The Will Smith comeback tour is officially underway! Today, on social media, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence confirmed Bad Boys 4 is in pre-production, with Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah returning to direct. Chris Bremner is writing the script, with Jerry Bruckheimer, Will Smith for Westbrook, Doug Belgrad, and Chad Oman producing. Martin Lawrence, James Lassiter, Mike Stenson, Barry Waldman, and Jon Mone executive produce.
In his Instagram post, an overwhelmingly excited Will Smith filmed himself driving to meet with Martin Lawrence, who joined Smith to celebrate today’s announcement.
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Before the Covid pandemic threw the world into chaos and lockdown, the third movie in the Bad Boys franchise, Bad Boys for Life, banked over 426M worldwide. Altogether, the Bad Boys franchise earned 870.7M globally.
In his Instagram post, an overwhelmingly excited Will Smith filmed himself driving to meet with Martin Lawrence, who joined Smith to celebrate today’s announcement.
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Before the Covid pandemic threw the world into chaos and lockdown, the third movie in the Bad Boys franchise, Bad Boys for Life, banked over 426M worldwide. Altogether, the Bad Boys franchise earned 870.7M globally.
- 1/31/2023
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Rebel Trailer — Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah‘s Rebel (2022) movie trailer has been released by Signature Entertainment. The Rebel trailer stars Amir El Arbi, Aboubakr Bensaihi, Younes Bouab, Kamal Moummad, and Lubna Azabal. Crew Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah, Kevin Meul, and Jan van Dyck wrote the screenplay for Rebel. Plot Synopsis Rebel‘s plot synopsis: “This [...]
Continue reading: Rebel (2022) Movie Trailer: Two Brothers Get Caught up in the Syrian Civil War...
Continue reading: Rebel (2022) Movie Trailer: Two Brothers Get Caught up in the Syrian Civil War...
- 11/16/2022
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
Series about the hunt for Isis terrorists is being developed by Brussels-based Versus Production.
Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, the Belgian filmmakers behind the recently shelved Batgirl movie, are teaming again with fellow director Mathieu Mortelmans for a series about the hunt for Islamic State terrorists in Belgium.
The trio plan to join forces on the series Terrorist Hunter, which is being developed by Brussels-based Versus Production. It based on the best-selling book by Lionel D. and Annemie Bulté, Terrorist Hunter - The Special Units And The Hunt For Abdeslam.
The book centres on events in 2015 in Belgium, when...
Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, the Belgian filmmakers behind the recently shelved Batgirl movie, are teaming again with fellow director Mathieu Mortelmans for a series about the hunt for Islamic State terrorists in Belgium.
The trio plan to join forces on the series Terrorist Hunter, which is being developed by Brussels-based Versus Production. It based on the best-selling book by Lionel D. and Annemie Bulté, Terrorist Hunter - The Special Units And The Hunt For Abdeslam.
The book centres on events in 2015 in Belgium, when...
- 10/10/2022
- by Tim Dams
- ScreenDaily
Series about the hunt for Isis terrorists is being developed by Brussels-based Versus Production.
Adil El Arbi and Billal Fallah, the Belgian filmmakers behind the recently shelved Batgirl movie, are teaming again with fellow director Mathieu Mortelmans for a series about the hunt for Islamic State terrorists in Belgium.
The trio plan to join forces on the series Terrorist Hunter, which is being developed by Brussels-based Versus Production. It based on the best-selling book by Lionel D. and Annemie Bulté, Terrorist Hunter - The Special Units And The Hunt For Abdeslam.
The book centres on events in 2015 in Belgium, when...
Adil El Arbi and Billal Fallah, the Belgian filmmakers behind the recently shelved Batgirl movie, are teaming again with fellow director Mathieu Mortelmans for a series about the hunt for Islamic State terrorists in Belgium.
The trio plan to join forces on the series Terrorist Hunter, which is being developed by Brussels-based Versus Production. It based on the best-selling book by Lionel D. and Annemie Bulté, Terrorist Hunter - The Special Units And The Hunt For Abdeslam.
The book centres on events in 2015 in Belgium, when...
- 10/10/2022
- by Tim Dams
- ScreenDaily
If the unmarked enemy aircraft, mirrored visors and carefully evasive language of Joseph Kosinksi’s “Top Gun: Maverick” tell us anything, it’s that Hollywood has learned to avoid political specifics in the delivery of grandstanding blockbuster entertainment. So one can be forgiven for coming to “Rebel” with hackles raised and offence-o-meters on red alert, as it milks Hollywoodish action-movie thrills (and even a few surreal musical numbers) from the highly charged scenario of one young Belgian’s recruitment into a Syrian Isis cell. But there’s an unabashed sincerity in how directing team Adil & Bilall realize their foolhardy ambition to make a serious-minded cautionary tale in the guise of a flashy thrill-ride. You might even start to root for “Rebel,” rather like you would a circus elephant can-canning across a minefield, and managing with surprising dexterity to go quite some distance without blowing itself to bits.
At first it...
At first it...
- 6/6/2022
- by Jessica Kiang
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Here’s a first look at Rebel, the latest feature from Belgian directing duo Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah (Bad Boys For Life), which is screening in the Midnight Section at the 75th Cannes Film Festival this month.
It’s a personal story from the Moroccan-born directors, who also wrote the script along with Jan Van Dyck and Kevin Meul. Rebel follows Kamal, who resolves to change his life for the better when he leaves Belgium to help war victims in Syria. But, having arrived, he is forced to join the militia and is left stranded in Raqqa. Back home, his younger brother Nassim quickly becomes easy prey for radical recruiters who promise to reunite him with his brother. Their mother, Leila, fights to protect the only thing she has left: her youngest son.
“I consider this to be our most personal movie out of all the movies we’ve done,...
It’s a personal story from the Moroccan-born directors, who also wrote the script along with Jan Van Dyck and Kevin Meul. Rebel follows Kamal, who resolves to change his life for the better when he leaves Belgium to help war victims in Syria. But, having arrived, he is forced to join the militia and is left stranded in Raqqa. Back home, his younger brother Nassim quickly becomes easy prey for radical recruiters who promise to reunite him with his brother. Their mother, Leila, fights to protect the only thing she has left: her youngest son.
“I consider this to be our most personal movie out of all the movies we’ve done,...
- 5/4/2022
- by Diana Lodderhose
- Deadline Film + TV
Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, the directors of “Bad Boys For Life,” have set their next film “Rebel,” a coming-of-age story of a teenage Muslim boy that they describe as a “true passion project.”
The film is described as a nuanced portrayal of a family torn apart over a little Muslim boy’s future and how he’s driven by song, rap and dance.
“Rebel” stars Amir El Arbi, in his feature film debut, Aboubakr Bensaihi and Lubna Azabal. After his father’s death, Nassim, a 13-year-old Moroccan boy from Molenbeek, is looking for an identity. His mother Leila anxiously tries to keep him away from his older local gangster brother, Karim. At this young age, Nassim needs to decide what the rest of his life will look like.
Also Read: How 'Bad Boys for Life' Directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah Successfully Revived a 17-Year-Old...
The film is described as a nuanced portrayal of a family torn apart over a little Muslim boy’s future and how he’s driven by song, rap and dance.
“Rebel” stars Amir El Arbi, in his feature film debut, Aboubakr Bensaihi and Lubna Azabal. After his father’s death, Nassim, a 13-year-old Moroccan boy from Molenbeek, is looking for an identity. His mother Leila anxiously tries to keep him away from his older local gangster brother, Karim. At this young age, Nassim needs to decide what the rest of his life will look like.
Also Read: How 'Bad Boys for Life' Directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah Successfully Revived a 17-Year-Old...
- 6/24/2020
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, the rising Moroccan-born Belgian filmmaking duo, are set to direct “Rebel,” a nuanced portrait of a family torn apart over a little Muslim boy’s future.
Wild Bunch International (“Les Miserables”) and CAA Media Finance have boarded the project, which tells the story of Nassim, a 13-year-old Moroccan boy from Molenbeek, who is searching for an identity after his father’s death. While his mother Leila anxiously tries to keep him away from Karim, his older local gangster brother, Nassim needs to decide what the rest of his life will look like, even at this young age.
“Rebel” is being produced by Caviar, in co-production with Beluga Tree (“Frankie”), Calach Films and Le Collectif 64.
The movie will mark the helmers’ return to filmmaking in Belgium after having directed “Bad Boys for Life,” which so far ranks as the highest-grossing film of 2020.
“Rebel” will be...
Wild Bunch International (“Les Miserables”) and CAA Media Finance have boarded the project, which tells the story of Nassim, a 13-year-old Moroccan boy from Molenbeek, who is searching for an identity after his father’s death. While his mother Leila anxiously tries to keep him away from Karim, his older local gangster brother, Nassim needs to decide what the rest of his life will look like, even at this young age.
“Rebel” is being produced by Caviar, in co-production with Beluga Tree (“Frankie”), Calach Films and Le Collectif 64.
The movie will mark the helmers’ return to filmmaking in Belgium after having directed “Bad Boys for Life,” which so far ranks as the highest-grossing film of 2020.
“Rebel” will be...
- 6/24/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
The French sales company is introducing the film to buyers at the virtual market.
Wild Bunch has boarded sales on Belgian directing duo Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah’s upcoming feature Rebel, a family drama about a 13-year-old boy whose life stands at a crossroads following the death of his father.
The Moroccan-born Belgian directors’ last feature Bad Boys For Life - the third instalment of the Bad Boys franchise starring Will Smith - grossed $419m worldwide when it was released in January.
Driven by song, rap and dance, it stars big-screen debutant Amir El Arbi as a 13-year-old...
Wild Bunch has boarded sales on Belgian directing duo Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah’s upcoming feature Rebel, a family drama about a 13-year-old boy whose life stands at a crossroads following the death of his father.
The Moroccan-born Belgian directors’ last feature Bad Boys For Life - the third instalment of the Bad Boys franchise starring Will Smith - grossed $419m worldwide when it was released in January.
Driven by song, rap and dance, it stars big-screen debutant Amir El Arbi as a 13-year-old...
- 6/24/2020
- by 1100388¦Melanie Goodfellow¦69¦
- ScreenDaily
Filmmakers Adil El Arbi & Bilall Fallah (Bad Boys For Life) have been set to direct Rebel, a coming-of-age story about a family torn apart over a little boy’s future.
Wild Bunch International is handling international sales and will introduce the project to buyers at the virtual Cannes market. CAA Media Finance will represent the film’s North American rights
Driven by song, rap and dance, the film will stars Amir El Arbi, in his feature film debut, Aboubakr Bensaihi (Black), and Lubna Azabal (Mary Magdalene)
The film will follow a 13-year-old Moroccan boy from Molenbeek who is searching for his identity after the death of his father. His mother Leila anxiously tries to keep him away from his older local gangster brother, Karim.
The filmmaking duo have also made movies Black and Gangsta (for which they are currently developing the sequel) and have directed episodes of FX series Snowfall.
Wild Bunch International is handling international sales and will introduce the project to buyers at the virtual Cannes market. CAA Media Finance will represent the film’s North American rights
Driven by song, rap and dance, the film will stars Amir El Arbi, in his feature film debut, Aboubakr Bensaihi (Black), and Lubna Azabal (Mary Magdalene)
The film will follow a 13-year-old Moroccan boy from Molenbeek who is searching for his identity after the death of his father. His mother Leila anxiously tries to keep him away from his older local gangster brother, Karim.
The filmmaking duo have also made movies Black and Gangsta (for which they are currently developing the sequel) and have directed episodes of FX series Snowfall.
- 6/24/2020
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Roskam’s third feature The Racer And The Jailbird starring Matthias Schoenaerts will be among the line-up.
Flanders Image – a division of the Flanders Audiovisual Fund — is hosting the first NeXT event from Oct 9-12 in Ghent, Belgium.
The event will include a showcase of new films and pitches of future projects, alongside works in progress presentations from both established names and new talents of Belgian cinema made in Flanders. There will also be a day of talks, workshops and panel discussions that bring together local filmmakers and international experts.
Among the high profile Flemish films to be discussed will be Michael R Roskam’s third feature The Racer And The Jailbird, described as a dark romantic drama and starring his Bullhead star Matthias Schoenaerts alongside Adèle Exarchopoulos; and Loft director Erik Van Looy’s new thriller The Prime Minister, which is being sold by The Works. Those are both part of short works in progress presentations...
Flanders Image – a division of the Flanders Audiovisual Fund — is hosting the first NeXT event from Oct 9-12 in Ghent, Belgium.
The event will include a showcase of new films and pitches of future projects, alongside works in progress presentations from both established names and new talents of Belgian cinema made in Flanders. There will also be a day of talks, workshops and panel discussions that bring together local filmmakers and international experts.
Among the high profile Flemish films to be discussed will be Michael R Roskam’s third feature The Racer And The Jailbird, described as a dark romantic drama and starring his Bullhead star Matthias Schoenaerts alongside Adèle Exarchopoulos; and Loft director Erik Van Looy’s new thriller The Prime Minister, which is being sold by The Works. Those are both part of short works in progress presentations...
- 9/30/2016
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Hannaleena Hauru’s debut feature is produced by company behind Cannes Un Certain Regard winner The Happiest Day In The Life of Olli Maki.
Paris-based Premium Films has boarded sales for Hannaleena Hauru’s debut feature The Thick Lashes Of Lauri Mantyvaara (working title).
The film will shoot in Finland from August with Aamu Film Company, which was also behind the Cannes Un Certain Regard winner The Happiest Day In The Life of Olli Maki.
Hauru, who attended Cannes Cinefondation Residence in 2015, has made more than 30 short films including festival hits Mercy All The Way, Whispering In A Friend’s Mouth and If I Fall.
The film will tell the story of two teenage girls who want to sabotage weddings on the Finnish archipelago to “reclaim love from capitalism.” Their plans are complicated when one of the girls falls in love, surprisingly, with an ice hockey player.
Jussi Rantamaki of Aamu produces the $1.3m (€1.1m) production...
Paris-based Premium Films has boarded sales for Hannaleena Hauru’s debut feature The Thick Lashes Of Lauri Mantyvaara (working title).
The film will shoot in Finland from August with Aamu Film Company, which was also behind the Cannes Un Certain Regard winner The Happiest Day In The Life of Olli Maki.
Hauru, who attended Cannes Cinefondation Residence in 2015, has made more than 30 short films including festival hits Mercy All The Way, Whispering In A Friend’s Mouth and If I Fall.
The film will tell the story of two teenage girls who want to sabotage weddings on the Finnish archipelago to “reclaim love from capitalism.” Their plans are complicated when one of the girls falls in love, surprisingly, with an ice hockey player.
Jussi Rantamaki of Aamu produces the $1.3m (€1.1m) production...
- 6/30/2016
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
Film-makers across Europe are “in shock” after learning the news that the Nipkow Programm has not received backing from the EU’s Creative Europe programme for 2015-2016.
Speaking exclusively to ScreenDaily, Nipkow Programm managing director Petra Weisenburger explained that the Berlin-based training initiative had not been successful in the latest round of funding for the next two years and would explore alternative strategies for a survival plan.
In the current financial year, Creative Europe had provided nearly 46% (€180,400) of Nipkow’s overall budget, with the remaining €215,543 coming from Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg (Mbb) and Germany’s State Minister for Culture and the Media (Bkm).
Weisenburger said that Mbb’s CEO Kirsten Niehuus had already indicated a desire to see the Nipkow Programm continue to exist, but the situation remains unclear about the funding from Bkm for 2015 onwards.
She added that the Nipkow Programm jury of experts will meet during the next Berlinale in February to discuss the initiative’s future...
Speaking exclusively to ScreenDaily, Nipkow Programm managing director Petra Weisenburger explained that the Berlin-based training initiative had not been successful in the latest round of funding for the next two years and would explore alternative strategies for a survival plan.
In the current financial year, Creative Europe had provided nearly 46% (€180,400) of Nipkow’s overall budget, with the remaining €215,543 coming from Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg (Mbb) and Germany’s State Minister for Culture and the Media (Bkm).
Weisenburger said that Mbb’s CEO Kirsten Niehuus had already indicated a desire to see the Nipkow Programm continue to exist, but the situation remains unclear about the funding from Bkm for 2015 onwards.
She added that the Nipkow Programm jury of experts will meet during the next Berlinale in February to discuss the initiative’s future...
- 11/12/2014
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
Class Enemy won the top prize at Bradford Film Festival The 20th edition of the Bradford International Film Festival came to a close today with the announcement of its awards.
The winner of the Bradford Unesco City Of Film European Competition was Class Enemy, directed by Rok Bicek and co-written by Nejc Gazvoda and Janez Lapajne, which tells the story of a teacher whose pupils rebel after tragedy hits the school.
The blackly comic short Cadet, directed by Kevin Meul, was named the winner of the 2014 Shine Short Film Competition. Meanwhile, the Best Of Biff competition - which saw audiences vote for their favourite British film at the festival from the past 20 years - went to Martin McDonagh's In Bruges.
The final day of the festival also saw actor Brian Cox take part in a screen talk and receive his Lifetime Achievement Award. Other highlights of this year's festival...
The winner of the Bradford Unesco City Of Film European Competition was Class Enemy, directed by Rok Bicek and co-written by Nejc Gazvoda and Janez Lapajne, which tells the story of a teacher whose pupils rebel after tragedy hits the school.
The blackly comic short Cadet, directed by Kevin Meul, was named the winner of the 2014 Shine Short Film Competition. Meanwhile, the Best Of Biff competition - which saw audiences vote for their favourite British film at the festival from the past 20 years - went to Martin McDonagh's In Bruges.
The final day of the festival also saw actor Brian Cox take part in a screen talk and receive his Lifetime Achievement Award. Other highlights of this year's festival...
- 4/6/2014
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
HollywoodNews.com: The 38th Seattle International Film Festival, the largest and most highly-attended event of its kind in the United States concluded today with the announcement of the Siff 2012 Competition Awards and Golden Space Needle Audience Awards. The 25-day Festival, which began May 17, featured over 460 films from more than 70 countries, including 65 feature premieres (24 World, 25 North American, 16 U.S.) and over 700 screenings. Additionally, Siff brought in more than 300 directors, actors and industry professionals.
“A festival’s success is dependent on two basic principles: providing a platform for filmmakers to be celebrated and connecting them to audience members that would not otherwise be aware of their remarkable stories,” said Siff Artistic Director Carl Spence. “This year a record number of filmmakers participated in person and online with virtual Q&A’s successfully expanding the conversation around the best in cinema with passionate audiences, illuminating guests and distinguished industry in attendance.”
Siff Managing Director Deborah Person said,...
“A festival’s success is dependent on two basic principles: providing a platform for filmmakers to be celebrated and connecting them to audience members that would not otherwise be aware of their remarkable stories,” said Siff Artistic Director Carl Spence. “This year a record number of filmmakers participated in person and online with virtual Q&A’s successfully expanding the conversation around the best in cinema with passionate audiences, illuminating guests and distinguished industry in attendance.”
Siff Managing Director Deborah Person said,...
- 6/10/2012
- by Josh Abraham
- Hollywoodnews.com
Finally a way to track festival winners that eliminates our need to track all festivals separately. Festival Scope, the online platform known for providing film professionals with online screening of films from more than 60 of the most prestigious international film festivals (including Berlinale, Rotterdam, Locarno, Venice, Cannes' Directors' Fortnight and Critics' Week, Toronto and San Sebastian) has developed a new section. The section is called "Labels" and is aimed at providing additional visibility to the films awarded in festivals or selected by partner organizations. The "Labels" has been launched with a special partnership with Fipresci, the International Federation of Film Critics. On the Fipresci page Festival Scope presents a selection of films that have been awarded the Fipresci Award. About 30 titles are already available for screening, including recently awarded Salesman (Isa: EOne) (awarded in Torino), The Tiniest Place (Mar del Plata), Eighty Letters (Thessaloniki), Yatasto (Viennale). More will be added throughout the year. Klaus Eder, General Secretary of Fipresci says: "Our aim is not only to present, at festivals, the critics' prize to the films we like. We also wish to help them [get a larger audience]. Festival Scope offers a wonderful chance to make our engagement better known to the professionals of cinema and to provoke the interest of other festivals and of buyers.
One of my first reactions on reading thus far was that this seems more self serving on Fipresci's part than inclusive of winners in general. I realize that I have absorbed an industry criticism of Fipresci itself which deserves further investigation. My criticism is that, in creating a label of its own prizes on a general platform, it is furthering its own mission. Fipresci, a critics' organization, chooses one festival per country to put their labeled prize upon, and to the outsider their endorsement automatically carries a sort of prestige. However, I have heard from one top festival director that they then impose certain rules upon that festival and to this festival director, they represent a sort of mafia. As I said, this merits greater investigation, perhaps I or another reader will write a blog upon Fipresci itself.
As I read further, I realize that the Festival Scope "Labels" extends beyond Fipresci itself, and as such is a boon to people seeking certain types of films. One of the labels presents the Global Lens 2012, Global Film Initiative’s critically acclaimed independent world cinema exhibition and distribution platform. The line-up includes ten award-winning narrative feature films from around the world including Morteza Farshbaf's darkly comic road trip, Mourning (Iran, Isa: Wide) (Fipresci Prize and New Currents Award, Pusan Iff) , Paula Markovitch's The Prize (Mexico, Isa: Urban Media) (Silver Bear, Berlin Iff and Best Film, Morelia Iff) and Toll Booth, Tolga Karaçelik's acclaimed Turkish "everyman" story.
Santhosh Daniel from Global Film Initiative says “We’re honored that Global Lens is one of three inaugural “labels” on Festival Scope, as the distinction not only reflects a recognition of quality, but also a mutual respect for the impact our two organizations can create by working together.” I stand with Santhosh here. The Global Film Initiative is a great platform honoring seldom heard voices from countries upon which the camera rarely focuses.
Last but not least, Festival Scope dedicates a showcase to Binger Filmlab, the Amsterdam-based organization welcoming the best and brightest filmmakers providing them intensive series of labs, workshops and events. Selected filmmakers are presented to the international film community together with their previous work. Already highlighted the films by Darius Devas from Australia, Caroline Kamya from Uganda, Jonathan Ostos Yaber from Mexico and Kevin Meul from Belgium. The Binger is very dear to me, as Jeanne Wikler, a longtime American resident of The Netherlands and a documentary filmmaker herself, invited us for many years to be coaches. She created a warm and welcoming environment ("Gezellig") which to this day retains this atmosphere, even at their Cannes Reception Days where we are always warmly greeted by Greetje Schuring, Assistant to the Directors and by former Binger participant, now Artistic Director, Marten Rabarts and by the beautiful longtime film event organizer Daan Gielis Head of Talent & Communications. In raising startup funds for this event from the government she was aided by former parliament member Gamila Ylstra who is now CEO of Binger. Jeanne herself is now the Director of the Institute of The Netherlands in Paris. Gamila Ylstra states, “Festival Scope is the perfect partner for Binger Filmlab: a unique platform for film professionals that enables us to showcase previous work and contextualize the projects and filmmakers in our Writers and Directors Labs. We are honored to be part of this!” I find this use of Festival Scope especially appealing in light of current government moves to cut cultural events; Festival Scope helps prove that such organizations as Binger contribute to the world's well-being in the context of cultural freedom is very important. Alessandro Raja, founder of Festival Scope, says: "We are thrilled to widen the scope of our activities with the creation of the "Labels". It’s an additional way for us to contribute to the promotion of the films we like and that play a significant role in today’s and tomorrow’s cinema".
I think Festival Scope should go further in award posting; let Fipresci have its and let others have their own pages if they merit it. Certainly Binger and The Global Film Initiative merit pages of their own.
One of my first reactions on reading thus far was that this seems more self serving on Fipresci's part than inclusive of winners in general. I realize that I have absorbed an industry criticism of Fipresci itself which deserves further investigation. My criticism is that, in creating a label of its own prizes on a general platform, it is furthering its own mission. Fipresci, a critics' organization, chooses one festival per country to put their labeled prize upon, and to the outsider their endorsement automatically carries a sort of prestige. However, I have heard from one top festival director that they then impose certain rules upon that festival and to this festival director, they represent a sort of mafia. As I said, this merits greater investigation, perhaps I or another reader will write a blog upon Fipresci itself.
As I read further, I realize that the Festival Scope "Labels" extends beyond Fipresci itself, and as such is a boon to people seeking certain types of films. One of the labels presents the Global Lens 2012, Global Film Initiative’s critically acclaimed independent world cinema exhibition and distribution platform. The line-up includes ten award-winning narrative feature films from around the world including Morteza Farshbaf's darkly comic road trip, Mourning (Iran, Isa: Wide) (Fipresci Prize and New Currents Award, Pusan Iff) , Paula Markovitch's The Prize (Mexico, Isa: Urban Media) (Silver Bear, Berlin Iff and Best Film, Morelia Iff) and Toll Booth, Tolga Karaçelik's acclaimed Turkish "everyman" story.
Santhosh Daniel from Global Film Initiative says “We’re honored that Global Lens is one of three inaugural “labels” on Festival Scope, as the distinction not only reflects a recognition of quality, but also a mutual respect for the impact our two organizations can create by working together.” I stand with Santhosh here. The Global Film Initiative is a great platform honoring seldom heard voices from countries upon which the camera rarely focuses.
Last but not least, Festival Scope dedicates a showcase to Binger Filmlab, the Amsterdam-based organization welcoming the best and brightest filmmakers providing them intensive series of labs, workshops and events. Selected filmmakers are presented to the international film community together with their previous work. Already highlighted the films by Darius Devas from Australia, Caroline Kamya from Uganda, Jonathan Ostos Yaber from Mexico and Kevin Meul from Belgium. The Binger is very dear to me, as Jeanne Wikler, a longtime American resident of The Netherlands and a documentary filmmaker herself, invited us for many years to be coaches. She created a warm and welcoming environment ("Gezellig") which to this day retains this atmosphere, even at their Cannes Reception Days where we are always warmly greeted by Greetje Schuring, Assistant to the Directors and by former Binger participant, now Artistic Director, Marten Rabarts and by the beautiful longtime film event organizer Daan Gielis Head of Talent & Communications. In raising startup funds for this event from the government she was aided by former parliament member Gamila Ylstra who is now CEO of Binger. Jeanne herself is now the Director of the Institute of The Netherlands in Paris. Gamila Ylstra states, “Festival Scope is the perfect partner for Binger Filmlab: a unique platform for film professionals that enables us to showcase previous work and contextualize the projects and filmmakers in our Writers and Directors Labs. We are honored to be part of this!” I find this use of Festival Scope especially appealing in light of current government moves to cut cultural events; Festival Scope helps prove that such organizations as Binger contribute to the world's well-being in the context of cultural freedom is very important. Alessandro Raja, founder of Festival Scope, says: "We are thrilled to widen the scope of our activities with the creation of the "Labels". It’s an additional way for us to contribute to the promotion of the films we like and that play a significant role in today’s and tomorrow’s cinema".
I think Festival Scope should go further in award posting; let Fipresci have its and let others have their own pages if they merit it. Certainly Binger and The Global Film Initiative merit pages of their own.
- 2/3/2012
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Chicago – The 2011 47th Annual Chicago International Film Festival and Michael Kutza, Founder and Artistic Director, announced the competition award winners at a ceremony in the new Public Chicago Hotel on October 14th. The Gold Hugo for Best Film went to “Le Havre,” from France.
Kutza made the announcements along with Mimi Plauché, Head of Programming, Programmers Lee Ferdinand and Penny Bartlett, plus Competitions Coordinator Alex Kopecky. The Public Chicago is the former Ambassador East Hotel, redesigned by hotelier Ian Schrager, and recently had its grand opening. The Festival’s highest honor is the Gold Hugo, named for the mythical God of Discovery. An additional awards category in 2011 is the “After Dark Competition,” honoring the scary films from around the world.
International Feature Film Competition
’Le Havre’
Photo Credit: © Chicago International Film Festival
The Gold Hugo for Best Film: “Le Havre” (Finland/France), directed by Aki Kaurismaki
The Silver Hugo: “Cairo...
Kutza made the announcements along with Mimi Plauché, Head of Programming, Programmers Lee Ferdinand and Penny Bartlett, plus Competitions Coordinator Alex Kopecky. The Public Chicago is the former Ambassador East Hotel, redesigned by hotelier Ian Schrager, and recently had its grand opening. The Festival’s highest honor is the Gold Hugo, named for the mythical God of Discovery. An additional awards category in 2011 is the “After Dark Competition,” honoring the scary films from around the world.
International Feature Film Competition
’Le Havre’
Photo Credit: © Chicago International Film Festival
The Gold Hugo for Best Film: “Le Havre” (Finland/France), directed by Aki Kaurismaki
The Silver Hugo: “Cairo...
- 10/16/2011
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
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