This year the event dedicated to women and cinema will throw its programme open to groundbreaking Middle Eastern movies
"The best documentary at the Doha international film festival in 2011 and 2012 was won by a woman," says Will Young from the Birds Eye View film festival. "The best feature in the Dubai international film festival in 2011 and 2012 was won by a woman … We knew there was something going on."
The "something", says the event's creative director Kate Gerova, was "an explosion of creative talent" among female directors from the Middle East with Lara Saba's Blind Intersections opening the Beirut international film festival and Djamila Sahraoui's Yema winning the Algerian international film festival last year. Throw in the added topicality sparked by the Arab spring and the organisers of Birds Eye felt it only right for the annual festival dedicated to women and film to give itself over for one year to Arab women film-makers.
"The best documentary at the Doha international film festival in 2011 and 2012 was won by a woman," says Will Young from the Birds Eye View film festival. "The best feature in the Dubai international film festival in 2011 and 2012 was won by a woman … We knew there was something going on."
The "something", says the event's creative director Kate Gerova, was "an explosion of creative talent" among female directors from the Middle East with Lara Saba's Blind Intersections opening the Beirut international film festival and Djamila Sahraoui's Yema winning the Algerian international film festival last year. Throw in the added topicality sparked by the Arab spring and the organisers of Birds Eye felt it only right for the annual festival dedicated to women and film to give itself over for one year to Arab women film-makers.
- 4/3/2013
- by Homa Khaleeli
- The Guardian - Film News
Top prize at the Panafrican Film Festival, Fespaco, has gone to Alain Gomis' Today (Tey, or Aujourd'hui), which had its European première at last year's Berlinale. The French-Senegalese co-production stars Us musician Saul Williams, who took the Best Actor award for his peformance as a man revisiting familiar places on what is to be the last day of his life. It mixes poignant observation with astute criticism and musings on the ephemeral nature of existence.
It may not be as well known within the industry as some of its European counterparts, but Fespaco certainly outdoes them in terms of audience, packing 15,000 people into the Stade du 4-Août stadium in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) for its awards ceremony. It also stands out this year for having juries all of which were led by women.
Taking second prize at the fesival was Algerian Djamila Sahraoui's Yema, which explores the subject of religiously-inspired terrorism through.
It may not be as well known within the industry as some of its European counterparts, but Fespaco certainly outdoes them in terms of audience, packing 15,000 people into the Stade du 4-Août stadium in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) for its awards ceremony. It also stands out this year for having juries all of which were led by women.
Taking second prize at the fesival was Algerian Djamila Sahraoui's Yema, which explores the subject of religiously-inspired terrorism through.
- 3/3/2013
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Everything from street hustlers and school teachers to Nobel prize winners and Islamist extremists in a feast of African film
We have selected eight films from five African countries to look out for in 2013 – the year of the 23rd edition of Fespaco – the bi-annual pan-African film and television festival of Ouagadougou.
Burn it up Djassa by Lonesome Solo (Cote d'Ivoire)
Labelled "a film by the people for the people", Burn it up Djassa is about a young street hustler in Abidjan looking for a break. After shooting his first feature, Lonesome Solo escaped the war torn Cote d'Ivoire and has not been seen since.
Half of a Yellow Sun by Biyi Bandele (Nigeria/UK)
The adaptation of Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi-Adiche's Orange Prize-winning and bestselling epic, stars Thandie Newton and Chewitel Ejiofor. Nigerian investors contributed with 80% of the budget to fellow Nigerian director and writer Bandele's feature debut.
Jeppe on a Friday by Shannon Walsh,...
We have selected eight films from five African countries to look out for in 2013 – the year of the 23rd edition of Fespaco – the bi-annual pan-African film and television festival of Ouagadougou.
Burn it up Djassa by Lonesome Solo (Cote d'Ivoire)
Labelled "a film by the people for the people", Burn it up Djassa is about a young street hustler in Abidjan looking for a break. After shooting his first feature, Lonesome Solo escaped the war torn Cote d'Ivoire and has not been seen since.
