Bassem Breche raised controversy with his maternal melodrama “Riverbed” following its world premiere at Cairo Film Festival.
The story, a Lebanon and Qatar production shown in the Horizons of Arab Cinema section, sees a mother (Carole Abboud) and her pregnant daughter (Omaya Malaaeb) reunite under dramatic circumstances.
While it picked up multiple gongs at the fest, including one for Abboud’s performance and a special jury award, it also ruffled some feathers, mostly due to its depictions of female sexuality and abortion.
“During a Q&a at the festival, the conversation ended up focusing entirely on abortion. It was tough for me. I wasn’t expecting that,” Breche tells Variety after the ceremony.
“I don’t think anyone sets out to make ‘controversial’ films. I just have so many questions about families in general, I am interested in them. In the film, I am not wondering if abortion is halal...
The story, a Lebanon and Qatar production shown in the Horizons of Arab Cinema section, sees a mother (Carole Abboud) and her pregnant daughter (Omaya Malaaeb) reunite under dramatic circumstances.
While it picked up multiple gongs at the fest, including one for Abboud’s performance and a special jury award, it also ruffled some feathers, mostly due to its depictions of female sexuality and abortion.
“During a Q&a at the festival, the conversation ended up focusing entirely on abortion. It was tough for me. I wasn’t expecting that,” Breche tells Variety after the ceremony.
“I don’t think anyone sets out to make ‘controversial’ films. I just have so many questions about families in general, I am interested in them. In the film, I am not wondering if abortion is halal...
- 11/23/2022
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Palestinian filmmaker Firas Khoury’s fiery coming-of-age drama “Alam” (The Flag) took home the Golden Pyramid at the Cairo Intl. Film Festival, which wrapped with a glitzy award ceremony in the Egyptian capital on Tuesday night.
Khoury’s politically charged debut, which world premiered at the Toronto Intl. Film Festival, struck a chord with both the international jury, headed by Japanese filmmaker Naomi Kawase, and moviegoers in Cairo, who also handed “Alam” the audience award. At a rousing Middle East premiere on Nov. 18, moviegoers burst into applause several times during the screening.
Khoury, who addressed the audience at Cairo’s Opera House with a pre-recorded message, was unable to attend the festival. The director, an Israeli citizen traveling on a Palestinian passport, was not granted a visa by Egyptian authorities.
“Alam” follows a Palestinian-Israeli teen who undergoes a political awakening sparked by a pretty, outspoken girl from his high school class,...
Khoury’s politically charged debut, which world premiered at the Toronto Intl. Film Festival, struck a chord with both the international jury, headed by Japanese filmmaker Naomi Kawase, and moviegoers in Cairo, who also handed “Alam” the audience award. At a rousing Middle East premiere on Nov. 18, moviegoers burst into applause several times during the screening.
Khoury, who addressed the audience at Cairo’s Opera House with a pre-recorded message, was unable to attend the festival. The director, an Israeli citizen traveling on a Palestinian passport, was not granted a visa by Egyptian authorities.
“Alam” follows a Palestinian-Israeli teen who undergoes a political awakening sparked by a pretty, outspoken girl from his high school class,...
- 11/23/2022
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
19B wins three awards including Fipresci prize.
Firas Khoury’s Alam, a coming-of-age drama about Palestinians growing up in Israel, has won 2022 Cairo International Film Festival’s Golden Pyramid for best film in the international competition.
‘Alam’: Cairo Review
Alam also took the audience award while Mahmoud Bakri shared the best actor prize with Maher Elkheir for Ali Cheri’s The Dam. The best actress award went to Zelda Samson for Love according To Dalva by Emmanuelle Nicot, who earned the Silver Pyramid special jury award for best director.
The Bronze Pyramid Award for best first/second work went...
Firas Khoury’s Alam, a coming-of-age drama about Palestinians growing up in Israel, has won 2022 Cairo International Film Festival’s Golden Pyramid for best film in the international competition.
‘Alam’: Cairo Review
Alam also took the audience award while Mahmoud Bakri shared the best actor prize with Maher Elkheir for Ali Cheri’s The Dam. The best actress award went to Zelda Samson for Love according To Dalva by Emmanuelle Nicot, who earned the Silver Pyramid special jury award for best director.
The Bronze Pyramid Award for best first/second work went...
- 11/22/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Beirut-set drama premiered in Venice.
Breaking Glass Pictures has acquired North American rights to the Lebanese drama Martyr, written and directed by Mazen Khaled.
The feature examines how a young man’s death in Beirut seaside exposes the city’s schisms and will open theatrically in New York and Los Angeles this year, with DVD and VOD roll-out to follow in the third quarter.
Carol Abboud, Hady Bou Ayash, and Mostafa Fahs, star in Martyr, and Diala Kachmar produced. The drama received its North American premiere at SXSW after the world premiere at the Venice Film Festival last year.
“I...
Breaking Glass Pictures has acquired North American rights to the Lebanese drama Martyr, written and directed by Mazen Khaled.
The feature examines how a young man’s death in Beirut seaside exposes the city’s schisms and will open theatrically in New York and Los Angeles this year, with DVD and VOD roll-out to follow in the third quarter.
Carol Abboud, Hady Bou Ayash, and Mostafa Fahs, star in Martyr, and Diala Kachmar produced. The drama received its North American premiere at SXSW after the world premiere at the Venice Film Festival last year.
“I...
- 5/1/2018
- by Jenn Sherman
- ScreenDaily
Lebanese filmmaker Eliane Raheb’s The Great Family and Algeria Is Still Far Away, from Algerian-French filmmaker Omar Haffaf, shared the $25,000 top prize at Dubai Film Connection (Dfc) yesterday.
“We were dazzled by the quality of the 13 projects. It was a difficult process. There is such diversity in these films,” said jury member Mike Goodridge, CEO of the UK’s Protagonist Pictures. He was joined on the jury by Misr International Films’ Gabriel Khoury and Tribeca Film Institute’s Molly O’Keefe.
The Great Family follows an adopted French woman as she investigates her roots after discovering she may be the daughter of Palestinian refugees. In Algeria Is Still Far Away, Haffaf explores his native country through the prism of Chinese immigrants.
The $10,000 Cinescape/Front Row Award went to Iraqi director Mohanad Hayal’s drama Haifa Street set against the backdrop of an infamous sniper-infested neighbourhood in Baghdad.
The $10,000 Art Award went to Jordanian director Darin J. Sallam...
“We were dazzled by the quality of the 13 projects. It was a difficult process. There is such diversity in these films,” said jury member Mike Goodridge, CEO of the UK’s Protagonist Pictures. He was joined on the jury by Misr International Films’ Gabriel Khoury and Tribeca Film Institute’s Molly O’Keefe.
The Great Family follows an adopted French woman as she investigates her roots after discovering she may be the daughter of Palestinian refugees. In Algeria Is Still Far Away, Haffaf explores his native country through the prism of Chinese immigrants.
The $10,000 Cinescape/Front Row Award went to Iraqi director Mohanad Hayal’s drama Haifa Street set against the backdrop of an infamous sniper-infested neighbourhood in Baghdad.
The $10,000 Art Award went to Jordanian director Darin J. Sallam...
- 12/11/2016
- ScreenDaily
Hany Abu-Assad’s Omar won best film in the Muhr Arab feature competition at this year’s Dubai International Film Festival (Diff), while Anthony Chen’s Ilo Ilo won best film in the Muhr AsiaAfrica section.
Abu-Assad also won best director in the Arab feature section, while Yasmine Raees won best actress for Egyptian filmmaker Mohamed Khan’s Factory Girl. Best actor went to Hassan Badida for Moroccan filmmaker Hicham Lasri’s They Are The Dogs, which also picked up the Special Jury Prize.
Special Mentions went to Mohamed Amin Benamraoui for Adios Carmen and to Moroccan actress Raouia for her roles in Rock The Casbah and Pillow Secrets.
Ilo Ilo was also a multiple prize-winner, adding to an already weighty awards stash, by taking best actress for Yeo Yann Yann’s performance. Best actor in the AsiaAfrica section went to Irrfan Khan for his role in Ritesh Batra’s The Lunchbox, which also won...
