The Arab Cinema Center has published this year's “Golden 101”, its annual list of the 101 most influential figures in Arab cinema in its 22nd edition of Arab Cinema Magazine, which is being circulated at the 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival and can be accessed on the Marché du Film website.
Celebrating individuals and institutions who have made the most significant impact on the Arab film industry over the past twelve months, this year's Golden 101 comprises of 13 directors, 16 producers, 14 actors, five crew members, 18 distributors from 12 institutions, 12 executives from 10 governmental cinema institutions, 11 executives from seven video-on-demand platforms, 11 representatives from seven festivals, and seven executives from film financing institutions.
Commenting on this year's Golden 101 list, Colin Brown, Mad Solutions' Managing Partner for International Operations said; “These are the artists, artisans, and power brokers who have distinguished themselves this past year – and the rest of the world should pay attention to them if...
Celebrating individuals and institutions who have made the most significant impact on the Arab film industry over the past twelve months, this year's Golden 101 comprises of 13 directors, 16 producers, 14 actors, five crew members, 18 distributors from 12 institutions, 12 executives from 10 governmental cinema institutions, 11 executives from seven video-on-demand platforms, 11 representatives from seven festivals, and seven executives from film financing institutions.
Commenting on this year's Golden 101 list, Colin Brown, Mad Solutions' Managing Partner for International Operations said; “These are the artists, artisans, and power brokers who have distinguished themselves this past year – and the rest of the world should pay attention to them if...
- 5/17/2024
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
Exclusive: Newly launched Dubai-based sales company Mad World has acquired worldwide rights to Egyptian director Morad Mostafa’s Aisha Can’t Fly Away, a tense African migrant drama shooting later this year in Egypt.
The title joins the inaugural slate of Mad World, as the Arab cinema-focused sales arm of Mena distributor and talent agency Mad Solutions gears up for its Cannes Market debut next week.
Aisha Can’t Fly Away revolves around the story of Aisha, a 26-year-old African immigrant caregiver residing in Ain-shams, a Cairo neighborhood with a large African migrant community.
The film explores the intricate dynamics of a world where the authorities’ indifference to the violent tensions between Egyptians and various African nationalities has allowed different gangs to seize control. Aisha’s situation turns sour after one of these gangs offers protection in exchange for a favor.
Egypt-based South Sudanese model Buliana Simona plays Aisha in...
The title joins the inaugural slate of Mad World, as the Arab cinema-focused sales arm of Mena distributor and talent agency Mad Solutions gears up for its Cannes Market debut next week.
Aisha Can’t Fly Away revolves around the story of Aisha, a 26-year-old African immigrant caregiver residing in Ain-shams, a Cairo neighborhood with a large African migrant community.
The film explores the intricate dynamics of a world where the authorities’ indifference to the violent tensions between Egyptians and various African nationalities has allowed different gangs to seize control. Aisha’s situation turns sour after one of these gangs offers protection in exchange for a favor.
Egypt-based South Sudanese model Buliana Simona plays Aisha in...
- 5/10/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Nicole Vögele’s The Landscape And The Fury was awarded the $22,000 grand jury prize at the Swiss documentary festival Visions du Réel today (April 19).
The Swiss director’s latest feature, which world premiered in the international competition at the festival, centres around migrants at the Bosnian-Croatian border region.
A special jury prize of $11,000 was presented to Nelson Makengo’s Rising Up At Night about a power plant in the Congo which causes a severe blackout, affecting 17 million people. The documentary had its world premiere in Berlinale Panorama in February.
The international jury was comprised of former Berlinale and Locarno festival...
The Swiss director’s latest feature, which world premiered in the international competition at the festival, centres around migrants at the Bosnian-Croatian border region.
A special jury prize of $11,000 was presented to Nelson Makengo’s Rising Up At Night about a power plant in the Congo which causes a severe blackout, affecting 17 million people. The documentary had its world premiere in Berlinale Panorama in February.
The international jury was comprised of former Berlinale and Locarno festival...
- 4/19/2024
- ScreenDaily
“The Landscape and the Fury” by Switzerland’s Nicole Vögele took the Grand Jury Prize in the International Feature Film Competition at Swiss doc festival Visions du Réel on Friday.
Shot on the Bosnian-Croatian border, which is also the European Union border, the film unveils the struggle of refugees being chased away by police and navigating a terrain still contaminated with mines from the Bosnian War.
It marks a return to VdR for Vögele, who premiered her first short film “Mrs Loosli” at the fest in 2013. Her 2018 debut feature, “Closing,” won the Special Jury Prize for Filmmakers of the Present at Locarno.
Her win marks a hat-trick for Swiss documentaries after Peter Mettler picked up the top prize last year with “Where the Green Grass Grows” and Tizian Büchi won in 2022 with “L’Îlot.”
The jury, composed of Italian journalist and former Berlinale artistic director Carlo Chatrian, producer Dora Bouchoucha and filmmaker Carmen Jaquier,...
Shot on the Bosnian-Croatian border, which is also the European Union border, the film unveils the struggle of refugees being chased away by police and navigating a terrain still contaminated with mines from the Bosnian War.
It marks a return to VdR for Vögele, who premiered her first short film “Mrs Loosli” at the fest in 2013. Her 2018 debut feature, “Closing,” won the Special Jury Prize for Filmmakers of the Present at Locarno.
Her win marks a hat-trick for Swiss documentaries after Peter Mettler picked up the top prize last year with “Where the Green Grass Grows” and Tizian Büchi won in 2022 with “L’Îlot.”
The jury, composed of Italian journalist and former Berlinale artistic director Carlo Chatrian, producer Dora Bouchoucha and filmmaker Carmen Jaquier,...
- 4/19/2024
- by Lise Pedersen
- Variety Film + TV
Swiss documentary festival Visions du Réel (VdR) has revealed the line-up for its 55th edition (April 12-21) which opens with the IDFA- and Göteborg selection As The Tide Comes In by Juan Palacios (and co-directed by Sofie Husum Johannesen).
The full selection includes 128 films, 88 of which are world premieres.
Among the 14 world premieres in international competition is Apple Cider Vinegar from Belgium’s Sofie Benoot whose 2020 documentary Victoria won the Caligari award at Berlinale Forum. Her latest feature is part nature documentary, part philosophical tale beginning with the journey of a kidney stone.
Other world premieres include Swiss titles The...
The full selection includes 128 films, 88 of which are world premieres.
Among the 14 world premieres in international competition is Apple Cider Vinegar from Belgium’s Sofie Benoot whose 2020 documentary Victoria won the Caligari award at Berlinale Forum. Her latest feature is part nature documentary, part philosophical tale beginning with the journey of a kidney stone.
Other world premieres include Swiss titles The...
- 3/19/2024
- ScreenDaily
Swiss documentary film festival Visions du Réel has unveiled the program for its 55th edition, which includes 10 first films out of 15 in the main international competition, cementing its reputation as a springboard for emerging talent.
The official selection includes 165 films from 50 countries and no fewer than 88 world premieres, making VdR the place to be in April on the international non-fiction film calendar.
Key figures from the world of cinema will be attending including outgoing Berlinale artistic director Carlo Chatrian in the main competition jury, Argentine director and screenwriter Martín Rejtman with his latest film “Riders” in the Burning Lights section, and celebrated French author Christine Angot with her debut film “Une Famille,” which premiered in Berlin.
This year’s opening film is Juan Palacios and Sofie Johannesen’s “As the Tide Comes In,” which has been touring the festival circuit since opening at IDFA. Guests of honor include acclaimed Chinese filmmaker Jia Zhang-Ke,...
The official selection includes 165 films from 50 countries and no fewer than 88 world premieres, making VdR the place to be in April on the international non-fiction film calendar.
Key figures from the world of cinema will be attending including outgoing Berlinale artistic director Carlo Chatrian in the main competition jury, Argentine director and screenwriter Martín Rejtman with his latest film “Riders” in the Burning Lights section, and celebrated French author Christine Angot with her debut film “Une Famille,” which premiered in Berlin.
This year’s opening film is Juan Palacios and Sofie Johannesen’s “As the Tide Comes In,” which has been touring the festival circuit since opening at IDFA. Guests of honor include acclaimed Chinese filmmaker Jia Zhang-Ke,...
- 3/19/2024
- by Lise Pedersen
- Variety Film + TV
Mohamed Ben Attia’s third feature played at Red Sea International Film Festival last week.
Kinovista has acquired French distribution rights to Mohamed Ben Attia’s Behind The Mountains.
Kinovista acquired the film from Paris-based sales agent Luxbox. The film had its Arab premiere at Red Sea on Friday, December 1, having debuted in Horizons at Venice in September, and gone on to play BFI London Film Festival and Thessaloniki.
Behind The Mountains is Ben Attia’s third feature, after 2016’s Heidi and 2018’s Dear Son. The fantasy-thriller tells the story of Rafik [Majd Mastoura], a Tunisian father and husband with mental health issues,...
Kinovista has acquired French distribution rights to Mohamed Ben Attia’s Behind The Mountains.
Kinovista acquired the film from Paris-based sales agent Luxbox. The film had its Arab premiere at Red Sea on Friday, December 1, having debuted in Horizons at Venice in September, and gone on to play BFI London Film Festival and Thessaloniki.
Behind The Mountains is Ben Attia’s third feature, after 2016’s Heidi and 2018’s Dear Son. The fantasy-thriller tells the story of Rafik [Majd Mastoura], a Tunisian father and husband with mental health issues,...
- 12/4/2023
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Move over, Richard Donner.
In “Behind the Mountains,” premiering in Venice’s Horizons section, Mohamed Ben Attia makes sure “you’ll believe a man can fly” once again. Although it might not be as graceful.
“I didn’t want him to be like a superhero or fly like Superman. He is floating, struggling with gravity,” he says about his protagonist Rafik, who gives up his entire life – and even ends up in jail – chasing an impossible dream. But there is one place where dreams come to life and he wants his son to experience it too.
The Tunisian director, also behind “Hedi” and “Dear Son,” was hesitant to play with supernatural elements at first.
“I don’t have any technical background. I am not technical at all! But I’ve become obsessed with this man, who extracts himself from his community in such a radical way. I kept seeing an...
In “Behind the Mountains,” premiering in Venice’s Horizons section, Mohamed Ben Attia makes sure “you’ll believe a man can fly” once again. Although it might not be as graceful.
“I didn’t want him to be like a superhero or fly like Superman. He is floating, struggling with gravity,” he says about his protagonist Rafik, who gives up his entire life – and even ends up in jail – chasing an impossible dream. But there is one place where dreams come to life and he wants his son to experience it too.
The Tunisian director, also behind “Hedi” and “Dear Son,” was hesitant to play with supernatural elements at first.
“I don’t have any technical background. I am not technical at all! But I’ve become obsessed with this man, who extracts himself from his community in such a radical way. I kept seeing an...
- 9/4/2023
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Tunisian auteur Mohamed Ben Attia’s new work “Behind the Mountains,” which will soon launch from the Venice Film Festival’s Horizons section, sees the director add a supernatural element to the social dramas for which he is known.
Attia’s third feature reunites the director with Majd Mastoura, star of his breakout drama “Hedi” — about a repressed young man ignited by a free-spirited woman — which won best debut and actor honors at the 2016 Berlin Film Festival.
In “Mountains,” Mastoura plays a man named Rafeek who, after spending four years in jail, takes his only son to the Atlas Alps in the Northwest of Tunisia to prove to him that he can fly.
“The idea goes back to my high school years” said Ben Attia of the film. “It was just a picture I had in my mind; the picture of a man who is running until, little by little,...
Attia’s third feature reunites the director with Majd Mastoura, star of his breakout drama “Hedi” — about a repressed young man ignited by a free-spirited woman — which won best debut and actor honors at the 2016 Berlin Film Festival.
In “Mountains,” Mastoura plays a man named Rafeek who, after spending four years in jail, takes his only son to the Atlas Alps in the Northwest of Tunisia to prove to him that he can fly.
“The idea goes back to my high school years” said Ben Attia of the film. “It was just a picture I had in my mind; the picture of a man who is running until, little by little,...
- 8/24/2023
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
The El Gouna Film Festival (Gff) will honor Egyptian director Marwan Hamed with a life Career Achievement Award at its upcoming sixth edition, running from October 6 to 12.
It marks the first element of the program to be announced as the Egyptian Red Sea festival returns this year following a one year hiatus in 2022.
Hamed studied film at the Higher Institute of Cinema in Cairo. His first short Li Li, adapted from a short story by Yusuf Idris, played at numerous festivals, winning the Audience Award at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival and the Golden Award at the Carthage Film Festival.
He broke out with his 2006 first feature The Yacoubian Building, adapted from Alaa Al-Aswany’s best-selling novel, which captures Egyptian society in the 1990s and the consequences of its extremes of wealth and poverty.
Featuring an ensemble cast, including Egyptian icons Adel Imam, Nour El-Sherif and Yousra alongside then...
It marks the first element of the program to be announced as the Egyptian Red Sea festival returns this year following a one year hiatus in 2022.
Hamed studied film at the Higher Institute of Cinema in Cairo. His first short Li Li, adapted from a short story by Yusuf Idris, played at numerous festivals, winning the Audience Award at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival and the Golden Award at the Carthage Film Festival.
He broke out with his 2006 first feature The Yacoubian Building, adapted from Alaa Al-Aswany’s best-selling novel, which captures Egyptian society in the 1990s and the consequences of its extremes of wealth and poverty.
Featuring an ensemble cast, including Egyptian icons Adel Imam, Nour El-Sherif and Yousra alongside then...
- 7/24/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
The Karlovy Vary Film Festival organization has announced winners from the 2023 event, with the Bulgaria/Germany co-production “Blaga’s Lessons” (“Urotcite na Blaga”) and the Germany/Iran co-production “Empty Nets” (“Toorhaye khali”) taking home top honors.
“Blaga’s lessons” won the Grand Prix Award, which includes a $25,000 cash prize for director Stephan Komandarev, to be split with the film’s producer.
Meanwhile, “Empty Nets” won the Special Jury Prize, securing a $15,00 prize for its director, Behrooz Karamizade, also to be split with the film’s producer.
Other winners include Best Director for Babak Jalali for the American production “Fremont,” and the French entry, “The Edge of the Blade,” directed by Vincent Perez, which won the The Pravo Audience Award.
Read on for the complete winner’s list.
Also Read:
‘We Have Never Been Modern’ Review: Czech Drama Looks at Sexuality Through the Lens of 1937
Crystal Globe Competition
Jury members:
Dora Bouchoucha,...
“Blaga’s lessons” won the Grand Prix Award, which includes a $25,000 cash prize for director Stephan Komandarev, to be split with the film’s producer.
Meanwhile, “Empty Nets” won the Special Jury Prize, securing a $15,00 prize for its director, Behrooz Karamizade, also to be split with the film’s producer.
Other winners include Best Director for Babak Jalali for the American production “Fremont,” and the French entry, “The Edge of the Blade,” directed by Vincent Perez, which won the The Pravo Audience Award.
Read on for the complete winner’s list.
Also Read:
‘We Have Never Been Modern’ Review: Czech Drama Looks at Sexuality Through the Lens of 1937
Crystal Globe Competition
Jury members:
Dora Bouchoucha,...
- 7/8/2023
- by Ross A. Lincoln
- The Wrap
The 57th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (June 30 – July 8) came to a close this evening with an awards ceremony that bestowed two key prizes to contemporary Bulgarian drama Blaga’s Lessons (Urotcite Na Blaga) by director Stephan Komandarev.
The third film in the director’s trilogy about his country’s social ills focuses on an old woman duped by a telephone scam.
Also among winners on the night were Vincent Perez’s The Edge of the Blade (Une Affaire D’honneur), which took home the audience award, and filmmaker Babak Jalali, who took home the best director prize for the film Fremont.
There were two prizes on the night for Ernst De Geer’s The Hypnosis (Hypnosen) while the top industry award of 90,000 euros went to Czech film I’m Not Everything I Want to Be, which is currently in post.
As previously revealed, Russell Crowe...
The third film in the director’s trilogy about his country’s social ills focuses on an old woman duped by a telephone scam.
Also among winners on the night were Vincent Perez’s The Edge of the Blade (Une Affaire D’honneur), which took home the audience award, and filmmaker Babak Jalali, who took home the best director prize for the film Fremont.
There were two prizes on the night for Ernst De Geer’s The Hypnosis (Hypnosen) while the top industry award of 90,000 euros went to Czech film I’m Not Everything I Want to Be, which is currently in post.
As previously revealed, Russell Crowe...
- 7/8/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Stephan Komandarev’s Blaga’s Lessons, a Bulgarian/German co-production, has been chosen as the winner of the top prize — the Crystal Globe, which comes with a $25,000 prize — of the 57th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. The festival announced the winners during its closing ceremony on Saturday. The film’s star, Eli Skorcheva, was named best actress. (See THR‘s review of the film here.)