Half of a Yellow Sun by Biyi Bandele (Nigeria/UK)
The adaptation of Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi-Adiche's Orange Prize-winning and bestselling epic, stars Thandie Newton and Chewitel Ejiofor. Nigerian investors contributed with 80% of the budget to fellow Nigerian director and writer Bandele's feature debut.
Jeppe on a Friday by Shannon Walsh,...
- 1/23/2013
- The Guardian - Film News
Nishtha Jain’s “Gulabi Gang” won Best Film Award in Muhr Asia Africa documentary section at the 9th Dubai Film Festival. Awards were announced at the closing ceremony on Sunday, December 16, 2012.
Sourav Sarangi’s “Char … No Man’s Island” won a special mention in the same category.
Egyptian actress Aida El-Kashef won Best Actress award in Muhr Asia Africa Feature category for Anand Gandhi’s film “Ship of Theseus”.
Musa Syeed’s “Valley of Saints” got a special jury prize in the Muhr Asia Africa feature category.
Complete List of Winners:-
Dubai Expo 2020 People’s Choice award:
• Benjamin Renner, Stéphane Aubier, Vincent Patar – Ernest Et Celestine (Ernest And Celestine): France
• Karzan Kader – Bekas: Sweden
The annual ‘Prize of the International Critics’ for Arab films from the International Federation of Film Critics (Fipresci), the world’s foremost body of film writers, academics and critics from over 60 countries, were awarded...
Sourav Sarangi’s “Char … No Man’s Island” won a special mention in the same category.
Egyptian actress Aida El-Kashef won Best Actress award in Muhr Asia Africa Feature category for Anand Gandhi’s film “Ship of Theseus”.
Musa Syeed’s “Valley of Saints” got a special jury prize in the Muhr Asia Africa feature category.
Complete List of Winners:-
Dubai Expo 2020 People’s Choice award:
• Benjamin Renner, Stéphane Aubier, Vincent Patar – Ernest Et Celestine (Ernest And Celestine): France
• Karzan Kader – Bekas: Sweden
The annual ‘Prize of the International Critics’ for Arab films from the International Federation of Film Critics (Fipresci), the world’s foremost body of film writers, academics and critics from over 60 countries, were awarded...
- 12/16/2012
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
The 17th edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala (Iffk) has announced its lineup. The festival will run from 7th to 14th December, 2012 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
Some of the highlights of the lineup are festival favourites of the year Amour, Chitrangada, Samhita, The Sapphires, Drapchi, Miss Lovely, Me and You, Celluloid Man, and Baandhon.
Fourteen films will screen in the Competition section while seven contemporary films will be screened in “Indian Cinema Now” section.
Complete list of films:
Competition Films
Fourteen feature films from Asia, Africa and Latin America will compete for the coveted “Suvarna Chakoram” (Golden Crow Pheasant) and other awards.
Always Brando by Ridha Behi (Tunisia)
Inheritors of the Earth by T V Chandran (India)
A Terminal Trust by by Masayuki Suo (Japan)
Shutter by Joy Mathew (India)
Today by Alain Gomis (Senegal-France)
The Repentant by Merzak Allouache (Algeria)
Sta. Niña by Manny Palo (Philippines)
Present Tense...
Some of the highlights of the lineup are festival favourites of the year Amour, Chitrangada, Samhita, The Sapphires, Drapchi, Miss Lovely, Me and You, Celluloid Man, and Baandhon.
Fourteen films will screen in the Competition section while seven contemporary films will be screened in “Indian Cinema Now” section.
Complete list of films:
Competition Films
Fourteen feature films from Asia, Africa and Latin America will compete for the coveted “Suvarna Chakoram” (Golden Crow Pheasant) and other awards.
Always Brando by Ridha Behi (Tunisia)
Inheritors of the Earth by T V Chandran (India)
A Terminal Trust by by Masayuki Suo (Japan)
Shutter by Joy Mathew (India)
Today by Alain Gomis (Senegal-France)
The Repentant by Merzak Allouache (Algeria)
Sta. Niña by Manny Palo (Philippines)
Present Tense...
