The Amy Winehouse: A Family Portrait exhibition will open at the Jewish Museum in London on July 3 and it will run until September 15, and a collection of photographs that will be on display there have been unveiled (shown below).

The 'Back To Black' songstress can be seen as a child, posing in a Minnie Mouse style outfit and dressed as a ballerina. There will also be a selection of images from the hitmaker's teenage years, which show her visiting family members and playing guitar.

Winehouse's brother, Alex, is overseeing the exhibition along with her sister-in-law Riva and he issued a brief statement about it last week, which reads:

"Amy was someone who was incredibly proud of her Jewish­-London roots... We weren't religious, but we were traditional. I hope, in this most fitting of places, that the world gets to see this other side not just to Amy, but to our typical Jewish family."

Listen to Beyoncé's cover of 'Back To Black' for the 'Great Gatsby' movie soundtrack here:

The 'Back To Black' superstar's Jewish heritage will be celebrated and displayed in the form of personal photographs, her record collection, old guitars and even outfits worn by the songstress during her successful music career.

Winehouse's brother, Alex, is overseeing the exhibition along with her sister-in-law Riva and he issued a statement about it, which reads:

"Amy was someone who was incredibly proud of her Jewish­-London roots... We weren't religious, but we were traditional. I hope, in this most fitting of places, that the world gets to see this other side not just to Amy, but to our typical Jewish family."

Abigail Morris, CEO of the Jewish Museum, also spoke about the project and described it as "fitting": "Amy Winehouse was an immensely talented, iconic and inspirational singer and she was a Jewish girl from North London. It is fitting that the Jewish Museum in her beloved Camden Town should be the place to tell her story in the year that she would have celebrated her 30th birthday. We are very honoured that Alex and Riva chose the museum."

The Amy Winehouse: A Family Portrait exhibition will open at the Jewish Museum in London on July 3 and it will run until September 15.

Listen to Beyoncé's cover of Winehouse's 'Back To Black' for 'The Great Gatsby' soundtrack here:

The currently untitled film project will use never-before-seen archive footage of the ‘Back To Black’ singer and will tell the story of her life and career.

Asif Kapadia, the director of 2010 documentary film ‘Senna’ which looked at the life and death of Formula One driver Ayrton Senna, will be working with producer James Gay-Rees on the forthcoming Amy Winehouse biographical movie. James Gay-Rees previously produced ‘Exit Through the Gift Shop’, a film by the artist Banksy.

In a joint statement Kapadia and Gay-Rees said: "This is an incredibly modern, emotional and relevant film that has the power to capture the zeitgeist and shine a light on the world we live in, in a way that very few films can."

“Amy was a once-in-a-generation talent who captured everyone's attention; she wrote and sung from the heart and everyone fell under her spell. But tragically Amy seemed to fall apart under the relentless media attention, her troubled relationships, her global success and precarious lifestyle.”

"As a society we celebrated her huge success but then we were quick to judge her failings when it suited us."

Film distributors Focus Features International are expected to shop the film to studios at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival. 

Amy Winehouse died in 2011 from alcohol poisoning. 

Watch Amy Winehouse perform an acoustic version of 'Back To Black' below:

]]> London Newsdesk http://www.pressparty.com/pg/newsdesk/amywinehouse/view/73708/ Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:47:05 +0100 http://www.pressparty.com/pg/newsdesk/amywinehouse/view/73708/ The father of the late Amy Winehouse has spoken out in defense of Beyoncé's cover of 'Back To Black', which features on the soundtrack of the upcoming movie, 'The Great Gatsby'.

Beyoncé recorded a cover of the well-loved Amy song especially for the film and Mitch Winehouse took to his official Twitter page earlier today (April 22) to tell fans of his daughter that he thinks the song will generate a lot of money from downloads that will in turn benefit the Amy Winehouse Foundation:

"I like Beyoncé's cover and have no probs. monies received will help lots of kids. She can do another cover if she wants. We need the money!"

The Daily Mail, meanwhile, quoted Mitch as saying he wasn't asked permission before the 'Halo' superstar covered the song: "I don't think she brings anything to it. I wasn't asked for my permission if they could record it. They have got to pay for the privilege, which is what they are doing. I can't tell you how much it is but it's a lot of money."

'The Great Gatsby' will be shown in UK cinemas from May 16 and in U.S. theatres from May 10.

Artist Scott Eaton designed piece and he shared some snapshots of it via his website and explained that although it seems a little early to unveil it to the public, the news of the project has already spread so it makes sense:

"In my opinion it is a little early to be sharing these images given that there is a lot of sculpting still to do, but the planning application is now public and it is in the news."

"There is much more work to do on the piece, but for application purposes it is a good representation of the scale and the gesture of the sculpture."

Planning application was submitted to Camden's council earlier this week for the statue and the documents stated: "The piece is carefully composed with naturalism as the primary objective - a senstive likeness of Amy being of utmost importance. Her long flowing hair will be represented sculpturally with a touch of art nouveau styling. Other important style and wardrobe consideration include earrings, dress, shoes, and a rose in her hair, all selected and approved by members of her family."

Watch footage of Winehouse's parents at the 2013 BRIT Awards here:

It partnered with The Amy Winehouse Foundation to create this new addition to the Embellished Manuscripts Collection, entitled the ‘Amy Winehouse, Tears Dry’ journal, and royalties made from sales of the diary will be donated to the charitable organisation.

Alex Winehouse, from the foundation, explained that Amy owned many Paperblanks journals and he opened up about how they chose the cover design: "I personally wanted to find a sketch that Amy had drawn – it is something I think Paperblanks do very well in respect to other artists and musicians in the portfolio – that showed that she was a fun, quirky, loving person."

"This sketch, taken from a little note she had written, sums her up very well I think. To the world, she was a major music star. To her family and friends, she was someone completely different. I think, with the sketch and the lyrics featured on the book cover design, we get both of these sides.”

The journal (pictured below) will be in stores from March and is set to come in Mini, Midi and Ultra sizes.

Listen to 'Amy Winehouse at the BBC' below:

The nominees were unveiled earlier today (January 10) and the 'Back To Black' songstress is up for a prize. A statement posted to her official website explains that this is the first ever posthumous BRIT nomination.

Her father, Mitch Winehouse, issued an official statement on the news and wrote: "The Winehouse family are delighted with this wonderful nomination for Amy. It proves that her music still has an enormous effect on the public now and for the generations to come."

He continued: "We are proud that her legacy will live on forever through her incredible songs and performances and the many, many young people that are being helped through the Amy Winehouse Foundation."

Check out 'Amy Winehouse' at the BBC below:

The talented singer died in July 2011 and an initial inquest ruled that she died from alcohol poisoning.

A second inquest was ordered, however, when it was revealed that the original coroner hadn't been registered as a lawyer in the UK for the registered five years.

The repeat inquest found the same results and taking to Twitter yesterday (January 8), Mitch Winehouse called the coroners "idiots", but confirmed that the family is doing okay. He said:

"Thanks for your kind messages today. The idiots at the coroners office f*cked up but we are fine."

Speaking previously about the second inquest, Winehouse said:

"It is preposterous. It is the same evidence so it was bound to reach the same conclusion. What other conclusion could they reach?"

The talented singer died in July 2011 and an inquest was held into her death - but a second inquest was recently ordered after the coroner wasn't qualified for the job.

The original coroner, who had been hired by her husband, wasn't registered as a lawyer in the UK for the required five years.

A second inquest has now confirmed the first investigation's findings that Winehouse died as a result of alcohol poisoning.

The singer was more than five times the legal drink-drive limit when she died.

The talented singer died in July 2011 at her home in Camden, London and the original inquest ruled that her death was the result of accidental alcohol poisoning.

However, it emerged that coroner for Inner North London Dr Andrew Scott Reid appointed his wife Suzanne Greenaway as assistant coroner in 2009 despite her not fitting the post's criteria.

Ms Greenaway, who is originally from Australia, needed to have been working for five years as a lawyer in the UK.

She resigned in November 2011 and Dr Reid, who appointed Ms Greenaway without fully checking her qualifications, has now also resigned.

As a result, the inquest into Winehouse's death is now to be reheard on January 8.

The 35-year-old said the allegations made him hit a harder rock-bottom since the singer died.

The film maker who was engaged to Winehouse at the time of her death last year was cleared of two charges this week.

He told The Sun newspaper: "When Amy died I thought I couldn't reach a lower ebb.

''I'm reluctant to say it, but when this came up I don't think I ever have, or ever will, feel so low.''

