Ambiguous, Kafkaesque and with a deadpan wit, Egyptian director Omar El Zohairy’s debut feature explores a woman’s place in a man’s world
Egyptian film-maker Omar El Zohairy is a brilliant emerging talent with an impressive professional pedigree; he is a former assistant to Yousry Nasrallah (who himself started out as assistant to the celebrated Youssef Chahine) and has won festival prizes with this, his debut feature. It’s a comedy with a little of Woody Allen or Franz Kafka – though with not much of the famous Emily Dickinson quote about what hope is. It is also a social-surrealist parable about a woman’s place in a man’s world. Higher than the animals? Lower than the animals? El Zohairy conjures something elegant and mysterious with a deadpan wit, which coolly encases its compassion. He frames his shots with superb compositional flair – this film actually reminded me of another Egyptian film,...
Egyptian film-maker Omar El Zohairy is a brilliant emerging talent with an impressive professional pedigree; he is a former assistant to Yousry Nasrallah (who himself started out as assistant to the celebrated Youssef Chahine) and has won festival prizes with this, his debut feature. It’s a comedy with a little of Woody Allen or Franz Kafka – though with not much of the famous Emily Dickinson quote about what hope is. It is also a social-surrealist parable about a woman’s place in a man’s world. Higher than the animals? Lower than the animals? El Zohairy conjures something elegant and mysterious with a deadpan wit, which coolly encases its compassion. He frames his shots with superb compositional flair – this film actually reminded me of another Egyptian film,...
- 7/3/2023
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
The film stars Egyptian actress Basma, best known internationally for her recurrent role in FX’s political drama Tyrant.
German sales outfit Media Luna has acquired international sales rights to Egyptian director Hisham Saqr’s debut feature Certified Mail ahead of its premiere in Tiff’s Discovery line-up in September.
Popular Egyptian actress Basma, best known internationally for her recurrent role in FX’s political drama Tyrant, plays a new mother who falls into a deep depression following the arrest and imprisonment of her husband. It is a rare exploration of the attitudes and taboos around female mental health in Arab society.
German sales outfit Media Luna has acquired international sales rights to Egyptian director Hisham Saqr’s debut feature Certified Mail ahead of its premiere in Tiff’s Discovery line-up in September.
Popular Egyptian actress Basma, best known internationally for her recurrent role in FX’s political drama Tyrant, plays a new mother who falls into a deep depression following the arrest and imprisonment of her husband. It is a rare exploration of the attitudes and taboos around female mental health in Arab society.
- 8/9/2019
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
A film that's high on my to-see list this year is Egyptian auteur Ibrahim El Batout's latest - a Cairo-set action thriller titled "El Ott" ("The Cat" in English), which centers on the very topical matter of human organ trafficking in Egypt. In short, Egypt’s recent political upheavals, which left a temporary law enforcement gap in the country, reportedly allowed what have been called mob-led organ-trafficking rings to thrive. Amr Waked ("Salmon Fishing in the Yemen") is producing and starring in the film. He's joined by Palestinian actor Mohammad Bakri, Egyptian actress-model Sarah Shaheen, and Egyptian actor Salah Al Hanafy, who...
- 1/5/2015
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Despite the cancellation of last year’s Cairo International Film Festival due to continued political unrest, this year’s festival, now in its 36th year, possesses an optimistic energy that change is happening within Egypt’s film industry.
Working under the newly appointed Minister of Culture Gaber Asfour, festival president Samir Farid (also in his first year) has added a staff of fresh new faces to help pull together a programme showcasing films from over 50 countries, including both animated and short films for the first time.
Also new, a cultural sidebar has been included that features an exhibition celebrating film icon Henry Barakat, a showcase of works from female artist Najat Makki, a film publications symposium and a musical concert comprised of scores by composer Rageh Daoud.
“Cinema, and culture, is a way of life for Egyptians, so how is it that our once beautiful cinemas have turned into shops, cafes have turned...
Working under the newly appointed Minister of Culture Gaber Asfour, festival president Samir Farid (also in his first year) has added a staff of fresh new faces to help pull together a programme showcasing films from over 50 countries, including both animated and short films for the first time.
Also new, a cultural sidebar has been included that features an exhibition celebrating film icon Henry Barakat, a showcase of works from female artist Najat Makki, a film publications symposium and a musical concert comprised of scores by composer Rageh Daoud.
“Cinema, and culture, is a way of life for Egyptians, so how is it that our once beautiful cinemas have turned into shops, cafes have turned...
- 11/19/2014
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Film that premieres in competition at Abu Dhabi stars Egyptian actor Amr Waked as a gangster who challenges a child organ trafficker.
Pan-Arab distributor Falcon Films has acquired Middle East and North Africa rights to Egyptian director Ibrahim El-Batout’s El Ott ahead of its premiere in competition at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival (Adff) next week.
The picture, previously titled The Cat in English, stars Egyptian actor Amr Waked as a gangster who goes up against a notorious mobster who is kidnapping street children to harvest their organs.
“His mission is to bring down him and his gang,” Waked told ScreenDaily.
The actor also produced the film alongside fellow actor and producer Sahah Al Hanafy through their Cairo-based Zad Communication.
It is the second collaboration between Waked, Al Hanafy and El-Batout after Winter of Discontent, capturing the events leading up to the Egyptian revolution in 2010, which was Egypt’s foreign language Oscar submission this year...
Pan-Arab distributor Falcon Films has acquired Middle East and North Africa rights to Egyptian director Ibrahim El-Batout’s El Ott ahead of its premiere in competition at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival (Adff) next week.
The picture, previously titled The Cat in English, stars Egyptian actor Amr Waked as a gangster who goes up against a notorious mobster who is kidnapping street children to harvest their organs.
“His mission is to bring down him and his gang,” Waked told ScreenDaily.
The actor also produced the film alongside fellow actor and producer Sahah Al Hanafy through their Cairo-based Zad Communication.
It is the second collaboration between Waked, Al Hanafy and El-Batout after Winter of Discontent, capturing the events leading up to the Egyptian revolution in 2010, which was Egypt’s foreign language Oscar submission this year...
- 10/24/2014
- ScreenDaily
Adff to present 197 films from 61 countries.
The 2014 Abu Dhabi Film Festival (Adff), backed by twofour54, will present nine feature world premieres, eight of them from the Arab world. The short film sections will host 48 world premieres.
The festival will open with Ali Mostafa’s From A to B [pictured], and festival director Ali Al-Jabri said: “It is the first time in the festival’s history that we opening with an Emirati film and we ares very proud about this landmark event.”
The festival runs October 23 to November 1 and presents 197 films from 61 countries.
For the second year, the festival host the Child Protection Award organised with the Child Protection Centre of the Ministry of Interior, to spotlight films that raise awareness about abused or neglected children. Films competing for that prize include Zerensenay Mehari’s Difret, Albert Shin’s In Her Place, and Cyprien Vial’s Young Tiger.
The Showcase section includes films such as ‘71, A Pigeon Sat on...
The 2014 Abu Dhabi Film Festival (Adff), backed by twofour54, will present nine feature world premieres, eight of them from the Arab world. The short film sections will host 48 world premieres.
The festival will open with Ali Mostafa’s From A to B [pictured], and festival director Ali Al-Jabri said: “It is the first time in the festival’s history that we opening with an Emirati film and we ares very proud about this landmark event.”
The festival runs October 23 to November 1 and presents 197 films from 61 countries.
For the second year, the festival host the Child Protection Award organised with the Child Protection Centre of the Ministry of Interior, to spotlight films that raise awareness about abused or neglected children. Films competing for that prize include Zerensenay Mehari’s Difret, Albert Shin’s In Her Place, and Cyprien Vial’s Young Tiger.
The Showcase section includes films such as ‘71, A Pigeon Sat on...
- 9/29/2014
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
Abu Dhabi Film Festival’s fund supports Ibrahim El Batout’s Cat and Ghassan Salhab’s The Valley, among others.
Sanad has announced the first cycle of grants for 2014.
Abu Dhabi Film Festival’s fund supports the development and post-production of films from across the Arab world.
The projects receiving post-production grants are:
Ibrahim El Batout’s CatGhassan Salhab’s The ValleyAmer Shomali & Paul Cowan’s The Wanted 18Nadine Salib’s Um GhayebMerieme Addou & Rose Rogers’ Pirates of Salé
The projects receiving development grants are:
Hiner Saleem’s Money BabeMohammed Ben Attia’s HediSameh Zoabi’s Catch the MoonAhmed Amer’s Kiss Me NotRami Kodeih’s Sons of SundayAlia Yunis’ The Golden HarvestDaoud Aoulad-Siyad’s The Bird of the Mountains
Ali Al Jabri [pictured], director of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival, commented: “Sanad seeks out bold, remarkable projects with the aim of encouraging intercultural dialogue and artistic innovation, while building strong networks within the region.
“Sanad has enabled...
Sanad has announced the first cycle of grants for 2014.
Abu Dhabi Film Festival’s fund supports the development and post-production of films from across the Arab world.
The projects receiving post-production grants are:
Ibrahim El Batout’s CatGhassan Salhab’s The ValleyAmer Shomali & Paul Cowan’s The Wanted 18Nadine Salib’s Um GhayebMerieme Addou & Rose Rogers’ Pirates of Salé
The projects receiving development grants are:
Hiner Saleem’s Money BabeMohammed Ben Attia’s HediSameh Zoabi’s Catch the MoonAhmed Amer’s Kiss Me NotRami Kodeih’s Sons of SundayAlia Yunis’ The Golden HarvestDaoud Aoulad-Siyad’s The Bird of the Mountains
Ali Al Jabri [pictured], director of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival, commented: “Sanad seeks out bold, remarkable projects with the aim of encouraging intercultural dialogue and artistic innovation, while building strong networks within the region.
“Sanad has enabled...
- 5/15/2014
- by ian.sandwell@screendaily.com (Ian Sandwell)
- ScreenDaily
Abderrahmane Sissako's latest is a brilliant portrait of a place ruled by religion and a people traumatised by division
Abderrahmane Sissako's passionate and visually beautiful film Timbuktu is a cry from the heart with all the more moral authority for being expressed with such grace and such care. It is a portrait of the country of his childhood, the west African state of Mali, and in particular the city of Timbuktu, whose rich and humane traditions are being trampled, as Sissako sees it, by fanatical jihadis, often from outside the country. The story revolves around the death of a cow, affectionately named "Gps" an appropriate symbol for a country that has lost its way.
These Islamist zealots are banning innocent pleasures such as music and football, and throwing themselves with cold relish into lashings and stonings for adultery. The new puritans appal the local imam, who has long...
Abderrahmane Sissako's passionate and visually beautiful film Timbuktu is a cry from the heart with all the more moral authority for being expressed with such grace and such care. It is a portrait of the country of his childhood, the west African state of Mali, and in particular the city of Timbuktu, whose rich and humane traditions are being trampled, as Sissako sees it, by fanatical jihadis, often from outside the country. The story revolves around the death of a cow, affectionately named "Gps" an appropriate symbol for a country that has lost its way.
These Islamist zealots are banning innocent pleasures such as music and football, and throwing themselves with cold relish into lashings and stonings for adultery. The new puritans appal the local imam, who has long...
- 5/14/2014
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
★★☆☆☆Given a somewhat ill-timed release last year by world cinema distributor New Wave Films, Ibrahim El-Batout's Winter of Discontent (2012) is a passionate, if tonally muddled take on the anti-Mubarak Egyptian uprising of 2011. With Mubarak now released from prison after serving his sentence and protests against those who replaced the former president ongoing (and as bloody as ever), there's certainly an appetite for politically-astute thinkpieces. Unfortunately, El-Batout doesn't seem to know whether he's making a dour slowburner or a pacy thriller, so confused is his approach towards depicting his country's recent troubles.
- 1/14/2014
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
Jehane Noujaim's documentary plunges viewers into the revolutionary maelstrom of Egypt's Tahrir Square, shedding light on an extraordinary, ongoing story
British audiences have already had a chance to see two fascinating movies about the ongoing Egyptian revolution. Ibrahim El-Batout's Winter of Discontent and Ahmad Abdalla's Rags and Tatters, in their different ways, gave piercing insights into its agony and euphoria.
Now Jehane Noujaim's The Square (right) gives an immersive and atmospheric account of what it's like to be plunged into the revolutionary maelstrom of Tahrir Square: a world of passionate dedication and confusion; a torrent of YouTube testimony, shifting alliances and a mysterious sense that the army can go overnight from being the good guys to the bad guys and back again. In 2011, a colossal people's gathering in the square ousted the cynical, complacent Hosni Mubarak – and the army appeared to guarantee the people's safety. But...