- 11/2/2012
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
by Terence Johnson
HollywoodNews.com: Hot on the heels of the Toronto International Film Festival announcing their titles comes word from Venice about the films to be featured at the 69th Venice Film Festival.
With 60 films, the selection includes a wide range of anticipated titles such as Terrence Malick’s To the Wonder, Passion from Brian De Palma and The Company You Keep directed by Robert Redford, as well as 20 films from female directors. Surprisingly, Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master is not included in the lineup, might this mean it will be skipping the festivals? Check out the full list after the jump!
Competition Films
Something in the Air, Olivier Assayas (France)
Outrage: Beyond, Takeshi Kitano (Japan)
Fill The Void, Rama Burshtein (Israel)
To the Wonder, Terrence Malick (U.S.)
Pieta, Kim Ki-duk (South Korea)
Dormant Beauty, Marco Bellocchio (Italy)
E’ stato il figlio, Daniele Cipri (Italy)
At Any Price,...
HollywoodNews.com: Hot on the heels of the Toronto International Film Festival announcing their titles comes word from Venice about the films to be featured at the 69th Venice Film Festival.
With 60 films, the selection includes a wide range of anticipated titles such as Terrence Malick’s To the Wonder, Passion from Brian De Palma and The Company You Keep directed by Robert Redford, as well as 20 films from female directors. Surprisingly, Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master is not included in the lineup, might this mean it will be skipping the festivals? Check out the full list after the jump!
Competition Films
Something in the Air, Olivier Assayas (France)
Outrage: Beyond, Takeshi Kitano (Japan)
Fill The Void, Rama Burshtein (Israel)
To the Wonder, Terrence Malick (U.S.)
Pieta, Kim Ki-duk (South Korea)
Dormant Beauty, Marco Bellocchio (Italy)
E’ stato il figlio, Daniele Cipri (Italy)
At Any Price,...
- 7/26/2012
- by Clayton Davis
- Hollywoodnews.com
With the line-up for the Toronto International Film Festival dropping a few days ago and the list for Venice out today, the festival circuit has arrived!
The lead stories for the Venice line-up aren't nearly as exciting as those coming out of Toronto. Harmony Korrine's "Spring Breakers" with James Franco and Selena Gomez will make its debut, as will Brian De Palma's "Passion" with Noomi Rapace and Rachel McAdams.
Perhaps the biggest headline here is the absence of Paul Thomas Anderson's "The Master," a film that was expected to appear here. Skipping Venice is just more proof that the rumors of a Fantastic Fest debut may be true.
Check out the full line-up (via The Playlist) after the jump!
Opening Film (Out Of Competition)
"The Reluctant Fundamentalist," Mira Nair (U.S.,Qatar)
Competition
"To The Wonder," Terrence Malick (U.S.)
"Something in the Air," Olivier Assayas (France)
"Outrage:Beyond,...
The lead stories for the Venice line-up aren't nearly as exciting as those coming out of Toronto. Harmony Korrine's "Spring Breakers" with James Franco and Selena Gomez will make its debut, as will Brian De Palma's "Passion" with Noomi Rapace and Rachel McAdams.
Perhaps the biggest headline here is the absence of Paul Thomas Anderson's "The Master," a film that was expected to appear here. Skipping Venice is just more proof that the rumors of a Fantastic Fest debut may be true.
Check out the full line-up (via The Playlist) after the jump!
Opening Film (Out Of Competition)
"The Reluctant Fundamentalist," Mira Nair (U.S.,Qatar)
Competition
"To The Wonder," Terrence Malick (U.S.)
"Something in the Air," Olivier Assayas (France)
"Outrage:Beyond,...
- 7/26/2012
- by Kevin P. Sullivan
- MTV Movies Blog
The complete lineup for the 69th Venice Film Festival has been announced! Despite rumors, Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master will not be playing at the festival, but the slate remains just as exciting, with new entries from Assayas, Kitano, de Palma, Korine, Ramin Bahrani, and Kim Ki-Duk—plus Raúl Ruiz's second "last film" of the season (Lines of Wellington, completed by his widow and longtime editor Valeria Sarmiento) and the infamously meditative Terrence Malick's second feature in two years.
