JohnnyDepp-Zone.com

The third annual Kustendorf International Film and Music Festival got underway in Serbia with a lavish fireworks display, music by the award-winning Dejan Pertrovic Orchestra, and the unveiling of a carved wooden statue of Johnny Depp, this year’s guest of honor. The life-sized statue depicts Johnny in his role as Axel Blackmar in Emir Kusturica’s award-winning film Arizona Dream. To see a photo of Johnny Depp and Emir Kusturica with the statue, CLICK HERE, and to see Johnny waving to the crowd during the fireworks display, CLICK HERE.

The opening ceremony included the screening of a short film tribute to Johnny, which featured highlights of many of his movie roles. Acknowledging the ovation from the crowd, Johnny said that he had just realized “how many strange films” he has made. “I want to thank my brother Emir and my second family here, and all of you,” Johnny told the crowd. “Thanks to directors such as Jim Jarmusch, Tim Burton, and Emir Kusturica, I was able to stick around for so many years. Thanks once again!”

Many thanks to all the Zoners who have been providing pictures of the Kustendorf festival, and to Emma and FANtasticJD for news reports. You can read much more on the Zone’s News & Views forum. –Part-Time Poet

German director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck will direct The Tourist, starring Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie; GK Films has confirmed to the press that the director, who was attached to direct The Tourist when it was in development, has now returned to the project. Donnersmarck won an Academy Award in 2007 for Best Foreign Language Film for his writing/directing debut The Lives of Others. The Tourist, a thriller based on the French film Anthony Zimmer, casts Johnny Depp as an American tourist who is lured into a web of intrigue by a duplicitous female Interpol agent (played by Angelina Jolie) who needs his help to locate a criminal.

The Tourist is scheduled to film this spring in Venice.

The Zone thanks Rum Lover for breaking the news; you can read more about The Tourist on the Zone’s News & Views forum. –Part-Time Poet