Abu-Assad also won best director in the Arab feature section, while Yasmine Raees won best actress for Egyptian filmmaker Mohamed Khan’s Factory Girl. Best actor went to Hassan Badida for Moroccan filmmaker Hicham Lasri’s They Are The Dogs, which also picked up the Special Jury Prize.
Special Mentions went to Mohamed Amin Benamraoui for Adios Carmen and to Moroccan actress Raouia for her roles in Rock The Casbah and Pillow Secrets.
Ilo Ilo was also a multiple prize-winner, adding to an already weighty awards stash, by taking best actress for Yeo Yann Yann’s performance. Best actor in the AsiaAfrica section went to Irrfan Khan for his role in Ritesh Batra’s The Lunchbox, which also won...
- 12/13/2013
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Sandeep Ray won best director award for his short Shirno Bahu (Thin Arms)
Irrfan Khan won best actor award for his role in Ritesh Batra’s “The Lunchbox”. The film also won the writer-director a special mention for screenplay in the Muhr Asia Africa category. The jury was headed by Shekhar Kapoor.
Sandeep Ray’s short film “Shirno Bahu” (Thin Arms) won him the best director award in the Muhr Asia Africa shorts category.
“Shirno Bahu” tells the story of an octogenarian woman who undergoes treatment for a debilitating medical condition. The 10 minute film is in Bengali language.
Actor-producer Sanjay Suri was a part of Arab competition jury.
“The Lunchbox” also won two Asia Pacific Screen Awards recently.
Full list of awards at Dubai International Film Festival:
Muhr AsiaAfrica Feature:
Special Mention: Souleymane Démé for his role in Grigris(France, Chad)
Special Mention: Ritesh Batra for the screenplay of The Lunchbox...
Irrfan Khan won best actor award for his role in Ritesh Batra’s “The Lunchbox”. The film also won the writer-director a special mention for screenplay in the Muhr Asia Africa category. The jury was headed by Shekhar Kapoor.
Sandeep Ray’s short film “Shirno Bahu” (Thin Arms) won him the best director award in the Muhr Asia Africa shorts category.
“Shirno Bahu” tells the story of an octogenarian woman who undergoes treatment for a debilitating medical condition. The 10 minute film is in Bengali language.
Actor-producer Sanjay Suri was a part of Arab competition jury.
“The Lunchbox” also won two Asia Pacific Screen Awards recently.
Full list of awards at Dubai International Film Festival:
Muhr AsiaAfrica Feature:
Special Mention: Souleymane Démé for his role in Grigris(France, Chad)
Special Mention: Ritesh Batra for the screenplay of The Lunchbox...
- 12/13/2013
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
Filmmaker Shekhar Kapoor is heading the Muhr AsiaAfrica competition jury of the 10th Dubai International Film Festival that runs from December 6-14.
Actor-producer Sanjay Suri is part of the Muhr Arab Feature Jury headed by Irish filmmaker Jim Sheridan.
Other members of the Muhr AsiaAfrica jury are: Congo-born filmmaker Balufu Bakupa-Kanyinda, Lebanese actress and producer Carole Abboud, film critic Nigel Andrews, and cinematographer Tareq El-Telmissany.
Apart from Sanjay Suri, Muhr Arab Feature Jury includes: Managing Director of Directors’ Fortnight Christophe Leparc, Saudi filmmaker Haifaa Al-Mansour and Iraqi filmmaker Sinan Antoon.
Haifaa Al-Mansoor’s “Wadjda” had won the Arab Feature award at the festival last year. The film is one of the front-runners for Foreign Language category Oscars this year.
Ritesh Batra’s “The Lunchbox” is competing in the MuhrAsiaAfrica section .
Three Indian films: Shaji N. Karun’s The Voiding Soul (Swapaanam), Suman Mukhopadhyay’s The Last Poem (Shesher Kobita...
Actor-producer Sanjay Suri is part of the Muhr Arab Feature Jury headed by Irish filmmaker Jim Sheridan.
Other members of the Muhr AsiaAfrica jury are: Congo-born filmmaker Balufu Bakupa-Kanyinda, Lebanese actress and producer Carole Abboud, film critic Nigel Andrews, and cinematographer Tareq El-Telmissany.
