thursday evening as demonstrators and celebrities turned out in nearly equal measure in the centre of the German capital. The cast of the Irish historical drama "Small Things Like These," including the Oscar-nominated Cillian Murphy as well as Matt Damon in a producer role, were on the carpet, as were German stars Lars Eidinger, in competition film "Sterben," and Heike Makatsch, known for "Love Actually," among others.

Berlin Film Festival jury questions move to uninvite far right

Two star members of the Berlin Film Festival's jury on Thursday criticised a decision to withdraw invitations to hard-right politicians, with one suggesting the event could have broadened the lawmakers' horizons. Five members of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party were invited to the opening ceremony on Thursday evening alongside other elected politicians.

(With inputs from agencies.)