CHANTELLE, France: After prayers at the Chantelle Abbey in Allier, central France, a marketing meeting between the abbey’s nuns and their employees discusses the latest orders for its on-site soap and cosmetics products, the delivery destination: Germany.
The community of Benedictine sisters has been manufacturing cosmetics since 1954, after two sisters, a chemist and a mathematician, began the practice.
Body lotions, shower gels and moisturizers are among the products made in the abbey’s own laboratory, where the nuns acknowledge they must now make time for prayer and business.
“A company, must develop or it dies,” said Mother Pascale, dressed in a veil and scapular while supervising production.
“We have needed to develop, to make more turnover and to modernize our clientele,” she added, sounding more business executive than spiritual leader.
For the Benedictines, manual labor is imperative to respect the rule of Saint Benedict, which dates back to the sixth century.
As long as it is not during the hours of prayer, the sisters can work on the products, from conception to packaging.
Even Sister Marie-Suzanne, at the age of 97, and dean of the abbey, is involved in the work.
But in order to meet the demand, the abbey has hired some 10 non-religious employees to help with the production.
“The purpose is not to look for money to grow rich. We are not planning to do a stock listing! But to make a living with a reasonable margin,” said Mother Pascale.
Sold in monasteries, boutique shops and on the Internet — the abbey even has a Facebook page — the cosmetics are mainly created from natural products and generated €1 million in sales last year.
Much of the money is used to renovate and repair the 7th century abbey’s many beautiful, yet old, ramparts and monastic buildings.
“We live in beauty but the renovations are expensive. We have redone the roof, and the rooms we live in... but it never ends,” sighed the abbess.
The market for abbey-made products is far from unique to France, and is at least as developed in Germany and to a lesser extent in Britain.
Across France, some 250 to 300 communities dedicated to prayer sell products or services.
From biscuits to jam and honey, to gluten-free products and organic vegetables, men and women of the cloth have expanded into a variety of businesses.
Citeaux Abbey, in Burgundy, known for its washed rind cheese made from cow’s milk, posted €1.2 million in sales last year.
Much of the cheese is sold on-site but also in places as far away as Dubai, Montreal and Tokyo.
“Fifteen days ago, I received a call from a company that helps businesses in difficulty,” explained Father Jean-Claude.
“I told him: Yes, I have a problem. We produce 120,000 cheeses a year, but we have demand for more than 160,000!“
To protect the image of their products and avoid unfair competition, more than 200 communities have formed an association and created the “Monastic” mark to certify the authenticity of products from monasteries.
But despite the growth of some of their businesses, some analysts argue that many monasteries lack opportunities to expand.
“The vast majority of communities have modest productions because the place of the work remains very limited,” said Marie-Catherine Paquier, author of a thesis on the purchase of monastic products.
The total market for “Made in Abbeys” products is estimated to be €75 million a year, she said.
If the market expands, business-minded nuns and monks may increasingly have to reconcile spirituality with potential profitability.
Mother Pascale at Chantelle recognizes it could pose a problem, but insists: “The priority, is to look for the Lord.”
Monks and nuns make big business in France
Monks and nuns make big business in France
Saudi Film Commission takes charge of cinema sector
- First phase includes regulating licensing for the operation of permanent, temporary and special cinemas
- CEO Abdullah Al-Qahtani: The Film Commission will undertake a comprehensive review of all procedures related to the cinematic sector
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Film Commission has announced it will now have oversight over the cinema sector, which will no longer fall under the jurisdiction of the General Authority of Media Regulation.
The Council of Ministers had ordered the change, which has now been implemented after the completion of the required regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
The first phase includes regulating licensing for the operation of permanent, temporary and special cinemas, as well as the production, distribution and import of movies, videos and television programs.
Abdullah Al-Qahtani, the commission’s CEO, said: “The Film Commission will undertake a comprehensive review of all procedures related to the cinematic sector with the aim of their development and enhancement.
“Key improvements will focus on enhancing the customer experience by streamlining and optimizing the processes required for all activities in the cinematic sector. This will involve reviewing the licensing requirements for the film sector, as well as simplifying the licensing process and application for related services.”
The commission posted on X: “The film and cinema sector jurisdiction has been transferred from the General Authority for Media Regulation to the Film Commission. This move, facilitated by continuous cooperation and support between the two bodies, underscores the commission’s ongoing commitment to developing and improving the sector.”
The commission’s board has approved a reduction in fees for cinema licenses. It has also waived operational license fees for three years until 2027, covering permanent, temporary, and special cinema halls. Applications for licenses can now be made through the unified electronic platform Abde’a.
US students stage walkout to protest Jerry Seinfeld’s ceremony speech
DUBAI: Several students walked out of Duke University’s commencement ceremony on Sunday to protest its guest speaker, comedian Jerry Seinfeld, over his support of Israel amid the war in Gaza.
Video of the incident posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) shows a group of students walking out of their seats and carrying a Palestinian flag as soon as the comedian and TV star was called to the stage.
The attention to the protesters was quickly diverted by the cheering crowd, who chanted, “Jerry! Jerry!” as Seinfeld would go on to give his speech and accept an honorary degree from Duke.