Meanwhile, the top Czech festival’s special jury prize, which comes with a $15,000 check, was awarded to Behrooz Karamizade’s German-Iranian co-production Empty Nets (see THR’s review). Its audience award went to Vincent Perez’s The Edge of the Blade, a French film (see THR’s interview with Perez), and a special jury mention was designated for Cyril Aris’ Dancing on the Edge of a Volcano, a German-Lebanese entry (see THR’s review).
Babak Jalali was honored as best director for the American film Fremont,...
Meanwhile, the top Czech festival’s special jury prize, which comes with a $15,000 check, was awarded to Behrooz Karamizade’s German-Iranian co-production Empty Nets (see THR’s review). Its audience award went to Vincent Perez’s The Edge of the Blade, a French film (see THR’s interview with Perez), and a special jury mention was designated for Cyril Aris’ Dancing on the Edge of a Volcano, a German-Lebanese entry (see THR’s review).
Babak Jalali was honored as best director for the American film Fremont,...
- 7/8/2023
- by Georg Szalai and Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The 57th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival opened Friday with a spirited musical performance from Russell Crowe, and the energy remained high Saturday evening with actor Ewan McGregor in town to receive the fest’s honorary President’s Award.
McGregor accepted the honor during an overflowing ceremony in the festival’s Grand Hall, where he was joined by his daughter Clara McGregor; his mother; and partner Mary Elizabeth Winstead.
“Thank you so much for being here tonight. It means the world to me,” he said as he picked up the award. “I believe so much in what we do as actors. I’m so fortunate to do what I love and I love what I do.”
The crowd inside the room was lively. Czech audiences are notoriously welcoming to the stars they receive here in Karlovy Vary and McGregor played to the crowd.
“I was gonna say something in Czech...
McGregor accepted the honor during an overflowing ceremony in the festival’s Grand Hall, where he was joined by his daughter Clara McGregor; his mother; and partner Mary Elizabeth Winstead.
“Thank you so much for being here tonight. It means the world to me,” he said as he picked up the award. “I believe so much in what we do as actors. I’m so fortunate to do what I love and I love what I do.”
The crowd inside the room was lively. Czech audiences are notoriously welcoming to the stars they receive here in Karlovy Vary and McGregor played to the crowd.
“I was gonna say something in Czech...
- 7/1/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
As tensions rise in Hollywood over an imminent update on SAG-AFTRA’s negotiations with the studios, thousands of miles east, the Czech spa town of Karlovy Vary is gearing up for its annual influx of industry insiders, curious film fans, and stars.
Clocking its 57th annual edition, the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (Kviff) opens this evening. The prominent Central European event is one of the world’s oldest film festivals. It was founded in July 1946, a month before Locarno launched its first festival and a few months before the Cannes Film Festival unveiled its first edition in September of that same year.
This year’s edition opens with the Cannes Competition title Firebrand, starring Jude Law and Alicia Vikander. The pic is the fictionalized story of Katherine Parr, the sixth and final wife of the tyrannical English King Henry VIII. Vikander plays Parr in the piece alongside an unrecognizable Jude Law,...
Clocking its 57th annual edition, the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (Kviff) opens this evening. The prominent Central European event is one of the world’s oldest film festivals. It was founded in July 1946, a month before Locarno launched its first festival and a few months before the Cannes Film Festival unveiled its first edition in September of that same year.
This year’s edition opens with the Cannes Competition title Firebrand, starring Jude Law and Alicia Vikander. The pic is the fictionalized story of Katherine Parr, the sixth and final wife of the tyrannical English King Henry VIII. Vikander plays Parr in the piece alongside an unrecognizable Jude Law,...
- 6/30/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
The 57th edition includes new films by directors Pascal Plante, Stephan Komandarev, Tinatin Kajrishvili and Babak Jalali.
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival has unveiled the official selection for its 57th edition, including new features by Pascal Plante, Stephan Komandarev and Tinatin Kajrishvili.
The festival, which runs from June 30-July 8 in the Czech spa town, has nine world premieres and two international premieres in its main Crystal Globe Competition.
Canadian director Plante, whose Nadia Butterfly was in Cannes’ Official Selection in 2020 and Fake Tattoos played in the Berlinale’s Generation strand in 2018, world premieres arthouse thriller Red Rooms about a woman...
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival has unveiled the official selection for its 57th edition, including new features by Pascal Plante, Stephan Komandarev and Tinatin Kajrishvili.
The festival, which runs from June 30-July 8 in the Czech spa town, has nine world premieres and two international premieres in its main Crystal Globe Competition.
Canadian director Plante, whose Nadia Butterfly was in Cannes’ Official Selection in 2020 and Fake Tattoos played in the Berlinale’s Generation strand in 2018, world premieres arthouse thriller Red Rooms about a woman...
- 5/30/2023
- by Tim Dams
- ScreenDaily
The Karlovy Vary Intl. Film Festival, Eastern and Central Europe’s leading cinema event, has unveiled its lineup, which includes new works by Pascal Plante, Stephan Komandarev, Tinatin Kajrishvili and Babak Jalali in the Crystal Globes Competition. They will vie against films by up-and-comers Ernst De Geer, Itsaso Arana and Cyril Aris. The section has nine world and two international premieres. Oscar-nominated actor Patricia Clarkson is one of the jury members.
The Proxima Competition, which made its debut at last year’s Kviff, presents what the festival defines as “bold works,” directed by young filmmakers and renowned auteurs alike. The section comprises of 10 world and two international premieres. The festival says “playfulness, courage and freshness can be found” in the new films by Swiss auteur Thomas Imbach, Poland’s Olga Chajdas, Cyprus-born Kyros Papavassiliou, French filmmaker Émilie Brisavoine and Romanian documentarist Alexandru Solomon, among others.
Eight films will play in the Special Screenings section,...
The Proxima Competition, which made its debut at last year’s Kviff, presents what the festival defines as “bold works,” directed by young filmmakers and renowned auteurs alike. The section comprises of 10 world and two international premieres. The festival says “playfulness, courage and freshness can be found” in the new films by Swiss auteur Thomas Imbach, Poland’s Olga Chajdas, Cyprus-born Kyros Papavassiliou, French filmmaker Émilie Brisavoine and Romanian documentarist Alexandru Solomon, among others.
Eight films will play in the Special Screenings section,...
- 5/30/2023
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
The 57th Karlovy Vary Film Festival has unveiled its competition lineup for its 57th edition, set to run in the bucolic Czech spa town from June 30 to July 8.
Among this year’s competition highlights are Fremont, from Iranian-born, London-based director Babak Jalali, a dramedy based around Donya, a former Afghan translator for U.S. troops who now works in a fortune cookie factory in Fremont, USA. Empty Nets, from Iranian filmmaker Behrooz Karamizade, a love story set in a small fishing village in contemporary Iran, is also in the running for the festival’s Crystal Globe honor for best competition film.
Outside the competition, Karlovy Vary this year has put a focus on independent Iranian cinema, with a selection of recent works by directors working outside the Tehran regime.
Other 2023 competition highlights include Red Rooms, a Canadian darknet thriller from director Pascal Plante, Itsaso Arana’s Spanish drama The Girls Are Alright...
Among this year’s competition highlights are Fremont, from Iranian-born, London-based director Babak Jalali, a dramedy based around Donya, a former Afghan translator for U.S. troops who now works in a fortune cookie factory in Fremont, USA. Empty Nets, from Iranian filmmaker Behrooz Karamizade, a love story set in a small fishing village in contemporary Iran, is also in the running for the festival’s Crystal Globe honor for best competition film.
Outside the competition, Karlovy Vary this year has put a focus on independent Iranian cinema, with a selection of recent works by directors working outside the Tehran regime.
Other 2023 competition highlights include Red Rooms, a Canadian darknet thriller from director Pascal Plante, Itsaso Arana’s Spanish drama The Girls Are Alright...
- 5/30/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Karlovy Vary Film Festival has unveiled the official selection for its upcoming 57th edition. The lineup comprises 31 films across three sections and a host of world and international premieres. Scroll down for the full list.
Among the lineup is Les chambres rouges (Red Rooms), the latest pic from Canadian filmmaker Pascal Plante, who will compete alongside Iranian filmmaker Babak Jalali and Swedish director Ernst De Geer, who will also debut new works in competition.
The Czech festival’s Crystal Globe competition will feature nine world and two international premieres, while the Proxima Competition for young filmmakers and auteurs with films that defy categorization will screen ten world and two international premieres.
The jury for this year’s Crystal Globe competition will feature actress Patricia Clarkson (Sharp Objects), who will join producer Dora Bouchoucha, Sundance senior programmer John Nein, filmmaker Olmo Omerzu, and Irish actor Barry Ward.
“It has been...
Among the lineup is Les chambres rouges (Red Rooms), the latest pic from Canadian filmmaker Pascal Plante, who will compete alongside Iranian filmmaker Babak Jalali and Swedish director Ernst De Geer, who will also debut new works in competition.
The Czech festival’s Crystal Globe competition will feature nine world and two international premieres, while the Proxima Competition for young filmmakers and auteurs with films that defy categorization will screen ten world and two international premieres.
The jury for this year’s Crystal Globe competition will feature actress Patricia Clarkson (Sharp Objects), who will join producer Dora Bouchoucha, Sundance senior programmer John Nein, filmmaker Olmo Omerzu, and Irish actor Barry Ward.
“It has been...
- 5/30/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Sci-fi thriller Slave (Abed) by Mansour Assad and Raven Song by Mohamed Al Salman took the top prizes at the ninth edition of the Saudi Film Festival, running from May 4 to 12 in the city of Dammam in eastern Saudi Arabia.
Slave (Abed) won the festival’s Golden Palm for best film, while Raven Song clinched the jury prize.
Mansour Assad’s Slave revolves around a couple who make a movie that results in anger and backlash from society. They are given the option of staying in the present or going back in time to rectify the action that enraged their community.
Slave also clinched best screenplay for Rulan Hasan and editing for Assad.
Raven Song follows a man who is wrongly diagnosed with a brain tumor after he starts having hallucinations. The film also walked away with Golden Palms for best cinematography and actor for Asim Al-Auad.
Read the Deadline...
Slave (Abed) won the festival’s Golden Palm for best film, while Raven Song clinched the jury prize.
Mansour Assad’s Slave revolves around a couple who make a movie that results in anger and backlash from society. They are given the option of staying in the present or going back in time to rectify the action that enraged their community.
Slave also clinched best screenplay for Rulan Hasan and editing for Assad.
Raven Song follows a man who is wrongly diagnosed with a brain tumor after he starts having hallucinations. The film also walked away with Golden Palms for best cinematography and actor for Asim Al-Auad.
Read the Deadline...
- 5/12/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Three months ago, Doha’s new Downtown Msheireb district was the throbbing heart of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar as one of its main fan zones.
Quiz any local on the street or in its cafes and shops about what it was like, and their faces light up as they recount how packed it was and the magical atmosphere.
Billed as the world’s first sustainable downtown regeneration project, the pedestrianized neighborhood is now acting as the backdrop to the Doha Film Institute’s annual Qumra talent incubator, alongside the I.M. Pei-designed Museum of Islamic Art (Mia).
The event, which kicked off on Friday, aims to hothouse 44 film and series projects in various formats and stages of production. All the projects are recipients of the Dfi’s generous grant program
The focus is on Middle East and North African filmmakers but there are also projects from further afield...
Quiz any local on the street or in its cafes and shops about what it was like, and their faces light up as they recount how packed it was and the magical atmosphere.
Billed as the world’s first sustainable downtown regeneration project, the pedestrianized neighborhood is now acting as the backdrop to the Doha Film Institute’s annual Qumra talent incubator, alongside the I.M. Pei-designed Museum of Islamic Art (Mia).
The event, which kicked off on Friday, aims to hothouse 44 film and series projects in various formats and stages of production. All the projects are recipients of the Dfi’s generous grant program
The focus is on Middle East and North African filmmakers but there are also projects from further afield...
- 3/10/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Tunisian Murder Mystery ‘Ashkal’ Triumphs At Fespaco
Tunisian director Youssef Chebbi’s investigative thriller Ashkal has won the top prize at the Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (Fespaco). The festival, which ran from February 25 to March 4, unfolds every two years in Burkina Faso’s capital of Ouagadougou and is regarded as Africa’s equivalent of Cannes. Chebbi’s murder mystery revolves around a series of killings at a construction site on the outskirts of the Tunisian capital of Tunis. The film world premiered at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight and then played a raft of other festivals including Toronto and London. The Fespaco jury head, producer Dora Bouchoucha, praised the film’s pairing of a strong aesthetic with a politically tuned-in storyline. Burkinabe filmmaker Apolline Traore won the Silver Stallion for Sira, about a woman kidnapped by Jihadists, and Kenyan director Angela Wamai took home the Bronze Stallion for Shimoni,...
Tunisian director Youssef Chebbi’s investigative thriller Ashkal has won the top prize at the Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (Fespaco). The festival, which ran from February 25 to March 4, unfolds every two years in Burkina Faso’s capital of Ouagadougou and is regarded as Africa’s equivalent of Cannes. Chebbi’s murder mystery revolves around a series of killings at a construction site on the outskirts of the Tunisian capital of Tunis. The film world premiered at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight and then played a raft of other festivals including Toronto and London. The Fespaco jury head, producer Dora Bouchoucha, praised the film’s pairing of a strong aesthetic with a politically tuned-in storyline. Burkinabe filmmaker Apolline Traore won the Silver Stallion for Sira, about a woman kidnapped by Jihadists, and Kenyan director Angela Wamai took home the Bronze Stallion for Shimoni,...
- 3/7/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow and Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Mad Solutions Launches Mad Crew Celebrity Unit to Represent Arab Directors and Producers (Exclusive)
Prominent Arab talent management agency and film distribution company Mad Solutions is launching Mad Crew Celebrity, a new unit dedicated to boosting the careers of Arab directors and producers, as well as writers, cinematographers, costume designers, composers and editors.
Mad Crew Celebrity comes after the company in 2020 formed its Mad Rising Celebrity division, dedicated to launching up-and-coming film and TV acting talents from across the Arab world, which in turn was a specialized spin-off of its core Mad Celebrity unit for top-tier acting and TV hosting talents.
Their client list at launch includes top directors Hany Abu-Assad (“The Mountain Between Us”), Mohamed Diab (“Moon Knight”), Marwan Hamed (“Blue Elephant”), Ameer Fakher Eldin (“The Stranger”) (pictured), and producer Dora Bouchoucha (“Hedi”) (pictured), to name a few.
Other prominent behind-the-camera talents already on the Mad Crew Celebrity roster include:
– Egyptian showrunner/director/screenwriter Tahmer Mohsen (“Newton’s Cradle”).
– Producer Shahinaz El-Akkad — CEO...
Mad Crew Celebrity comes after the company in 2020 formed its Mad Rising Celebrity division, dedicated to launching up-and-coming film and TV acting talents from across the Arab world, which in turn was a specialized spin-off of its core Mad Celebrity unit for top-tier acting and TV hosting talents.
Their client list at launch includes top directors Hany Abu-Assad (“The Mountain Between Us”), Mohamed Diab (“Moon Knight”), Marwan Hamed (“Blue Elephant”), Ameer Fakher Eldin (“The Stranger”) (pictured), and producer Dora Bouchoucha (“Hedi”) (pictured), to name a few.
Other prominent behind-the-camera talents already on the Mad Crew Celebrity roster include:
– Egyptian showrunner/director/screenwriter Tahmer Mohsen (“Newton’s Cradle”).
– Producer Shahinaz El-Akkad — CEO...
- 12/7/2022
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
The inaugural edition is being moved back by two weeks to December 6-15.
Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival is moving the dates for its inaugural edition to December 6-15, to take place three weeks later than the previously announced November 11-20 slot.
The event, which is Saudi Arabia’s first international film festival, was first mooted in March 2019 following the lifting of the country’s 30-year cinema ban at the end of 2017. It is due to unfold in the historic city centre of the Red Sea port town of Jeddah.
The inaugural edition was due to take...
Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival is moving the dates for its inaugural edition to December 6-15, to take place three weeks later than the previously announced November 11-20 slot.
The event, which is Saudi Arabia’s first international film festival, was first mooted in March 2019 following the lifting of the country’s 30-year cinema ban at the end of 2017. It is due to unfold in the historic city centre of the Red Sea port town of Jeddah.
The inaugural edition was due to take...
- 6/29/2021
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Acquisitions include upcoming films Yousry Nasrallah, Muayad Alayan and Mohamed ben Attia.
Cairo-based film company Mad Solutions has unveiled an acquisition slate of more than 50 Arabic-language titles from 13 different territories that it plans to get into festivals and cinemas across the Middle East and North Africa in 2021 and 2022.
“During the pandemic, we used the opportunity to discuss the objectives and goals for Arab films, to strengthen links with the public, and to be a part of projects from the beginning, developing the films together,” said company co-heads Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab. “We feel that there is a bright future...
Cairo-based film company Mad Solutions has unveiled an acquisition slate of more than 50 Arabic-language titles from 13 different territories that it plans to get into festivals and cinemas across the Middle East and North Africa in 2021 and 2022.
“During the pandemic, we used the opportunity to discuss the objectives and goals for Arab films, to strengthen links with the public, and to be a part of projects from the beginning, developing the films together,” said company co-heads Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab. “We feel that there is a bright future...
- 5/28/2021
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Ayten Amin’s teenage drama received a Cannes 2020 label.
BFI Distribution has secured UK and Ireland rights to Ayten Amin’s teenage drama Souad from Brussels-based Best Friend Forever.
The Egyptian drama is set to receive its physical world premiere in competition at Tribeca Film Festival next month, having previously received a Cannes 2020 label and selection for the industry-focused, online-only Berlinale in March.
BFI Distribution is planning a theatrical release in the UK and Ireland on August 27 and it will also feature as the flagship title in BFI Southbank’s upcoming September season, No News From Home, showcasing Arab filmmakers.
BFI Distribution has secured UK and Ireland rights to Ayten Amin’s teenage drama Souad from Brussels-based Best Friend Forever.
The Egyptian drama is set to receive its physical world premiere in competition at Tribeca Film Festival next month, having previously received a Cannes 2020 label and selection for the industry-focused, online-only Berlinale in March.
BFI Distribution is planning a theatrical release in the UK and Ireland on August 27 and it will also feature as the flagship title in BFI Southbank’s upcoming September season, No News From Home, showcasing Arab filmmakers.
- 5/14/2021
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
L’Abidine’s recent acting credits have included The Eddy and Arabic horror movie Bloodline.
Tunisian acting star Dhafer L’Abidine is making his directorial debut with father and son drama Ghodwa, which he also produces and stars in.
The storyline revolves around an estranged father and son who are brought together after the older man falls ill. With time running out, a series of unexpected events reverse their traditional roles. The title Ghodwa translates as “tomorrow’ in English.
The production began shooting in Tunis last week.
“I always wanted to direct, but I wanted to find the right story. Ghodwa...
Tunisian acting star Dhafer L’Abidine is making his directorial debut with father and son drama Ghodwa, which he also produces and stars in.
The storyline revolves around an estranged father and son who are brought together after the older man falls ill. With time running out, a series of unexpected events reverse their traditional roles. The title Ghodwa translates as “tomorrow’ in English.
The production began shooting in Tunis last week.
“I always wanted to direct, but I wanted to find the right story. Ghodwa...
- 3/22/2021
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Egyptian drama follows two teenage sisters who escape conversative reality via the social networks.
Brussels-based Best Friend Forever has acquired world sales rights to Ayten Amin’s second feature Souad, a Cannes 2020 selection.
The Alexandria-set drama revolves follows two teenage sisters growing up within a conservative family, the older of whom escapes into a secret life via the virtual world of social networks. When real-life catches up with her, tragedy strikes and her younger sister embarks on a journey looking for answers.
The cast features non-professional newcomers Bassant Ahmed, Basmala El Ghaiesh and Hussein Ghanem.
Amin’s debut feature...
Brussels-based Best Friend Forever has acquired world sales rights to Ayten Amin’s second feature Souad, a Cannes 2020 selection.
The Alexandria-set drama revolves follows two teenage sisters growing up within a conservative family, the older of whom escapes into a secret life via the virtual world of social networks. When real-life catches up with her, tragedy strikes and her younger sister embarks on a journey looking for answers.
The cast features non-professional newcomers Bassant Ahmed, Basmala El Ghaiesh and Hussein Ghanem.
Amin’s debut feature...
- 9/9/2020
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
As the first major film festival to take place in the pandemic era, there’s a gravity to the 77th Venice Biennale simply by virtue of the show going on under such fraught global conditions.
Yet 2020 has also sparked an unprecedented awareness of racial discourse, and as such, it’s essential to note that there hasn’t been a Black member of the competition jury since 2004, when Spike Lee was part of a jury led by British director John Boorman. People of color have fared mildly better across the same 16-year period, with a recurring theme of one East Asian creative per 7-9 person jury.
This year, the jury that will decide a winner from the Official Selection is entirely white.
President Cate Blanchett leads Austrian screenwriter Veronika Franz, British director Joanna Hogg, Italian writer Nicola Lagioia, German director Christian Petzold, French actress Ludivine Sagnier and U.S. actor Matt Dillon...
Yet 2020 has also sparked an unprecedented awareness of racial discourse, and as such, it’s essential to note that there hasn’t been a Black member of the competition jury since 2004, when Spike Lee was part of a jury led by British director John Boorman. People of color have fared mildly better across the same 16-year period, with a recurring theme of one East Asian creative per 7-9 person jury.
This year, the jury that will decide a winner from the Official Selection is entirely white.
President Cate Blanchett leads Austrian screenwriter Veronika Franz, British director Joanna Hogg, Italian writer Nicola Lagioia, German director Christian Petzold, French actress Ludivine Sagnier and U.S. actor Matt Dillon...
- 9/8/2020
- by Sophie Monks Kaufman
- Variety Film + TV
Cate Blanchett will preside over this year’s Venice competition jury.
UK filmmaker Joanna Hogg, Austria’s Veronika Franz, Germany’s Christian Petzold, Romanian director Cristi Puiu, French actress Ludivine Sagnier and Italian writer Nicola Lagioia will comprise the main competition jury for this year’s Venice International Film Festival (September 2-12)
They join previously announced jury president Cate Blanchett.
French filmmaker Claire Denis will preside over the Orizzonti jury, which also includes Spanish directors Oskar Alegria and Italy’s Francesca Comencini; US producer Christine Vachon and Israeli producer Katriel Schory, the former executive director of the Israel Film Fund...
UK filmmaker Joanna Hogg, Austria’s Veronika Franz, Germany’s Christian Petzold, Romanian director Cristi Puiu, French actress Ludivine Sagnier and Italian writer Nicola Lagioia will comprise the main competition jury for this year’s Venice International Film Festival (September 2-12)
They join previously announced jury president Cate Blanchett.
French filmmaker Claire Denis will preside over the Orizzonti jury, which also includes Spanish directors Oskar Alegria and Italy’s Francesca Comencini; US producer Christine Vachon and Israeli producer Katriel Schory, the former executive director of the Israel Film Fund...
- 7/27/2020
- by 1101184¦Orlando Parfitt¦38¦
- ScreenDaily
The Venice Film Festival is setting up quite the internationally starry jury this year. Running September 2-12, the festival has revealed all its jury members as led by president Cate Blanchett. Joining her will be Austrian director Veronika Franz, British filmmaker Joanna Hogg (“The Souvenir”), Italian writer and novelist Nicola Lagioia, German filmmaker Christian Petzold, Romanian director Cristi Puiu, and French actress Ludivine Sagnier.
Together, they will award the festival’s top prizes, including the Golden Lion, which last year went to “Joker” under jury president Lucrecia Martel.
Meaning, in the Orizzonti, or Horizons, section running parallel to the main competition, French favorite Claire Denis will lead the jury comprised of Oskar Alegria (Spain), Francesca Comencini (Italy), Katriel Schory (Israel), and Christine Vachon (USA).
Heading the jury for the “Luigi De Laurentiis” Venice Award for a Debut Film are Claudio Giovannesi (Italy) as president, Remi Bonhomme (France), and Dora Bouchoucha...
Together, they will award the festival’s top prizes, including the Golden Lion, which last year went to “Joker” under jury president Lucrecia Martel.
Meaning, in the Orizzonti, or Horizons, section running parallel to the main competition, French favorite Claire Denis will lead the jury comprised of Oskar Alegria (Spain), Francesca Comencini (Italy), Katriel Schory (Israel), and Christine Vachon (USA).
Heading the jury for the “Luigi De Laurentiis” Venice Award for a Debut Film are Claudio Giovannesi (Italy) as president, Remi Bonhomme (France), and Dora Bouchoucha...
- 7/26/2020
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
The 77th Venice Film Festival (September 2 – 12) has revealed all jury members, with Competition jury president Cate Blanchett joined by Austrian director Veronika Franz (Goodnight Mommy), Brit filmmaker Joanna Hogg (The Souvenir), Italian writer Nicola Lagioia, German filmmaker Christian Petzold (Barbara), Romanian director Cristi Puiu (The Death of Mr. Lazarescu) and French actress Ludivine Sagnier (La Vérité).
The Orizzonti jury will be presided over by French director Claire Denis (High Life), and comprise Oskar Alegria (Spain), Francesca Comencini (Italy), Katriel Schory (Israel) and Christine Vachon (USA).
The selectors of the “Luigi De Laurentiis” Venice Award for a Debut Film are Claudio Giovannesi (Italy) as president, Remi Bonhomme (France) and Dora Bouchoucha (Tunisia).
The festival’s Venice Virtual Reality jury will be headed by Celine Tricart as president (USA), and also include Asif Kapadia (Great Britain) and Hideo Kojima (Japan).
The festival, the first major physical film get-together since the pandemic struck earlier this year,...
The Orizzonti jury will be presided over by French director Claire Denis (High Life), and comprise Oskar Alegria (Spain), Francesca Comencini (Italy), Katriel Schory (Israel) and Christine Vachon (USA).
The selectors of the “Luigi De Laurentiis” Venice Award for a Debut Film are Claudio Giovannesi (Italy) as president, Remi Bonhomme (France) and Dora Bouchoucha (Tunisia).
The festival’s Venice Virtual Reality jury will be headed by Celine Tricart as president (USA), and also include Asif Kapadia (Great Britain) and Hideo Kojima (Japan).
The festival, the first major physical film get-together since the pandemic struck earlier this year,...
- 7/26/2020
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
The Venice Film Festival has revealed the rosters of its main juries — a move that indicates organizers expect a robust contingent of top international talent and industry executives to make the trek to the Lido for the fest’s planned physical edition in September.
The U.K.’s Joanna Hogg (“The Souvenir”), Germany’s Christian Petzold (“Undine”) and Romania’s Cristi Puiu (“Sieranevada”) are among the directors who will join the fest’s main jury, over which Cate Blanchett will preside, as previously announced.
Austrian auteur Veronika Franz (“The Lodge”), Italian writer Nicola Lagioia and French actor Ludivine Sagnier round out the Europe-centric main competition jury.
Meanwhile, French director, screenwriter and actor Claire Denis, whose “White Material” premiered in Venice in 2018, will oversee the jury for Venice’s more cutting-edge Horizons section.
Joining Denis on the Horizons jury are U.S. producer Christine Vachon, best known for shepherding Todd Haynes’ “Far From Heaven,...
The U.K.’s Joanna Hogg (“The Souvenir”), Germany’s Christian Petzold (“Undine”) and Romania’s Cristi Puiu (“Sieranevada”) are among the directors who will join the fest’s main jury, over which Cate Blanchett will preside, as previously announced.
Austrian auteur Veronika Franz (“The Lodge”), Italian writer Nicola Lagioia and French actor Ludivine Sagnier round out the Europe-centric main competition jury.
Meanwhile, French director, screenwriter and actor Claire Denis, whose “White Material” premiered in Venice in 2018, will oversee the jury for Venice’s more cutting-edge Horizons section.
Joining Denis on the Horizons jury are U.S. producer Christine Vachon, best known for shepherding Todd Haynes’ “Far From Heaven,...
- 7/26/2020
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
“People wanted to be productive and help the filmmaking community.”
The Doha Film Institute (Dfi) has released first data for the online edition of its sixth annual talent incubator meeting Qumra. It set up the digital iteration at top speed after the physical event had to be abandoned at the 11th hour due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Over the course of the five-day virtual event, running March 20 to 25, the Dfi organised 220 online mentoring sessions and fostered a further 200 connections between projects and potential industry and festival partners.
All the original 46 projects from 20 countries participated in the initiative, working with 34 mentors from 18 countries,...
The Doha Film Institute (Dfi) has released first data for the online edition of its sixth annual talent incubator meeting Qumra. It set up the digital iteration at top speed after the physical event had to be abandoned at the 11th hour due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Over the course of the five-day virtual event, running March 20 to 25, the Dfi organised 220 online mentoring sessions and fostered a further 200 connections between projects and potential industry and festival partners.
All the original 46 projects from 20 countries participated in the initiative, working with 34 mentors from 18 countries,...
- 4/20/2020
- by 1100388¦Melanie Goodfellow¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Rithy Panh, Karim Ainouz, Annemarie Jacir, Tala Hadid, Ghassan Salhab join efforts to continue key project development activities.
The Doha Film Institute (Dfi) has set up an online mentorship programme to replace its Qumra talent and project development event which was cancelled earlier this month due to the coronavirus pandemic.
A total of 46 projects were to have received support and advice from some 100 industry professionals at the sixth edition of the meeting, originally scheduled to run March 20-25 in Doha.
French director Claire Denis, Greek cinematographer Phedon Papamichael, Us director James Gray, Austrian filmmaker Jessica Hausner and Oscar-winning sound editor...
The Doha Film Institute (Dfi) has set up an online mentorship programme to replace its Qumra talent and project development event which was cancelled earlier this month due to the coronavirus pandemic.
A total of 46 projects were to have received support and advice from some 100 industry professionals at the sixth edition of the meeting, originally scheduled to run March 20-25 in Doha.
French director Claire Denis, Greek cinematographer Phedon Papamichael, Us director James Gray, Austrian filmmaker Jessica Hausner and Oscar-winning sound editor...
- 3/19/2020
- by 1100388¦Melanie Goodfellow¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
The 46th Film Fest Gent has just announced its list of winners, where we find Ondog by Wang Quan’an, as well as Martin Eden by Pietro Marcello. Having presented Ondog at Berlin back in February, Chinese filmmaker Wang Quan’an has now taken home the Grand Prize of the Film Fest Gent, whose jury also handed a Special Award for Best Direction to the Italian filmmaker Pietro Marcello for his adaptation of Jack London’s novel Martin Eden. This year’s event saw Belgian filmmaker Joachim Lafosse presiding over a jury composed of film critic Guy Lodge, sound engineer Midge Costin, director Radu Jude and producers Fiorella Moretti and Dora Bouchoucha Fourati. Ondog is a modern tale set on the Mongolian plains, where a young and unexperienced police officer asks a strong, seasoned shepherdess to help him secure a crime scene in the middle of nowhere. The film charmed the jury and festival.
- 10/17/2019
- Cineuropa - The Best of European Cinema
On Monday September 18th 2017 the 2nd edition of the Ouaga Film Lab , organized by Generation Films began. Launched in 2016 this development and coproduction residency aims to strengthen the competitiveness of West African directors and producers within major international labs, as well as to facilitate their access to local funds, international co-productions and closer collaborations with experienced mentors from around the continent.
10 feature projects (narrative and documentary) were selected this year:
A l’ombre d’Elimane, a documentary film project by Hamedine Kane (Senegal), produced by Rama Thiaw from Boul Fallé Images (Senegal)Agoodjie, a fiction film project by Félicien M. Assogba (Benin), produced by Fredy Boris Agblo from F-media (Benin)Bori Bana, a fiction film project by Joël Akafou (Côte d’Ivoire), produced by Floriane Zoundi (Burkina Faso) from Merveilles Production (Benin)Dia, a fiction film project by Achille Ronaïmou (Chad), produced by Faissol Gnonlonfin (Benin)Duba, Les charognards, a...
10 feature projects (narrative and documentary) were selected this year:
A l’ombre d’Elimane, a documentary film project by Hamedine Kane (Senegal), produced by Rama Thiaw from Boul Fallé Images (Senegal)Agoodjie, a fiction film project by Félicien M. Assogba (Benin), produced by Fredy Boris Agblo from F-media (Benin)Bori Bana, a fiction film project by Joël Akafou (Côte d’Ivoire), produced by Floriane Zoundi (Burkina Faso) from Merveilles Production (Benin)Dia, a fiction film project by Achille Ronaïmou (Chad), produced by Faissol Gnonlonfin (Benin)Duba, Les charognards, a...
- 9/22/2017
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Closing Night, Remarks, WinnersInternational Jury: Olafur Eliasson, Artist (Iceland); Dora Bouchoucha Fourate, Producer (Tunisia), Julia Jentsch, Actress (Germany); Maggie Gyllenhaal, Actress, Producer (U.S.); Paul Verhoeven — Jury President — Director, Screenwriter (The Netherlands); Wang Quan’an, Director, Screenwriter (People’s Republic of China); Diego Luna, Actor, Director (Mexico)
A new tradition of sharing a “coup de champagne” on Closing Night of the Berlinale seems to be in the making with Ben and Stephanie Gibson and us. Last year we found ourselves together at the Hyatt for pre-Closing Night Drinks; this year we shared a coup at the Berlinale Palast before the crowd arrived.
Closing Night Before the Crowds Arrive
Ben, btw, is the director of dffb, the German Film School in Berlin. Read more in my previous blog here. He and his wife Stephanie could make a great TV series with the stories of their families. Once the crowd took over,...
A new tradition of sharing a “coup de champagne” on Closing Night of the Berlinale seems to be in the making with Ben and Stephanie Gibson and us. Last year we found ourselves together at the Hyatt for pre-Closing Night Drinks; this year we shared a coup at the Berlinale Palast before the crowd arrived.
Closing Night Before the Crowds Arrive
Ben, btw, is the director of dffb, the German Film School in Berlin. Read more in my previous blog here. He and his wife Stephanie could make a great TV series with the stories of their families. Once the crowd took over,...