In Competition
Something in the Air, Olivier Assayas (France)
At Any Price, Ramin Bahrani (Us, UK)
Dormant Beauty, Marco Bellocchio (Italy)
La Cinquieme Saison, Peter Brosens and Jessica Woodworth (Belgium-Netherlands-France)
Fill The Void, Rama Bursztyn and Yigal Bursztyn (Israel)
E' stato il figlio, Daniele Cipri (Italy)
Un Giorno Speciale, Francesca Comencini (Italy)
Passion, Brian De Palma (France-Germany)
Superstar, Xavier Giannoli (France-Belgium)
Pieta, Kim Ki-duk (South Korea)
Outrage: Beyond,...
In Competition
Something in the Air, Olivier Assayas (France)
At Any Price, Ramin Bahrani (Us, UK)
Dormant Beauty, Marco Bellocchio (Italy)
La Cinquieme Saison, Peter Brosens and Jessica Woodworth (Belgium-Netherlands-France)
Fill The Void, Rama Bursztyn and Yigal Bursztyn (Israel)
E' stato il figlio, Daniele Cipri (Italy)
Un Giorno Speciale, Francesca Comencini (Italy)
Passion, Brian De Palma (France-Germany)
Superstar, Xavier Giannoli (France-Belgium)
Pieta, Kim Ki-duk (South Korea)
Outrage: Beyond,...
- 7/26/2012
- MUBI
The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) drew to a close with a stunning award ceremony with fireworks, dervish dancing and a rich array of the most wonderful food for hundreds of guests.
The recognition of the best films in the festival and in the AsiaAfrica and Arab Muhr Competitions brought to an end an exciting event in which the crosswinds of Arab nations, Africa and Asia mixed and clarified issues of the film business which will be of great concern for the new cycle the film business is now entering.
The Muhr Awards included a new AsiaAfrica segment embracing films from such emerging markets as Afghanistan, Turkey, Cameroon and Kazakhstan. The Muhr Awards for Excellence in Arab Cinema made a strong show chosen from filmmakers all over the Middle East and around the world. DIFF's Artistic Director Masoud Amralla al Ali had good reason to be proud and the filmmakers will return with future films, judging on their reactions to the royal treatment they received in Dubai.
The prize for Best Emirati Talent went to Haydar Mohammed, Best Emirati Female Filmmaker was presented to Nujoom Al Ghanem and Best Emirati Filmmaker went to Saeed Salmeen Al-Murry. For the first time, the International Federation of Film Critics, or FIPRESCI, awarded a Best Arab Film prize to Masquerades by Lyes Salem.
