Elaine Epstein’s Arrest The Midwife won the top prize at 25th edition of Hot Docs Forum after decision-makers, funders and filmmakers considered 20 pitches in the two-day event in Toronto.
The project, which looks at how the arrest of three midwives serving Amish and Mennonite communities encourages an unlikely group of activists to join the fight for reproductive rights, won Cad 20,000.
In total Hot Docs said more than Cad 47,000 was handed out at the festival’s international co-financing market event, including Cad 35,000 in first look Pitch Prizes, and the Cad 10,000 Cmf-Hot Docs Forum Canadian Pitch Prize, presented in partnership with the Canada Media Fund.
The project, which looks at how the arrest of three midwives serving Amish and Mennonite communities encourages an unlikely group of activists to join the fight for reproductive rights, won Cad 20,000.
In total Hot Docs said more than Cad 47,000 was handed out at the festival’s international co-financing market event, including Cad 35,000 in first look Pitch Prizes, and the Cad 10,000 Cmf-Hot Docs Forum Canadian Pitch Prize, presented in partnership with the Canada Media Fund.
- 5/2/2024
- ScreenDaily
Producer Ina Fichman, Oscar nominated for “Fire of Love,” was at the 25th edition of Hot Docs Forum on Tuesday to pitch her latest project “Ba’s Book.” Directed by Canadian filmmaker Ashley Da-Le Duong, the hybrid docu focuses on Duong’s father and his experiences living through both the Vietnam War and the Iranian Revolution.
“Let me take you somewhere for a moment,” Duong told the Forum audience and participating distributors including Arte, A24 and Al Jazeera. “It’s 1968 and a young man stands in the middle of a rice paddy field and looks up and sees a helicopter. Not unusual because his house is right beside an American army base, but this time the helicopter overhead shoots at him and he pretends to be dead. He vows to leave his village forever. Eventually he does escape. He wins a scholarship to Iran. But his escaping terror is short...
“Let me take you somewhere for a moment,” Duong told the Forum audience and participating distributors including Arte, A24 and Al Jazeera. “It’s 1968 and a young man stands in the middle of a rice paddy field and looks up and sees a helicopter. Not unusual because his house is right beside an American army base, but this time the helicopter overhead shoots at him and he pretends to be dead. He vows to leave his village forever. Eventually he does escape. He wins a scholarship to Iran. But his escaping terror is short...
- 5/1/2024
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
Venice Film Festival’s Final Cut, dedicated to films in post-production from African and Arab countries, wrapped its anniversary 10th edition on Sept. 5. As fest director Alberto Barbera welcomed the audience to “the final stage of the Final Cut,” La Biennale di Venezia Prize – and cash award of € 5,000 – went to “Inshallah a Boy,” directed by Amjad Al Rasheed.
Jurors Claire Diao, Rasha Salti and Gaetano Maiorino praised it for “brilliant direction and performances, tackling a really dramatic social issue and for honoring the resilience of women in a conservative context.”
The film, a co-production between Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, is overseen by Rula Nasser for The Imaginarium Films.
“We are just proud we made something that speaks to people,” she told Variety after the ceremony.
“We are still a conservative society, but this protagonist, this woman, she’s strong. She decides she needs to stand up and say:...
Jurors Claire Diao, Rasha Salti and Gaetano Maiorino praised it for “brilliant direction and performances, tackling a really dramatic social issue and for honoring the resilience of women in a conservative context.”
The film, a co-production between Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, is overseen by Rula Nasser for The Imaginarium Films.
“We are just proud we made something that speaks to people,” she told Variety after the ceremony.
“We are still a conservative society, but this protagonist, this woman, she’s strong. She decides she needs to stand up and say:...