British audiences have already had a chance to see two fascinating movies about the ongoing Egyptian revolution. Ibrahim El-Batout's Winter of Discontent and Ahmad Abdalla's Rags and Tatters, in their different ways, gave piercing insights into its agony and euphoria.
Now Jehane Noujaim's The Square (right) gives an immersive and atmospheric account of what it's like to be plunged into the revolutionary maelstrom of Tahrir Square: a world of passionate dedication and confusion; a torrent of YouTube testimony, shifting alliances and a mysterious sense that the army can go overnight from being the good guys to the bad guys and back again. In 2011, a colossal people's gathering in the square ousted the cynical, complacent Hosni Mubarak – and the army appeared to guarantee the people's safety. But...
- 1/9/2014
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
As this year's Academy Awards nominations approach, and after the shocking selection of films conforming the Academy's shortlist for the Best Foreign Language Film Award, audiences will get the opportunity to see some of the films that were dismissed but which are absolutely deserving of attention. Rather than including all of the 76 Submissions the Palm Spring Film Festival decided to shorten their program to 45 of what they considered the best representation of the extensive amount of films.
Included in the program are all of the 9 shortlisted films, all the other major omissions, and many more obscure titles that showcase some of the most interesting voices in World Cinema today. Most of these films have been awarded prizes and received praise at major festivals from Sundance to Cannes and Toronto, and will give the viewer a broader view of the category beyond the assumed frontrunners.
Below is a list with more information on each of the films that will be screening at Palm Springs with reviews and interviews with the filmmakers for the majority of them. Read more about the complete list of 76 Foreign Language Oscar Submissions visit Here
For more information on the Palm Springs International Film Festival visit Here
Argentina
The German Doctor (Wakolda)
Dir: Lucia Puenzo
Language: Spanish, German, Hebrew
U.S Release: Samuel Goldwyn Films
Isa: Pyramide
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Un Certain Regard
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Case Study by Sydney Levine
Australia
The Rocket
Dir: Kim Mordaunt
Language: Lao
U.S Release: Kino Lorber
Isa: Level K
Festivals: Berlin 2013: Best First Feature Film ,Tribeca 2013: World Narrative Competition
Trailer
Austria
The Wall
Dir: Julian Polsler
Language: German
U.S Release: Music Box Films - May 31, 2013
Isa: The Match Factory
Festivals: Sitges Ff 2012 Official Fantastic, Mumbai Ff 2012 Int'l Competition
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Belgium
The Broken Circle Breakdown
Dir: Felix van Groeningen
Language: Flemish
U.S Release: Tribeca Film - November 1, 2013
Isa: The Match Factory
Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013 - Panorama
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
Bosnia And Herzegovina
An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker
Dir: Danis Tanović
Language: Bosnian, Romani
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: The Match Factory
Festivals: Berlinale Competition,Efm Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema
Trailer
Cambodia
The Missing Picture
Dir: Rithy Panh
Language: French
U.S Release: Acquired by Strand Releasing for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Cannes 2013 - Un Certain Regard Prix, San Sebastian 2013 Pearls
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Canada
Gabrielle
Dir: Louise Archambault
Language: French
U.S Release: eOne
Isa: eOne
Festivals: Toronto- Tiff 2013, Locarno International Film Festival 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
Chile
Gloria
Dir: Sebastian Lelio
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Roadside Attractions
Isa: Funny Balloons
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Toronto - Tiff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Sydney Levine
China
Back to 1942
Dir: Feng Xiaogang
Language: Mandarin, English
U.S Release: Well Go USA - May 14, 2013
Isa: Huayi Brothers
Festivals: Rome Film Festival 2012, Dubai International Film Festival 2012
Trailer
Croatia
Halima's Path
Dir: Arsen Anton Ostojić
Language: Bosnian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Tallinn Black Nights Iff 2012 - EurAsia (Special Jury Prize)
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Denmark
The Hunt
Dir: Thomas Vinterberg
Language: Danish
U.S Release: Magnolia Pictures - July 12, 2013
Isa: TrustNordisk
Festivals: Cannes 2012 Competition, Toronto - Tiff 2012, AFI Fest 2012
Trailer
Egypt
Winter of Discontent
Dir: Ibrahim el-Batout
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Venice International Film Festival, Cairo International Film Festival, Dubai Film Festival
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Finland
Disciple
Dir: Ulrika Bengts
Language: Finnish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Helsinki Ff 2012, Montréal World Ff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
France
Renoir
Dir: Gilles Bourdos
Language: French
U.S Release: Samuel Goldwyn Films - March 29, 2013
Isa: Wild Bunch
Festivals: Cannes 2012 Un Certain Regard
Trailer
Georgia
In Bloom
Dir: Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Groß
Language: Georgian
U.S Release: Big World Pictures
Isa: Memento
Festivals: Cicae award Berlinale Forum 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Germany
Two Lives
Dir: Georg Maas
Language: German
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Beta Cinema
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Toronto-tiff 2013, Busan 2013
Trailer
Hong Kong
The Grandmaster
Dir: Wong Kar-wai
Language: Cantonese, Mandarin
U.S Release: The Weinstein Company - August 23, 2013
Isa: Fortissimo
Festivals: Berlinale -Efm 2013
Trailer
Hungary
The Notebook
Dir: Janosz Szasz
Language: Hungarian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Iceland
Of Horses and Men
Dir: Benedikt Erlingsson
Language: Icelandic
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Icelandic Film Centre
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Sundance 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
India
The Good Road
Dir: Gyan Correa
Language: Gujarati
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: National Film Board of India
Festivals: London Indian Film Festival in 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Iran
The Past
Dir: Asghar Farhadi
Language: French, Persian
U.S Release: Sony Pictures Classics - December 20, 2013
Isa: Memento
Festivals:Cannes 2013 Competition-Won Best Actress, Toronto - Tiff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
Israel
Bethlehem
Dir: Yuval Adler
Language: Hebrew
U.S Release: Adopt
Isa: Westend
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013 Discovery, Telluride Film Festival, Venice International Film Festival
Trailer
Italy
The Great Beauty
Dir: Paolo Sorrentino
Language: Italian
U.S Release: AJanus Films
Isa: Pathe
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition, Berlin Efm 2013,
Trailer
Interview by Sydney Levine
Japan
The Great Passage
Dir: Yuya Ishii
Language: Japanese
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Shochiku
Festivals: Fantasia Ff 2013 Official Selection
Trailer
Kazakhstan
Shal (The Old Man)
Dir: Yermek Tursunov
Language: Russian, Kazakh
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Latvia
Mother, I Love You
Dir: Janis Nords
Language: Latvian
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: New Europe Film Sales
Festivals: Los Angeles Film Festival 2013, Berlinale Generation KPlus (Grand Prix of the International Jury for the best feature film)
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Mexico
Heli
Dir: Amat Escalante
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Ndm
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition-Winner Best Director, San Sebastian 2013 Horizontes Latinos,
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
Morocco
Horses of God
Dir: Nabil Ayouch
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2012, Bif London Film Festival 2012
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
The Netherlands
Borgman
Dir: Alex van Warmerdam
Language: Dutch
U.S Release: Drafthouse Films
Isa: Fortissimo
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition, Busan 2013, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
New Zealand
White Lies
Dir: Dana Rotberg
Language: Maori
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Film Sales Company
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Norway
I Am Yours
Dir: Iram Haq
Language: Norwegian, Urdu
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Palestine
Omar
Dir: Hany Abu-Assad
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Adopt FilmsIsa: The Match Factory
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Un Certain Regard, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
Philippines
Transit
Dir: Hannah Espia
Language: Filipino, Tagalog, Hebrew
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cinemalaya Film Festival 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Poland
Walesa
Dir: Andrzej Wajda
Language: Polish
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Films Boutique
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013, Venice- Biennale 2013
Trailer
Romania
Child's Pose
Dir: Calin Peter Netzer
Language: Romanian
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Beta Cinema
Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013 - Competition (Golden Bear for the Best Film), Toronto - Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema
Trailer
Articles by Sydney Levine, Berlin Diary #2
Russia
Stalingrad
Dir: Fedor Bondarchuk
Language: Russian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Saudi Arabia
Wadjda
Dir: Haifaa al-Mansour
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Sony Pictures Classics - September 13, 2013
Isa: The Match Factory
Festivals: Cannes 2012, Venice International Film Festival 2012, Los Angeles Film Festival, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Serbia
Circles
Dir: Srdan Golubovic
Language: Serbian
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Memento
Festivals: Sundance 2013 World Dramatic, Berlinale - Efm 2013 Forum
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Sydney Levine
Singapore
Ilo Ilo
Dir: Anthony Chen
Language: Mandarin, Hokkien, English, Tagalog
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Memento
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Directors Fortnight, Toronto - Tiff 2013 Discovery
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Slovenia
Class Enemy
Dir: Rok Biček
Language: Slovene
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
South Korea
Juvenile Offender
Dir: Kang Yi-kwan
Language: Korean
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Finecut
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Contemporary World Cinema,
Trailer
Spain
15 Years and One Day
Dir: Gracia Querejeta
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Latido
Festivals: San Sebastian 2013 Made in Spain, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
Switzerland
More Than Honey
Dir: Markus Imhoof
Language: German, Mandarin
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Films Boutique
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Tiff Docs, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Turkey
The Butterfly's Dream
Dir: Yılmaz Erdoğan
Language: Turkish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Istanbul Film Festival, Los Angeles Turkish Film Festival
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
United Kingdom
Metro Manila
Dir: Sean Elllis
Language: Filipino, Tagalog
U.S Release: Paladin/108 Media
Isa:
Festivals: Sundance 2013 World Dramatic, Berlin Efm 2012, Cannes 2012, Afm 2012, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Uruguay
Anina
Dir: Alfredo Soderguit
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin International Film Festival, Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar...
Included in the program are all of the 9 shortlisted films, all the other major omissions, and many more obscure titles that showcase some of the most interesting voices in World Cinema today. Most of these films have been awarded prizes and received praise at major festivals from Sundance to Cannes and Toronto, and will give the viewer a broader view of the category beyond the assumed frontrunners.