Other prizes include the Arab Muhr Competition for Feature Film:
* Best Film: Masquerades by Lyes Salem
* Special Jury Prize: Adhen - Dernier Maquis by Rabah Ameur-Zaimeche
Documentary:
* First Prize: 'Thakirat L Sabbar: Hikayat Thalath Qura Falasteenia' ('Memory Of The Cactus: A Story Of Three Palestinian Villages') by Hanna Musleh
* Special Jury Prize: 'Samaan Bidiyaa' ('The One Man Village') by Simon El Habre
* Second Prize: Marina Of The Zabbaleen by Engi Wassef
Best Cinematographer: Luca Coassin for 'Casanegra'
Best Composer: Sylvain Rifflet for 'Adhen - Dernier Maquis'
Best Editor: Nicolas Bancilhon for 'Adhen - Dernier Maquis'
Best Screenplay: Annemarie Jacir for Milh Hadha Al-Bahr ('Salt Of This Sea')
Best Actress: Hafsia Herzi for Francaise
Best Actor: Anas Elbaz and Omar Lotfi for 'Casanegra'
Short Films:
* First Prize: La Route Du Nord ('The North Road') by Carlos Chahine
* Special Jury Prize: 'Bint Mariam' by Saeed Salmeen Al-Murry
* Second Prize: Sa et Asary ('At Day s End') by Sherif El Bendary
Muhr AsiaAfrica Awards
Feature Film:
* Best Film: Treeless Mountain by So Yong Kim
* Special Jury Prize: Kyuka ('Vacation') by Hajime Kadoi
Documentary:
* First Prize: Mental by Kazuhiro Soda
* Special Jury Prize: 'Xiao Li Zi' ('Survival Song') by Guangyi Yu
* Second Prize: Une Affarie De Negres ('Black Business') by Osvalde Lewat
Best Cinematographer: Reza Teymouri for 'Aram Bash Va Ta Haft Beshmar' ('Be Calm And Count To Seven')
Best Composer: Jorga Mesfin, Vijay Iyer for Teza
Best Editor: Sreekar Prasad for Firaaq
Best Screenplay: Deepa Mehta for Heaven On Earth
Best Actress: Anh Hong for Trang Noi Day Gieng ('Moon At The Bottom Of The Well')
Best Actor: Askhat Kuchinchirekov for Tulpan
Short Films:
* First Prize: 'Shao Nian Xue' ('Young Blood) by Haolun Shu
* Special Jury Prize: 'Expectations' by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun
* Second Prize: 'Kam Sanabanyz' ('Everything Is OK') by Akjoltoy Bekbolotov
The festival had previously announced the results of the second annual Dubai Film Connection (DFC), established to bring Arab and international film professionals together. DFC selected 18 projects from 108 submissions, of which three were awarded a US$25,000 Dubai International Film Festival Prize: 'This is my Picture When I Was Dead' by Mahmoud al Massad (Jordan-Netherlands); 'Barbershop Trinity' by Chadi Zeneddine (Lebanon); and 'Ouardia Once Had Sons' by Djamila Sahraoui (Algeria-Morocco). The three producers of the three projects will attend the prestigious 2009 Cannes Producers Network.
'Every Day is a Holiday' by Dima El-Hor (Lebanon-France) won the DIFF Desert Door Work in Progress Award, the 6,000 Euro ‘"International Relations" prize from French broadcaster Arte went to 'Death for Sale' by Faouzi Bensaiei (Morocco-France-Belgium); and the new Bahrain Film Production Company Works in Progress Award went to 'When I Saw You' by Annemarie Jacir (Palestine-Jordan). The new Young Journalist Award, instituted in 2008 to stimulate interest in film criticism as a career in the region, went to Melissa Khan of Mahe Manipal University in Dubai.
Winners of cash prizes from 21 competing projects in the Dubai Film Connection were chosen by a jury. Global film funds, sales companies and distributors will make deals with the winners of cash prizes, which total about $118,000. The Work In Progress Award of $25,000 from Kuwait company Desert Door went to 'Every Day Is A Holiday', a French/ Lebanese/ German co-production by Dima El-Horr and produced by Thierry Lenourvel. 'When I Saw You' by AnneMarie Jacir from Palestine won the $10,000 Bahrain Film Pfoduction Co. award for projects in development. 'Death For Sale' by Morroccan director Faouzi Bensaidi, on the 6,000 Euro prize from ARTE in France. Aside from the DIFF itself, there are numerous other activities all being ably managed by Shivani Pandya, Managing Director. These concurrent events have commanded great interest. The Co-Production Market run by Jane Williams, formerly with Binger Institut of Amsterdam, Hubert Bals Fund and the Rotterdam Cinemart is showing three works in progress including the Sundance FF 2009 Competition film 'Amreeka' by Cherien Dabis plus a list of other films in various stages of development. Working with Julie Bergeron of the Cannes Market Co-Production Market, the Co-Production Market is opening the doors between East and West in a notably winning style made possible to the warm hospitality of the people of Dubai. The Film Market where you can see every film in the festival plus more in a virtual on-demand video market has made its first deal with Alchemy Films picking up the South African feature ' Mr. Bones 2' for the Middle East. 