However, several boos and chants of “Free Palestine” could also be heard.
Seinfeld has been vocal in his support for Israel following Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack.
The comedian also met with families of the hostages and visited a kibbutz during a trip to Israel in December.
The walkout at Duke's graduation was the latest manifestation of protests that have taken over US campuses as students call for universities to divest from arms suppliers and other companies profiting from the war.
US actor Mahershala Ali to star in NYC thriller ‘77 Blackout’
DUBAI: Two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali is set to star with Tom Hardy in “77 Blackout,” a crime thriller set on the night when New York lost power and was plunged into chaos and lawlessness.
Cary Joji Fukunaga is directing, Deadline reported.
In 1977, five rogue police officers formulate a plan to rob three criminal strongholds – the Hong Kong Triads, the Italian Mafia, and the Harlem Mob – all in one night. When a blackout sweeps the city on the night of the robbery, the crew is forced to navigate a hellish landscape.
Ali is most known for two Best Picture-winning flicks: 2016’s “Moonlight” and 2018’s “Green Book.”
Hardy is known for blockbusters such as Christopher Nolan’s “Inception” and director George Miller’s 2015 action epic “Mad Max: Fury Road.”
Avantika shows off Geyanna Youness gown in Los Angeles
DUBAI: US actress Avantika Vandanapu, known mononymously as Avantika, hit the red carpet at Gold House’s 2024 Gold Gala in Los Angeles in a gown by Lebanese designer Geyanna Youness.
The event honored leaders in the Asian-Pacific community and saw Hollywood star Lucy Liu honored with the Legend award.
Liu — whose credits include “Ally McBeal,” “Elementary,” “Kill Bill Vol. 1,” “Charlie’s Angels” and Steven Soderbergh’s “Presence” — spoke on stage about having to make casting decisions “because of limitations,” according to Variety magazine. She added: “I love that we are all here tonight because there is no ceiling, and I’ve never seen that for myself. I want us to all collectively understand how special this moment is that we are together as a community. I share this award with you because you have lifted me up, you have given me strength, you have made me so proud. I feel like it’s been very lonely.”
For her part, Avantika kicked off her career by being cast in several films in India’s Telugu film industry and went on to score her first Hollywood lead role in the Disney Channel original movie “Spin” before starring in Netflix’s “Senior Year.” Avantika also nabbed a lead role in the 2024 “Mean Girls” reboot.
The actress showed off a peach-and-blue gown by fashion label Geyanna Youness, complete with structured detailing at the waist and a floral ruffle on one shoulder.
The beaded gown was created by Youness, a Beirut-born-and-raised designer who launched her own brand in 2017 with a focus on bridal, couture, and accessories collections.
Avantika has garnered attention for building a career in both Hollywood and India — she continues to promote her Indian show “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and her horror film “Tarot” while also developing an adaptation of “A Crown of Wishes,” author Roshani Chokshi’s Young Adult fantasy, for Disney+.
“The Western fantasy genre is dominated by a Western mythology, or Nordic mythology. It just feels repetitive and redundant. And Indian mythology is so rich and so fascinating. After ‘Black Panther’ came out, I thought we needed to find a way to showcase Indian mythology on a bigger, grander, commercial scale,” she told Cosmopolitan magazine in May of the adaptation project.
She also spoke to the magazine about the challenges of being an actress of South Asian heritage, saying: “The pressure is so high because in a room full of a hundred people, Hollywood is now offering spots to maybe three women of South Asian descent.”
Switzerland’s Nemo wins Eurovision Song Contest amid Israel controversy
MALMO/DUBAI: Switzerland's Nemo won the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday in a competition marked by controversy over Israel's participation during the war in Gaza.
Twenty-four-year-old Nemo's "The Code" won the highest score from nations' juries, and enough of the popular votes to get 591 points, edging out Croatia in the final, held in Sweden's Malmo.
"I hope this contest can live up to its promise and continue to stand for peace and dignity for every person in this world," a teary-eyed Nemo said while receiving the trophy.
Twenty-five nations competed Saturday but much of the focus has centred on the controversy of Israel being able to take part.
When Golan went on stage to perform her "Hurricane", both cheers and boos could be heard from the audience in the Malmo Arena.
Boos could also be heard while Israel delivered its points to other acts and any time a country gave "Hurricane" high scores.
Golan finished fifth with 375 points.
Organizers had banned all flags other than those of the participating countries.
The young performer also said that the experience had been "really intense and not just pleasant all the way."
"There were a lot of things that didn't seem like it was all about love and unity and that made me really sad," Nemo told reporters.
Outside the arena, police pushed back protesters where more than a hundred demonstrators waved flags and chanted "Free Palestine".
Diverse Malmo is home to the country's largest community of Palestinian origin and according to police at least 5,000 people gathered to protest in the city in the afternoon.
The European Broadcasting Union, which oversees the event, confirmed in March that Golan would take part, despite calls for her exclusion from thousands of musicians around the world.
The same month, contestants from nine countries, including Nemo, called for a lasting ceasefire.