- 9/6/2022
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
This fall, Arab filmmakers will be out in force at such prestigious international fests as Venice and Toronto. Venice alone boasts six features from first- and second-time Arab directors in its official sections, plus an additional six works-in-progress at its Final Cut Production Bridge. Meanwhile, Toronto opens with “The Swimmers,” a drama from U.K. helmer Sally El Hosaini based on the journey of Syrian sisters and Olympic hopefuls Yusra and Sara Mardini, who fled the war in their home country for Germany. Yusra competed in the 2016 and 2021 Summer Olympics. An additional six Arab films will screen at the Canadian fest.
Dek: Arab filmmakers embrace genres and issues as festivals and distributors take notice
By Alissa Simon
This fall, Arab filmmakers will be out in force at such prestigious international fests as Venice and Toronto. Venice alone boasts six features from first- and second-time Arab directors in its official sections,...
Dek: Arab filmmakers embrace genres and issues as festivals and distributors take notice
By Alissa Simon
This fall, Arab filmmakers will be out in force at such prestigious international fests as Venice and Toronto. Venice alone boasts six features from first- and second-time Arab directors in its official sections,...
- 9/3/2022
- by Alissa Simon
- Variety Film + TV
The Bethlehem-set thriller makes Mena debut in competition at the Red Sea International Film Festival.
Palestinian director Hany Abu Assad’s thriller Huda’s Salon makes its Middle East and North Africa debut on Tuesday (December 7), opening the main competition of Saudi Arabia’s new Red Sea International Film Festival, running December 6 to 15 in Jeddah.
The feature made its world premiere in Toronto three months ago but for Golden Globe-winning and double Oscar nominee Abu Assad, its arrival in the Mena region marks the most important leg of its festival and theatrical journey.
“I made this movie for my home audience,...
Palestinian director Hany Abu Assad’s thriller Huda’s Salon makes its Middle East and North Africa debut on Tuesday (December 7), opening the main competition of Saudi Arabia’s new Red Sea International Film Festival, running December 6 to 15 in Jeddah.
The feature made its world premiere in Toronto three months ago but for Golden Globe-winning and double Oscar nominee Abu Assad, its arrival in the Mena region marks the most important leg of its festival and theatrical journey.
“I made this movie for my home audience,...
- 12/6/2021
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Several award-winning filmmakers to pitch latest projects at industry platform, which has added three new cash prizes.
Swiss documentary festival Visions de Réel has revealed the industry projects that will be pitched and presented at its 2021 edition, including new features from UK director Mark Cousins and Oscar-nominated US filmmaker Elaine McMillion Sheldon.
In total, 29 projects will participate across the VdR-Pitching, VdR-Work in Progress and VdR-Rough Cut Lab. Industry activity will take place from April 14-22 both online and physically in Nyon, subject to pandemic restrictions.
Full list of projects below
The work in progress strand will include the latest...
Swiss documentary festival Visions de Réel has revealed the industry projects that will be pitched and presented at its 2021 edition, including new features from UK director Mark Cousins and Oscar-nominated US filmmaker Elaine McMillion Sheldon.
In total, 29 projects will participate across the VdR-Pitching, VdR-Work in Progress and VdR-Rough Cut Lab. Industry activity will take place from April 14-22 both online and physically in Nyon, subject to pandemic restrictions.
Full list of projects below
The work in progress strand will include the latest...
- 3/19/2021
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Documentary film festival Visions du Réel, which runs April 15-25, has unveiled the 29 projects that will be presented in its industry program, VdR-Industry.
The project will participate in the three key forums in the industry section: VdR-Pitching, VdR-Work in Progress and VdR-Rough Cut Lab. Industry activities will take place from April 14-22, both online and on site in Nyon, Switzerland – if sanitary measures permit.
The VdR-Industry Awards, including three new cash awards, will be granted by an international jury gathering Eurimage’s executive director Roberto Olla, Italian film director Roberto Minervini and Rasha Salti, independent film and visual arts curator, as well as commissioning editor for La Lucarne, Arte France.
“This year’s selection depicts not only the incredible diversity of contemporary documentary filmmaking, but also its ever wider ranging influence,” said Madeline Robert, new head of industry and artistic advisor of Visions du Réel.
VdR-Industry is designed as a springboard for projects,...
The project will participate in the three key forums in the industry section: VdR-Pitching, VdR-Work in Progress and VdR-Rough Cut Lab. Industry activities will take place from April 14-22, both online and on site in Nyon, Switzerland – if sanitary measures permit.
The VdR-Industry Awards, including three new cash awards, will be granted by an international jury gathering Eurimage’s executive director Roberto Olla, Italian film director Roberto Minervini and Rasha Salti, independent film and visual arts curator, as well as commissioning editor for La Lucarne, Arte France.
“This year’s selection depicts not only the incredible diversity of contemporary documentary filmmaking, but also its ever wider ranging influence,” said Madeline Robert, new head of industry and artistic advisor of Visions du Réel.
VdR-Industry is designed as a springboard for projects,...
- 3/19/2021
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
For the first time, industry professionals from Azerbaijan and Armenia will take part in the School of Film Advancement workshops, starting with the first online one 18-28 August. Update (21 August): Sofa has announced the experts, tutors and guests for its 8th edition. Each participant has an individually picked mentor that perfectly fits the project’s needs. Another three tutors additionally working with them at budget, presentation and concept papers. The experts are: Jeffrey Bowers, Senior Curator at vimeo (USA); Silvia Cibien, General Delegate at Eurovod (France); Jakub Duszyński, Head of Acquisitions and Creative Director at Gutek Film (Poland); Marit van den Elshout, Head of Iffr Pro at International Film Festival Rotterdam (Netherlands); Heike-Melba Fendel, Founder of Barbarella Entertainment (Germany); Jurate Pazikaite, Managing Director at Vilnius Film Office (Lithuania); Jay Rinsky, Founder of Little Cinema (USA); Rasha Salti, independent curator and writer (Lebanon/Germany); and Tamara Tatishvili, Head of Training at Medici.
Mark Jenkin’s debut won the Grand Prix and audience award at the event in Wrocław, Poland.
Bait, the debut feature from UK filmmaker Mark Jenkin, was awarded the Grand Prix and the audience award at the closing ceremony of New Horizons International Film Festival on Saturday (August 3).
This year a total of 12 features were competing for the Grand Prix at the 19th edition of the event, held in Wrocław, Poland from July 25 to August 4.
Produced by Early Day Films, Bait was shot on 16mm black and white film and follows a small fishing community in Cornwall which comes under...
Bait, the debut feature from UK filmmaker Mark Jenkin, was awarded the Grand Prix and the audience award at the closing ceremony of New Horizons International Film Festival on Saturday (August 3).
This year a total of 12 features were competing for the Grand Prix at the 19th edition of the event, held in Wrocław, Poland from July 25 to August 4.
Produced by Early Day Films, Bait was shot on 16mm black and white film and follows a small fishing community in Cornwall which comes under...
- 8/5/2019
- ScreenDaily
Industry event featuring pitches, work in progress screenings, mentoring sessions and masterclasses wrapped on Wednesday.
The Doha Film Institute wrapped a successful fifth edition of its respected Qumra industry event on Wednesday.
The five-day meeting, running March 15-20, followed its tried and tested formula of pitches, work in progress screenings, mentoring sessions and masterclasses around 36 projects backed by the Dfi, in an informal, friendly atmosphere.
Industry professionals – spanning producers, directors, festival programmers and sales agents – heaped praise on the fifth edition as it came to an end with its traditional open-air party in the Qatari desert.
“To my knowledge, it...
The Doha Film Institute wrapped a successful fifth edition of its respected Qumra industry event on Wednesday.
The five-day meeting, running March 15-20, followed its tried and tested formula of pitches, work in progress screenings, mentoring sessions and masterclasses around 36 projects backed by the Dfi, in an informal, friendly atmosphere.
Industry professionals – spanning producers, directors, festival programmers and sales agents – heaped praise on the fifth edition as it came to an end with its traditional open-air party in the Qatari desert.
“To my knowledge, it...
- 3/21/2019
- by Geoffrey Macnab
- ScreenDaily
After taking a pause last year, the Marrakech Intl. Film Festival returns this with a new artistic director – Christoph Terhechte, former head of the Berlin Film Festival’s avant-garde Forum section, who was appointed in June. Terhechte has revamped this year’s edition, welcoming some of the festival’s oldest friends, including Martin Scorsese, complemented by new ventures such as the Atlas Workshops, sponsored by Netflix, that aims to nurture upcoming Arab filmmakers. Terhechte’s Marrakech programming team includes Ali Hajji, the fest’s former general coordinator; Rasha Salti, selector for various festivals, including Abu Dhabi and Toronto; film critic Anke Leweke, member of Berlin’s selection committee since 2002; and Remi Bonhomme, general coordinator of the Cannes Film Festival’s Critics’ Week. In this exclusive interview with Variety, Terhechte talks about the 17th edition of the festival, which bowed Friday, and runs until Dec. 8.
The 2018 lineup is impressive with many old friends of the festival,...
The 2018 lineup is impressive with many old friends of the festival,...
- 11/30/2018
- by Martin Dale
- Variety Film + TV
Festival to kick off with Julian Schnabel’s At Eternity’s Gate.
The Marrakech International Film Festival (Nov 30-Dec 8) has revealed its 2018 line-up, jury and honorary awards.
The Moroccan festival has been running since 2001, but took a year off in 2017 to “reflect on its editorial line”.
The competition line-up features 14 films from first or second-time directors. Six of the films competing for the Marrakech Etoile d’Or (or the Gold Star) are directed by women. Among the line-up is Sudabeh Mortezai’s Joy, Kent Jones’ Diane and Eva Trobisch’s All Good.
The festival opens with a gala screening of...
The Marrakech International Film Festival (Nov 30-Dec 8) has revealed its 2018 line-up, jury and honorary awards.
The Moroccan festival has been running since 2001, but took a year off in 2017 to “reflect on its editorial line”.
The competition line-up features 14 films from first or second-time directors. Six of the films competing for the Marrakech Etoile d’Or (or the Gold Star) are directed by women. Among the line-up is Sudabeh Mortezai’s Joy, Kent Jones’ Diane and Eva Trobisch’s All Good.
The festival opens with a gala screening of...
- 11/19/2018
- by Orlando Parfitt
- ScreenDaily
Robert De Niro will be celebrated with a special tribute at the 17th edition of the Marrakech Film Festival.
“Although I have been to Marrakech on several occasions, I feel I am now seeing a side of Marrakech I have always wanted to see,” said the Oscar-winning actor. “I am most grateful for this invitation, and am looking forward to being a part of a great festival.”
De Niro’s next project is “The Irishman,” directed by Martin Scorsese, which their ninth collaboration. The pair are producing the film together. Now in post, the anticipated Netflix movie also stars Al Pacino and Jesse Plemons.
De Niro won an Oscar for best supporting actor for Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather: Part II,” and an Oscar for best actor for Scorsese’s “Raging Bull.”
De Niro also runs his production company, Tribeca Productions, as well as the Tribeca Film Festival, which...
“Although I have been to Marrakech on several occasions, I feel I am now seeing a side of Marrakech I have always wanted to see,” said the Oscar-winning actor. “I am most grateful for this invitation, and am looking forward to being a part of a great festival.”
De Niro’s next project is “The Irishman,” directed by Martin Scorsese, which their ninth collaboration. The pair are producing the film together. Now in post, the anticipated Netflix movie also stars Al Pacino and Jesse Plemons.
De Niro won an Oscar for best supporting actor for Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather: Part II,” and an Oscar for best actor for Scorsese’s “Raging Bull.”
De Niro also runs his production company, Tribeca Productions, as well as the Tribeca Film Festival, which...
- 10/1/2018
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Event returns after taking a year off in 2017.
Director James Gray will head the Competition jury for the 2018 Marrakech International Film Festival.
