Cairo-based Mad Distribution has acquired Jonathan Millet’s Critics’ Week opener Ghost Trail from mk2 Films, Somali director Mo Harawe’s Un Certain Regard drama The Village Next To Paradise from Totem Films and Anne-Marie Jacir’s upcoming All Before You for release in the Middle East and North Africa.
They are three of 30 titles secured by Mad Distribution for Mena territories, which also include Saif Hammash’s Palestinian short Deer’s Tooth, selected for La Cinef, and Rayane Mcirdi’s Algerian-French short After The Sun, which plays in Directors’ Fortnight.
The distribution arm of indie studio Mad Solutions plans...
They are three of 30 titles secured by Mad Distribution for Mena territories, which also include Saif Hammash’s Palestinian short Deer’s Tooth, selected for La Cinef, and Rayane Mcirdi’s Algerian-French short After The Sun, which plays in Directors’ Fortnight.
The distribution arm of indie studio Mad Solutions plans...
- 5/18/2024
- ScreenDaily
Projects from Bhutan to Brazil to receive production and distribution funding.
The Berlinale’s World Cinema Fund (Wcf) has revealed 13 features it will support with a share of $380,000 in production and distribution funding.
Projects include Nothing In Its Place by Turkish filmmaker Burak Çevik, whose features The Pillar Of Salt, Belonging and Forms Of Forgetting each premiered at the Berlinale Forum.
His latest focuses on one of Turkey’s most bloody political massacres, which took place in the country’s capital of Ankara in 1978, and focuses on the night when a group of leftist youths who believed in unarmed revolution...
The Berlinale’s World Cinema Fund (Wcf) has revealed 13 features it will support with a share of $380,000 in production and distribution funding.
Projects include Nothing In Its Place by Turkish filmmaker Burak Çevik, whose features The Pillar Of Salt, Belonging and Forms Of Forgetting each premiered at the Berlinale Forum.
His latest focuses on one of Turkey’s most bloody political massacres, which took place in the country’s capital of Ankara in 1978, and focuses on the night when a group of leftist youths who believed in unarmed revolution...
- 8/7/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Legal docudrama Saint Omer was voted Best Picture at the 34th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival, which announced this year’s juried award winners today.
Saint Omer wins for its ability “to expertly interrogate issues of society, culture, race, and gender,” the festival release stated. “Alice Diop, as screenwriter and director, delivers a film that explores different dynamics of Black women in contemporary France, drawing empathetic lead performances from Kayije Kagame and Guslagie Malanga. By harnessing the skills of her technical team, Diop turns Saint Omer into a shrewd, cogent, ambitious, and overwhelming film which teases a metafictional awareness while remaining clear-eyed and unsentimental.”
The Palm Springs festival took place from January 5-16 and screened 134 films from 64 countries, including 27 premieres. The lineup includes 35 of the International Feature Film Oscar submissions.
The jury award categories included the Fipresci Prize for films...
Saint Omer wins for its ability “to expertly interrogate issues of society, culture, race, and gender,” the festival release stated. “Alice Diop, as screenwriter and director, delivers a film that explores different dynamics of Black women in contemporary France, drawing empathetic lead performances from Kayije Kagame and Guslagie Malanga. By harnessing the skills of her technical team, Diop turns Saint Omer into a shrewd, cogent, ambitious, and overwhelming film which teases a metafictional awareness while remaining clear-eyed and unsentimental.”
The Palm Springs festival took place from January 5-16 and screened 134 films from 64 countries, including 27 premieres. The lineup includes 35 of the International Feature Film Oscar submissions.
The jury award categories included the Fipresci Prize for films...
- 1/15/2023
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Rita Moreno, Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Sally Field star in ’80 For Brady’ from Paramount Pictures.
The world premiere of 80 for Brady starring Jane Fonda, Sally Field, Rita Moreno, and Lily Tomlin will open the 34th Annual Palm Springs International Festival on Friday, January 6, 2023, and The Lost King from director Stephen Frears will close the festival on Sunday, January 15th. In between, Psiff will screen 132 films including the world premiere of the documentary Shot in the Arm.
“We are beyond excited to welcome back our beloved audience and filmmakers in Palm Springs. We’re especially thrilled to be joined by all four leads of 80 For Brady. The film is brimming with joy and heart, and it’s a perfect film to kick off our 34th edition,” said Artistic Director Lili Rodriguez. “Our programmers have dedicated almost a year to scouting the world for the films that make up this edition.
The world premiere of 80 for Brady starring Jane Fonda, Sally Field, Rita Moreno, and Lily Tomlin will open the 34th Annual Palm Springs International Festival on Friday, January 6, 2023, and The Lost King from director Stephen Frears will close the festival on Sunday, January 15th. In between, Psiff will screen 132 films including the world premiere of the documentary Shot in the Arm.
“We are beyond excited to welcome back our beloved audience and filmmakers in Palm Springs. We’re especially thrilled to be joined by all four leads of 80 For Brady. The film is brimming with joy and heart, and it’s a perfect film to kick off our 34th edition,” said Artistic Director Lili Rodriguez. “Our programmers have dedicated almost a year to scouting the world for the films that make up this edition.
- 12/6/2022
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
The International Film Festival Of India (Iffi) has announced the 15 films that will screen in competition at this year’s edition of the annual event, including recent festival favourites such as Maha Haj’s Mediterranean Fever and Lav Diaz’ When The Waves Are Gone, and three Indian films, including recent Busan premiere The Storyteller.
The selection of 12 international titles also includes Syrian filmmaker Soudade Kaadan’s Nezouh; Next Sohee, from South Korea’s Jung Ju-ri; Red Shoes, from Japan’s Toshiro Saiga; Cold As Marble, from Azerbaijan’s Asif Rustamov; Seven Dogs, from Argentina’s Rodrigo Guerrero; Ursula Meier’s The Line (La Ligne); Valentina Maurel’s I Have Electric Dreams, and two Iranian films – Dariush Mehrjui’s A Minor and Nader Saeivar’s No End.
South Asia is also represented by Maarya: The Ocean Angel, about a group of fishermen disturbed by a sex doll they find in the sea,...
The selection of 12 international titles also includes Syrian filmmaker Soudade Kaadan’s Nezouh; Next Sohee, from South Korea’s Jung Ju-ri; Red Shoes, from Japan’s Toshiro Saiga; Cold As Marble, from Azerbaijan’s Asif Rustamov; Seven Dogs, from Argentina’s Rodrigo Guerrero; Ursula Meier’s The Line (La Ligne); Valentina Maurel’s I Have Electric Dreams, and two Iranian films – Dariush Mehrjui’s A Minor and Nader Saeivar’s No End.
South Asia is also represented by Maarya: The Ocean Angel, about a group of fishermen disturbed by a sex doll they find in the sea,...
- 11/14/2022
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
Boasting a selection of 76 films from 33 countries spread across seven sections, this year’s Marrakech Film Festival will offer no shortage of cinematic treasure. Running over Nov. 11 – 19, the festival’s 19th edition will open with “Guillermo del Toro’s “Pinocchio” ahead of gala screenings of James Gray’s “Armageddon Time,” Paul Schrader’s “Master Gardener,” and Sally El Hosaini’s “The Swimmers.”
While hosting a handful of world premieres – including Anurag Kashyap’s Bollywood-flavored “Almost Love,” to be presented outdoors at Marrakech’s Jemaa El Fna Square – this year’s festival will also spotlight a number of jewels from the festival circuit.
Below are fourteen standouts from this year’s program.
“Abdelinho” (dir. Hicham Ayouch) (Moroccan Panorama)
Satirical comedy “Abdelinho” follows a young Moroccan man with samba in his bones and Brazil ever on his mind. Director Hicham Ayouch’s bright crowd-pleaser is one of several finished projects to graduate...
While hosting a handful of world premieres – including Anurag Kashyap’s Bollywood-flavored “Almost Love,” to be presented outdoors at Marrakech’s Jemaa El Fna Square – this year’s festival will also spotlight a number of jewels from the festival circuit.
Below are fourteen standouts from this year’s program.
“Abdelinho” (dir. Hicham Ayouch) (Moroccan Panorama)
Satirical comedy “Abdelinho” follows a young Moroccan man with samba in his bones and Brazil ever on his mind. Director Hicham Ayouch’s bright crowd-pleaser is one of several finished projects to graduate...
- 11/11/2022
- by Ben Croll
- Variety Film + TV
Bright Future and Limelight titles first to be announced.
International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) and industry platform CineMart are set to fully return in-person in 2023, with its first wave of titles announced today.
The 52nd edition of the festival is scheduled to take place from January 25 to February 5 and organisers said it plans to welcome back audiences with a complete programme of features, shorts, focus programmes, installations and performances.
The 40th edition of IFFR’s co-production market CineMart is also set to run from January 29 to February 1, with one-to-one meetings and informal networking taking place in person for the first time in three years.
International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) and industry platform CineMart are set to fully return in-person in 2023, with its first wave of titles announced today.
The 52nd edition of the festival is scheduled to take place from January 25 to February 5 and organisers said it plans to welcome back audiences with a complete programme of features, shorts, focus programmes, installations and performances.
The 40th edition of IFFR’s co-production market CineMart is also set to run from January 29 to February 1, with one-to-one meetings and informal networking taking place in person for the first time in three years.
- 10/27/2022
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Festival runs October 12-23.
Jafar Panahi’s No Bears, Alice Diop’s Saint Omer, and Sergei Loznitsa’s The Natural History Of Destruction are among the international competitions line-up at the 58th Chicago International Film Festival next month.
This year’s competitions include 10 films receiving their North American premiere and 17 getting their US premiere as the entries vie for the festival’s Gold Hugo award in the categories of international feature, international documentary, and new directors.
The festival runs October 12-23. The full international competition line-ups are below.
Playing in International Feature Competition are: The Beasts (Sp-Fr), Rodrigo Sorogoyen, US premiere; Before,...
Jafar Panahi’s No Bears, Alice Diop’s Saint Omer, and Sergei Loznitsa’s The Natural History Of Destruction are among the international competitions line-up at the 58th Chicago International Film Festival next month.
This year’s competitions include 10 films receiving their North American premiere and 17 getting their US premiere as the entries vie for the festival’s Gold Hugo award in the categories of international feature, international documentary, and new directors.
The festival runs October 12-23. The full international competition line-ups are below.
Playing in International Feature Competition are: The Beasts (Sp-Fr), Rodrigo Sorogoyen, US premiere; Before,...
- 9/16/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Films from China, Chile, Palestine and India picked up prizes.
Qui Jiongjiong’s A New Old Play and Maha Haj’s Mediterranean Fever picked up the top prizes at the Firebird Awards at the Hong Kong International Film Festival (Hkiff).
A New Old Play won the Firebird Award for best film in the Chinese-language Young Cinema Competition. The story follows a family of Sichuan Opera artists living through a tumultuous era and the prize rounds out a year-long tour of festivals that began with Locarno last August and took in Busan, Tallinn Black Night, Rotterdam and Goteborg among others. The...
Qui Jiongjiong’s A New Old Play and Maha Haj’s Mediterranean Fever picked up the top prizes at the Firebird Awards at the Hong Kong International Film Festival (Hkiff).
A New Old Play won the Firebird Award for best film in the Chinese-language Young Cinema Competition. The story follows a family of Sichuan Opera artists living through a tumultuous era and the prize rounds out a year-long tour of festivals that began with Locarno last August and took in Busan, Tallinn Black Night, Rotterdam and Goteborg among others. The...
- 8/31/2022
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
The delayed 46th edition of the Hong Kong International Film Festival wrapped Wednesday with the award of 13 prizes for its young filmmaker, documentary and shorts competitions.
Hailed by the jury as “one of this year’s most distinguished films both creatively and artistically,” Qiu Jiongjiong’s “A New Old Play” was named best film for the Young Cinema Competition (Chinese Language). “A New Old Play” is a tale of a family of Sichuan Opera artists living through a tumultuous era. It also collected the Fipresci Prize, with the jury commending the film for “its masterful approach and inventive visual style.”
In the global category, Palestinian director Maha Haj’s “Mediterranean Fever” was chosen as the Firebird Award winner for being “an all-rounded gem that is at once a thriller, social comedy, and odd couple bromance.”
In the Chinese-language category, Hong Kong’s Mak Pui-tung won the best actor award for “The Sparring Partner.
Hailed by the jury as “one of this year’s most distinguished films both creatively and artistically,” Qiu Jiongjiong’s “A New Old Play” was named best film for the Young Cinema Competition (Chinese Language). “A New Old Play” is a tale of a family of Sichuan Opera artists living through a tumultuous era. It also collected the Fipresci Prize, with the jury commending the film for “its masterful approach and inventive visual style.”
In the global category, Palestinian director Maha Haj’s “Mediterranean Fever” was chosen as the Firebird Award winner for being “an all-rounded gem that is at once a thriller, social comedy, and odd couple bromance.”
In the Chinese-language category, Hong Kong’s Mak Pui-tung won the best actor award for “The Sparring Partner.
- 8/31/2022
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Will Anderson and Ainslie Henderson’s “A Cat Called Dom” won the Powell & Pressburger Award for best feature film at the 75th Edinburgh International Film Festival (Eiff), while Hassan Nazer’s “Winners” won the audience award.
The Powell & Pressburger jury also gave a special mention to Maha Haj’s “Mediterranean Fever.”
The Norman McLaren Award for British short animation went to “Stay” by Yu Sun, while the Norman McLaren Award for British short film went to “Canvas 5” by Karla Crome.
Anderson and Henderson said: “To screen our first feature at Eiff was an honor, but to take away the first Powell & Pressburger Award is just so special. ‘A Cat Called Dom’ is a film about embracing failure – after Eiff it now feels much more like a success.”
Nazer said: “Winning the audience award at Eiff means everything to me. I have been working towards this since I decided to become a filmmaker.
The Powell & Pressburger jury also gave a special mention to Maha Haj’s “Mediterranean Fever.”
The Norman McLaren Award for British short animation went to “Stay” by Yu Sun, while the Norman McLaren Award for British short film went to “Canvas 5” by Karla Crome.
Anderson and Henderson said: “To screen our first feature at Eiff was an honor, but to take away the first Powell & Pressburger Award is just so special. ‘A Cat Called Dom’ is a film about embracing failure – after Eiff it now feels much more like a success.”
Nazer said: “Winning the audience award at Eiff means everything to me. I have been working towards this since I decided to become a filmmaker.
- 8/24/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
10 films were competing for the Powell and Pressburger award.
Scottish animators Will Anderson and Ainslie Henderson’s 60-minutes documentary A Cat Called Dom has won the inaugural Powell and Pressburger Award for best film at this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival.
Anderson and Henderson star in and co-direct the inventive documentary, which had its world premiere at Eiff. The film explores how Will deals with his mother’s cancer diagnosis and also the frustrations of trying to make a film.
The jury, comprised of president Gaylene Gould (founder of creative lab The Space to Come), producer Rosie Crerar and author Sarah Winman,...
Scottish animators Will Anderson and Ainslie Henderson’s 60-minutes documentary A Cat Called Dom has won the inaugural Powell and Pressburger Award for best film at this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival.
Anderson and Henderson star in and co-direct the inventive documentary, which had its world premiere at Eiff. The film explores how Will deals with his mother’s cancer diagnosis and also the frustrations of trying to make a film.
The jury, comprised of president Gaylene Gould (founder of creative lab The Space to Come), producer Rosie Crerar and author Sarah Winman,...
- 8/23/2022
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
The two titles are star-studded and long-postponed.
Two long-postponed and star-studded films – Philip Yung’s Where The Wind Blows and Ng Yuen Fai’s Warriors Of Future – will open the 46th Hong Kong International Film Festival (Hkiff) in August. It was announced today (July 27) at a media event in Hong Kong.
Where The Wind Blows was selected as one of Hkiff’s opening films last year, but it pulled out just a few days before its world premiere due to “technical reasons”.
The crime drama features two of Asia’s biggest stars, Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Aaron Kwok as two...
Two long-postponed and star-studded films – Philip Yung’s Where The Wind Blows and Ng Yuen Fai’s Warriors Of Future – will open the 46th Hong Kong International Film Festival (Hkiff) in August. It was announced today (July 27) at a media event in Hong Kong.
Where The Wind Blows was selected as one of Hkiff’s opening films last year, but it pulled out just a few days before its world premiere due to “technical reasons”.
The crime drama features two of Asia’s biggest stars, Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Aaron Kwok as two...
- 7/27/2022
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
Edinburgh International Film Festival has announced the programme for its fully in-person 75th Anniversary edition this year. The dynamic programme of cinema screenings, live performance and industry dialogues in Edinburgh in the heart of the August festival season welcomes attending UK & international filmmakers to present their work.
Full programme includes 87 new features, 12 short film programmes, and two large scale retrospectives that celebrate the 2022 Theme of the 50th Anniversary of the Women’s Film Festival in new Creative Director Kristy Matheson’s inaugural edition. 10 international feature films with over 50 female Directors or Co-Directors for the brand-new competitive section for ‘The Powell and Pressburger Award for Best Feature Film’.
Eiff 2022 Festival Theme:
In 1972, the Edinburgh International Film Festival presented the first global film event entirely dedicated to the cinematic achievements of female directors, curated by Claire Johnston, Lynda Myles, and Laura Mulvey. Honouring the spirit of this original programme provocation, Eiff’s...
Full programme includes 87 new features, 12 short film programmes, and two large scale retrospectives that celebrate the 2022 Theme of the 50th Anniversary of the Women’s Film Festival in new Creative Director Kristy Matheson’s inaugural edition. 10 international feature films with over 50 female Directors or Co-Directors for the brand-new competitive section for ‘The Powell and Pressburger Award for Best Feature Film’.
Eiff 2022 Festival Theme:
In 1972, the Edinburgh International Film Festival presented the first global film event entirely dedicated to the cinematic achievements of female directors, curated by Claire Johnston, Lynda Myles, and Laura Mulvey. Honouring the spirit of this original programme provocation, Eiff’s...
- 7/22/2022
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
The Edinburgh International Film Festival has unveiled the complete line-up for its 75th Anniversary edition (August 12-17) as it gears up for its first full-scale roll-out since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Palestinian director Maha Haj’s drama Mediterranean Fever, US musician and filmmaker Amanda Kramer’s musical queer thriller Please Please Me, and Peter Strickland’s Flux Gourmet will be among the 10 feature films competing in the rebooted competition strand for the new Powell and Pressburger Award.
There will be gala screenings for previously announced opening film Aftersun by Edinburgh-born filmmaker Charlotte Wells and closing film After Yang by South Korean-us director Kogonada, as well as New Zealand director Armağan Ballantyne’s comedy Nude Tuesday, which will play mid-way through the festival.
Kogonada, who has been invited to curate a selection of films under the Eiff’s Carte Blanche sidebar, has chosen Kor-eda Hirokazu’s After Life,...
Palestinian director Maha Haj’s drama Mediterranean Fever, US musician and filmmaker Amanda Kramer’s musical queer thriller Please Please Me, and Peter Strickland’s Flux Gourmet will be among the 10 feature films competing in the rebooted competition strand for the new Powell and Pressburger Award.
There will be gala screenings for previously announced opening film Aftersun by Edinburgh-born filmmaker Charlotte Wells and closing film After Yang by South Korean-us director Kogonada, as well as New Zealand director Armağan Ballantyne’s comedy Nude Tuesday, which will play mid-way through the festival.
Kogonada, who has been invited to curate a selection of films under the Eiff’s Carte Blanche sidebar, has chosen Kor-eda Hirokazu’s After Life,...
- 7/20/2022
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
‘Nude Tuesday’ to be Central Gala as Edinburgh Reveals Competition Titles for Reimagined Major Award
Armağan Ballantyne’s gibberish comedy “Nude Tuesday” will be the central gala at the 75th Edinburgh International Film Festival (Eiff).
