News | Round-Up
nd-Up Gordon-Levitt, Frankie J. Alvarez, Julie Bowen, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and many more. The disposable cameras donated by each of the celebrities are ‘naked’, meaning that the undeveloped negatives are included, which will give a unique insight into the lives of each donor. Proceeds from the auction will benefit MIX NYC, the non-profit organisation behind New York’s longestrunning LGBTQ film festival. The festival has been something of a launching pad for many well-known gay filmmakers and artists, such as Gus Van Sant, Todd Haynes, Jennie Livingston and many others. MIX NYC was also sponsor of the Oscar-nominated documentary from 2012, How to Survive a Plague.
Conchita Wurst Wins Eurovision 2014 for Austria
The wonderful and powerful Conchita Wurst won this year’s Eurovision Song Contest last night with Rise Like A Phoenix, representing Austria.
To bid on the cameras, simply visit mixnyc.org/ nakedeye.
“This night is dedicated to everyone who believes in a future of peace and freedom,” said Conchita, who was clearly shocked and moved as she won last night’s Grand Finale with 290 points, with the Netherlands and Sweden coming second and third respectively.
(eile.ie / May 17)
The crowd at the event in
Copenhagen was rooting for Austria’s 25-year-old drag queen entrant, although tensions were high as the crowd’s booing could easily be heard any time a country gave a high vote to Russia. The crowd’s reaction would appear to have been due to Russia’s anti-gay laws, as well as recent events with the Ukraine. Russia, Ukraine and Belarus had all petitioned Eurovision to edit out Austrian entrant Conchita Wurst from this year’s competition, as the presence of a drag queen in the contest had been branded by the Russians as “inapplicable” to their way of life. Despite the Eurovision’s notoriety for being so gay-friendly (watch last year’s interval act in Malmö, Sweden) Russia announced its disapproval for this year’s Austrian entrant in a petition which had reportedly been signed by thousands. Nevertheless, Conchita’s victory this year means that the Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Austria next year, most likely in Vienna. (eile.ie / May 11)
EILE Magazine 13