The event, which started in 2001, returns to the festival calendar after taking a year off in 2017 to “reflect on its editorial line”.
The Competition selection will consist of 14 first and second films chosen by a programming committee headed by artistic director Christoph Terhechte, who joined in June.
The top prize, the Golden Star - Grand Prix, comes with a cash prize of $50,000. Other prizes include the jury prize, best actor, best actress and best director.
Gray, who directed Little Odessa,...
Director James Gray will head the Competition jury for the 2018 Marrakech International Film Festival.
The event, which started in 2001, returns to the festival calendar after taking a year off in 2017 to “reflect on its editorial line”.
The Competition selection will consist of 14 first and second films chosen by a programming committee headed by artistic director Christoph Terhechte, who joined in June.
The top prize, the Golden Star - Grand Prix, comes with a cash prize of $50,000. Other prizes include the jury prize, best actor, best actress and best director.
Gray, who directed Little Odessa,...
- 9/20/2018
- by Orlando Parfitt
- ScreenDaily
Christoph Terhechte, the former head of the Berlin Film Festival’s avant-garde Forum section, has been appointed artistic director of the Marrakech International Film Festival, which is being revived and revamped after a one-year hiatus.
Terhechte, who stepped down in May as chief of the prestigious Berlin sidebar, will be in charge of the upcoming 17th edition of Marrakech, which, after gaining prestige primarily as a launching pad for Arabic cinema, appears set to broaden its horizons.
The Marrakech fest is run by a foundation presided by Morocco’s Prince Moulay Rachid, the brother of King Mohammed VI. Last year, the foundation did not renew the contract of French company Le Public System Cinema, which organizes several events, including the Deauville American Film Festival.
The foundation said last year that it had decided to cancel the fest’s 2017 edition to “allow the festival to advance its mission not only to promote Moroccan cinema,...
Terhechte, who stepped down in May as chief of the prestigious Berlin sidebar, will be in charge of the upcoming 17th edition of Marrakech, which, after gaining prestige primarily as a launching pad for Arabic cinema, appears set to broaden its horizons.
The Marrakech fest is run by a foundation presided by Morocco’s Prince Moulay Rachid, the brother of King Mohammed VI. Last year, the foundation did not renew the contract of French company Le Public System Cinema, which organizes several events, including the Deauville American Film Festival.
The foundation said last year that it had decided to cancel the fest’s 2017 edition to “allow the festival to advance its mission not only to promote Moroccan cinema,...
- 6/25/2018
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
must reaFormer Berlinale Forum director Christoph Terhechte joins new programming team.
The Marrakech International Film Festival in Morocco has appointed Christoph Terhechte as its new artistic director.
Terhechte was previously director of the Berlin Film Festival’s Forum section from 2001 to 2018, and announced he was standing down this year to “take on new career challenges”. He was also a member of the Berlinale Competition selection committee.
Joining him on the programming team is:
Ali Hajji - previously artistic director of the European Film Weeks in Morocco from 2006 to 2017 - has also been appointed general coordinator art curator Rasha Salti who...
The Marrakech International Film Festival in Morocco has appointed Christoph Terhechte as its new artistic director.
Terhechte was previously director of the Berlin Film Festival’s Forum section from 2001 to 2018, and announced he was standing down this year to “take on new career challenges”. He was also a member of the Berlinale Competition selection committee.
Joining him on the programming team is:
Ali Hajji - previously artistic director of the European Film Weeks in Morocco from 2006 to 2017 - has also been appointed general coordinator art curator Rasha Salti who...
- 6/25/2018
- by Orlando Parfitt
- ScreenDaily
The Marrakesh International Film Festival, a popular event among Hollywood A-listers and international industry, has appointed Christoph Terhechte as Artistic Director.
Terhechte chaired the Forum section of the Berlin Film Festival from 2001 to 2018 and will oversee the 17th edition of the Moroccan festival between November 30 – December 8, 2018, after it took a year off in 2017 due to a reported lack of sponsorship.
Recent Marrakesh jury presidents have included Francis Ford Coppola, Isabelle Huppert and John Malkovich while jury members have included Jessica Chastain, Sigourney Weaver, the late Alan Rickman and Susanne Bier.
Melita Toscan du Plantier, director of public relations for the festival in 2001 and 2002 and director of the festival from 2003 to 2016, has been appointed advisor to His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid, President of the Marrakech Film Festival Foundation.
The programming team will comprise Ali Hajji, long-time Casablanca festival delegate director and former general coordinator of Marrakech; curator Rasha Salti; critic...
Terhechte chaired the Forum section of the Berlin Film Festival from 2001 to 2018 and will oversee the 17th edition of the Moroccan festival between November 30 – December 8, 2018, after it took a year off in 2017 due to a reported lack of sponsorship.
Recent Marrakesh jury presidents have included Francis Ford Coppola, Isabelle Huppert and John Malkovich while jury members have included Jessica Chastain, Sigourney Weaver, the late Alan Rickman and Susanne Bier.
Melita Toscan du Plantier, director of public relations for the festival in 2001 and 2002 and director of the festival from 2003 to 2016, has been appointed advisor to His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid, President of the Marrakech Film Festival Foundation.
The programming team will comprise Ali Hajji, long-time Casablanca festival delegate director and former general coordinator of Marrakech; curator Rasha Salti; critic...
- 6/25/2018
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
limited
Let the Sunshine In (Un beau soleil intérieur)
Juliette Binoche stars as a woman seeking new love at midlife. Directed by Claire Denis; written by Denis and Christine Angot.
my review|find cinemas
Ava [pictured]
Mahour Jabbari stars as a schoolgirl in Tehran who rebels against her restrictive parents and culture. Written and directed by Sadaf Foroughi.
find cinemas
Love & Bananas: An Elephant Story
Ashley Bell directs and cowrites this documentary portrait of elephant conservationist Lek Chailert and her mission to rescue an elderly elephant from captivity.
find cinemas
Disobedience
Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams star in this romantic drama about the forbidden love between two women in an orthodox Jewish community in London. Cowritten by Rebecca Lenkiewicz. (male director)
find cinemas
Duck Butter
Alia Shawkat and Laia Costa star as two women unsatisfied with modern romance who decide to get to know each other by having sex every hour for a full day.
Let the Sunshine In (Un beau soleil intérieur)
Juliette Binoche stars as a woman seeking new love at midlife. Directed by Claire Denis; written by Denis and Christine Angot.
my review|find cinemas
Ava [pictured]
Mahour Jabbari stars as a schoolgirl in Tehran who rebels against her restrictive parents and culture. Written and directed by Sadaf Foroughi.
find cinemas
Love & Bananas: An Elephant Story
Ashley Bell directs and cowrites this documentary portrait of elephant conservationist Lek Chailert and her mission to rescue an elderly elephant from captivity.
find cinemas
Disobedience
Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams star in this romantic drama about the forbidden love between two women in an orthodox Jewish community in London. Cowritten by Rebecca Lenkiewicz. (male director)
find cinemas
Duck Butter
Alia Shawkat and Laia Costa star as two women unsatisfied with modern romance who decide to get to know each other by having sex every hour for a full day.
- 4/27/2018
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
Exclusive: Still Moving picks up ‘The Black Frost’ and ‘In The Last Days Of City’.
French sales and co-production company Still Moving has acquired world sales rights to Maximiliano Schonfeld’s The Black Frost [pictured] and Tamer El Said’s In The Last Days Of The City ahead of their premieres at the Berlinale (Feb 11-21).
The two titles are the first world sales acquisitions for the Paris-based company launched by industry veterans Pierre Menahem and Juliette Lepoutre at the last Berlinale with an initial focus on international co-productions
“We spent the first year focussing on co-productions and now we’re expanding into world sales which was always the way we planned it,” said Menahem.