'Mr Bones' producer, Anant Singh, also a favorite son of Los Angeles as well as of South Africa, is in Dubai with the international premiere of the documentary 'More Than Just a Game'. The Dubai Film Market, run by Zaid Yaghi is built on the model of IDFA's documentary market run by Fred De Haas who also manages the Documentary Market at IDFA. Tom Davia, Head of Programme Administration and Film Services also works with the Miami Film Festival. Other attendees here inlcude Thierry Lenouvel whose film 'Rachel' will be in the Berlinale 2009, Filmmaker Magazine and Forensic Films' Scott Maccaulay, Nadia Saah of New York, whose new company Boomgen Studios creates content and, most importantly, creates niche marketing and distribution for films with Middle Eastern content, Iran's M. Mehdi Yadegan of IRIM Media Trade, the largest TV station in the Middle East, producer Caroline Benjo of Haut et Court, international sales agents Pascal Diot of Onoma Films and Wouter Barendrecht of Fortissimo, Raphael Berdugo of Roissy, who is also a producer of 'Caramel', a Lebanese film which was in the Festival de Cannes and has been a great box office success in Lebanon. And, of course, FilmFinders is here seeing what new developments in the Middle East are being created in this time of great change in our film industry.
The recognition of the best films in the festival and in the AsiaAfrica and Arab Muhr Competitions brought to an end an exciting event in which the crosswinds of Arab nations, Africa and Asia mixed and clarified issues of the film business which will be of great concern for the new cycle the film business is now entering.
The Muhr Awards included a new AsiaAfrica segment embracing films from such emerging markets as Afghanistan, Turkey, Cameroon and Kazakhstan. The Muhr Awards for Excellence in Arab Cinema made a strong show chosen from filmmakers all over the Middle East and around the world. DIFF's Artistic Director Masoud Amralla al Ali had good reason to be proud and the filmmakers will return with future films, judging on their reactions to the royal treatment they received in Dubai.
The prize for Best Emirati Talent went to Haydar Mohammed, Best Emirati Female Filmmaker was presented to Nujoom Al Ghanem and Best Emirati Filmmaker went to Saeed Salmeen Al-Murry. For the first time, the International Federation of Film Critics, or FIPRESCI, awarded a Best Arab Film prize to Masquerades by Lyes Salem.
Other prizes include the Arab Muhr Competition for Feature Film:
* Best Film: Masquerades by Lyes Salem
* Special Jury Prize: Adhen - Dernier Maquis by Rabah Ameur-Zaimeche
Documentary:
* First Prize: 'Thakirat L Sabbar: Hikayat Thalath Qura Falasteenia' ('Memory Of The Cactus: A Story Of Three Palestinian Villages') by Hanna Musleh
* Special Jury Prize: 'Samaan Bidiyaa' ('The One Man Village') by Simon El Habre
* Second Prize: Marina Of The Zabbaleen by Engi Wassef
Best Cinematographer: Luca Coassin for 'Casanegra'
Best Composer: Sylvain Rifflet for 'Adhen - Dernier Maquis'
Best Editor: Nicolas Bancilhon for 'Adhen - Dernier Maquis'
Best Screenplay: Annemarie Jacir for Milh Hadha Al-Bahr ('Salt Of This Sea')
Best Actress: Hafsia Herzi for Francaise
Best Actor: Anas Elbaz and Omar Lotfi for 'Casanegra'
Short Films:
* First Prize: La Route Du Nord ('The North Road') by Carlos Chahine
* Special Jury Prize: 'Bint Mariam' by Saeed Salmeen Al-Murry
* Second Prize: Sa et Asary ('At Day s End') by Sherif El Bendary
Muhr AsiaAfrica Awards
Feature Film:
* Best Film: Treeless Mountain by So Yong Kim
* Special Jury Prize: Kyuka ('Vacation') by Hajime Kadoi
Documentary:
* First Prize: Mental by Kazuhiro Soda
* Special Jury Prize: 'Xiao Li Zi' ('Survival Song') by Guangyi Yu
* Second Prize: Une Affarie De Negres ('Black Business') by Osvalde Lewat
Best Cinematographer: Reza Teymouri for 'Aram Bash Va Ta Haft Beshmar' ('Be Calm And Count To Seven')
Best Composer: Jorga Mesfin, Vijay Iyer for Teza
Best Editor: Sreekar Prasad for Firaaq
Best Screenplay: Deepa Mehta for Heaven On Earth
Best Actress: Anh Hong for Trang Noi Day Gieng ('Moon At The Bottom Of The Well')
Best Actor: Askhat Kuchinchirekov for Tulpan
Short Films:
* First Prize: 'Shao Nian Xue' ('Young Blood) by Haolun Shu
* Special Jury Prize: 'Expectations' by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun
* Second Prize: 'Kam Sanabanyz' ('Everything Is OK') by Akjoltoy Bekbolotov
The festival had previously announced the results of the second annual Dubai Film Connection (DFC), established to bring Arab and international film professionals together. DFC selected 18 projects from 108 submissions, of which three were awarded a US$25,000 Dubai International Film Festival Prize: 'This is my Picture When I Was Dead' by Mahmoud al Massad (Jordan-Netherlands); 'Barbershop Trinity' by Chadi Zeneddine (Lebanon); and 'Ouardia Once Had Sons' by Djamila Sahraoui (Algeria-Morocco). The three producers of the three projects will attend the prestigious 2009 Cannes Producers Network.
'Every Day is a Holiday' by Dima El-Hor (Lebanon-France) won the DIFF Desert Door Work in Progress Award, the 6,000 Euro ‘"International Relations" prize from French broadcaster Arte went to 'Death for Sale' by Faouzi Bensaiei (Morocco-France-Belgium); and the new Bahrain Film Production Company Works in Progress Award went to 'When I Saw You' by Annemarie Jacir (Palestine-Jordan). The new Young Journalist Award, instituted in 2008 to stimulate interest in film criticism as a career in the region, went to Melissa Khan of Mahe Manipal University in Dubai.
Winners of cash prizes from 21 competing projects in the Dubai Film Connection were chosen by a jury. Global film funds, sales companies and distributors will make deals with the winners of cash prizes, which total about $118,000. The Work In Progress Award of $25,000 from Kuwait company Desert Door went to 'Every Day Is A Holiday', a French/ Lebanese/ German co-production by Dima El-Horr and produced by Thierry Lenourvel. 'When I Saw You' by AnneMarie Jacir from Palestine won the $10,000 Bahrain Film Pfoduction Co. award for projects in development. 'Death For Sale' by Morroccan director Faouzi Bensaidi, on the 6,000 Euro prize from ARTE in France. Aside from the DIFF itself, there are numerous other activities all being ably managed by Shivani Pandya, Managing Director. These concurrent events have commanded great interest. The Co-Production Market run by Jane Williams, formerly with Binger Institut of Amsterdam, Hubert Bals Fund and the Rotterdam Cinemart is showing three works in progress including the Sundance FF 2009 Competition film 'Amreeka' by Cherien Dabis plus a list of other films in various stages of development. Working with Julie Bergeron of the Cannes Market Co-Production Market, the Co-Production Market is opening the doors between East and West in a notably winning style made possible to the warm hospitality of the people of Dubai. The Film Market where you can see every film in the festival plus more in a virtual on-demand video market has made its first deal with Alchemy Films picking up the South African feature ' Mr. Bones 2' for the Middle East. 'Mr Bones' producer, Anant Singh, also a favorite son of Los Angeles as well as of South Africa, is in Dubai with the international premiere of the documentary 'More Than Just a Game'. The Dubai Film Market, run by Zaid Yaghi is built on the model of IDFA's documentary market run by Fred De Haas who also manages the Documentary Market at IDFA. Tom Davia, Head of Programme Administration and Film Services also works with the Miami Film Festival. Other attendees here inlcude Thierry Lenouvel whose film 'Rachel' will be in the Berlinale 2009, Filmmaker Magazine and Forensic Films' Scott Maccaulay, Nadia Saah of New York, whose new company Boomgen Studios creates content and, most importantly, creates niche marketing and distribution for films with Middle Eastern content, Iran's M. Mehdi Yadegan of IRIM Media Trade, the largest TV station in the Middle East, producer Caroline Benjo of Haut et Court, international sales agents Pascal Diot of Onoma Films and Wouter Barendrecht of Fortissimo, Raphael Berdugo of Roissy, who is also a producer of 'Caramel', a Lebanese film which was in the Festival de Cannes and has been a great box office success in Lebanon. And, of course, FilmFinders is here seeing what new developments in the Middle East are being created in this time of great change in our film industry.