He believes he was accused due to his fame.

He added: “I don't want to slag off the police - they have a job to do and were all decent fellas - but I do wonder about political pressures and meeting targets.

''On their report I was described as 'the famous film director and partner of the late Amy Winehouse'. It does make you wonder if I was a big scalp.

''The problem is, the system is like a runaway train. Once the wheels are in motion, there is no stopping it.''

The woman who accused Reg of attacking her following a night out on December 30 2011 was an old friend and the filmmaker insists he now feels ''blank'' towards her.

He said: ''The woman who gave evidence wasn't the woman I knew. She was aggressive and angry and completely different to the person I thought I knew.

''How do I feel about her now? I have no emotions towards her at all. I am blank.''

Watch a video of Reg Traviss ourside Amy Winehouse's flat after she died below:

]]> London Newsdesk http://www.pressparty.com/pg/newsdesk/amywinehouse/view/63208/ Sun, 09 Dec 2012 08:10:27 +0000 http://www.pressparty.com/pg/newsdesk/amywinehouse/view/63208/ American film company, Lifetime, has won the rights to a film about the life story of Amy Winehouse, even though her father Mitch had previously vowed that the singer’s life would never appear on screen.

Kristen Sheridan, the daughter of Oscar-nominated director Jim Sheridan, has already written a screenplay and sold the rights to Lifetime. The 36-year-old director stated: “I tried to make it as much about humanity and dignity, in a story that has been dragged through the media. That was, kind of, my goal.” The only details that Sheridan revealed was that they are yet to cast the famous lead role: “We haven’t started casting yet.” Kristen Sheridan, like her father, had also previously been nominated for an Oscar, due to co-writing another semi-autobiographical movie, ‘In America’.

Mitch Winehouse had previously slammed the idea of a biopic by arguing: “It would hardly be a biopic without the music and we’d never allow the songs to be released.”

Amy Winehouse died from alcohol abuse at the age of 27 last year. The case regarding a future biopic continues. 

Watch various celebrities give tributes to the late Amy Winehouse below:

]]> London Newsdesk http://www.pressparty.com/pg/newsdesk/amywinehouse/view/62829/ Mon, 03 Dec 2012 21:34:25 +0000 http://www.pressparty.com/pg/newsdesk/amywinehouse/view/62829/ The north London home of the late Amy Winehouse sold today (December 3) at auction for a £1 million less than it was on the market for.

The Camden house, which became something of an unofficial shrine to the tragic singer, sold for £1.9 million ($3 million) at auction this afternoon and despite the seemingly impressive figure it was actually originally meant to go for £2.8 million.

Mitch Winehouse, Amy's father, decided to reduce the price after being inundated with viewing requests by fans and so the property was sold at auction.

The new owners of the house declined to comment, but Mitch Winehouse said "we are very sorry to see it go."

Watch Mitch Winehouse talk about the Amy Winehouse Foundation fundraising ball below:

After a lengthy battle with drink and drugs, the 'Back To Black' singer passed away in July of last year.

There has since been suggestions by Winehouse's dad Mitch to make a movie of her life- with Gaga being linked to the project.

Mitch is eager for the eccentric pop star to get involved.

He told Heat magazine: "There will be a biopic. Lady Gaga is welcome to audition for the part of Amy - she would be great. Ray Winstone will probably end up playing me," he told Heat magazine.

Mitch is a fan of Gaga and knows that her over-the-top flamboyancy is sometimes just for show. He explained: "She is actually a very sweet girl. Her mom tells me that when she gets home, there's no lobster on her head - she just wears tracksuits and slippers and slobs out on the couch."

The event will aim to raise money for the homeless and Winehouse's father, Mitch, explained how important helping those less fortunate was to Amy:

"We’re just really carrying on the work she was starting. She was particularly concerned with homeless people as well. There was this young lady walking around in Amy’s house and I said, 'Amy who’s this young girl?' and she said, 'Dad she’s homeless. I’m looking after her.'"

The ball, which will also see live sets from the likes of Jamie Cullum and Matt Goss, will be held at London's Dorchester Hotel this evening and the Amy Winehouse Foundation aims to give support and advice to homeless young people as well as provide accomodation for them during the winter months.

Watch Winehouse's performance of 'Body and Soul' with Tony Bennett below: