Close up: Farewell Nora Ephron

The big story A flood of sympathy and tributes greeted the news of the death of writer and director Nora Ephron early on Wednesday morning – very quickly you got the impression that here was someone genuinely liked and admired by her Hollywood peers , and who connected in a very unusual way with the wider world. Possibly because of her own background as a reporter in 60s New York, journalists considered her one of their own , outside the gilded cage rather than cowering inside it. More than that, she inspired a generation of women with her clever, witty take on popular culture and a persistent refusal to be defeated by Hollywood's male-centric culture . As a film-maker, she was undeniably influential, virtually creating the template for the modern romantic comedy and providing a string of high profile roles for the likes of Meg Ryan, Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman . She will be sorely missed. In the news James Cameron to film three Avatar sequels back to back Alan Moore to write first work for screen Barbra Streisand to direct first film in 16 years Bourne legacy set to continue with Matt Damon and Jeremy Renner Henson puppet film The Happytime Murders to feature sex and violence From A-ha! to ooh-la-la: Alan Partridge film to get Studiocanal backing Justin Timberlake tipped to star in Baywatch movie On the blog I have Total Recall of the original – and it was better Shock of the new: cinema's fascination with indigenous peoples Brave new world dominated by Pixar Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter slays competition at UK box office Cine-files: Curzon Soho, London Scala Beyond: new season urges cinephiles to show films their way Clip joint: Table flips Watch and listen Stellan Skarsgård on Ingmar Bergman: 'I didn't want him near my life' - video Guardian Film Show: Sheffield Doc/Fest special - video interviews The Master: Stuart Heritage dissects the trailer You Only Live Once: watch a clip from the Fritz Lang classic Further reading Selma Blair interview: 'I could be living in a castle right now, with Tom Cruise' Portrait of the artist: Todd Solondz, film director How we made: Paul Mayersberg and Tony Richmond on The Man Who Fell to Earth Brave, the movie: has Pixar finally lost the plot? In the paper In tomorrow's G2 Film & Music Andrew Pulver speaks to Killer Joe star Matthew McConaughey, Ryan Gilbey meets Bunuel's screenwriter Jean Claude Carriere, and Peter Bradshaw reviews this week's new films. The Guide on Saturday features Russell Brand in Infomania, while John Patterson writes on God Bless America . And finally Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook