News in Brief

Lifetime achievement honors will also be presented to Argentine songwriter Alberto Cortez, Chilean-born bolero king Lucho Gatica, Brazilian rock legends Os Paralamas do Sucesso and gender-bending ranchera master Chavela Vargas.

"Representing many genres from countries across the globe -- from the Americas to Europe -- these recipients have reached the status of living legends of Latin music," Gabriel Abaroa, president of the Latin Recording Academy, said in a statement Monday.

"Through their inspiring passion, craft and vision, they have made significant contributions and improvements to the overall condition of Latin culture."

To help celebrate its 40th anniversary, the American Film Institute said today that it would show 11 classic films at ArcLight Hollywood on Oct. 3 -- with each movie to be introduced by one of its stars or filmmakers. But all 11 screen at 7 p.m.

Documentary filmmakers with dreams of adding "Oscar-nominated," or even "Oscar-winning," to their resumes have until Sept. 4th to submit their work for Academy consideration this year. Whether short subject or feature length, the films had to run for at least seven days in New York or Los Angeles. Filmmakers must also include 25 DVD copies and a synopsis of the doc.

Nominations will be announced Jan. 22. This year's Oscar ceremony is scheduled at the Kodak Theater on Feb. 24, 2008. For a complete list of Academy rules, go to www.oscars.org.

Rating may limit film's visibility in theaters and newspapers.
Oscar-winning director Ang Lee's erotic espionage thriller, "Lust, Caution," has been given an NC-17 rating by the Motion Picture Assn. of America, signaling to parents that the film may be inappropriate for audiences 17 and under, and restricting admission to only those 18 and older. The film earned the MPAA's strict rating because of "some explicit sexuality." Although the film's distributor, Focus Features, has accepted the rating, the classification could make "Lust, Caution" more difficult to book with exhibitors and scare away those daily newspapers that refuse to carry ads for such films.

Emmy unveils presenters for 59th Annual awards show.
The 59th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards team may have selected a dry host in Ryan Seacrest but the event's presenters line-up is almost all comedy. Steve Carell, an Emmy favorite for his role as an insensitive boss in "The Office," will join comedy series regulars Kelsey Grammer, Patricia Heaton, and "The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart in handing out awards.

Festival will mix new films with an historic Academy exhibition in its new venue. The special programming, which kicks off a new annual tradition at Telluride, will unspool in Backlot, a new screening room built in the mountain town's Wilkinson Library. Amid the books, ten specially selected films, described as "new works exploring the world of film," will screen over the four-day festival. The ten films will be announced with the rest of the festival line-up on the eve of the event's opening.

Joey Fatone has signed on for red-carpet duty as co-host with Lisa Rinna of TV Guide Network's red-carpet coverage of major awards shows. Their first gig together: the Emmy Awards on Sept. 16.

As far as honors go, the 2007 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year may be a mouthful, but Juan Luis Guerra can probably carry the tune. The singer/songwriter, known for a wide variety of musical and artistic styles, will receive the honor at the 8th Annual Latin Grammy Awards in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Nov. 7.

Ryan Seacrest, the hardest-working man in television and radio, has landed one more gig. The "American Idol" host has been tapped by Fox to emcee the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards, which will air Sept. 16 at 8 p.m. from L.A.'s Shrine Auditorium.

Sid Ganis will serve his third consecutive term as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Other election results include Robert Rehme as first vice-president, Tom Hanks and Charles Bernstein in vice president posts, and Producers Branch governor Hawk Koch will act as treasurer.

Ganis' prior film experience ranges from senior vice president of Lucasfilm, Ltd. to president of the motion picture group at Paramount Pictures. Prior to founding Out of the Blue...Entertainment, Ganis was vice chairman of Columbia Pictures and president of worldwide marketing for Columbia/Tri-Star Motion Picture Companies.