The Deepa Mehta-directed Canadian thriller, Beeba Boys, starring our very own Ali Kazmi, will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival slated to be held from September 10-20th. The prestigious festival continues its Pakistani connection from last year, when the Pakistani road trip drama Dukhtar debuted on the platform on September 5th, 2014 and went on to receive critical acclaim.
The Deepa Mehta-directed Canadian thriller, Beeba Boys, starring our very own Ali Kazmi, will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival slated to be held from September 10-20th. The prestigious festival continues its Pakistani connection from last year, when the Pakistani road trip drama Dukhtar debuted on the platform on September 5th, 2014 and went on to receive critical 
acclaim.
The trailer for Beeba Boys has been making waves since its release earlier this month – showing a slickly created world of an Indian-Canadian gang, populated by suave-looking hit men (one of whom is played by Kazmi) in bespoke suits. “Blood is spilled, heads are cracked, hearts are broken and family bonds are pushed to the brink in this adrenaline charged glimpse into a Sikh Indo gang war. If you wanna be seen, you gotta commit to being seen” – reads the official synopsis of the film on TIFF’s website.
This is a special year for the festival as it is celebrating its 40th anniversary. The event is considered to herald the beginning of the Oscar buzz, with many of the films premiering here going on to win big at the Academy Awards. This year’s event will kick off with the Jack Gyllenhal-starrer Demolition, to be screened on the opening night
HSY: Calling all aspiring models
Have you always aspired to be a model but don’t have a clue how to break into the big bad world of fashion? HSY, arguably Pakistan’s most well-known fashion personality, just made the task a whole lot easier for you. The designer has recently announced the launch of a nationwide campaign to scout for fresh faces, both male and female. The selected ones will not only feature in a fashion shoot but will also have the opportunity to make their runway debut at the upcoming PFDC L’Oreal Bridal Week. All you have to do is upload a full-length photo of yourself on social media with the hashtag #CastMeHSY and you would be well on your way to becoming the new IT face of the fashion industry.
“#CastMeHSY is an exciting first for our fashion house: we are committed to nurturing and grooming talent across the fashion spectrum and this campaign is an extension of that belief and philosophy,” said the designer about his latest venture. Whether it’s designing for the runway or the celluloid screen, taking on the role of a TV talk show host and just generally being a bundle of positive energy, HSY is known for always being in the spotlight. We’re glad that he’s generous enough to be willing to share that with aspiring models and breathe some fresh life into the fashion scene.
Is it time to say bye bye to the Birkin?
Actress and singer Jane Birkin, the muse for one of the most coveted fashion items in the world, the iconic Birkin bag, doesn’t want to be associated with it anymore. In response to a recent expose by PETA that shed light on the inhumane and cruel practices being carried out at the crocodile farms which supply to the luxury manufacturer Hermès, the bag’s creator, Jane Birkin has asked the company to remove her name from the bag. She issued the following statement on Tuesday: “Having been alerted to the cruel practices endured by crocodiles during their slaughter for the production of Hermès bags carrying my name… I have asked Hermès Group to rename the Birkin until better practices responding to international norms can be implemented for the production of this bag.”
Within hours of Birkin’s request to change the name of its best-selling item, Hermès responded with a statement saying that it was also “shocked” by the undercover video released by the animal rights’ organization. “An investigation is underway at the Texas farm which was implicated in the video. Any breach of rules will be rectified and sanctioned. Hermès specifies that this farm does not belong to them and that the crocodile skins supplied are not used for the fabrication of Birkin bags,” the official reply stated.
Is it the end of the era of the Birkin? We can’t say for sure just yet but given the sudden proliferation of the bag in the hands of socialites and fashionistas everywhere, maybe it wouldn’t be a bad thing to see it go, or at least get an update.