Apart from Sanjay Suri, Muhr Arab Feature Jury includes: Managing Director of Directors’ Fortnight Christophe Leparc, Saudi filmmaker Haifaa Al-Mansour and Iraqi filmmaker Sinan Antoon.
Haifaa Al-Mansoor’s “Wadjda” had won the Arab Feature award at the festival last year. The film is one of the front-runners for Foreign Language category Oscars this year.
Ritesh Batra’s “The Lunchbox” is competing in the MuhrAsiaAfrica section .
Three Indian films: Shaji N. Karun’s The Voiding Soul (Swapaanam), Suman Mukhopadhyay’s The Last Poem (Shesher Kobita...
- 12/7/2013
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
Next out of the Afm gate is some new artwork for Tobe Hooper's upcoming film Djinn. Can someone please buy this thing so we can all see it? It's been too long already!
The film stars Khalid Laith, Razane Jammal, Aiysha Hart, Carole Abboud, Paul Luebke and May El Calamawy.
Synopsis:
The story follows a young Emirati couple who return home from the U.S. to discover that their new apartment in a luxury high-rise built on the site of an abandoned fishing village is also home to the malevolent beings known as “djinn.”
Visit The Evilshop @ Amazon!
Got news? Click here to submit it!
Make a wish in the comments section below!
The film stars Khalid Laith, Razane Jammal, Aiysha Hart, Carole Abboud, Paul Luebke and May El Calamawy.
Synopsis:
The story follows a young Emirati couple who return home from the U.S. to discover that their new apartment in a luxury high-rise built on the site of an abandoned fishing village is also home to the malevolent beings known as “djinn.”
Visit The Evilshop @ Amazon!
Got news? Click here to submit it!
Make a wish in the comments section below!
- 11/6/2013
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Tobe Hooper's latest genre offering, Djinn, a supernatural horror flick that stars Khalid Laith, Razane Jammal, Aiysha Hart, Carole Abboud, Paul Luebke, and May El Calamawy. Earlier this month we brought you the four minute sales trailer in addition to a href="http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/27845">a report about the film's financial controversy. "The story follows a young Emirati couple who return home from the U.S. to discover that their new apartment in a luxury high-rise built on the site of an abandoned fishing village is also home to the malevolent beings known as "djinn."" Hit the jump to check out the new, shorter, trailer for some eastern. supernaturalism...
- 1/20/2012
- bloody-disgusting.com
Tbreak is reporting that Imagenation is disputing claims of bribery to bury Tobe Hooper's latest genre offering, Djinn, a supernatural horror flick that stars Khalid Laith, Razane Jammal, Aiysha Hart, Carole Abboud, Paul Luebke, and May El Calamawy. "These rumours are unfounded. 'Djinn' is in active post-production, and Image Nation looks forward to releasing the film in theatres later this year. As for offers, there have been no formal offers were made for 'Djinn'," says a statement from the company. In addition, Movie Sushi landed a 4-minute long trailer for the flick that sounds like an Arabic ripoff of Poltergeist, "The story follows a young Emirati couple who return home from the U.S. to discover that their new apartment in a luxury high-rise built on the site of an abandoned fishing village is also home to the malevolent beings known as "djinn.""...
- 1/10/2012
- bloody-disgusting.com
Watching these old horror icons continue to fail is starting to get depressing. Tobe Hooper - the man behind The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Poltergeiest - is the latest struggling with a genre film. Last March Hooper got behind te camera for Djinn, a supernatural horror flick that stars Khalid Laith, Razane Jammal, Aiysha Hart, Carole Abboud, Paul Luebke, and May El Calamawy. Sounding like an Arabic ripoff of Paranormal Activity and Poltergeist, "The story follows a young Emirati couple who return home from the U.S. to discover that their new apartment in a luxury high-rise built on the site of an abandoned fishing village is also home to the malevolent beings known as "djinn."" With the feature in post-production, news out of Italy (Movie Sushi) is that there are major problems. You can read a translation inside and dig on a trio of new images.
- 1/7/2012
- bloody-disgusting.com
Another master of horror has his latest film on display at Afm, and as always we have the goods for you right here! Think about what you want for your other two wishes, and read on to get the first one granted.
Tobe Hooper's Djinn, an Arabic-language film, stars Khalid Laith, Razane Jammal, Aiysha Hart, Carole Abboud, Paul Luebke and May El Calamawy.