- 12/27/2008
- Sydney's Buzz
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- The third Dubai International Film Festival ended Sunday with a ceremony for the inaugural Muhr awards.
Oliver Stone, on hand to receive the DIFF Salute for his contribution to cinema and present a screening of his World Trade Center, gave away the prizes to young Arab filmmakers. "It is hard to make films in the Middle East, but cinema can help bridge those divisions (within society)," Stone said. "This is a good attempt to reach out."
Actors Richard Gere, Robin Tunney, Adriana Barraza, Terrence Howard and Mos Def, Arab film personalities and Dubai royalty also were in attendance. The entertainment highlight was Jumana -- a multimedia play projected onto towering sand dunes and water screens.
Algerian feature "Barakat!" (dir: Djamila Sahraoui) took the festival's $50,000 first prize, while Lebanese film Falafel (dir: Michel Kammoun) earned silver and Moroccan entry "Why? O'Sea" (dir: Hakim Belabbes) took third place.
Said DIFF chairman Abdulhamid Juma: "Although a film festival's job is to showcase and not fund films -- as it causes a conflict of interest -- we are supporting regional cinema because there is no state financing available."...
Oliver Stone, on hand to receive the DIFF Salute for his contribution to cinema and present a screening of his World Trade Center, gave away the prizes to young Arab filmmakers. "It is hard to make films in the Middle East, but cinema can help bridge those divisions (within society)," Stone said. "This is a good attempt to reach out."
Actors Richard Gere, Robin Tunney, Adriana Barraza, Terrence Howard and Mos Def, Arab film personalities and Dubai royalty also were in attendance. The entertainment highlight was Jumana -- a multimedia play projected onto towering sand dunes and water screens.
Algerian feature "Barakat!" (dir: Djamila Sahraoui) took the festival's $50,000 first prize, while Lebanese film Falafel (dir: Michel Kammoun) earned silver and Moroccan entry "Why? O'Sea" (dir: Hakim Belabbes) took third place.
Said DIFF chairman Abdulhamid Juma: "Although a film festival's job is to showcase and not fund films -- as it causes a conflict of interest -- we are supporting regional cinema because there is no state financing available."...
- 12/18/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
CANNES -- Cinema from the Arab world will be spotlighted at this year's Stockholm Film Festival, which will run Nov. 16-26. Coming after the international uproar over the Mohammed caricatures printed in Denmark and Sweden, the move is sure to be read as an olive branch to the Muslim film world. Three films already have been selected for the Arabica screenings: The Yacoubian Building, from Egyptian director Marwan Hamed; the Algerian drama Barakat! (Enough!), from Djamila Sahraoui; and Heaven's Doors, from Moroccan brothers Imad and Swel Noury.
- 5/23/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
CANNES -- Cinema from the Arab world will be spotlighted at this year's Stockholm Film Festival, which will run Nov. 16-26. Coming after the international uproar over the Mohammed caricatures printed in Denmark and Sweden, the move is sure to be read as an olive branch to the Muslim film world. Three films already have been selected for the Arabica screenings: The Yacoubian Building, from Egyptian director Marwan Hamed; the Algerian drama Barakat! (Enough!), from Djamila Sahraoui; and Heaven's Doors, from Moroccan brothers Imad and Swel Noury.
- 5/23/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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