Below is a list with more information on each of the films that will be screening at Palm Springs with reviews and interviews with the filmmakers for the majority of them. Read more about the complete list of 76 Foreign Language Oscar Submissions visit Here
For more information on the Palm Springs International Film Festival visit Here
Argentina
The German Doctor (Wakolda)
Dir: Lucia Puenzo
Language: Spanish, German, Hebrew
U.S Release: Samuel Goldwyn Films
Isa: Pyramide
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Un Certain Regard
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Case Study by Sydney Levine
Australia
The Rocket
Dir: Kim Mordaunt
Language: Lao
U.S Release: Kino Lorber
Isa: Level K
Festivals: Berlin 2013: Best First Feature Film ,Tribeca 2013: World Narrative Competition
Trailer
Austria
The Wall
Dir: Julian Polsler
Language: German
U.S Release: Music Box Films - May 31, 2013
Isa: The Match Factory
Festivals: Sitges Ff 2012 Official Fantastic, Mumbai Ff 2012 Int'l Competition
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Belgium
The Broken Circle Breakdown
Dir: Felix van Groeningen
Language: Flemish
U.S Release: Tribeca Film - November 1, 2013
Isa: The Match Factory
Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013 - Panorama
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
Bosnia And Herzegovina
An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker
Dir: Danis Tanović
Language: Bosnian, Romani
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: The Match Factory
Festivals: Berlinale Competition,Efm Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema
Trailer
Cambodia
The Missing Picture
Dir: Rithy Panh
Language: French
U.S Release: Acquired by Strand Releasing for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Cannes 2013 - Un Certain Regard Prix, San Sebastian 2013 Pearls
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Canada
Gabrielle
Dir: Louise Archambault
Language: French
U.S Release: eOne
Isa: eOne
Festivals: Toronto- Tiff 2013, Locarno International Film Festival 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
Chile
Gloria
Dir: Sebastian Lelio
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Roadside Attractions
Isa: Funny Balloons
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Toronto - Tiff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Sydney Levine
China
Back to 1942
Dir: Feng Xiaogang
Language: Mandarin, English
U.S Release: Well Go USA - May 14, 2013
Isa: Huayi Brothers
Festivals: Rome Film Festival 2012, Dubai International Film Festival 2012
Trailer
Croatia
Halima's Path
Dir: Arsen Anton Ostojić
Language: Bosnian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Tallinn Black Nights Iff 2012 - EurAsia (Special Jury Prize)
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Denmark
The Hunt
Dir: Thomas Vinterberg
Language: Danish
U.S Release: Magnolia Pictures - July 12, 2013
Isa: TrustNordisk
Festivals: Cannes 2012 Competition, Toronto - Tiff 2012, AFI Fest 2012
Trailer
Egypt
Winter of Discontent
Dir: Ibrahim el-Batout
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Venice International Film Festival, Cairo International Film Festival, Dubai Film Festival
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Finland
Disciple
Dir: Ulrika Bengts
Language: Finnish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Helsinki Ff 2012, Montréal World Ff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
France
Renoir
Dir: Gilles Bourdos
Language: French
U.S Release: Samuel Goldwyn Films - March 29, 2013
Isa: Wild Bunch
Festivals: Cannes 2012 Un Certain Regard
Trailer
Georgia
In Bloom
Dir: Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Groß
Language: Georgian
U.S Release: Big World Pictures
Isa: Memento
Festivals: Cicae award Berlinale Forum 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Germany
Two Lives
Dir: Georg Maas
Language: German
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Beta Cinema
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Toronto-tiff 2013, Busan 2013
Trailer
Hong Kong
The Grandmaster
Dir: Wong Kar-wai
Language: Cantonese, Mandarin
U.S Release: The Weinstein Company - August 23, 2013
Isa: Fortissimo
Festivals: Berlinale -Efm 2013
Trailer
Hungary
The Notebook
Dir: Janosz Szasz
Language: Hungarian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Iceland
Of Horses and Men
Dir: Benedikt Erlingsson
Language: Icelandic
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Icelandic Film Centre
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Sundance 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
India
The Good Road
Dir: Gyan Correa
Language: Gujarati
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: National Film Board of India
Festivals: London Indian Film Festival in 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Iran
The Past
Dir: Asghar Farhadi
Language: French, Persian
U.S Release: Sony Pictures Classics - December 20, 2013
Isa: Memento
Festivals:Cannes 2013 Competition-Won Best Actress, Toronto - Tiff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
Israel
Bethlehem
Dir: Yuval Adler
Language: Hebrew
U.S Release: Adopt
Isa: Westend
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013 Discovery, Telluride Film Festival, Venice International Film Festival
Trailer
Italy
The Great Beauty
Dir: Paolo Sorrentino
Language: Italian
U.S Release: AJanus Films
Isa: Pathe
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition, Berlin Efm 2013,
Trailer
Interview by Sydney Levine
Japan
The Great Passage
Dir: Yuya Ishii
Language: Japanese
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Shochiku
Festivals: Fantasia Ff 2013 Official Selection
Trailer
Kazakhstan
Shal (The Old Man)
Dir: Yermek Tursunov
Language: Russian, Kazakh
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Latvia
Mother, I Love You
Dir: Janis Nords
Language: Latvian
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: New Europe Film Sales
Festivals: Los Angeles Film Festival 2013, Berlinale Generation KPlus (Grand Prix of the International Jury for the best feature film)
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Mexico
Heli
Dir: Amat Escalante
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Ndm
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition-Winner Best Director, San Sebastian 2013 Horizontes Latinos,
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
Morocco
Horses of God
Dir: Nabil Ayouch
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2012, Bif London Film Festival 2012
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
The Netherlands
Borgman
Dir: Alex van Warmerdam
Language: Dutch
U.S Release: Drafthouse Films
Isa: Fortissimo
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition, Busan 2013, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
New Zealand
White Lies
Dir: Dana Rotberg
Language: Maori
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Film Sales Company
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Norway
I Am Yours
Dir: Iram Haq
Language: Norwegian, Urdu
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Palestine
Omar
Dir: Hany Abu-Assad
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Adopt FilmsIsa: The Match Factory
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Un Certain Regard, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
Philippines
Transit
Dir: Hannah Espia
Language: Filipino, Tagalog, Hebrew
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cinemalaya Film Festival 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Poland
Walesa
Dir: Andrzej Wajda
Language: Polish
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Films Boutique
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013, Venice- Biennale 2013
Trailer
Romania
Child's Pose
Dir: Calin Peter Netzer
Language: Romanian
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Beta Cinema
Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013 - Competition (Golden Bear for the Best Film), Toronto - Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema
Trailer
Articles by Sydney Levine, Berlin Diary #2
Russia
Stalingrad
Dir: Fedor Bondarchuk
Language: Russian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Saudi Arabia
Wadjda
Dir: Haifaa al-Mansour
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Sony Pictures Classics - September 13, 2013
Isa: The Match Factory
Festivals: Cannes 2012, Venice International Film Festival 2012, Los Angeles Film Festival, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Serbia
Circles
Dir: Srdan Golubovic
Language: Serbian
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Memento
Festivals: Sundance 2013 World Dramatic, Berlinale - Efm 2013 Forum
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Sydney Levine
Singapore
Ilo Ilo
Dir: Anthony Chen
Language: Mandarin, Hokkien, English, Tagalog
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Memento
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Directors Fortnight, Toronto - Tiff 2013 Discovery
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Slovenia
Class Enemy
Dir: Rok Biček
Language: Slovene
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
South Korea
Juvenile Offender
Dir: Kang Yi-kwan
Language: Korean
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Finecut
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Contemporary World Cinema,
Trailer
Spain
15 Years and One Day
Dir: Gracia Querejeta
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Latido
Festivals: San Sebastian 2013 Made in Spain, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
Switzerland
More Than Honey
Dir: Markus Imhoof
Language: German, Mandarin
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Films Boutique
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Tiff Docs, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Turkey
The Butterfly's Dream
Dir: Yılmaz Erdoğan
Language: Turkish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Istanbul Film Festival, Los Angeles Turkish Film Festival
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
United Kingdom
Metro Manila
Dir: Sean Elllis
Language: Filipino, Tagalog
U.S Release: Paladin/108 Media
Isa:
Festivals: Sundance 2013 World Dramatic, Berlin Efm 2012, Cannes 2012, Afm 2012, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Uruguay
Anina
Dir: Alfredo Soderguit
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin International Film Festival, Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar...
- 1/9/2014
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
★★★★☆Last summer, the 2011 Egyptian revolution was brought to UK screens through Ibrahim El-Batout's sober drama Winter of Discontent (2012). It was a film that suffered from a significant sense of anachronism by the time of its release culminating, as it did, with the inherent hope of the now famous demonstrations in Tahrir Square. An appended statement alluded to the continuing troubles, now placed front and centre in Jehane Noujaim's absorbing documentary The Square (2013). Picking up where El-Batout's film concluded, it chronicles the struggle of the country's revolutionaries since the birth of the Arab Spring.
- 1/9/2014
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
Best Foreign Language Film Oscar 2014 submissions (photo: Ziyi Zhang in ‘The Grandmaster’) (See previous post: Best Foreign Language Film Oscar: ‘The Past,’ ‘Wadjda,’ Andrzej Wajda Among Omissions) In case you missed it, here’s the full list of submissions (in alphabetical order, per country) for the 2014 Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award. The list of contenders was originally announced on October 7, 2013. Of note: Saudi Arabia and Moldova were first-timers; Montenegro was a first-timer as an independent country. Afghanistan, Wajma — An Afghan Love Story, Barmak Akram, director; Albania, Agon, Robert Budina, director; Argentina, The German Doctor, Lucía Puenzo, director; Australia, The Rocket, Kim Mordaunt, director; Austria, The Wall, Julian Pölsler, director; Azerbaijan, Steppe Man, Shamil Aliyev, director; Bangladesh, Television, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, director; Belgium, The Broken Circle Breakdown, Felix van Groeningen, director; Bosnia and Herzegovina, An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker, Danis Tanovic, director; Brazil, Neighboring Sounds, Kleber Mendonça Filho,...
- 12/25/2013
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
And then there were 9... A record 76 countries submitted films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film Oscar category for the upcoming 86th Academy Awards. That list of 76 (revealed in October) has now been trimmed down to 9 features that will advance to the next round of voting. Unfortunately, not a single one of the 5 Diaspora films that were part of the original 76 made the cut, and therefore won't be able to contend for the final list of nominees, which will be announced a month from now. Those 5 films are: - GriGris, Mahamat-Saleh Haroun (Chad) - La Playa DC, Juan Andrés Arango (Colombia) - Winter of Discontent, Ibrahim El Batout...
- 12/20/2013
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Top brass at the 25th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (Psiff) have announced a new programme on Canadian Cinema as well as the traditionally strong roster of foreign-language films eligible for the Fipresci Award in the Awards Buzz section, and Modern Masters.
The festival will screen 45 of the 76 official foreign-language Oscar submissions under the umbrella of Awards Buzz.
“We’ve selected Canadian films for a special focus at this year’s festival for many reasons, not the least of which is the wealth of talent emerging from its relatively small, indigenous film industry, and the depth and richness of story and character portrayal its films exemplify,” said festival director Darryl Macdonald.
“Whether it’s established auteurs like Denis Coté, Denis Villenueve and Atom Egoyan, gifted actor-directors like Don McKellar and Sarah Polley or newly emerging talents like Chloé Robichaud, Craig Goodwill and Sébastien Pilote, Canadian creative ingenuity is on abundant display in its films. All of this...
The festival will screen 45 of the 76 official foreign-language Oscar submissions under the umbrella of Awards Buzz.
“We’ve selected Canadian films for a special focus at this year’s festival for many reasons, not the least of which is the wealth of talent emerging from its relatively small, indigenous film industry, and the depth and richness of story and character portrayal its films exemplify,” said festival director Darryl Macdonald.
“Whether it’s established auteurs like Denis Coté, Denis Villenueve and Atom Egoyan, gifted actor-directors like Don McKellar and Sarah Polley or newly emerging talents like Chloé Robichaud, Craig Goodwill and Sébastien Pilote, Canadian creative ingenuity is on abundant display in its films. All of this...
- 12/12/2013
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Egyptian director Ibrahim el-Batout’s human organ-trafficking thriller The Cat will go into post-production at Paris-based Knightworks in January.
The Cat is the second feature-length production from Amr Waked and Salah Al-Hanafy’s Cairo-based Zad Communication, after el-Batout’s Winter Of Discontent which is Egypt’s Oscar submission this year.
In The Cat, actor-producer Waked stars as a Cairo gangster who goes head to head with a trafficking boss, played by Al-Hanafy, in a bid to close down his organ-harvesting operation.
According to a recent report by the Coalition for Organ Failure Solutions (Cofs), organ trafficking is on the rise in Egypt. The study estimated there are thousands of victims of the crime in the country, many of them street children or illegal immigrants forced to give up their organs by traffickers.
The Cat shot over the summer amid the mass protests leading up to the deposing Islamist President Mohamed Morsi.
Since then, Waked...
The Cat is the second feature-length production from Amr Waked and Salah Al-Hanafy’s Cairo-based Zad Communication, after el-Batout’s Winter Of Discontent which is Egypt’s Oscar submission this year.
In The Cat, actor-producer Waked stars as a Cairo gangster who goes head to head with a trafficking boss, played by Al-Hanafy, in a bid to close down his organ-harvesting operation.
According to a recent report by the Coalition for Organ Failure Solutions (Cofs), organ trafficking is on the rise in Egypt. The study estimated there are thousands of victims of the crime in the country, many of them street children or illegal immigrants forced to give up their organs by traffickers.
The Cat shot over the summer amid the mass protests leading up to the deposing Islamist President Mohamed Morsi.
Since then, Waked...
- 12/12/2013
- ScreenDaily
Egyptian director Ibrahim el-Batout’s human organ-trafficking thriller The Cat will go into post-production at Paris-based Knight Works in January.
The Cat is the second feature-length production from Amr Waked and Salah Al-Hanafy’s Cairo-based Zad Communication, after el-Batout’s Winter Of Discontent which is Egypt’s Oscar submission this year.
In The Cat, actor-producer Waked stars as a Cairo gangster who goes head to head with a trafficking boss, played by Al-Hanafy, in a bid to close down his organ-harvesting operation.
According to a recent report by the Coalition for Organ Failure Solutions (Cofs), organ trafficking is on the rise in Egypt. The study estimated there are thousands of victims of the crime in the country, many of them street children or illegal immigrants forced to give up their organs by traffickers.
The Cat shot over the summer amid the mass protests leading up to the deposing Islamist President Mohamed Morsi.
Since then, Waked...
The Cat is the second feature-length production from Amr Waked and Salah Al-Hanafy’s Cairo-based Zad Communication, after el-Batout’s Winter Of Discontent which is Egypt’s Oscar submission this year.
In The Cat, actor-producer Waked stars as a Cairo gangster who goes head to head with a trafficking boss, played by Al-Hanafy, in a bid to close down his organ-harvesting operation.
According to a recent report by the Coalition for Organ Failure Solutions (Cofs), organ trafficking is on the rise in Egypt. The study estimated there are thousands of victims of the crime in the country, many of them street children or illegal immigrants forced to give up their organs by traffickers.
The Cat shot over the summer amid the mass protests leading up to the deposing Islamist President Mohamed Morsi.
Since then, Waked...
- 12/12/2013
- ScreenDaily
Cairo may be the traditional hub for the cinema industry in Egypt but an independent scene is also growing in the country’s second city of Alexandria.
The founders of this nascent indie scene are at Diff this year with their first feature-length picture The Mice House, which is competing in the Muhr Arab Feature competition.
The film, collectively directed by Nermeen Salem, Mohamed Zedan, Mohamad El-Hadidi, Mayye Zayed, Hend Bakr and Ahmed Magdy Morsy, was co-produced by Alexandria-based production companies Fig Leaf Studios and Rufy’s. It consists of six intertwining stories about Alexandria residents facing up to a personal fear.
Fig Leaf Studios founder Mark Lotfy explains the indie hub is the direct result of a series of workshops held by the Jesuits Cultural Centre from 2005 to 2012.
“The Alex scene has grown-up around the 20 or so filmmakers who attended the workshops… we collaborate on all of our projects,” says Lotfy, who...
The founders of this nascent indie scene are at Diff this year with their first feature-length picture The Mice House, which is competing in the Muhr Arab Feature competition.
The film, collectively directed by Nermeen Salem, Mohamed Zedan, Mohamad El-Hadidi, Mayye Zayed, Hend Bakr and Ahmed Magdy Morsy, was co-produced by Alexandria-based production companies Fig Leaf Studios and Rufy’s. It consists of six intertwining stories about Alexandria residents facing up to a personal fear.
Fig Leaf Studios founder Mark Lotfy explains the indie hub is the direct result of a series of workshops held by the Jesuits Cultural Centre from 2005 to 2012.
“The Alex scene has grown-up around the 20 or so filmmakers who attended the workshops… we collaborate on all of our projects,” says Lotfy, who...
- 12/11/2013
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Egypt’s burgeoning independent film scene will be the subject of a new documentary being produced by Amr Waked and Salah Al-Hanafy’s Cairo-based Zad Communication.
Entitled The Cat’s House, the medium-length work revolves around the shoot of Ibrahim El-Batout’s organ-trafficking thriller The Cat over the summer. Zad’s upcoming slate also includes Ossama Fawzy’s Rosy Black, which is in development, and Atef Hatata’s The Exile.
Talking about The Cat’s House, Al-Hanafy said: “The ongoing struggle between the distributors and independent producers will be the main focus in the documentary.”
A raft of independent film companies – lead by the likes of Zad and Mohamed Hefzy’s Film Clinic – have sprung up in the wake of the revolution in 2011. Although garnering praise on the festival circuit, recent indie productions such as Winter Of Discontent and Coming Forth By Day have had a tough time finding screens at home.
Young filmmaker...
Entitled The Cat’s House, the medium-length work revolves around the shoot of Ibrahim El-Batout’s organ-trafficking thriller The Cat over the summer. Zad’s upcoming slate also includes Ossama Fawzy’s Rosy Black, which is in development, and Atef Hatata’s The Exile.
Talking about The Cat’s House, Al-Hanafy said: “The ongoing struggle between the distributors and independent producers will be the main focus in the documentary.”
A raft of independent film companies – lead by the likes of Zad and Mohamed Hefzy’s Film Clinic – have sprung up in the wake of the revolution in 2011. Although garnering praise on the festival circuit, recent indie productions such as Winter Of Discontent and Coming Forth By Day have had a tough time finding screens at home.
Young filmmaker...
- 12/8/2013
- ScreenDaily
Winter of Discontent, Egypt's Submission for the Academy Award Nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. U.S. : None Yet. International Sales Agent: Double Dutch International
Merely two years after the Arab Spring brought down several North African and Middle Eastern regimes, including that of Hosni Mubarak in Egypt, it is astonishing to see films about these events already being made. After decades of violent oppression their existence is a miraculous triumph and powerful use of its citizens’ newly found freedom of speech. Highlighting the prominent role technology and the media played for both sides, Ibrahim El-Batout’s Winter of Discontent, is a tribute to the brave youth of the country and also serves as an artistic vehicle to expose the atrocities committed by those in power and at least symbolically hold them accountable.
Alternating between 2009 and 2011, the year the defining events took place, the film focuses on two characters who experience a transformation through their personal suffering, but who also get inspired by the courage of their compatriots protesting on the streets. Seemingly comfortable working from his apartment in Cairo, Amr (Amr Waked) is an educated man who doesn’t leave his house much anymore. Despite keeping a low profile and appearing disconnected to what surrounds him, he intuitively knows something big is happening in Egypt. The state-run media outlets won’t talk about it, but the turmoil in the historic Tahrir Square is undeniable. Working as a news anchor for one of those outlets is Farah (Farah Youssef), who is forced to misinform on the regime’s behalf in order to keep her status. However, the façade of normality she is supposed to sustain soon starts to crumble as the moral implications of her actions weight on her.
Unjustifiably imprisoned like thousands of others by Mubarak’s secret police two years before the uproar began, Amr was subjected to their horrific interrogation tactics with no other aim than to break him into submission. After finally being freed by his impunity-protected captors he returns home as a fractured man to find out that his mother has died during his absence, an event that strips him of his will to keep fighting. It is only in January 2011, that he once again is able to believe the country’s circumstances can change. Unable to continue with the despicable cover-ups that prevent people from knowing the truth, Farah quits her job and also joins the ranks of those seeking justice.
Meditative and economical in its depiction of the chaos, Winter of Discontent evokes with great solemnity the uncertainty and fear that defined the last days of the regime. El Batout is not fixated with showcasing explicit violence, but rather seeks to exalt the spirit of his people by showing their relentless devotion to create a better future for their youth. He proves that through unity fear vanishes. Amr is imprisoned once again for uploading a heroic video of Farah denouncing the tyrannical government. This time around however, he is no longer afraid as the fury of millions can no longer be contained. There is a certain melancholic poetry in El Batout’s narrative that assertively addresses the loss of hope and sad acceptance that people underwent, and which is the same emotions that pushes them into action. In her heartbreaking speech, which is the most riveting scene of Youssef's great performance, Farah mourns for her unborn children, regrets being complacent, and accepts that dying for her convictions is more valuable than a life in chains.
It is hard to tell how these events will shape the future of the Egyptian nation, but they surely are an example that when united, people are truly unstoppable. The film includes statistics of the casualties, the crimes, and the aftermath, but despite those alarming numbers it offers hope. Winter of Discontent will not only become the defining film for a generation of Egyptians born in the technology age, but it also symbolizes the rebirth of the country’s cinema now fully free to say, and film, what they feel without fear. Talk about cinema as a tool for change, this film embodies that.
Read more about all the 76 Best Foreign Language Film Submission for the 2014 Academy Awards...
Merely two years after the Arab Spring brought down several North African and Middle Eastern regimes, including that of Hosni Mubarak in Egypt, it is astonishing to see films about these events already being made. After decades of violent oppression their existence is a miraculous triumph and powerful use of its citizens’ newly found freedom of speech. Highlighting the prominent role technology and the media played for both sides, Ibrahim El-Batout’s Winter of Discontent, is a tribute to the brave youth of the country and also serves as an artistic vehicle to expose the atrocities committed by those in power and at least symbolically hold them accountable.
Alternating between 2009 and 2011, the year the defining events took place, the film focuses on two characters who experience a transformation through their personal suffering, but who also get inspired by the courage of their compatriots protesting on the streets. Seemingly comfortable working from his apartment in Cairo, Amr (Amr Waked) is an educated man who doesn’t leave his house much anymore. Despite keeping a low profile and appearing disconnected to what surrounds him, he intuitively knows something big is happening in Egypt. The state-run media outlets won’t talk about it, but the turmoil in the historic Tahrir Square is undeniable. Working as a news anchor for one of those outlets is Farah (Farah Youssef), who is forced to misinform on the regime’s behalf in order to keep her status. However, the façade of normality she is supposed to sustain soon starts to crumble as the moral implications of her actions weight on her.
Unjustifiably imprisoned like thousands of others by Mubarak’s secret police two years before the uproar began, Amr was subjected to their horrific interrogation tactics with no other aim than to break him into submission. After finally being freed by his impunity-protected captors he returns home as a fractured man to find out that his mother has died during his absence, an event that strips him of his will to keep fighting. It is only in January 2011, that he once again is able to believe the country’s circumstances can change. Unable to continue with the despicable cover-ups that prevent people from knowing the truth, Farah quits her job and also joins the ranks of those seeking justice.
Meditative and economical in its depiction of the chaos, Winter of Discontent evokes with great solemnity the uncertainty and fear that defined the last days of the regime. El Batout is not fixated with showcasing explicit violence, but rather seeks to exalt the spirit of his people by showing their relentless devotion to create a better future for their youth. He proves that through unity fear vanishes. Amr is imprisoned once again for uploading a heroic video of Farah denouncing the tyrannical government. This time around however, he is no longer afraid as the fury of millions can no longer be contained. There is a certain melancholic poetry in El Batout’s narrative that assertively addresses the loss of hope and sad acceptance that people underwent, and which is the same emotions that pushes them into action. In her heartbreaking speech, which is the most riveting scene of Youssef's great performance, Farah mourns for her unborn children, regrets being complacent, and accepts that dying for her convictions is more valuable than a life in chains.
It is hard to tell how these events will shape the future of the Egyptian nation, but they surely are an example that when united, people are truly unstoppable. The film includes statistics of the casualties, the crimes, and the aftermath, but despite those alarming numbers it offers hope. Winter of Discontent will not only become the defining film for a generation of Egyptians born in the technology age, but it also symbolizes the rebirth of the country’s cinema now fully free to say, and film, what they feel without fear. Talk about cinema as a tool for change, this film embodies that.
Read more about all the 76 Best Foreign Language Film Submission for the 2014 Academy Awards...
- 11/9/2013
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
The anger and confusion on the peripheries of Egypt's Tahrir Square protests form the background of this nuanced drama
• The London film festival's opening week - in pictures
• More from Lff 2013
Egyptian film-maker Ahmad Abdalla has given us a complex, nuanced, humane drama about the Tahrir Square protests. Having seen this movie so soon after Ibrahim el-Batout's superb but very different film on the same topic, Winter of Discontent, it came home to me that contemporary Egyptian cinema may be giving us more information about the Egyptian uprising than we'll ever get from the TV news.
Rags and Tatters refuses the easy answers – actually, it refuses the difficult answers, or any answers, in favour of a more open and questioning approach, which borders on a distinctive kind of mystery. The movie haunts the peripheries, away from the central action, intuiting the ambient rage and confusion and anxiety swirling around Cairo,...
• The London film festival's opening week - in pictures
• More from Lff 2013
Egyptian film-maker Ahmad Abdalla has given us a complex, nuanced, humane drama about the Tahrir Square protests. Having seen this movie so soon after Ibrahim el-Batout's superb but very different film on the same topic, Winter of Discontent, it came home to me that contemporary Egyptian cinema may be giving us more information about the Egyptian uprising than we'll ever get from the TV news.
Rags and Tatters refuses the easy answers – actually, it refuses the difficult answers, or any answers, in favour of a more open and questioning approach, which borders on a distinctive kind of mystery. The movie haunts the peripheries, away from the central action, intuiting the ambient rage and confusion and anxiety swirling around Cairo,...
- 10/17/2013
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its shortlist for the 2014 Foreign Language Film Oscar — totaling a not-so-short 76 submitted films.
The number, up from 71 films last year, sets a new record for the category and includes frontrunners such as Asghar Farhadi’s The Past from Iran, Thomas Vinterberg’s The Hunt from Denmark, and Wong Kar-Wai’s The Grandmaster from Hong Kong. Abdellatif Kechiche’s festival favorite lesbian drama Blue Is the Warmest Color from France, however, failed to make the cut-off date for eligibility, while India controversially submitted Gyan Correa’s The Good Road over Ritesh Batra’s The Lunchbox.