The Black Frost, set to premiere in Panorama, is Argentine film-maker Schonfeld’s second film after his 2012 feature debut Germania in which a family is forced to leave their poultry farm after its birds are infected with a deadly plague-like disease.
His new film...
French sales and co-production company Still Moving has acquired world sales rights to Maximiliano Schonfeld’s The Black Frost [pictured] and Tamer El Said’s In The Last Days Of The City ahead of their premieres at the Berlinale (Feb 11-21).
The two titles are the first world sales acquisitions for the Paris-based company launched by industry veterans Pierre Menahem and Juliette Lepoutre at the last Berlinale with an initial focus on international co-productions
“We spent the first year focussing on co-productions and now we’re expanding into world sales which was always the way we planned it,” said Menahem.
The Black Frost, set to premiere in Panorama, is Argentine film-maker Schonfeld’s second film after his 2012 feature debut Germania in which a family is forced to leave their poultry farm after its birds are infected with a deadly plague-like disease.
His new film...
- 2/4/2016
- ScreenDaily
The 36th Toronto International Film Festival was held Sept. 8 to 18, bringing film titles from around the world in an effort to find distribution and audiences. While Hollywood provided star power with films that already have release dates, such as Brad Pitt's "Moneyball" and George Clooney's star-laden "The Ides of March," the festival also offered a chance for audiences to view more than 300 films from more than 60 countries. In the end, a bittersweet comedy from Lebanon, "Where Do We Go Now?" won the Cadillac People's Choice Award. Lebanese director Nadine Labaki, who also stars in the film, wasn't on hand to accept her award but was reached at the airport in Germany for comment. "I'm running around jumping up and down at the Frankfurt airport," she said in a statement read by festival programmer Rasha Salti. "Tomorrow we'll be screening 'Where Do We Go Now?' for the...
- 9/29/2011
- by help@backstage.com (Jenelle Riley)
- backstage.com
A comedy movie set in war-torn Lebanon has won the People's Choice award at the Toronto International Film Festival. 'Where Do We Go Now?', which features a largely-unknown cast, beat off competition from two entries starring George Clooney, 'The Descendants' and 'The Ides of March', to take the prestigious accolade - which is voted by festival audiences and was won last year by 'The King's Speech' - at the ceremony at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto yesterday (18.09.11). Festival programmer Rasha Salti accepted the award on filmmaker Nadine Labaki's behalf, but the director explained she is ''happy''...
- 9/19/2011
- Virgin Media - Movies
Nadine Labaki's film about Lebanese women trying to keep husbands out of religious war garnered rave reviews at Cannes
Where Do We Go Now?, a bittersweet comedy set in war-torn Lebanon, beat two well-received entries starring George Clooney to win the people's choice award on Sunday at the Toronto international film festival.
The award is voted on by festival audiences and has typically been regarded as a bellwether for Oscar success.
Lebanese-Canadian director-actor Nadine Labaki's feminist film about village women bent on keeping their hotheaded men out of a religious war was chosen earlier this month as Lebanon's 2011 entry in the best foreign language film category for the Academy Awards.
Labaki, who also stars in the film, was travelling in Europe when she heard the news, which was announced on Sunday at a closing brunch for the 11-day festival.
Festival programmer Rasha Salti accepted the award on the filmmaker's behalf,...
Where Do We Go Now?, a bittersweet comedy set in war-torn Lebanon, beat two well-received entries starring George Clooney to win the people's choice award on Sunday at the Toronto international film festival.
The award is voted on by festival audiences and has typically been regarded as a bellwether for Oscar success.
Lebanese-Canadian director-actor Nadine Labaki's feminist film about village women bent on keeping their hotheaded men out of a religious war was chosen earlier this month as Lebanon's 2011 entry in the best foreign language film category for the Academy Awards.
Labaki, who also stars in the film, was travelling in Europe when she heard the news, which was announced on Sunday at a closing brunch for the 11-day festival.
Festival programmer Rasha Salti accepted the award on the filmmaker's behalf,...
- 9/19/2011
- The Guardian - Film News
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.