The international human rights organization Equality Now has brought together international and New York activists fighting to end female genital mutilation (FGM) in a media briefing on November 3. The occasion also featured the premiere of a new documentary film called “Africa Rising: The Grassroots Movement to End Female Genital Mutilation“. The film’s premiere at the NYU Cantor Film Center was hosted by Meryl Streep. Pictures from the premiere can be found in the Image Library.

This is a powerful look at how to eliminate, from within cultures themselves, a tragic practice. This procedure is perpetrated on young girls, the most vulnerable members of society. (Meryl Streep)

Everyday 6,000 girls are at risk of undergoing FGM through out the world. In the US, 228,000 women and girls are estimated to have undergone or are at risk of FGM. Census data from 2000 indicates that over 40,000 women and girls are at risk in the metropolitan region of New York, Northern New Jersey and Long Island. Metropolitan New York is considered to have the highest concentration of women and girls at risk of undergoing FGM in the US, yet there is little awareness or services to address the specific needs of these women and girls.

Meryl Streep has a lot of reasons to see the off-Broadway hit “Love, Loss and What I Wore”. The main attraction for this November 1st backstage visit surely was catching up with her longtime friend and collaborator Nora Ephron, who co-wrote the show with her sister Delia. Streep first worked with Ephron on the engrossing “Silkwood” and later starred in Ephron’s autobiographical film “Heartburn”. The two paired up again earlier this year in the film “Julie & Julia”, which also featured Love, Loss star Jane Lynch (now known for the hit TV show Glee). Pictures can be found in the Image Library with many thanks to Ilaria for the heads-up!

Added pictures of Meryl Streep and Kevin Kline attending yesterday’s “The Lover and the Poet” Benefit to the Image Library.

To wrap up the 4th edition of the Rome International Film Festival, pictures of Meryl at yesterday’s official awards ceremony have been added to the Image Library. She once again took the stage to receive the Marc’ Aurelio Acting Award. The Danish film “Brotherhood” won the Best Picture prize, Sergio Castellitto was voted Best Actor for “Alza La Testa”. And British actress Helen Mirren was voted Best Actress for “The Last Station” (some may remember that Meryl was originally cast in this role but left due to schedule conflicts).  Enjoy the pictures!

Today, Meryl was honored with the Marcus Aurelius award at the Rome International Film Festival. Pictures from the ceremony, as well as additional pictures from the “Julie & Julia” premiere and the “Meryl Streep Masterclass” interview session that took place right after the premiere, have been added to the Image Library. Meryl has also attended the festival’s awards ceremony a couple of hours ago, so check back for more!

Meryl has arrived in Italy today for the 4th Rome International Film Festival. She has attended the photocall for “Julie & Julia”, an interview session, and, just a few hours ago, the gala premiere for the film. Over 150 pictures have been added to the Image Library with much more to follow.

Join visionary director Wes Anderson as he and actors Meryl Streep and Jason Schwartzman discuss their new animated film, “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” based on renowned author Roald Dahl’s classic book, at the Apple Store in SoHo on November 11, 7:00 p.m. Anderson utilized classic handmade stop motion techniques to tell the story from the best-selling children’s book. 20th Century Fox will release “Fantastic Mr. Fox” in theaters on November 13. Visit Apple’s official website for more information. Many thanks to Jessica for the heads-up!

The People’s Choice Awards have announced the nominee selections where users can vote for their favorite movie stars – the five people with the most votes in each category will become the official nominees for the 2010 People’s Choice Awards. And since Meryl is listed as one of the Year’s Favorite Movie Actresses, alongside Amy Adams, Anne Hathaway, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Aniston and Julia Roberts, among others, this is your chance to cast your vote and make Meryl an official 2010 nominee. Visit their official website to participate.

On October 07, Meryl attended the Royal Ontario Museum’s “An Evening with Meryl Streep”, chatting with Globe and Mail journalist Johanna Schneller on her lenghty career. The following two websites have additional information on the evening, including pictures and soundbites, so have a look at Toronto Now and the Toronotist. More media will follow on Simply Streep these coming days! Thanks to everybody for the heads-up so far :-)

Meryl Streep and Kevin Kline will perform together in The Lover and the Poet, an evening of William Shakespeare to benefit The Acting Company, to take place at 7pm on Monday, November 2 at Florence Gould Hall. Streep and Kline last appeared together on stage in the Public Theater’s Mother Courage and Her Children and will recreate those role for the Public’s Courage in Concert benefit on October 19. The pair also starred opposite each other in the Public’s production of The Seagull and in the film Sophie’s Choice, for which Streep won the Academy Award.