The number, up from 71 films last year, sets a new record for the category and includes frontrunners such as Asghar Farhadi’s The Past from Iran, Thomas Vinterberg’s The Hunt from Denmark, and Wong Kar-Wai’s The Grandmaster from Hong Kong. Abdellatif Kechiche’s festival favorite lesbian drama Blue Is the Warmest Color from France, however, failed to make the cut-off date for eligibility, while India controversially submitted Gyan Correa’s The Good Road over Ritesh Batra’s The Lunchbox.
- 10/8/2013
- by Shirley Li
- EW - Inside Movies
The Academy officially announced today that a record 76 countries have submitted films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 2014 Oscars. Among those submitting, Moldova and Saudi Arabia are first-time entrants and this is the first time Montenegro has submitted a film as an independent country. Based solely on name recognition alone I'd say Thomas Vinterberg's The Hunt (Denmark) and Asghar Farhadi's The Past (Iran) will be looked at as front-runners. However, I haven't only seen a few of the titles on this list, another of which is Mexico's entry, Heli from Amat Escalante. I have heard good things about Borgman (Netherlands) and it will be interesting to see how Haifaa al-Mansour's Wadjda is treated as it is a story unto itself, not to mention it seems to be receiving high marks from those that have seen it. I'm personally hoping to catch it soon...
- 10/7/2013
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
A record 76 countries have submitted films for consideration in the foreign language film category for the 86th Academy Awards.
Moldova and Saudi Arabia are first-time entrants while Montenegro is submitting for the first time as an independent country.
Earlier this year the Academy changed its rule allowing all voting members to vote on the shortlist.
The nominations will be announced on January 16 2014 and the Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on March 2 2014 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
The 2013 submissions are:
Afghanistan, Wajma: An Afghan Love Story, Barmak Akram
Albania, Agon, Robert Budina
Argentina, Wakolda, Lucía Puenzo
Australia, The Rocket, Kim Mordaunt
Austria, The Wall, Julian Pölsler
Azerbaijan, Steppe Man, Shamil Aliyev
Bangladesh, Television, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki
Belgium, The Broken Circle Breakdown, Felix van Groeningen
Bosnia and Herzegovina, An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker, Danis Tanović
Brazil, Neighbouring Sounds, Kleber Mendonça Filho
Bulgaria, The Colour of the Chameleon, Emil Hristov
Cambodia...
Moldova and Saudi Arabia are first-time entrants while Montenegro is submitting for the first time as an independent country.
Earlier this year the Academy changed its rule allowing all voting members to vote on the shortlist.
The nominations will be announced on January 16 2014 and the Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on March 2 2014 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
The 2013 submissions are:
Afghanistan, Wajma: An Afghan Love Story, Barmak Akram
Albania, Agon, Robert Budina
Argentina, Wakolda, Lucía Puenzo
Australia, The Rocket, Kim Mordaunt
Austria, The Wall, Julian Pölsler
Azerbaijan, Steppe Man, Shamil Aliyev
Bangladesh, Television, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki
Belgium, The Broken Circle Breakdown, Felix van Groeningen
Bosnia and Herzegovina, An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker, Danis Tanović
Brazil, Neighbouring Sounds, Kleber Mendonça Filho
Bulgaria, The Colour of the Chameleon, Emil Hristov
Cambodia...
- 10/7/2013
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has released the list of the 76 countries and their submissions officially competing for the 2014 Foreign Language Film Oscar.
Amongst the high profile entries this year are Australia's "The Rocket," Denmark's "The Hunt," France's "Renoir," Wong Kar-wai's "The Grandmaster," Iran's "The Past," and Saudi Arabia's "Wadjda".
The nominations will be announced on January 16th 2014 ahead of the ceremony on March 2nd. Here is the complete list:
Afghanistan, "Wajma – An Afghan Love Story," Barmak Akram
Albania, "Agon," Robert Budina
Argentina, "The German Doctor," Lucía Puenzo
Australia, "The Rocket," Kim Mordaunt
Austria, "The Wall," Julian Pölsler
Azerbaijan, "Steppe Man," Shamil Aliyev
Bangladesh, "Television," Mostofa Sarwar Farooki
Belgium, "The Broken Circle Breakdown," Felix van Groeningen
Bosnia and Herzegovina, "An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker," Danis Tanovic
Brazil, "Neighboring Sounds," Kleber Mendonça Filho
Bulgaria, "The Color of the Chameleon," Emil Hristov
Cambodia, "The Missing Picture,...
Amongst the high profile entries this year are Australia's "The Rocket," Denmark's "The Hunt," France's "Renoir," Wong Kar-wai's "The Grandmaster," Iran's "The Past," and Saudi Arabia's "Wadjda".
The nominations will be announced on January 16th 2014 ahead of the ceremony on March 2nd. Here is the complete list:
Afghanistan, "Wajma – An Afghan Love Story," Barmak Akram
Albania, "Agon," Robert Budina
Argentina, "The German Doctor," Lucía Puenzo
Australia, "The Rocket," Kim Mordaunt
Austria, "The Wall," Julian Pölsler
Azerbaijan, "Steppe Man," Shamil Aliyev
Bangladesh, "Television," Mostofa Sarwar Farooki
Belgium, "The Broken Circle Breakdown," Felix van Groeningen
Bosnia and Herzegovina, "An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker," Danis Tanovic
Brazil, "Neighboring Sounds," Kleber Mendonça Filho
Bulgaria, "The Color of the Chameleon," Emil Hristov
Cambodia, "The Missing Picture,...
- 10/7/2013
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
A record 76 countries have submitted films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 86th Academy Awards®.
Moldova and Saudi Arabia are first-time entrants; Montenegro is submitting for the first time as an independent country.
The 2013 submissions are:
Afghanistan, “Wajma – An Afghan Love Story,” Barmak Akram, director;
Albania, “Agon,” Robert Budina, director;
Argentina, “The German Doctor,” Lucía Puenzo, director;
Australia, “The Rocket,” Kim Mordaunt, director;
Austria, “The Wall,” Julian Pölsler, director;
Azerbaijan, “Steppe Man,” Shamil Aliyev, director;
Bangladesh, “Television,” Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, director;
Belgium, “The Broken Circle Breakdown,” Felix van Groeningen, director;
Bosnia and Herzegovina, “An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker,” Danis Tanovic, director;
Brazil, “Neighboring Sounds,” Kleber Mendonça Filho, director;
Bulgaria, “The Color of the Chameleon,” Emil Hristov, director;
Cambodia, “The Missing Picture,” Rithy Panh, director;
Canada, “Gabrielle,” Louise Archambault, director;
Chad, “GriGris,” Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, director;
Chile, “Gloria,” Sebastián Lelio, director;
China, “Back to 1942,” Feng Xiaogang,...
Moldova and Saudi Arabia are first-time entrants; Montenegro is submitting for the first time as an independent country.
The 2013 submissions are:
Afghanistan, “Wajma – An Afghan Love Story,” Barmak Akram, director;
Albania, “Agon,” Robert Budina, director;
Argentina, “The German Doctor,” Lucía Puenzo, director;
Australia, “The Rocket,” Kim Mordaunt, director;
Austria, “The Wall,” Julian Pölsler, director;
Azerbaijan, “Steppe Man,” Shamil Aliyev, director;
Bangladesh, “Television,” Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, director;
Belgium, “The Broken Circle Breakdown,” Felix van Groeningen, director;
Bosnia and Herzegovina, “An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker,” Danis Tanovic, director;
Brazil, “Neighboring Sounds,” Kleber Mendonça Filho, director;
Bulgaria, “The Color of the Chameleon,” Emil Hristov, director;
Cambodia, “The Missing Picture,” Rithy Panh, director;
Canada, “Gabrielle,” Louise Archambault, director;
Chad, “GriGris,” Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, director;
Chile, “Gloria,” Sebastián Lelio, director;
China, “Back to 1942,” Feng Xiaogang,...
- 10/7/2013
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
All entries for the Best Foreign-Language Film at the Academy Awards 2014.
Submissions for the Best Foreign-Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards are coming in and will continue until October, when the full list of eligible submissions will be revealed.
Last year, a record 71 countries submitted features and the eventual winner was Austrian entry Amour, directed by Michael Haneke.
An initial nine finalists will be shortlisted, which will be whittled down to five nominees that will be announced on Jan 16, 2014.
Submissions
Afghanistan, Wajma: An Afghan Love Story, Barmak Akram
Albania, Agon, Robert Budina
Argentina, Wakolda, Lucía Puenzo
Australia, The Rocket, Kim Mordaunt
Austria, The Wall, Julian Pölsler
Azerbaijan, Steppe Man, Shamil Aliyev
Bangladesh, Television, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki
Belgium, The Broken Circle Breakdown, Felix van Groeningen
Bosnia and Herzegovina, An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker, Danis Tanović
Brazil, Neighbouring Sounds, Kleber Mendonça Filho
Bulgaria, The Colour of the Chameleon, Emil Hristov
Cambodia...
Submissions for the Best Foreign-Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards are coming in and will continue until October, when the full list of eligible submissions will be revealed.
Last year, a record 71 countries submitted features and the eventual winner was Austrian entry Amour, directed by Michael Haneke.
An initial nine finalists will be shortlisted, which will be whittled down to five nominees that will be announced on Jan 16, 2014.
Submissions
Afghanistan, Wajma: An Afghan Love Story, Barmak Akram
Albania, Agon, Robert Budina
Argentina, Wakolda, Lucía Puenzo
Australia, The Rocket, Kim Mordaunt
Austria, The Wall, Julian Pölsler
Azerbaijan, Steppe Man, Shamil Aliyev
Bangladesh, Television, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki
Belgium, The Broken Circle Breakdown, Felix van Groeningen
Bosnia and Herzegovina, An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker, Danis Tanović
Brazil, Neighbouring Sounds, Kleber Mendonça Filho
Bulgaria, The Colour of the Chameleon, Emil Hristov
Cambodia...
- 10/7/2013
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Each month will focus on a different theme, genre or region.
The BFI Southbank is launching a year-long monthly programme dedicated to Arab cinema from the region and its diaspora.
Discover Arab Cinema kicks off in November and will show contemporary and classic Arab films, including shorts and features.
Each month’s programme will be organised by a different theme, genre or region, with the first three months (November 2013 – January 2014) dedicated to Egyptian cinema, the Family in Middle Eastern societies and Algerian cinema.
Mona Deeley programmes in association with the Zenith Foundation.
Films to be shown include Tawfik Abu Wael’s Thirst; Yahia Al Abdallah’s The Last Friday; Mohamad Lakhdar Hamina’s Chronicle of the Years of Fire; Mohamed Hamidi’s Homeland; Ibrahim El Batout’s Eye of the Sun; and Ahmad Abdallah’s Microphone.
The BFI Southbank is launching a year-long monthly programme dedicated to Arab cinema from the region and its diaspora.
Discover Arab Cinema kicks off in November and will show contemporary and classic Arab films, including shorts and features.
Each month’s programme will be organised by a different theme, genre or region, with the first three months (November 2013 – January 2014) dedicated to Egyptian cinema, the Family in Middle Eastern societies and Algerian cinema.
Mona Deeley programmes in association with the Zenith Foundation.
Films to be shown include Tawfik Abu Wael’s Thirst; Yahia Al Abdallah’s The Last Friday; Mohamad Lakhdar Hamina’s Chronicle of the Years of Fire; Mohamed Hamidi’s Homeland; Ibrahim El Batout’s Eye of the Sun; and Ahmad Abdallah’s Microphone.
- 10/4/2013
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
In line with SydneysBuzz’s focus on the international film business we have put together the most complete list on the 67 national submissions to compete for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. This list showcases films that have been the centerpieces of the most renowned festivals and that represent the best in the cinematic landscape from across the globe. Last year, at this point in the race the clear favorite was Palm d'Or winner Amour, which went on to win the award with no significant competition and scoring 4 other nominations including Best Picture, an outstanding feat for a foreign film about love at the end of life, by Michael Haneke.
This time around the story could have repeated almost identically with the most recent winner of Cannes’ biggest prize Blue is the Warmest Color. However, the film became one more victim of the Academy's rules, which rendered it unqualified to compete because of the late release date in France. With Blue out of the race the award is fair game for virtually anyone on the list, although there are certainly some favorites.
Saudi Arabia's first ever submission, the charming Wadjda might turn into beginners luck and score the Kingdom, in which movie theaters are banned, a nomination or even a win. Iran's audacious decision to submit the French-language The Past caused uproar among conservatives, but might certainly score the nation another nomination after their win in 2012 with the masterful A Separation. Other strong contenders are Denmark's The Hunt starring Mads Mikkelsen, and which would continue the countries streak of 3 consecutive nominations winning in 2011 with In A Better World, as well as Canada's Gabrielle about the romantic relationship of a handicapped couple, and Hong Kong’s The Grandmaster by famous director Wong Kar-wai.
Italy’s The Great Beauty, Australia’s The Rocket, Romania’s Child’s Pose, and Chile’s Gloria are among other titles that might score a nomination given their success and prominence during their festivals rounds. Some countries decided to take a chance and send audacious choices as their representation to the Academy, so is the case Mexico, a country that chose the more violent and artistically daring Cannes winner Heli, over the hit comedy Instructions Not Included, or Greece’s Boy Eating The Bird’s Food, which includes grotesque imagery that might not sit well with academy members.
The African continent is minimally represented with only 3 entries, South Africa’s Four Corners, and the Arabic-language works God’s Horses from Morocco, and Winter of Discontent from Egypt. Algeria, which has submitted regularly and even scored several nominations, is absent in this occasion. Another big omission is China who did not submit an entry but whose language is represented by Taiwan and the above-mentioned Hong Kong; equally strange is France’s decision to enter Renoir over tons of other films that could have substituted Abdellatif Kechiche.
Less surprising is Russia’s decision to submit a blockbuster-style production with a very nationalistic message in lieu of a more intimate film. On the other hand, Cambodia, Lithuania, and Switzerland decided to go with a documentary, a choice that has never been very fruitful in this category. Lastly, Israel and Palestine both entered strong candidate with Bethlehem and Omar respectively, adding with that to the great year the region has seen in the cinematic realm.
The rest of the films are a mixture of obscure titles with not much exposure outside their homelands, and a others with great premise but equally unknown quality. Thankfully for SydneysBuzz readers, the list below compiles all 67 Foreign Submissions and includes links to more information and a link to the trailer of every single one of them. For the most part the clips are subtitled; the ones that are not will at least give the reader a sense of what the film is about. As the Awards Season develops, we will have updates on predicted nominees and other developments in the race for the Best Foreign Language Film.
Argentina
The German Doctor (Wakolda)
Dir: Lucia Puenzo
Language: Spanish, German, Hebrew
U.S Release: Acquired by Samuel Goldwyn Films
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Un Certain Regard
Trailer
Australia
The Rocket
Dir: Kim Mordaunt
Language: Lao
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin 2013: Best First Feature Film ,Tribeca 2013: World Narrative Competition
Trailer
Austria
The Wall
Dir: Julian Polsler
Language: German
U.S Release: Released by Music Box Films on May 31st, 2013
Festivals: Sitges Ff 2012 Oficial Fantastic, Mumbai Ff 2012 Int'l Competition
Trailer
Bangladesh
Television
Dir: Mostofa Sarwar Farooki
Language: Bengali
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Dubai Diff 2012 (Muhr AsiaAfrica Feature Special Mention)
Trailer
Belgium
The Broken Circle Breakdown
Dir: Felix van Groeningen
Language: Flemish
U.S Release: Tribeca Film Will Release the Film on November 1st, 2013
Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013 - Panorama
Trailer
Bosnia And Herzegovina
An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker
Dir: Danis Tanović
Language: Bosnian, Romani
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013 Competition, Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema
Trailer
Brazil
Neighboring Sounds
Dir: Kleber Mendonça Filho
Language: Portuguese, Mandarin
U.S Release: Released by Cinema Guild, Now Available on Netflix streaming
Festivals:Mar Del Plata Ff 2012 Competencia Int'l, Bafici (Buenos Aires) 2013 Panorama
Trailer
Bulgaria
The Color of the Chameleon
Dir: Emil Hristov
Language: Bulgarian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Discovery, Thessaloniki Iff 2012 Int'l Competition
Trailer
Cambodia
The Missing Picture
Dir: Rithy Panh
Language: French
U.S Release: Acquired by Strand Releasing for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Cannes 2013 - Un Certain Regard Prix, San Sebastian 2013 Pearls
Trailer
Canada
Gabrielle
Dir: Louise Archambault
Language: French
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013, Toronto- Tiff 2013, Locarno International Film Festival 2013
Trailer
Chile
Gloria
Dir: Sebastian Lelio
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Acquired by Roadside Attractions for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Cannes 2013, Toronto - Tiff 2013
Trailer
Colombia
La Playa DC
Dir: Juan Andrés Arango
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Released by Artmattan Productions on July 19th, 2013
Festivals:Official Selection Cannes 2012 Un Certain Regard, Chicago Iff 2012 New Directors Competition
Trailer
Croatia
Halima's Path
Dir: Arsen Anton Ostojić
Language: Bosnian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Tallinn Black Nights Iff 2012 - EurAsia (Special Jury Prize)
Trailer
Czech Republic
Burning Bush
Dir: Agnieszka Holland
Language: Czech
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013
Trailer
Denmark
The Hunt
Dir: Thomas Vinterberg
Language: Danish
U.S Release: Released by Magnolia Pictures on July 12th
Festivals: Cannes 2012 Competition, Toronto - Tiff 2012, AFI Fest
Trailer
Dominican Republic
Who's the Boss?
Dir: Ronni Castillo
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Egypt
Winter of Discontent
Dir: Ibrahim el-Batout
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013
Trailer
Estonia
Free Range
Dir: Veiko Õunpuu
Language: Estonian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2012
Trailer
Finland
The Disciple
Dir: Ulrika Bengts
Language: Finnish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals:Helsinki International Film Festival, Montréal World Film Festival
Trailer
France
Renoir
Dir: Gilles Bourdos
Language: French
U.S Release: Released by Samuel Goldwyn Films on March 29th, 2013
Festivals: Cannes 2012 Un Certain Regard
Trailer
Georgia
In Bloom
Dir: Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Groß
Language: Georgian
U.S Release: Acquired by Big World Pictures for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Cannes 2013, Cicae award Berlinale Forum 2013
Trailer
Germany
Two Lives
Dir: Georg Maas
Language: German
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Cannes 2013, Toronto-tiff 2013, Busan 2013
Trailer
Greece
Boy Eating The Bird's Food
Dir: Ektoras Lygizos
Language: Greek
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Discovery
Trailer
Hong Kong
The Grandmaster
Dir: Wong Kar-wai
Language: Cantonese, Mandarin
U.S Release: Released by The Weinstein Company on August 23rd, 2013
Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013, Cannes 2013
Trailer
Hungary
The Notebook
Dir: Janosz Szasz
Language: Hungarian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema
Trailer
Iceland
Of Horses and Men
Dir: Benedikt Erlingsson
Language: Icelandic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Sundance 2013
Trailer
India
The Good Road
Dir: Gyan Correa
Language: Gujarati
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: London Indian Film Festival in 2013
Trailer
Iran
The Past
Dir: Asghar Farhadi
Language: French, Persian
U.S Release: Sony Pictures Classics will release the film on December 20th, 2013
Festivals:Cannes 2013 Competition-Won Best Actress, Toronto - Tiff 2013
Trailer
Israel
Bethlehem
Dir: Yuval Adler
Language: Hebrew
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013 Discovery, Cannes 2013 , Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Italy
The Great Beauty
Dir: Paolo Sorrentino
Language: Italian
U.S Release: Acquired by Janus Films for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition, Berlin Efm 2013,
Trailer
Japan
The Great Passage
Dir: Yuya Ishii
Language: Japanese
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Fantasia Ff 2013 Official Selection, Cannes 2013
Trailer
Kazakhstan
The Old Man
Dir: Ermek Tursunov
Language: Russian, Kazakh
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Latvia
Mother, I Love You
Dir: Janis Nords
Language: Latvian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013, Los Angeles Film Festival 2013
Trailer
Lebanon
Ghadi
Dir: Amin Dora
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Lithuania
Conversations on Serious Topics
Dir: Giedrė Beinoriūtė
Language: Lithuanian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Luxembourg
Blind Spot
Dir: Christophe Wagner
Language: Luxembourgish, French
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2012
Trailer
Mexico
Heli
Dir: Amat Escalante
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition-Won Best Director, San Sebastian 2013 Horizontes Latinos,
Trailer
Montenegro
Bad Destiny
Dir: Draško Đurović
Language: Serbo-Croatian
U.S Release: Acquired by Princ Films for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Toronto- Tiff 2013, Busan 2013
Trailer
Morocco
God's Horses
Dir: Nabil Ayouch
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2012, Bif London Film Festival 2012
Trailer
Nepal
Soongava: Dance of the Orchids
Dir: Subarna Thapa
Language: Nepalese
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2012, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
The Netherlands
Borgman
Dir: Alex van Warmerdam
Language: Dutch
U.S Release: Acquired by Drafthouse Films for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition, Busan 2013, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
New Zealand
White Lies
Dir: Dana Rotberg
Language: Maori
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Norway
I Am Yours
Dir: Iram Haq
Language: Norwegian, Urdu
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Pakistan
Zinda Bhaag
Dir: Meenu Gaur and Farjad Nabi
Language: Udu, Punjabi
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Palestine
Omar
Dir: Hany Abu-Assad
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Un Certain Regard, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Peru
The Cleaner
Dir: Adrian Saba
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Palm Springs Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival
Trailer
Philippines
Transit
Dir: Hannah Espia
Language: Filipino, Tagalog, Hebrew
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cinemalaya Film Festival 2013
Trailer
Poland
Walesa
Dir: Andrzej Wajda
Language: Polish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013, Venice- Biennale 2013
Trailer
Portugal
Lines of Wellington
Dir: Valeria Sarmiento
Language: Portuguese, English, French
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Venice - Biennale 2012 Competition, Toronto - Tiff 2012
Trailer
Romania
Child's Pose
Dir: Calin Peter Netzer
Language: Romanian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013 - Competition (Golden Bear for the Best Film), Toronto - Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema
Trailer
Russia
Stalingrad
Dir: Fedor Bondarchuk
Language: Russian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Saudi Arabia
Wadjda
Dir: Haifaa al-Mansour
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Released by Sony Pictures Classics on September 13th, 2013
Festivals: Cannes 2012, Venice International Film Festival 2012, Los Angeles Film Festival, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Serbia
Circles
Dir: Srdan Golubovic
Language: Serbian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Sundance 2013 World Dramatic, Berlinale - Efm 2013 Forum, Cannes 2013
Trailer
Singapore
Ilo Ilo
Dir: Anthony Chen
Language: Mandarin, Hokkien, English, Tagalog
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Directors Fortnight, Toronto - Tiff 2013 Discovery
Trailer
Slovakia
My Dog Killer
Dir: Mira Fornay
Language: Slovak
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Cannes 2013, Busan 2013
Trailer
Slovenia
Class Enemy
Dir: Rok Biček
Language: Slovene
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Spain
15 Years and One Day
Dir: Gracia Querejeta
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: San Sebastian 2013 Made in Spain, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
South Africa
Four Corners
Dir: Ian Gabriel
Language: Afrikaans, Tsotsitaal
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals:N/A
Trailer
South Korea
Juvenile Offender
Dir: Kang Yi-kwan
Language: Korean
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Contemporary World Cinema,
Trailer
Sweden
Eat Sleep Die
Dir: Gabriela Pichler
Language: Swedish, Croatian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Venice International Film Festival 2012, Toronto - Tiff 2012
Trailer
Switzerland
More Than Honey
Dir: Markus Imhoof
Language: German, Mandarin
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Tiff Docs, Cannes 2013, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Taiwan
Soul
Dir: Mong-Hong Chung
Language: Mandarin
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013, Toronto - Tiff 2013 Vanguard
Trailer
Thailand
Countdown
Dir: Nattawut Poonpiriya
Language: Thai
U.S Release: Acquired by Birch Tree Entertainment for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Cannes 2013, Far East Film Festival 2013
Trailer
Turkey
The Butterfly's Dream
Dir: Yılmaz Erdoğan
Language: Turkish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Istanbul Film Festival, Los Angeles Turkish Film Festival
Trailer
Ukraine
Paradjanov
Dir: Serge Avedikian and Olena Fetisova
Language: Russian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto 2013
Trailer
United Kingdom
Metro Manila
Dir: Sean Elllis
Language: Filipino, Tagalog
U.S Release: Acquired by Paladin/108 Media for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Sundance 2013 World Dramatic, Berlin Efm 2012, Cannes 2012, Afm 2012, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Venezuela
Breach in the Silence
Dir: Luis and Andrés Rodríguez
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Ventana Sur 2012, Festival de Mar del Plata "Panorama Latinomaericano"
Trailer...