Exact plot details have yet to be revealed; however, we can tell you that Djinn follows an Emirati couple who return home from a trip and discover that their new apartment in a luxury high-rise built on the site of an abandoned fishing village is also home to the malevolent beings known as "djinn."
Somebody call Tangina. This place needs to be cleaned!
Visit The Evilshop @ Amazon!
Got news? Click here to submit it!
Make a wish in the comments section below!
Tobe Hooper's Djinn, an Arabic-language film, stars Khalid Laith, Razane Jammal, Aiysha Hart, Carole Abboud, Paul Luebke and May El Calamawy.
Exact plot details have yet to be revealed; however, we can tell you that Djinn follows an Emirati couple who return home from a trip and discover that their new apartment in a luxury high-rise built on the site of an abandoned fishing village is also home to the malevolent beings known as "djinn."
Somebody call Tangina. This place needs to be cleaned!
Visit The Evilshop @ Amazon!
Got news? Click here to submit it!
Make a wish in the comments section below!
- 11/7/2011
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Looking through the hundreds of flyers we landed at Afm we stumbled across the first ever image from Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Poltergeist director Tobe Hooper's Djinn an Arabic-language film starring Khalid Laith, Razane Jammal, Aiysha Hart, Carole Abboud, Paul Luebke and May El Calamawy. We also learned that the film follows an Emirati couple who return home from a trip and discover that their new apartment in a luxury high-rise built on the site of an abandoned fishing village is also home to the malevolent beings known as "djinn." Sounds like the same subplot as Poltergeist . Meh...
- 11/7/2011
- bloody-disgusting.com
With news of a third Chainsaw flick revving up, it's only fitting that news of the creator of that franchise's latest endeavor, Tobe Hooper's Djinn, break out the same day! Ready for some fresh info? We knew you would be!
Rolling Stone recently caught up with Hooper for a quick Q&A, and the veteran director had lots to say about his latest project, which is shooting now on the other side of the world.
"It's the best screenplay that I've read in many years, and it was much more of what I've always wanted to do. It’s more of a metaphysical thriller, laced with extremely good characters."
The film is set in 2015 and follows the story of Khaled and Salama, a couple who return home from America to discover their apartment in a luxury high-rise, built on the site of the deserted fishing village, is also home...
Rolling Stone recently caught up with Hooper for a quick Q&A, and the veteran director had lots to say about his latest project, which is shooting now on the other side of the world.
"It's the best screenplay that I've read in many years, and it was much more of what I've always wanted to do. It’s more of a metaphysical thriller, laced with extremely good characters."
The film is set in 2015 and follows the story of Khaled and Salama, a couple who return home from America to discover their apartment in a luxury high-rise, built on the site of the deserted fishing village, is also home...
- 4/19/2011
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
The soft-spoken Poltergeist and Texas Chainsan Massacre director Tobe Hooper doesn't do a lot of interviews, but he caught up with Rolling Stone Magazine to talk about his next project, Djinn, which is currently lensing in United Arab Emirates. "It's the best screenplay that I've read in many years, and it was much more of what I've always wanted to do. Its more of a metaphysical thriller, laced with extremely good characters." The story follows a young Emirati couple who return home from the U.S. to discover that their new apartment in a luxury high-rise built on the site of an abandoned fishing village is also home to the malevolent beings known as "djinn." Khalid Laith, Razane Jammal, Aiysha Hart, Carole Abboud, Paul Luebke, May El Calamawy all star.
- 4/19/2011
- bloody-disgusting.com
Khalid Laith and Razane Jammal have joined the Djinn cast, Tobe Hooper's supernatural horror written by David Tully. The story follows a young Emirati couple who return home from the U.S. to find that their new apartment in a luxury high-rise which is built on the site of an abandoned fishing village, is also the home of malevolent beings known as "djinn." Also in the cast of Djinn are Aiysha Hart, Carole Abboud, Paul Luebke and May El Calamawy. Shooting starts some time this week in Dubai. Hooper helmed The Texas Chainsaw Massacre while Laith was in The Devil's Double and Jammal in the Carlos TV mini-series...
- 3/28/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
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