Secret Iranian Film Wins Sundance Award

A film shot in secret and smuggled out of Iran won an ensemble cast award at the Sundance Film Festival, while the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy are underway, with athletes and journalists gathering in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. The film, "The Friend's House is Here," was recognized at the festival, according to NPR Politics. Meanwhile, the Winter Olympics have begun, with NPR journalists reporting on the games, including Lindsey Vonn's comeback and the U.S. men's hockey team's pursuit of gold, as stated by NPR News.

The film "The Friend's House is Here" was directed by Maryam Ataei and Hossein Keshavarz. The film's premiere took place in Park City, Utah, at the Sundance Film Festival. The Winter Olympics are taking place in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. The games are meant to be sustainable, according to NPR News.

The Winter Olympics will feature coverage from NBC, according to NPR News. Ice dance couple Madison Chock and Evan Bates are pushing boundaries with a matador-inspired routine, as reported by Time. The couple is known for their spectacular lifts and bold narratives.

In Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, a sculpture of a woman with a Dior handbag and skis stands in the main square, according to NPR News. The town has long catered to the wealthy and famous.

A review in Variety highlighted the film "The Incomer," a Scottish isle fable starring Domhnall Gleeson. The review called the film "quaint and heartwarming."