This time around the story could have repeated almost identically with the most recent winner of Cannes’ biggest prize Blue is the Warmest Color. However, the film became one more victim of the Academy's rules, which rendered it unqualified to compete because of the late release date in France. With Blue out of the race the award is fair game for virtually anyone on the list, although there are certainly some favorites.
Saudi Arabia's first ever submission, the charming Wadjda might turn into beginners luck and score the Kingdom, in which movie theaters are banned, a nomination or even a win. Iran's audacious decision to submit the French-language The Past caused uproar among conservatives, but might certainly score the nation another nomination after their win in 2012 with the masterful A Separation. Other strong contenders are Denmark's The Hunt starring Mads Mikkelsen, and which would continue the countries streak of 3 consecutive nominations winning in 2011 with In A Better World, as well as Canada's Gabrielle about the romantic relationship of a handicapped couple, and Hong Kong’s The Grandmaster by famous director Wong Kar-wai.
Italy’s The Great Beauty, Australia’s The Rocket, Romania’s Child’s Pose, and Chile’s Gloria are among other titles that might score a nomination given their success and prominence during their festivals rounds. Some countries decided to take a chance and send audacious choices as their representation to the Academy, so is the case Mexico, a country that chose the more violent and artistically daring Cannes winner Heli, over the hit comedy Instructions Not Included, or Greece’s Boy Eating The Bird’s Food, which includes grotesque imagery that might not sit well with academy members.
The African continent is minimally represented with only 3 entries, South Africa’s Four Corners, and the Arabic-language works God’s Horses from Morocco, and Winter of Discontent from Egypt. Algeria, which has submitted regularly and even scored several nominations, is absent in this occasion. Another big omission is China who did not submit an entry but whose language is represented by Taiwan and the above-mentioned Hong Kong; equally strange is France’s decision to enter Renoir over tons of other films that could have substituted Abdellatif Kechiche.
Less surprising is Russia’s decision to submit a blockbuster-style production with a very nationalistic message in lieu of a more intimate film. On the other hand, Cambodia, Lithuania, and Switzerland decided to go with a documentary, a choice that has never been very fruitful in this category. Lastly, Israel and Palestine both entered strong candidate with Bethlehem and Omar respectively, adding with that to the great year the region has seen in the cinematic realm.
The rest of the films are a mixture of obscure titles with not much exposure outside their homelands, and a others with great premise but equally unknown quality. Thankfully for SydneysBuzz readers, the list below compiles all 67 Foreign Submissions and includes links to more information and a link to the trailer of every single one of them. For the most part the clips are subtitled; the ones that are not will at least give the reader a sense of what the film is about. As the Awards Season develops, we will have updates on predicted nominees and other developments in the race for the Best Foreign Language Film.
Argentina
The German Doctor (Wakolda)
Dir: Lucia Puenzo
Language: Spanish, German, Hebrew
U.S Release: Acquired by Samuel Goldwyn Films
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Un Certain Regard
Trailer
Australia
The Rocket
Dir: Kim Mordaunt
Language: Lao
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin 2013: Best First Feature Film ,Tribeca 2013: World Narrative Competition
Trailer
Austria
The Wall
Dir: Julian Polsler
Language: German
U.S Release: Released by Music Box Films on May 31st, 2013
Festivals: Sitges Ff 2012 Oficial Fantastic, Mumbai Ff 2012 Int'l Competition
Trailer
Bangladesh
Television
Dir: Mostofa Sarwar Farooki
Language: Bengali
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Dubai Diff 2012 (Muhr AsiaAfrica Feature Special Mention)
Trailer
Belgium
The Broken Circle Breakdown
Dir: Felix van Groeningen
Language: Flemish
U.S Release: Tribeca Film Will Release the Film on November 1st, 2013
Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013 - Panorama
Trailer
Bosnia And Herzegovina
An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker
Dir: Danis Tanović
Language: Bosnian, Romani
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013 Competition, Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema
Trailer
Brazil
Neighboring Sounds
Dir: Kleber Mendonça Filho
Language: Portuguese, Mandarin
U.S Release: Released by Cinema Guild, Now Available on Netflix streaming
Festivals:Mar Del Plata Ff 2012 Competencia Int'l, Bafici (Buenos Aires) 2013 Panorama
Trailer
Bulgaria
The Color of the Chameleon
Dir: Emil Hristov
Language: Bulgarian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Discovery, Thessaloniki Iff 2012 Int'l Competition
Trailer
Cambodia
The Missing Picture
Dir: Rithy Panh
Language: French
U.S Release: Acquired by Strand Releasing for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Cannes 2013 - Un Certain Regard Prix, San Sebastian 2013 Pearls
Trailer
Canada
Gabrielle
Dir: Louise Archambault
Language: French
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013, Toronto- Tiff 2013, Locarno International Film Festival 2013
Trailer
Chile
Gloria
Dir: Sebastian Lelio
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Acquired by Roadside Attractions for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Cannes 2013, Toronto - Tiff 2013
Trailer
Colombia
La Playa DC
Dir: Juan Andrés Arango
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Released by Artmattan Productions on July 19th, 2013
Festivals:Official Selection Cannes 2012 Un Certain Regard, Chicago Iff 2012 New Directors Competition
Trailer
Croatia
Halima's Path
Dir: Arsen Anton Ostojić
Language: Bosnian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Tallinn Black Nights Iff 2012 - EurAsia (Special Jury Prize)
Trailer
Czech Republic
Burning Bush
Dir: Agnieszka Holland
Language: Czech
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013
Trailer
Denmark
The Hunt
Dir: Thomas Vinterberg
Language: Danish
U.S Release: Released by Magnolia Pictures on July 12th
Festivals: Cannes 2012 Competition, Toronto - Tiff 2012, AFI Fest
Trailer
Dominican Republic
Who's the Boss?
Dir: Ronni Castillo
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Egypt
Winter of Discontent
Dir: Ibrahim el-Batout
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013
Trailer
Estonia
Free Range
Dir: Veiko Õunpuu
Language: Estonian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2012
Trailer
Finland
The Disciple
Dir: Ulrika Bengts
Language: Finnish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals:Helsinki International Film Festival, Montréal World Film Festival
Trailer
France
Renoir
Dir: Gilles Bourdos
Language: French
U.S Release: Released by Samuel Goldwyn Films on March 29th, 2013
Festivals: Cannes 2012 Un Certain Regard
Trailer
Georgia
In Bloom
Dir: Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Groß
Language: Georgian
U.S Release: Acquired by Big World Pictures for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Cannes 2013, Cicae award Berlinale Forum 2013
Trailer
Germany
Two Lives
Dir: Georg Maas
Language: German
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Cannes 2013, Toronto-tiff 2013, Busan 2013
Trailer
Greece
Boy Eating The Bird's Food
Dir: Ektoras Lygizos
Language: Greek
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Discovery
Trailer
Hong Kong
The Grandmaster
Dir: Wong Kar-wai
Language: Cantonese, Mandarin
U.S Release: Released by The Weinstein Company on August 23rd, 2013
Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013, Cannes 2013
Trailer
Hungary
The Notebook
Dir: Janosz Szasz
Language: Hungarian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema
Trailer
Iceland
Of Horses and Men
Dir: Benedikt Erlingsson
Language: Icelandic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Sundance 2013
Trailer
India
The Good Road
Dir: Gyan Correa
Language: Gujarati
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: London Indian Film Festival in 2013
Trailer
Iran
The Past
Dir: Asghar Farhadi
Language: French, Persian
U.S Release: Sony Pictures Classics will release the film on December 20th, 2013
Festivals:Cannes 2013 Competition-Won Best Actress, Toronto - Tiff 2013
Trailer
Israel
Bethlehem
Dir: Yuval Adler
Language: Hebrew
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013 Discovery, Cannes 2013 , Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Italy
The Great Beauty
Dir: Paolo Sorrentino
Language: Italian
U.S Release: Acquired by Janus Films for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition, Berlin Efm 2013,
Trailer
Japan
The Great Passage
Dir: Yuya Ishii
Language: Japanese
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Fantasia Ff 2013 Official Selection, Cannes 2013
Trailer
Kazakhstan
The Old Man
Dir: Ermek Tursunov
Language: Russian, Kazakh
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Latvia
Mother, I Love You
Dir: Janis Nords
Language: Latvian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013, Los Angeles Film Festival 2013
Trailer
Lebanon
Ghadi
Dir: Amin Dora
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Lithuania
Conversations on Serious Topics
Dir: Giedrė Beinoriūtė
Language: Lithuanian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Luxembourg
Blind Spot
Dir: Christophe Wagner
Language: Luxembourgish, French
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2012
Trailer
Mexico
Heli
Dir: Amat Escalante
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition-Won Best Director, San Sebastian 2013 Horizontes Latinos,
Trailer
Montenegro
Bad Destiny
Dir: Draško Đurović
Language: Serbo-Croatian
U.S Release: Acquired by Princ Films for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Toronto- Tiff 2013, Busan 2013
Trailer
Morocco
God's Horses
Dir: Nabil Ayouch
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2012, Bif London Film Festival 2012
Trailer
Nepal
Soongava: Dance of the Orchids
Dir: Subarna Thapa
Language: Nepalese
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2012, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
The Netherlands
Borgman
Dir: Alex van Warmerdam
Language: Dutch
U.S Release: Acquired by Drafthouse Films for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition, Busan 2013, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
New Zealand
White Lies
Dir: Dana Rotberg
Language: Maori
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Norway
I Am Yours
Dir: Iram Haq
Language: Norwegian, Urdu
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Pakistan
Zinda Bhaag
Dir: Meenu Gaur and Farjad Nabi
Language: Udu, Punjabi
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Palestine
Omar
Dir: Hany Abu-Assad
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Un Certain Regard, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Peru
The Cleaner
Dir: Adrian Saba
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Palm Springs Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival
Trailer
Philippines
Transit
Dir: Hannah Espia
Language: Filipino, Tagalog, Hebrew
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cinemalaya Film Festival 2013
Trailer
Poland
Walesa
Dir: Andrzej Wajda
Language: Polish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013, Venice- Biennale 2013
Trailer
Portugal
Lines of Wellington
Dir: Valeria Sarmiento
Language: Portuguese, English, French
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Venice - Biennale 2012 Competition, Toronto - Tiff 2012
Trailer
Romania
Child's Pose
Dir: Calin Peter Netzer
Language: Romanian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013 - Competition (Golden Bear for the Best Film), Toronto - Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema
Trailer
Russia
Stalingrad
Dir: Fedor Bondarchuk
Language: Russian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Saudi Arabia
Wadjda
Dir: Haifaa al-Mansour
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Released by Sony Pictures Classics on September 13th, 2013
Festivals: Cannes 2012, Venice International Film Festival 2012, Los Angeles Film Festival, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Serbia
Circles
Dir: Srdan Golubovic
Language: Serbian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Sundance 2013 World Dramatic, Berlinale - Efm 2013 Forum, Cannes 2013
Trailer
Singapore
Ilo Ilo
Dir: Anthony Chen
Language: Mandarin, Hokkien, English, Tagalog
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Directors Fortnight, Toronto - Tiff 2013 Discovery
Trailer
Slovakia
My Dog Killer
Dir: Mira Fornay
Language: Slovak
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Cannes 2013, Busan 2013
Trailer
Slovenia
Class Enemy
Dir: Rok Biček
Language: Slovene
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Spain
15 Years and One Day
Dir: Gracia Querejeta
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: San Sebastian 2013 Made in Spain, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
South Africa
Four Corners
Dir: Ian Gabriel
Language: Afrikaans, Tsotsitaal
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals:N/A
Trailer
South Korea
Juvenile Offender
Dir: Kang Yi-kwan
Language: Korean
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Contemporary World Cinema,
Trailer
Sweden
Eat Sleep Die
Dir: Gabriela Pichler
Language: Swedish, Croatian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Venice International Film Festival 2012, Toronto - Tiff 2012
Trailer
Switzerland
More Than Honey
Dir: Markus Imhoof
Language: German, Mandarin
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Tiff Docs, Cannes 2013, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Taiwan
Soul
Dir: Mong-Hong Chung
Language: Mandarin
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013, Toronto - Tiff 2013 Vanguard
Trailer
Thailand
Countdown
Dir: Nattawut Poonpiriya
Language: Thai
U.S Release: Acquired by Birch Tree Entertainment for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Cannes 2013, Far East Film Festival 2013
Trailer
Turkey
The Butterfly's Dream
Dir: Yılmaz Erdoğan
Language: Turkish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Istanbul Film Festival, Los Angeles Turkish Film Festival
Trailer
Ukraine
Paradjanov
Dir: Serge Avedikian and Olena Fetisova
Language: Russian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto 2013
Trailer
United Kingdom
Metro Manila
Dir: Sean Elllis
Language: Filipino, Tagalog
U.S Release: Acquired by Paladin/108 Media for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Sundance 2013 World Dramatic, Berlin Efm 2012, Cannes 2012, Afm 2012, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Venezuela
Breach in the Silence
Dir: Luis and Andrés Rodríguez
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Ventana Sur 2012, Festival de Mar del Plata "Panorama Latinomaericano"
Trailer...