- 2/28/2017
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
A certain mutant send-off may have gotten the most global attention out of the 2017 Berlin Film Festival, but if one retracts their claws, some of the finest in major international cinema comes into focus. Ahead of our picks of the best of the festival, the jury has delivered their awards.
Led by Paul Verhoeven, the jury made up of Dora Bouchoucha Fourati, Olafur Eliasson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Julia Jentsch, Diego Luna, and Wang Quan’an gave the Hungarian drama On Body and Soul the top prize of Golden Bear, while Aki Kaurismäki picked up Best Director for The Other Side of Hope and Kim Min-hee earned Best Actress for her latest Hong Sang-soo collaboration On The Beach At Night Alone.
Check out the winners below (with a hat tip to Deadline) along with links to reviews where available. One can also see our full coverage here.
Golden Bear for Best...
Led by Paul Verhoeven, the jury made up of Dora Bouchoucha Fourati, Olafur Eliasson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Julia Jentsch, Diego Luna, and Wang Quan’an gave the Hungarian drama On Body and Soul the top prize of Golden Bear, while Aki Kaurismäki picked up Best Director for The Other Side of Hope and Kim Min-hee earned Best Actress for her latest Hong Sang-soo collaboration On The Beach At Night Alone.
Check out the winners below (with a hat tip to Deadline) along with links to reviews where available. One can also see our full coverage here.
Golden Bear for Best...
- 2/19/2017
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
The 67th Berlin International Film Festival has come to a close, and winners have been selected for top prizes. The international jury this year included president Paul Verhoeven, Dora Bouchoucha Fourati, Olafur Eliasson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Julia Jentsch, Diego Luna, and Wang Quan’an.
Read More: The 2017 IndieWire Berlinale Bible: Every Review, Interview and News Item Posted During the Festival
Check out the full list below:
*Golden Bear for Best Film:
“Testről és lélekről” (“On Body and Soul”)
by Ildikó Enyedi
Producers: Monika Mécs, András Muhi, Ernő Mesterházy
*Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize
“Félicité”
by Alain Gomis
*Silver Bear Alfred Bauer Prize
“Pokot” (“Spoor”)
by Agnieszka Holland
*Silver Bear for Best Director
Aki Kaurismäki
for “Toivon tuolla puolen” (“The Other Side of Hope”)
*Silver Bear for Best Actress
Kim Minhee
in “Bamui haebyun-eoseo honja” (“On the Beach at Night Alone”)
by Hong Sang-soo
*Silver Bear for Best Actor
Georg Friedrich
in...
Read More: The 2017 IndieWire Berlinale Bible: Every Review, Interview and News Item Posted During the Festival
Check out the full list below:
*Golden Bear for Best Film:
“Testről és lélekről” (“On Body and Soul”)
by Ildikó Enyedi
Producers: Monika Mécs, András Muhi, Ernő Mesterházy
*Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize
“Félicité”
by Alain Gomis
*Silver Bear Alfred Bauer Prize
“Pokot” (“Spoor”)
by Agnieszka Holland
*Silver Bear for Best Director
Aki Kaurismäki
for “Toivon tuolla puolen” (“The Other Side of Hope”)
*Silver Bear for Best Actress
Kim Minhee
in “Bamui haebyun-eoseo honja” (“On the Beach at Night Alone”)
by Hong Sang-soo
*Silver Bear for Best Actor
Georg Friedrich
in...
- 2/18/2017
- by William Earl
- Indiewire
On Body and SoulThe Notebook's Giovanni Marchini Camia has been covering the Berlin International Film Festival since its opening day, with additional help from Neil Bahadur and Christopher Small and more coverage to come. The 2017 awards have just been announced from a jury consisting of Paul Verhoeven (Jury President), Dora Bouchoucha Fourati, Olafur Eliasson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Julia Jentsch, Diego Luna and Wang Quan'an.Golden BEAROn Body and Soul (Ildikó Enyedi)Silver Bear Grand Jury PRIZEFélicité (Alain Gomes)Alfred Bauer PRIZESpoor (Agnieszka Holland)Best DIRECTORAki Kaurismäki (The Other Side of Hope)reviewBEST ACTRESSKim Min-hee (On the Beach at Night Alone)review | director interviewBEST ACTORGeorg Friedrich (Bright Nights)Best SCRIPTSebastián Lelio and Gonzalo Maza (A Fantastic Woman)Outstanding Artistic CONTRIBUTIONEditor Dana Bunescu, Ana, mon amour (Cãlin Peter Netzer)...
- 2/18/2017
- MUBI
Update With Key Speeches: Hungarian title On Body And Soul takes best film; Aki Kaurismaki, Sebastian Lelio among winners; Insyriated and I Am Not Your Negro scoop Panorama audience awards; 2018 festival dates revealed.
The awards ceremony for the 67th Berlin Film Festival took place this evening (18 Feb) with winners including Ildiko Enyedi, Alain Gomis, Agnieszka Holland and Sebastian Lelio.
Scroll down for full list of winners
Ildikò Enyedi’s Hungarian feature On Body and Soul - the unusual love story of two damaged souls trying to make contact in a harsh world - was the big winner on the night taking home the Golden Bear for best film in the Competition as well as the Ecumenical and Fipresci juries’ prizes for best film in the Official Competition and the Berliner Morgenpost Readers’ Award.
Enyedi’s film - which is handled internationally by Berlin-based sales agent Films Boutique and had been hotly tipped for the Golden Bear - is...
The awards ceremony for the 67th Berlin Film Festival took place this evening (18 Feb) with winners including Ildiko Enyedi, Alain Gomis, Agnieszka Holland and Sebastian Lelio.
Scroll down for full list of winners
Ildikò Enyedi’s Hungarian feature On Body and Soul - the unusual love story of two damaged souls trying to make contact in a harsh world - was the big winner on the night taking home the Golden Bear for best film in the Competition as well as the Ecumenical and Fipresci juries’ prizes for best film in the Official Competition and the Berliner Morgenpost Readers’ Award.
Enyedi’s film - which is handled internationally by Berlin-based sales agent Films Boutique and had been hotly tipped for the Golden Bear - is...
- 2/18/2017
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney) andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
The golden and silver bears are being handed out for the 67th Berlin Film Festival; Insyriated and I Am Not Your Negro scoop Panorama audience awards; 2018 festival dates revealed.
The awards ceremony for the 67th Berlin Film Festival is taking place tonight (18 Feb). Follow the event’s live stream here from 6pm GMT (7pm Cet) and below for live updates.
The international jury comprised Paul Verhoeven (director), Dora Bouchoucha Fourati (producer), Olafur Eliasson (artist), Maggie Gyllenhaal (actress), Julia Jentsch (actress), Diego Luna (actor) and Wang Quan’an (director).
The Panorama and Generation sections have already revealed winners including Insyriated and I Am Not Your Negro. Scroll down for winners in additional sections.
The Berlinale also announced its 2018 dates: February 15 - 25, which is one week later than this year’s edition.
The full list of Berlin 2017 winnersGolden Bear for Best Film
Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize
Silver Bear Alfred Bauer Prize
Silver Bear for Best Director
Silver [link=tt...
The awards ceremony for the 67th Berlin Film Festival is taking place tonight (18 Feb). Follow the event’s live stream here from 6pm GMT (7pm Cet) and below for live updates.
The international jury comprised Paul Verhoeven (director), Dora Bouchoucha Fourati (producer), Olafur Eliasson (artist), Maggie Gyllenhaal (actress), Julia Jentsch (actress), Diego Luna (actor) and Wang Quan’an (director).
The Panorama and Generation sections have already revealed winners including Insyriated and I Am Not Your Negro. Scroll down for winners in additional sections.
The Berlinale also announced its 2018 dates: February 15 - 25, which is one week later than this year’s edition.
The full list of Berlin 2017 winnersGolden Bear for Best Film
Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize
Silver Bear Alfred Bauer Prize
Silver Bear for Best Director
Silver [link=tt...
- 2/18/2017
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
It’s a weird time to be at a film festival. If sitting in the dark to watch a movie for two hours can feel a lot like burying your head in the sand, then devoting 10 days to doing nothing else can feel a lot like blinding yourself just so you don’t have to see what’s going on outside.
But Diego Luna doesn’t see it that way. The “Rogue One” star is deeply concerned about the state of things, but he insists that going to a festival — particularly one that gathers together artists from dozens upon dozens of countries around the world — can be an even more invaluable experience during times of crisis. So when the Berlin International Film Festival — aka the Berlinale — invited him to serve on the Competition jury at this year’s fest, Luna couldn’t have been happier to accept.
IndieWire caught up with the actor between screenings,...
