Paul Haggis

The New York civil trial against Oscar-winning Canadian filmmaker Paul Haggis, who is accused of raping a publicist in 2013, opened on Oct. 19.

Haggis, who wrote and directed "Crash," and penned the screenplay for "Million Dollar Baby," arrived in court in the morning, an AFP photographer observed.

Film director Paul Haggis was detained on June 19 for investigation of allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman in southern Italy, Italian news media said, quoting local prosecutors.

The Canadian-born, Oscar-winning Haggis, 69, has been in Italy for a film festival that begins today in Ostuni, a tourist town in Puglia, the region that forms the "heel" of the Italian peninsula.

Turkey is set to be the "guest country" at this year's PriFest, one of the most important film festivals, which will be held at the Kosovar capital of Pristina.

The organization is extremely pleased with the cooperation with Turkish producers, said Vjosa Berisha, president of PriFest.

The ninth Prishtina International Film Festival, PriFest, opened on Thursday evening at the Kosovo National Theatre, presenting a programme that includes seven international premieres.

"It's our biggest edition, with more movies, guests, programs and activities, and more entertainment after the movie screenings as well," Vjosa Berisha, director of the festival said.