- 10/3/2013
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
There was some doubt as to whether or not Iran would submit writer/director Asghar Farhadi's The Past starring Berenice Bejo, Tahar Rahim, Ali Mosaffa and a breakout performance from Pauline Burlet as their official entry into the 2014 Oscar's Foreign Language Feature Film seeing how it was produced, shot and financed in France. As was noted by France 24 (via Deadline), the Fars News Agency (which is considered close to Iranian conservatives) has criticized the decision saying, "Contrary to A Separation, there is nothing Iranian in this film apart from a character who could have come from any other country... It would have been preferable to select a purely Iranian film." I can understand where they are coming from, but I must say I'm happy to see the film among the films considered after France decided to go with Renoir over The Past. I caught the film in Cannes earlier...
- 9/30/2013
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Egypt has submitted Ibrahim El Batout’s lauded drama Winter of Discontent, as its official entry for Best Foreign Language Film Oscar consideration at the upcoming 86th Academy Awards. It was one of the biggest news events of the last decade, so it was only a matter of time before films centered on the Arab Spring flooded the marketplace. We've covered quite a few, both fiction and non-fiction, and I'm sure there are more to come. Here's one of the higher-profile films that you should look out for; and maybe an Oscar nomination (assuming it's shortlisted) will raise its profile considerably. Winter of Discontent is set and filmed against the backdrop of the...
- 9/30/2013
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Winter Of Discontent to represent Egypt as foreign language Oscar submission.
Ibrahim El Batout directed the drama about the Arab Spring that premiered in the Venice Orrizonti strand in 2012.
Double Dutch International handles international sales on Winter Of Discontent and recently screened the film in Toronto.
Amr Waked stars as a political activist in the Arab Spring-themed drama and earned a best actor prize at the Dubai Film Festival for his lead role and produced through his Cairo-based production company Zad.
Waked served on this year’s Orrizonti jury last month when he told Screedaily he had received death threats following his criticism of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Ibrahim El Batout directed the drama about the Arab Spring that premiered in the Venice Orrizonti strand in 2012.
Double Dutch International handles international sales on Winter Of Discontent and recently screened the film in Toronto.
Amr Waked stars as a political activist in the Arab Spring-themed drama and earned a best actor prize at the Dubai Film Festival for his lead role and produced through his Cairo-based production company Zad.
Waked served on this year’s Orrizonti jury last month when he told Screedaily he had received death threats following his criticism of the Muslim Brotherhood.
- 9/29/2013
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Egyptian actor-producer Amr Waked - serving this week on the Venice Film Festival’s Orrizonti Jury - has revealed that he received death threats because of his outspoken criticism of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Waked, the producer and star of Arab Spring-themed drama Winter Of Discontent, told ScreenDaily in Venice: “I am just openly critical of the Muslim Brothers’ actions, especially recently in the past year.
“They have not been in line with any of our expectations or any of the demands of the revolution…I believe that (deposed President) Morsi came to dismantle democracy and that people democratically removed him.”
Such opinions have infuriated Morsi’s followers, who Waked said had issued threats to him on Facebook, Twitter and by SMS.
These messages have said: “If I see you, I will kill you” and “I will blow myself (up) in your face.”
In spite of these threats, Waked said he was continuing to work as normal.
In Venice...
Waked, the producer and star of Arab Spring-themed drama Winter Of Discontent, told ScreenDaily in Venice: “I am just openly critical of the Muslim Brothers’ actions, especially recently in the past year.
“They have not been in line with any of our expectations or any of the demands of the revolution…I believe that (deposed President) Morsi came to dismantle democracy and that people democratically removed him.”
Such opinions have infuriated Morsi’s followers, who Waked said had issued threats to him on Facebook, Twitter and by SMS.
These messages have said: “If I see you, I will kill you” and “I will blow myself (up) in your face.”
In spite of these threats, Waked said he was continuing to work as normal.
In Venice...
- 9/5/2013
- by geoffrey@macnab.demon.co.uk (Geoffrey Macnab)
- ScreenDaily
As the Venice Film Market seeks to establish itself as a key autumn networking event for European professionals, market head Pascal Diot has revealed plans for a coproduction market at next year’s event.
Diot has also unveiled details of a raft of new initiatives aimed at strengthening this year’s Venice Film Market, now in its second year, which has 1,600 accredited professionals attending.
There are now dedicated market screenings, which include market premieres of titles not in official selection at the Venice Film Festival. Titles screening include Alexandros Avranas’ competition entry Miss Violence, sold by Elle Driver, and Eastern Boys, sold by Films Distribution.
Diot has also launched “Final Cut In Venice”, a new venture through which works in progress of new films in post-production are shown. There will also be Q&A’s with the directors of the films. Titles include Ibrahim El-Batout’s The Cat and Kaouther Ben Hania’s Challatt Of Tunis. Backers...
Diot has also unveiled details of a raft of new initiatives aimed at strengthening this year’s Venice Film Market, now in its second year, which has 1,600 accredited professionals attending.
There are now dedicated market screenings, which include market premieres of titles not in official selection at the Venice Film Festival. Titles screening include Alexandros Avranas’ competition entry Miss Violence, sold by Elle Driver, and Eastern Boys, sold by Films Distribution.
Diot has also launched “Final Cut In Venice”, a new venture through which works in progress of new films in post-production are shown. There will also be Q&A’s with the directors of the films. Titles include Ibrahim El-Batout’s The Cat and Kaouther Ben Hania’s Challatt Of Tunis. Backers...
- 8/29/2013
- by geoffrey@macnab.demon.co.uk (Geoffrey Macnab)
- ScreenDaily
The Egyptian revolution of 2011 is seen through disparate but interwoven lives in this Ibrahim El Batout's thoughtful drama
Reading on mobile? Click here to view video
This quiet Egyptian movie traces the linked lives of a radical computer programmer, a female TV anchor and a self-justifying state security officer during the hectic, hopeful days in January and February 2011 that concluded with the overthrow of President Mubarak. Plus ça change… as they say in Tahrir Square.
World cinemaDramaEgyptMiddle East and North AfricaArab and Middle East unrestPhilip French
theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds...
Reading on mobile? Click here to view video
This quiet Egyptian movie traces the linked lives of a radical computer programmer, a female TV anchor and a self-justifying state security officer during the hectic, hopeful days in January and February 2011 that concluded with the overthrow of President Mubarak. Plus ça change… as they say in Tahrir Square.
World cinemaDramaEgyptMiddle East and North AfricaArab and Middle East unrestPhilip French
theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds...
- 8/24/2013
- by Philip French
- The Guardian - Film News
Lovelace | Elysium | Mortal Instruments: City Of Bones | Jurassic Park 3D | What Maisie Knew | We're The Millers | Morrissey 25: Live | The Kings Of Summer | The Dyatlov Pass Incident
Lovelace (18)
(Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, 2013, Us) Amanda Seyfried, Peter Sarsgaard, Sharon Stone, Hank Azaria, Chloë Sevigny, Adam Brody. 93 mins
Kitsch 70s larks are averted thanks to the determination of directors Epstein and Friedman (who made the Allen Ginsberg film Howl) to tell the story of porn star Linda Lovelace in all its grimness and complexity. Seyfried is the victimised performer, who later claimed her appearance in the 1972 phenomenon Deep Throat amounted to filmed rape; the strong supporting cast represents a Who's Who of Us indie character actors.
Elysium (15)
(Neill Blomkamp, 2013, Us) Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Alice Braga. 109 mins
Smart dystopian sci-fi for the Occupy Wall Street generation, with Damon as an ex-crook who breaks into the privileged off-world colony of Elysium to...
Lovelace (18)
(Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, 2013, Us) Amanda Seyfried, Peter Sarsgaard, Sharon Stone, Hank Azaria, Chloë Sevigny, Adam Brody. 93 mins
Kitsch 70s larks are averted thanks to the determination of directors Epstein and Friedman (who made the Allen Ginsberg film Howl) to tell the story of porn star Linda Lovelace in all its grimness and complexity. Seyfried is the victimised performer, who later claimed her appearance in the 1972 phenomenon Deep Throat amounted to filmed rape; the strong supporting cast represents a Who's Who of Us indie character actors.
Elysium (15)
(Neill Blomkamp, 2013, Us) Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Alice Braga. 109 mins
Smart dystopian sci-fi for the Occupy Wall Street generation, with Damon as an ex-crook who breaks into the privileged off-world colony of Elysium to...
- 8/24/2013
- by Steve Rose
- The Guardian - Film News
This fascinating film shows the 2011 Egyptian uprising through its participants – a dissident, a secret policeman, a journalist and more
There is a compressed and concentrated anger in this new film from Egyptian director Ibrahim el-Batout. These are his scenes from the revolution, with glimpses of the home lives of the revolutionaries and the counter-revolutionaries alike. We see the participants in the 2011 Egyptian uprising: a formerly tortured dissident, a government-stooge TV news presenter, a secret policeman, a journalist tormented by scruples. Salah Hanafy is the icily detached agent of the repressive state, applying the electrodes to a detainee's naked body by day, and by night negligently answering his wife's questions over the dinner table in their comfortable family home. Amr Waked is the campaigner and activist, his face etched with pain. After protests and outcry in Tahrir Square, two officials are interviewed on an oleaginous TV show to protest that such...
There is a compressed and concentrated anger in this new film from Egyptian director Ibrahim el-Batout. These are his scenes from the revolution, with glimpses of the home lives of the revolutionaries and the counter-revolutionaries alike. We see the participants in the 2011 Egyptian uprising: a formerly tortured dissident, a government-stooge TV news presenter, a secret policeman, a journalist tormented by scruples. Salah Hanafy is the icily detached agent of the repressive state, applying the electrodes to a detainee's naked body by day, and by night negligently answering his wife's questions over the dinner table in their comfortable family home. Amr Waked is the campaigner and activist, his face etched with pain. After protests and outcry in Tahrir Square, two officials are interviewed on an oleaginous TV show to protest that such...
- 8/22/2013
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
It was one of the biggest news events of the last decade, so it was only a matter of time before films centered on the Arab Spring flooded the marketplace. We've covered quite a few, both fiction and non-fiction, and I'm sure there are more to come. Here's one of the higher-profile films that you should look out for. Toronto-based sales company Double Dutch International has picked up world distribution rights to Ibrahim El Batout’s lauded drama Winter of Discontent, which is set and filmed against the backdrop of the early days of the Egyptian revolution - the protests in Cairo’s Tahrir Square in January 2011, interweaving multiple stories including that of a political...
- 5/14/2013
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
London – Egyptian drama Winter of Discontent, directed by Ibrahim El Batout, a documentary maker who covered war zones from Iran/Iraq to Kosovo, before turning to features after being shot twice, has secured distribution in the U.K. and Ireland. Swipe Films sealed a deal with U.K. indie New Wave Films to take U.K. and Irish rights to the film which unspooled during last month's Venice Film Festival. Set against the backdrop of the whirlwind protests of Cairo’s Tahrir Square that began on Jan. 25, 2011, Winter of Discontent details the story of an activist Amr (Amr Waked),
read more...
read more...
- 10/12/2012
- by Stuart Kemp
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Swipe Films been appointed international sales agent for the Egyptian movie "Winter of Discontent," which will have its world premiere at the 69th Venice International Film Festival this week, the company said Friday. Set against the backdrop of the growing protests in Cairo's Tahrir Square in January 2011, the film takes the viewer on a journey into the intertwined lives of an activist, a journalist and a state security officer caught up in the demonstrations. It was directed by Ibrahim El Batout (pictured), who has paved the way for Egyptian independent cinema by challenging censorship and discussing social...
- 8/31/2012
- by Liza Foreman
- The Wrap
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
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