In the film, which has previously played at Tribeca and Sydney, 40-somethings Laura (Jackie van Beek) and Bruno (Damon Herriman) head to a three day couples’ retreat run by relationship and sexual healing guru Bjorg Rasmussen (Jemaine Clement) in an effort to rekindle the spark in their troubled marriage. Upon arrival, the path to their reconnection is met with increasingly absurd farce. The film is spoken entirely in an improvised, gibberish-esque language with subtitles created by Julia Davis.
The festival has reimagined its major award, the Michael Powell Award for best British feature. “With a renewed commitment to internationalism and cultural exchange, the principles on which the Edinburgh Festivals were founded, Eiff will present the Powell & Pressburger award for best feature film. This competition of 10 films is composed of a mix of U.
In the film, which has previously played at Tribeca and Sydney, 40-somethings Laura (Jackie van Beek) and Bruno (Damon Herriman) head to a three day couples’ retreat run by relationship and sexual healing guru Bjorg Rasmussen (Jemaine Clement) in an effort to rekindle the spark in their troubled marriage. Upon arrival, the path to their reconnection is met with increasingly absurd farce. The film is spoken entirely in an improvised, gibberish-esque language with subtitles created by Julia Davis.
The festival has reimagined its major award, the Michael Powell Award for best British feature. “With a renewed commitment to internationalism and cultural exchange, the principles on which the Edinburgh Festivals were founded, Eiff will present the Powell & Pressburger award for best feature film. This competition of 10 films is composed of a mix of U.
- 7/20/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
All the People I’ll Never Be – Davy Chou [Review]
The Blue Caftan – Maryam Touzani
Burning Days – Emin Alper
Butterfly Vision – Maksym Nakonechnyi
Corsage – Marie Kreutzer [Review]
Domingo and the Mist – Ariel Escalante Meza
Father & Soldier – Mathieu Vadepied
Godland – Hlynur Pálmason [Review]
Harka – Lotfy Nathan [Review]
Joyland – Saim Sadiq
Les Pires – Lise Akoka, Romane Gueret [Review] [Interview]
Mediterranean Fever – Maha Haj
Metronom – Alexandru Belc [Review]
Plus que jamais – Emily Atef [Review]
Plan 75 – Chie Hayakawa [Review]
Rodéo – Lola Quivoron [Review]
Sick of Myself – Kristoffer Borgli [Review]
The Silent Twins – Agnieszka Smoczyńska [Review]
The Stranger – Thomas M.…...
The Blue Caftan – Maryam Touzani
Burning Days – Emin Alper
Butterfly Vision – Maksym Nakonechnyi
Corsage – Marie Kreutzer [Review]
Domingo and the Mist – Ariel Escalante Meza
Father & Soldier – Mathieu Vadepied
Godland – Hlynur Pálmason [Review]
Harka – Lotfy Nathan [Review]
Joyland – Saim Sadiq
Les Pires – Lise Akoka, Romane Gueret [Review] [Interview]
Mediterranean Fever – Maha Haj
Metronom – Alexandru Belc [Review]
Plus que jamais – Emily Atef [Review]
Plan 75 – Chie Hayakawa [Review]
Rodéo – Lola Quivoron [Review]
Sick of Myself – Kristoffer Borgli [Review]
The Silent Twins – Agnieszka Smoczyńska [Review]
The Stranger – Thomas M.…...
- 6/15/2022
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
Outstanding Contribution
The Taipei Film Festival has named prolific writer-director-producer Kevin Chu (aka Chu Yen-ping) as the recipient of its Outstanding Contribution Award. During the 1980s and the 1990s, Chu made many popular memorable commercial films and discovered several promising new actors — Chu wrote the script of “Never Too Late to Repent” and won the best screenplay award at the Asia Pacific Film Festival. After that, Chu made this directorial debut, “The Clown and the Swan,” which was a critically-acclaimed box office success in which comedy actor Hsu Pu-liao established his name. “Chu single-handedly maintained the genre movie production in the market while the New Taiwan Cinema [art house movement] rose in the 1980s,” said the festival. In recent years, Chu has dedicated himself to advocating the exchanges between the Taiwanese filmmakers and their Chinese counterparts. The 24th Taipei Film Festival is scheduled to be held from June 23 to July 9, 2022.
Cannes Deals
“No Fathers in Kashmir,...
The Taipei Film Festival has named prolific writer-director-producer Kevin Chu (aka Chu Yen-ping) as the recipient of its Outstanding Contribution Award. During the 1980s and the 1990s, Chu made many popular memorable commercial films and discovered several promising new actors — Chu wrote the script of “Never Too Late to Repent” and won the best screenplay award at the Asia Pacific Film Festival. After that, Chu made this directorial debut, “The Clown and the Swan,” which was a critically-acclaimed box office success in which comedy actor Hsu Pu-liao established his name. “Chu single-handedly maintained the genre movie production in the market while the New Taiwan Cinema [art house movement] rose in the 1980s,” said the festival. In recent years, Chu has dedicated himself to advocating the exchanges between the Taiwanese filmmakers and their Chinese counterparts. The 24th Taipei Film Festival is scheduled to be held from June 23 to July 9, 2022.
Cannes Deals
“No Fathers in Kashmir,...
- 6/6/2022
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Triangle of SadnessCOMPETITIONPalme d’Or: Triangle of Sadness (Ruben Östlund) (Read our review)Grand Prix ex aequo: Close (Lukas Dhont)Grand Prix ex aequo: Stars at Noon (Claire Denis) (Read our review)Jury Prize ex aequo: The Eight Mountains (Charlotte Vandermeersch, Felix Van Groeningen)Jury Prize ex aequo: Eo (Jerzy Skolimowski) (Read our review)75th Anniversary Prize: Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne (Tori and Lokita) (Read our review)Best Director: Park Chan-wook (Decision to Leave) (Read our review)Best Actor: Song Kang-ho (Broker)Best Actress: Zahra Amir-Ebrahimi (Holy Spider)Best Screenplay: Tarik Saleh (Boy From Heaven)The Worst OnesUN Certain REGARDGrand Prize: The Worst Ones (Lise Akoka, Romane Gueret)Ensemble Prize: Jury Prize: Joyland (Saim Sadiq)Jury Special Mention: Best Director: Alexandru Belc (Metronome)Best Performance: Vicky Krieps (Corsage) and Adam Bessa (Harka) (Read our review)Screenplay: Mediterranean Fever (Maha Haj)Coup de Coeur Award: Rodeo (Lola Quivoron)The MountainDIRECTORS' FORTNIGHTEuropa...
- 5/29/2022
- MUBI
Other prize winners in the section include Joyland, Metronom and Mediterranean Fever.
The Worst Ones, from French directors Lise Akoka and Romane Gueret, has won the top prize in the Un Certain Regard section of this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
Also awarded honours by the section’s jury were Joyland, Metronom and Mediterranean Fever.
The Worst Ones (Les Pires) is the debut feature from Akoka and Gueret, who also wrote the script with Elénore Gurrey. The story of a group of young people recruited for a film shoot, the film was produced by Frédéric Jouve and Marine Alaric for Les Films Velvet.
The Worst Ones, from French directors Lise Akoka and Romane Gueret, has won the top prize in the Un Certain Regard section of this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
Also awarded honours by the section’s jury were Joyland, Metronom and Mediterranean Fever.
The Worst Ones (Les Pires) is the debut feature from Akoka and Gueret, who also wrote the script with Elénore Gurrey. The story of a group of young people recruited for a film shoot, the film was produced by Frédéric Jouve and Marine Alaric for Les Films Velvet.
- 5/27/2022
- by John Hazelton
- ScreenDaily
“The Worst Ones” (“Les Pires”), a drama about four unruly French teenagers who are chosen to act in a film, has won the top prize in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival.
The film was chosen by a jury chaired by actress Valeria Golino and also including director Debra Granik, actors Joanna Kulig and Edgar Ramirez and actor-singer Benjamin Biolay. Acting prizes went to Vicky Krieps for “Corsage” and Adam Bessa for “Harka,” while the directing award went to Alexandru Belc for “Metronomes.”
Saim Sadiq’s “Joyland” won the Jury Prize, which made it runner-up to “The Worst Ones.”
The Un Certain Regard section, which is typically devoted to smaller, more daring films than those in the main competition, consisted of 20 movies this year. Other entries in the section included Riley Keough and Gina Gammell’s “War Pony,” Davy Chou’s “Return to Seoul,” Maryam Touzani’s “The Blue Caftan,...
The film was chosen by a jury chaired by actress Valeria Golino and also including director Debra Granik, actors Joanna Kulig and Edgar Ramirez and actor-singer Benjamin Biolay. Acting prizes went to Vicky Krieps for “Corsage” and Adam Bessa for “Harka,” while the directing award went to Alexandru Belc for “Metronomes.”
Saim Sadiq’s “Joyland” won the Jury Prize, which made it runner-up to “The Worst Ones.”
The Un Certain Regard section, which is typically devoted to smaller, more daring films than those in the main competition, consisted of 20 movies this year. Other entries in the section included Riley Keough and Gina Gammell’s “War Pony,” Davy Chou’s “Return to Seoul,” Maryam Touzani’s “The Blue Caftan,...
- 5/27/2022
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
With the Cannes Film Festival wrapping up, the awards portion of the world’s most prestigious film festival is officially underway. While fans will have to wait until tomorrow to see the festival’s main jury award its top prizes, including the Palme d’Or, the winners in the Un Certain Regard category have been announced. Italian actress and director Valeria Golino oversaw the jury for Un Certain Regard, which runs parallel to the Main Competition and awards films with particularly unique styles or points of view. And even by the category’s bold standards, some of this year’s winners were likely surprising to the festival’s attendees.
“The Worst Ones,” Lise Akoka and Romane Gueret’s French movie about a film crew shooting in a working-class town, took the top prize, while “Joyland,” Saim Sadiq’s Pakistani transgender love story, won the Jury Prize. Alexandru Belc won Best Director for “Metronom,...
“The Worst Ones,” Lise Akoka and Romane Gueret’s French movie about a film crew shooting in a working-class town, took the top prize, while “Joyland,” Saim Sadiq’s Pakistani transgender love story, won the Jury Prize. Alexandru Belc won Best Director for “Metronom,...
- 5/27/2022
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
Predicting winners is always a fool’s errand in the Un Certain Regard section (the second-most prestigious competition of the Cannes Film Festival) and so it proved tonight, as the little-heralded French entry “The Worst Ones” (“Les Pires”), a debut feature from female directing duo Lise Akoka and Romane Gueret, was handed the top prize by jury president Valeria Golino — one of four first films to be recognized at the ceremony.
A playful film-within-a-film about the challenges and perils of street casting — following a film crew seeking out local non-professional actors for a shoot in a working-class French town — “The Worst Ones” surged past a number of buzzier critical favorites and hot distribution prospects to claim the award.
It’s the second consecutive female-directed feature to be named best in show: last year’s Prix Un Certain Regard went to Russian director Kira Kovalenko’s gritty coming-of-age drama “Unclenching the Fists.
A playful film-within-a-film about the challenges and perils of street casting — following a film crew seeking out local non-professional actors for a shoot in a working-class French town — “The Worst Ones” surged past a number of buzzier critical favorites and hot distribution prospects to claim the award.
It’s the second consecutive female-directed feature to be named best in show: last year’s Prix Un Certain Regard went to Russian director Kira Kovalenko’s gritty coming-of-age drama “Unclenching the Fists.
- 5/27/2022
- by Guy Lodge
- Variety Film + TV
Returning to Cannes’ Un Certain Regard with her second feature film, Palestinian director Maha Haj tackles the dynamics of male friendship and the strain of living under occupation in “Mediterranean Fever.” The subtly tender film follows family man Waleed, whose chronic depression hinders his dreams of a writing career and leads him into the path of neighbor and petty criminal Jalal, where tragedy awaits. “Mediterranean Fever” is a co-production between Palestine, Germany, France, Cyprus and Qatar, with sales handled by Luxbox.
“The idea came to me five years ago,” says Haj, “but I can’t really tell you how or what exactly inspired me. It is partly about the frustration that we Palestinians live with daily, whether we’re in Gaza, the West Bank, inside the state of Israel or exiled. It’s the sense of being imprisoned and not knowing when you’re going to be free, if you’re going to be free.
“The idea came to me five years ago,” says Haj, “but I can’t really tell you how or what exactly inspired me. It is partly about the frustration that we Palestinians live with daily, whether we’re in Gaza, the West Bank, inside the state of Israel or exiled. It’s the sense of being imprisoned and not knowing when you’re going to be free, if you’re going to be free.
- 5/25/2022
- by Caitlin Quinlan
- Variety Film + TV
It is the director’s second time in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard selection.
Screen can reveal the first trailer for Palestinian director Maha Haj’s second film Mediterranean Fever ahead of its world premiere in Cannes Un Certain Regard.
The drama revolves around an aspiring but depressed writer living in Hafia who befriends his small-time crook neighbour in the hope he will help him with a sinister scheme. Amer Hlehel and Ashraf Farah lead the cast.
Haj’s debut feature Personal Affairs also world premiered in Un Certain Regard in 2016.
Producers are Germany’s Pallas Film, France’s Still Moving,...
Screen can reveal the first trailer for Palestinian director Maha Haj’s second film Mediterranean Fever ahead of its world premiere in Cannes Un Certain Regard.
The drama revolves around an aspiring but depressed writer living in Hafia who befriends his small-time crook neighbour in the hope he will help him with a sinister scheme. Amer Hlehel and Ashraf Farah lead the cast.
Haj’s debut feature Personal Affairs also world premiered in Un Certain Regard in 2016.
Producers are Germany’s Pallas Film, France’s Still Moving,...
- 5/17/2022
- by Ellie Calnan
- ScreenDaily
Haj’s first film ’Personal Affairs’ also screened in Cannes Un Certain Regard in 2016.
Paris-based sales company Luxbox has boarded sales on Palestinian director Maha Haj’s second film Mediterranean Fever, which was announced as a fresh addition to Cannes Un Certain Regard section on Thursday (April 21).
At the same time, Dulac Distribution has also announced its acquisition of French rights for the film.
Haj’s debut feature Personal Affairs also world premiered in Un Certain Regard in 2016.
The new drama revolves around an aspiring but depressed writer living in Haifa who befriends his small-time crook neighbour in the hope...
Paris-based sales company Luxbox has boarded sales on Palestinian director Maha Haj’s second film Mediterranean Fever, which was announced as a fresh addition to Cannes Un Certain Regard section on Thursday (April 21).
At the same time, Dulac Distribution has also announced its acquisition of French rights for the film.
Haj’s debut feature Personal Affairs also world premiered in Un Certain Regard in 2016.
The new drama revolves around an aspiring but depressed writer living in Haifa who befriends his small-time crook neighbour in the hope...
- 4/22/2022
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
A week after announcing its official selections, the 2022 Cannes Film Festival has added 17 new films, in the process increasing the number of films directed by women in its main competition from three to five.
The addition of “Un Petit Frere” by French director Leonor Serraille and “Le Otto Montagne” by the Belgian team of Charlotte Vandermeersch and Felix Van Groeningen means that this year’s competition lineup contains five films from female directors, one more than the record of four that was set in 2011 and equaled in 2019 and 2021.
The section now includes 21 films, which means that female-directed films still make up less than one-fourth of the competition lineup at a festival long criticized for its paltry representation of films by women.
The other new competition title is “Tourment Sur les Iles” by Spanish director Albert Serra. Other additions to the festival lineup include Dominik Moll’s “La Nuit du 12” and...
The addition of “Un Petit Frere” by French director Leonor Serraille and “Le Otto Montagne” by the Belgian team of Charlotte Vandermeersch and Felix Van Groeningen means that this year’s competition lineup contains five films from female directors, one more than the record of four that was set in 2011 and equaled in 2019 and 2021.
The section now includes 21 films, which means that female-directed films still make up less than one-fourth of the competition lineup at a festival long criticized for its paltry representation of films by women.
The other new competition title is “Tourment Sur les Iles” by Spanish director Albert Serra. Other additions to the festival lineup include Dominik Moll’s “La Nuit du 12” and...
- 4/21/2022
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
After the initial announcement, the 2022 Cannes Film Festival has added a handful of new titles across its various sections. Most notably, Albert Serra’s newest feature Pacifiction – Tourment sur les îles is now in competition, as well as the latest film from Montparnasse Bienvenüe director Léonor Serraille. Also added is Serge Bozon’s Don Juan, starring Virginie Efira and Tahar Rahim, in the Cannes Premiere section, while Louis Garrel’s L’Innocent will premiere out of competition. Check out all the additions below.
Competition
Le Otto Montagne Charlotte Vandermeersch, Felix Van Groeningen (Italy/Belgium)
Un Petit FRÈRE Léonor Serraille (France)
Tourment Sur Les ÎLES Albert Serra (Spain)
Cannes PREMIÈRE
Don Juan Serge Bozon (France)
LA Nuit Du 12 Dominik Moll (France)
Chronique D’Une Liaison PASSAGÈRE Emmanuel Mouret (France)
Midnight Screenings
Rebel Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah (Belgium)
Un Certain Regard
Plus Que Jamais Emily Atef (Germany/France)
Mediterranean Fever Maha Haj...
Competition
Le Otto Montagne Charlotte Vandermeersch, Felix Van Groeningen (Italy/Belgium)
Un Petit FRÈRE Léonor Serraille (France)
Tourment Sur Les ÎLES Albert Serra (Spain)
Cannes PREMIÈRE
Don Juan Serge Bozon (France)
LA Nuit Du 12 Dominik Moll (France)
Chronique D’Une Liaison PASSAGÈRE Emmanuel Mouret (France)
Midnight Screenings
Rebel Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah (Belgium)
Un Certain Regard
Plus Que Jamais Emily Atef (Germany/France)
Mediterranean Fever Maha Haj...
- 4/21/2022
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
Updated, April 21: The Cannes Film Festival has added competition titles and additional screenings in the Midnight, Un Certain Regard, and Out of Competition sections. They are:
Competition
“The Eight Mountains,” Charlotte Vandermeersch, Felix Van Groeningen
“Un Petit Frère,” Leonor Serraille
“Tourment Sur Les Iles,” Albert Serra
Cannes Premiere
“Don Juan,” Serge Bozon
“La Nuit du 12,” Dominik Moll
“Chronicle of a Temporary Affair,” Emmanuel Mouret
Midnight Screenings
“Rebel,” Adil Arbi, Bilall Fallah
Un Certain Regard
“More Than Ever,” Emily Atef
“Mediterranean Fever,” Maha Haj
“The Blue Caftan,” Maryam Touzani
Out of Competition
“L’Innocent,” Louis Garrel
Special Screenings
“Mi Pais Imaginario,” Patricio Guzmán
“The Vagabonds,” Doroteya Droumeva
“Riposte Feministe,” Marie Perennes, Simon Depardon
“Restos do Vento,” Tiago Guedes
“Little Nicholas,” Amandine Fredon, Benjamin Massoubre
Earlier, April 14: The 2022 Cannes Film Festival is upon us and once again taking place in person this spring from May 17 through May 28. The lineup for...
Competition
“The Eight Mountains,” Charlotte Vandermeersch, Felix Van Groeningen
“Un Petit Frère,” Leonor Serraille
“Tourment Sur Les Iles,” Albert Serra
Cannes Premiere
“Don Juan,” Serge Bozon
“La Nuit du 12,” Dominik Moll
“Chronicle of a Temporary Affair,” Emmanuel Mouret
Midnight Screenings
“Rebel,” Adil Arbi, Bilall Fallah
Un Certain Regard
“More Than Ever,” Emily Atef
“Mediterranean Fever,” Maha Haj
“The Blue Caftan,” Maryam Touzani
Out of Competition
“L’Innocent,” Louis Garrel
Special Screenings
“Mi Pais Imaginario,” Patricio Guzmán
“The Vagabonds,” Doroteya Droumeva
“Riposte Feministe,” Marie Perennes, Simon Depardon
“Restos do Vento,” Tiago Guedes
“Little Nicholas,” Amandine Fredon, Benjamin Massoubre
Earlier, April 14: The 2022 Cannes Film Festival is upon us and once again taking place in person this spring from May 17 through May 28. The lineup for...
- 4/21/2022
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
The Cannes Film Festival on Thursday added a raft of movies to its lineup ahead of next month’s 75th edition, including three films in the main Competition lineup.
The news comes after festival head Thierry Frémaux last week unveiled the event’s 75th anniversary lineup in Paris.
The new Competition titles include two from women directors — Le Otto Montagne from Charlotte Vandermeersch and Felix Van Groeningen, and Un Petit Frère from Léonor Serraille — giving the lineup a record five women helmers in this year’s field competing for the Palme d’Or.
Here are the new titles:
New to Competition:
Le Otto Montagne
Charlotte Vandermeersch, Felix Van Groeningen
Italy/Belgium
Un Petit FRÈRE
Léonor Serraille
France
Tourment Sur Les ÎLES
Albert Serra
Spain
Added to Cannes Premiere section:
Don Juan
Serge Bozon
France
LA Nuit Du 12
Dominik Moll
France
Chronique D’Une Liaison PASSAGÈRE
Emmanuel Mouret
France
A new...
The news comes after festival head Thierry Frémaux last week unveiled the event’s 75th anniversary lineup in Paris.
The new Competition titles include two from women directors — Le Otto Montagne from Charlotte Vandermeersch and Felix Van Groeningen, and Un Petit Frère from Léonor Serraille — giving the lineup a record five women helmers in this year’s field competing for the Palme d’Or.
Here are the new titles:
New to Competition:
Le Otto Montagne
Charlotte Vandermeersch, Felix Van Groeningen
Italy/Belgium
Un Petit FRÈRE
Léonor Serraille
France
Tourment Sur Les ÎLES
Albert Serra
Spain
Added to Cannes Premiere section:
Don Juan
Serge Bozon
France
LA Nuit Du 12
Dominik Moll
France
Chronique D’Une Liaison PASSAGÈRE
Emmanuel Mouret
France
A new...
- 4/21/2022
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
The eighth edition of the annual talent incubator takes place online from March 18-23.
The Doha Film Institute (Dfi) has unveiled the 45 projects that will participate in the eighth edition of its annual talent incubator Qumra, taking place online March 18-23.
The event is running as a virtual edition for the third year due to ongoing health concerns and travel restrictions related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The selection spans 28 features, 11 shorts and 6 series in different stages of development and production from 21 territories.
Features in development include Oscar-nominated Palestinian filmmaker Farah Nabulsi’s debut feature The Teacher and Syrian director Anas Khalaf...
The Doha Film Institute (Dfi) has unveiled the 45 projects that will participate in the eighth edition of its annual talent incubator Qumra, taking place online March 18-23.
The event is running as a virtual edition for the third year due to ongoing health concerns and travel restrictions related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The selection spans 28 features, 11 shorts and 6 series in different stages of development and production from 21 territories.
Features in development include Oscar-nominated Palestinian filmmaker Farah Nabulsi’s debut feature The Teacher and Syrian director Anas Khalaf...
- 3/2/2022
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
The eighth edition of the annual talent incubator takes place online from March 18-23.
The Doha Film Institute (Dfi) has unveiled the 48 projects that will participate in the eighth edition of its annual talent incubator Qumra, taking place online March 18-23.
The event is running as a virtual edition for the third year due to ongoing health concerns and travel restrictions related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The selection spans 28 features, 11 shorts and 6 series in different stages of development and production from 21 territories.
Features in development include Oscar-nominated Palestinian filmmaker Farah Nabulsi’s debut feature The Teacher and Syrian director Anas Khalaf...
The Doha Film Institute (Dfi) has unveiled the 48 projects that will participate in the eighth edition of its annual talent incubator Qumra, taking place online March 18-23.
The event is running as a virtual edition for the third year due to ongoing health concerns and travel restrictions related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The selection spans 28 features, 11 shorts and 6 series in different stages of development and production from 21 territories.
Features in development include Oscar-nominated Palestinian filmmaker Farah Nabulsi’s debut feature The Teacher and Syrian director Anas Khalaf...
- 3/2/2022
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Co-production funds to support the directorial debuts of the two actresses.
The feature directorial debuts of actresses Charlotte Le Bon and Veerle Baetens and a drama about the Bataclan terrorist attack have secured a share of €4.1m ($5m) from European cultural support fund Eurimages.
The Melting is being directed and co-written by Baetens, who is best known internationally for her performance in Felix van Groeningen’s Oscar-nominated The Broken Circle Breakdown.
The Belgium-Netherlands co-production has received €310,000 in Eurimages support, adding to a financial boost from Screen Flanders last week and the ARTEKino International Prize at the Berlinale Co-Production Market earlier this year.
The feature directorial debuts of actresses Charlotte Le Bon and Veerle Baetens and a drama about the Bataclan terrorist attack have secured a share of €4.1m ($5m) from European cultural support fund Eurimages.
The Melting is being directed and co-written by Baetens, who is best known internationally for her performance in Felix van Groeningen’s Oscar-nominated The Broken Circle Breakdown.
The Belgium-Netherlands co-production has received €310,000 in Eurimages support, adding to a financial boost from Screen Flanders last week and the ARTEKino International Prize at the Berlinale Co-Production Market earlier this year.
- 12/15/2020
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Industry professionals will discuss 36 projects at all stages of development.
The fifth edition of Qumra, the Doha Film Institute (Dfi)’s regional talent and project development event begins in Doha today (Friday March 15).
Budding filmmakers from the region and leading international industry professionals will come together to discuss and nurture around 36 film projects at all stages of production at the six-day meeting. Qumra takes place in and around Doha’s Souq Wafiq area as well as the city’s I.M. Pei-designed Museum of Islamic Art.
“The unprecedented access for emerging talent to the world’s top leaders across all...
The fifth edition of Qumra, the Doha Film Institute (Dfi)’s regional talent and project development event begins in Doha today (Friday March 15).
Budding filmmakers from the region and leading international industry professionals will come together to discuss and nurture around 36 film projects at all stages of production at the six-day meeting. Qumra takes place in and around Doha’s Souq Wafiq area as well as the city’s I.M. Pei-designed Museum of Islamic Art.
“The unprecedented access for emerging talent to the world’s top leaders across all...
- 3/15/2019
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
They join the previously announced Agnès Varda, Kiyoshi Kurosawa and Pawel Pawlikowski.
Italian filmmaker Alice Rohrwacher and Mexican Academy Award-winning production designer Eugenio Caballero have been confirmed as the final two masters at the fifth edition of the Doha Film Institute’s Qumra event, which runs March 15-20 this year.
The pair join three previously announced masters: iconic French director Agnès Varda, Japanese filmmaker and writer Kiyoshi Kurosawa and Polish director Pawel Pawlikowski, who is Oscar nominated this year for Cold War.
Caballero’s 30-plus film credits include Jim Jarmusch’s The Limit Of Control, Baz Lurhmann’s Romeo + Juliet and Alfonso Cuarón’s Roma.
Italian filmmaker Alice Rohrwacher and Mexican Academy Award-winning production designer Eugenio Caballero have been confirmed as the final two masters at the fifth edition of the Doha Film Institute’s Qumra event, which runs March 15-20 this year.
The pair join three previously announced masters: iconic French director Agnès Varda, Japanese filmmaker and writer Kiyoshi Kurosawa and Polish director Pawel Pawlikowski, who is Oscar nominated this year for Cold War.
Caballero’s 30-plus film credits include Jim Jarmusch’s The Limit Of Control, Baz Lurhmann’s Romeo + Juliet and Alfonso Cuarón’s Roma.
- 2/11/2019
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Thirst and Last Days In Jerusalem director plots next project.
Palestinian filmmaker Tawfik Abu Wael is developing a Tel Aviv-set thriller spinning off the love story between a young man from the Arab town of Umm al-Fahm and a transgender prostitute he is sent to kill for collaborating with the Israeli secret services.
It will be Abu Wael’s third feature after Thirst (Atash), which premiered in Cannes Critics’ Week in 2004, and Last Days In Jerusalem [pictured], which debuted in competition at the Locarno Film Festival in 2011.
Abu Wael and his long-time producer Baher Agbariya at Haifa-based Majdal Films presented the project at the Jerusalem Pitch Point event on Sunday aimed at connecting Israeli-funded productions with international partners.
“After two hardcore arthouse films, I’m trying to make a thriller,” he told the participants, who included top industry figures such as Protagonist Pictures CEO Michael Goodridge and Tanja Meissner, sales chief at Paris-based Memento Films International (Mfi).
The...
Palestinian filmmaker Tawfik Abu Wael is developing a Tel Aviv-set thriller spinning off the love story between a young man from the Arab town of Umm al-Fahm and a transgender prostitute he is sent to kill for collaborating with the Israeli secret services.
It will be Abu Wael’s third feature after Thirst (Atash), which premiered in Cannes Critics’ Week in 2004, and Last Days In Jerusalem [pictured], which debuted in competition at the Locarno Film Festival in 2011.
Abu Wael and his long-time producer Baher Agbariya at Haifa-based Majdal Films presented the project at the Jerusalem Pitch Point event on Sunday aimed at connecting Israeli-funded productions with international partners.
“After two hardcore arthouse films, I’m trying to make a thriller,” he told the participants, who included top industry figures such as Protagonist Pictures CEO Michael Goodridge and Tanja Meissner, sales chief at Paris-based Memento Films International (Mfi).
The...
- 7/17/2017
- ScreenDaily
Thirst and Last Days In Jerusalem director plots next project.
Palestinian filmmaker Tawfik Abu Wael is developing a Tel Aviv-set thriller spinning off the love story between a young man from the Arab town of Umm al-Fahm and a transgender prostitute he is sent to kill for collaborating with the Israeli secret services.
It will be Abu Wael’s third feature after Thirst (Atash), which premiered in Cannes Critics’ Week in 2004, and Last Days In Jerusalem [pictured], which debuted in competition at the Locarno Film Festival in 2011.
Abu Wael and his long-time producer Baher Agbariya at Haifa-based Majdal Films presented the project at the Jerusalem Pitch Point event on Sunday aimed at connecting Israeli-funded productions with international partners.
“After two hardcore arthouse films, I’m trying to make a thriller,” he told the participants, who included top industry figures such as Protagonist Pictures CEO Michael Goodridge and Tanja Meissner, sales chief at Paris-based Memento Films International (Mfi).
The...
Palestinian filmmaker Tawfik Abu Wael is developing a Tel Aviv-set thriller spinning off the love story between a young man from the Arab town of Umm al-Fahm and a transgender prostitute he is sent to kill for collaborating with the Israeli secret services.
It will be Abu Wael’s third feature after Thirst (Atash), which premiered in Cannes Critics’ Week in 2004, and Last Days In Jerusalem [pictured], which debuted in competition at the Locarno Film Festival in 2011.
Abu Wael and his long-time producer Baher Agbariya at Haifa-based Majdal Films presented the project at the Jerusalem Pitch Point event on Sunday aimed at connecting Israeli-funded productions with international partners.
“After two hardcore arthouse films, I’m trying to make a thriller,” he told the participants, who included top industry figures such as Protagonist Pictures CEO Michael Goodridge and Tanja Meissner, sales chief at Paris-based Memento Films International (Mfi).
The...
- 7/17/2017
- ScreenDaily
Experimental filmmaker Nina Menkes is developing a new film examining the Israel-Palestinian conflict through the Greek legend of Theseus and the Minotaur.
Nina Menkes is developing a new film examining the Israel-Palestinian conflict through a loose re-telling of the Greek legend of Theseus and the Minotaur set against the backdrop of the Old City of Jerusalem in contemporary times.
Entitled simply Minotaur, the film revolves around a Christian Palestinian working with tourists in the Old City, who embodies both Theseus and the Minotaur, which manifests itself as a Hebrew-speaking beast that attacks visitors in the crypt of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. He has a mother called Pasiphae and falls for the beautiful foreign waitress Ariadne.
“First and foremost it’s an emotional story about the process of confronting the self and not living in denial which I think is a big issue around here… but it’s also a political story about here the country...
Nina Menkes is developing a new film examining the Israel-Palestinian conflict through a loose re-telling of the Greek legend of Theseus and the Minotaur set against the backdrop of the Old City of Jerusalem in contemporary times.
Entitled simply Minotaur, the film revolves around a Christian Palestinian working with tourists in the Old City, who embodies both Theseus and the Minotaur, which manifests itself as a Hebrew-speaking beast that attacks visitors in the crypt of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. He has a mother called Pasiphae and falls for the beautiful foreign waitress Ariadne.
“First and foremost it’s an emotional story about the process of confronting the self and not living in denial which I think is a big issue around here… but it’s also a political story about here the country...
- 7/17/2014
- ScreenDaily
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.