But Diego Luna doesn’t see it that way. The “Rogue One” star is deeply concerned about the state of things, but he insists that going to a festival — particularly one that gathers together artists from dozens upon dozens of countries around the world — can be an even more invaluable experience during times of crisis. So when the Berlin International Film Festival — aka the Berlinale — invited him to serve on the Competition jury at this year’s fest, Luna couldn’t have been happier to accept.
IndieWire caught up with the actor between screenings,...
- 2/18/2017
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Starting today at 4:40Am Et/1:40Am Pt, you can watch a live stream of the Berlinale press conference featuring members of the fest’s distinguished international jury. President Paul Verhoeven is expected to attend the conference, as well as other members, including Diego Luna, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dora Bouchoucha Fourati, Olafur Eliasson, Julia Jentsch and Wang Quan’an.
The International Jury will decide who will receive the Golden Bear and Silver Bears of the 2017 Berlinale Competition.
Read More: Paul Verhoeven to Serve as Berlin Film Festival Jury President
You can find the full list of live stream options for the run of the festival right here, and check out the live stream for today’s jury press conference below.
The Berlin International Film Festival runs from January 9 – 19, 2017 in Berlin, Germany.
Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
Related...
The International Jury will decide who will receive the Golden Bear and Silver Bears of the 2017 Berlinale Competition.
Read More: Paul Verhoeven to Serve as Berlin Film Festival Jury President
You can find the full list of live stream options for the run of the festival right here, and check out the live stream for today’s jury press conference below.
The Berlin International Film Festival runs from January 9 – 19, 2017 in Berlin, Germany.
Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
Related...
- 2/9/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Keep up with the always-hopping film festival world with our weekly Film Festival Roundup column. Check out last week’s Roundup right here.
Lineup Announcements
– The Film Society of Lincoln Center and UniFrance announce the complete lineup for the 22nd edition of Rendez-Vous with French Cinema, the celebrated annual series showcasing the variety and vitality of contemporary French filmmaking, March 1 – 12.
The lineup features 23 diverse films, comprised of highlights from international festivals and works by both established favorites and talented newcomers, including François Ozon’s Lubitsch adaptation “Frantz,” set after World War I; Bertrand Bonello’s “Nocturama,” a provocative exploration of a Paris terrorist attack carried out by young activists; Bruno Dumont’s oddball slapstick detective story “Slack Bay,” starring Juliette Binoche; Rebecca Zlotowski’s visually arresting “Planetarium,” with Natalie Portman as a touring psychic who catches the eye of a movie producer in 1930s Paris; and Jean-Stéphane Bron’s “The Paris Opera,...
Lineup Announcements
– The Film Society of Lincoln Center and UniFrance announce the complete lineup for the 22nd edition of Rendez-Vous with French Cinema, the celebrated annual series showcasing the variety and vitality of contemporary French filmmaking, March 1 – 12.
The lineup features 23 diverse films, comprised of highlights from international festivals and works by both established favorites and talented newcomers, including François Ozon’s Lubitsch adaptation “Frantz,” set after World War I; Bertrand Bonello’s “Nocturama,” a provocative exploration of a Paris terrorist attack carried out by young activists; Bruno Dumont’s oddball slapstick detective story “Slack Bay,” starring Juliette Binoche; Rebecca Zlotowski’s visually arresting “Planetarium,” with Natalie Portman as a touring psychic who catches the eye of a movie producer in 1930s Paris; and Jean-Stéphane Bron’s “The Paris Opera,...
- 2/2/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Maggie Gyllenhaal and Diego Luna amongst those to join jury president Paul Verhoeven.
The 67th Berlin Film Festival has revealed its jury, homage subject and Golden Camera recipients.
Joining jury president, Paul Verhoeven, will be actors Maggie Gyllenhaal, Diego Luna, and Julia Jentsch, producer Dora Bouchoucha Fourati, artist Olafur Eliasson and director-screenwriter Wang Quan’an.
Eighteen films are vying in this year’s competition for the Golden Bear. The winners will be announced at the Berlinale Palast on February 18.
Robocop director Verhoeven is currently flying high off the success of Golden Globe-winning drama Elle.
Gyllenhaal is best known for her Oscar-nominated role in Crazy Heart, breakthrough performances in Donnie Darko and Secretary, The Dark Knight and TV series The Honourable Woman, for which she garnered a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy nomination.
Luna, co-star of Alfonso Cuarón’s Y Tu Mamá También, has played at the Berlinale in titles including Milk (dir: Gus van Sant, Berlinale...
The 67th Berlin Film Festival has revealed its jury, homage subject and Golden Camera recipients.
Joining jury president, Paul Verhoeven, will be actors Maggie Gyllenhaal, Diego Luna, and Julia Jentsch, producer Dora Bouchoucha Fourati, artist Olafur Eliasson and director-screenwriter Wang Quan’an.
Eighteen films are vying in this year’s competition for the Golden Bear. The winners will be announced at the Berlinale Palast on February 18.
Robocop director Verhoeven is currently flying high off the success of Golden Globe-winning drama Elle.
Gyllenhaal is best known for her Oscar-nominated role in Crazy Heart, breakthrough performances in Donnie Darko and Secretary, The Dark Knight and TV series The Honourable Woman, for which she garnered a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy nomination.
Luna, co-star of Alfonso Cuarón’s Y Tu Mamá También, has played at the Berlinale in titles including Milk (dir: Gus van Sant, Berlinale...
- 1/31/2017
- ScreenDaily
Maggie Gyllenhaal and Diego Luna are among those who will make up the Berlin Film Festival's International Jury this year. German actress Julia Jentsch, Tunisian producer Dora Bouchoucha, Iceland's Olafur Eliasson and Chinese writer-director Wang Quan'an will join Gyllenhall and Luna to round out the jury that will decide who will receive the Golden and Silver Bears at Berlinale next month. As previously announced, Dutch helmer-writer Paul Verhoeven will lead the jury as…...
- 1/31/2017
- Deadline
Maggie Gyllenhaal and Diego Luna have joined the international jury of the 2017 Berlin Film Festival.
Together with jury president Paul Verhoeven, they will judge the competition films of the 67th Berlin festival, which runs Feb. 9-19.
Completing the jury are German actress Julia Jentsch, Chinese director and writer Wang Quan'an, Tunisian producer Dora Bouchoucha and artist Olafur Eliasson from Iceland.
Among the films in competition this year are Oren Moveman's The Dinner, starring Richard Gere, Rebecca Hall, Laura Linney and Steve Coogan; The Party, from U.K. helmer Sally Potter, featuring Cillian Murphy, Emily Mortimer and Kristin Scott Thomas; and The...
Together with jury president Paul Verhoeven, they will judge the competition films of the 67th Berlin festival, which runs Feb. 9-19.
Completing the jury are German actress Julia Jentsch, Chinese director and writer Wang Quan'an, Tunisian producer Dora Bouchoucha and artist Olafur Eliasson from Iceland.
Among the films in competition this year are Oren Moveman's The Dinner, starring Richard Gere, Rebecca Hall, Laura Linney and Steve Coogan; The Party, from U.K. helmer Sally Potter, featuring Cillian Murphy, Emily Mortimer and Kristin Scott Thomas; and The...
- 1/31/2017
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Non-profit cultural body aims to promote Arab cinema and launch an Oscars-style awards ceremony.
Top industry figures from across the Arab cinema world gathered at Diff yesterday for the launch of the Arab Film Institute (AFI).
Headquartered in Dubai, the non-profit cultural body aims to act as a platform for Arab cinema, past and present, and support its future development at every level, from production through to distribution and promotion.
Modelled loosely on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), the new body will also launch an Oscar-style awards ceremony, the Arab Film Awards, covering 19 categories, from directing to cinematography and lifetime achievement.
Funding for the body will come through membership fees and patronage.
“Being a witness and active member of the bright and rich Arab film scene, I felt we needed to bring together all this energy and exchange experiences and ideas as well as offering wider opportunities in a fast-changing world to our...
Top industry figures from across the Arab cinema world gathered at Diff yesterday for the launch of the Arab Film Institute (AFI).
Headquartered in Dubai, the non-profit cultural body aims to act as a platform for Arab cinema, past and present, and support its future development at every level, from production through to distribution and promotion.
Modelled loosely on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), the new body will also launch an Oscar-style awards ceremony, the Arab Film Awards, covering 19 categories, from directing to cinematography and lifetime achievement.
Funding for the body will come through membership fees and patronage.
“Being a witness and active member of the bright and rich Arab film scene, I felt we needed to bring together all this energy and exchange experiences and ideas as well as offering wider opportunities in a fast-changing world to our...
- 12/11/2016
- ScreenDaily
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