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
As with all the middle-Eastern dictators (or whichever other terms you deem proper) Saddam Hussein was an enigmatic figure whose endeavors resulted in both till-death followers and sworn enemies. Halkawt Mustafa manages to shed light to the man probably more than ever, by documenting the words of Alaa Namiq, now 50, who hid Saddam for a staggering 235 days before the Americans tracked him down in 2003, executing him three years later. Halkawt Mustafa persuaded Namiq to tell his story for the first time in this startling documentary, which took 10 years to make and was necessarily shrouded in so much secrecy that even the crew did not know the real subject of the film they were making.
Hiding Saddam Hussein is screening at Red Sea Film Festival
Halkawt Mustafa creates an amalgam of a documentary, including a number of different elements, in an approach that works quite well for the film. Of course,...
Hiding Saddam Hussein is screening at Red Sea Film Festival
Halkawt Mustafa creates an amalgam of a documentary, including a number of different elements, in an approach that works quite well for the film. Of course,...
- 12/3/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
It was one of the largest manhunts in history. Having been ousted from power following the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, Saddam Hussein, the country’s once all-powerful and ruthless leader, went into hiding as an estimated 150,000 troops scoured the land for the individual known as “High-Value Target Number One.”
Incredibly, Hussein evaded capture for almost eight months, famously emerging disheveled and bearded from a tiny purpose-built hole under a flower bed near the town of Tikrit. Three years later, he was hanged.
But who dug the hole for Hussein? Who helped keep him hidden from the U.S. army despite a $25 million reward? In Halkawt Mustafa’s feature doc Hiding Saddam Hussein, the Kurdish/Norwegian filmmaker lets Alaa Namiq tell his incredible story on camera for the first time, explaining how the toppled dictator turned up at his farm unannounced and then spent an incredible 235 days there before he was found.
Incredibly, Hussein evaded capture for almost eight months, famously emerging disheveled and bearded from a tiny purpose-built hole under a flower bed near the town of Tikrit. Three years later, he was hanged.
But who dug the hole for Hussein? Who helped keep him hidden from the U.S. army despite a $25 million reward? In Halkawt Mustafa’s feature doc Hiding Saddam Hussein, the Kurdish/Norwegian filmmaker lets Alaa Namiq tell his incredible story on camera for the first time, explaining how the toppled dictator turned up at his farm unannounced and then spent an incredible 235 days there before he was found.
- 12/1/2023
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Also programmes IDFA on Stage events, plus Paradocs and queer programme.
International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) has selected 35 feature films across its Luminous and Frontlight sections, including new films from Albania, South Africa and Panama.
The Luminous section includes non-fiction titles with a range of styles and formalistic approaches, and consists of 23 films, 22 of which are world or international premieres and 20 of which are features.
Titles include Zikethiwe Ngcobo and Chloe White’s South Africa-uk co-production 1001 Days, about the young mothers struggling to raise their children amid unemployment, poverty, disease and domestic violence in Johannesburg. The film, with Zulu and English-language dialogue,...
International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) has selected 35 feature films across its Luminous and Frontlight sections, including new films from Albania, South Africa and Panama.
The Luminous section includes non-fiction titles with a range of styles and formalistic approaches, and consists of 23 films, 22 of which are world or international premieres and 20 of which are features.
Titles include Zikethiwe Ngcobo and Chloe White’s South Africa-uk co-production 1001 Days, about the young mothers struggling to raise their children amid unemployment, poverty, disease and domestic violence in Johannesburg. The film, with Zulu and English-language dialogue,...
- 10/10/2023
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
A pair of brothers, both little people, root for different soccer teams but are on the same side when push comes to shove in El Clásico. Halkawt Mustafa’s impossible-dream road trip takes the sibling duo from Hawraman, in Kurdish Iraq, to Madrid on a mission to prove themselves capable of “big” things despite their physical stature. While the combination of humor and harrowing perils ranges from the awkward to the touching to the surreal, the feature offers unusual views of a war-torn region, through the lens of a romantic story tinged with allegory.
The production is notable as the first...
The production is notable as the first...
- 11/15/2016
- by Sheri Linden
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“El Clásico” was named the best picture of the 2016 Asian World Film Festival, which presented 20 of the Oscar foreign-language competitors and 18 other movies over nine days in Los Angeles. The film, Iraq’s Oscar entry, was directed by Halkawt Mustafa and is the feel-good story of two little people attempting to bring a pair of Kurdish slippers to the soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo. Other Oscar entries that won prizes were the Turkish film “Cold of Kalandar” (special jury prize, best male lead to Haydar Sisman), South Korea’s “Age of Shadows” (best female lead to Ji-min Han), Nepal’s “The Black.
- 11/2/2016
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Eighty-five countries have submitted films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 89th Academy Awards. Yemen is a first-time entrant.
The 2016 submissions are:
Albania, “Chromium,” Bujar Alimani, director;
Algeria, “The Well,” Lotfi Bouchouchi, director;
Argentina, “The Distinguished Citizen,” Mariano Cohn, Gastón Duprat, directors;
Australia, “Tanna,” Bentley Dean, Martin Butler, directors;
Austria, “Stefan Zweig: Farewell to Europe,” Maria Schrader, director;
Bangladesh, “link=tt5510934 auto]The Unnamed[/link],” Tauquir Ahmed, director;
Belgium, “The Ardennes,” Robin Pront, director;
Bolivia, “Sealed Cargo,” Julia Vargas Weise, director;
Bosnia and Herzegovina, “Death in Sarajevo,” Danis Tanovic, director;
Brazil, “Little Secret,” David Schurmann, director;
Bulgaria, “Losers,” Ivaylo Hristov, director;
Cambodia, “Before the Fall,” Ian White, director;
Canada, “It’s Only the End of the World,” Xavier Dolan, director;
Chile, “Neruda,” Pablo Larraín, director;
China, “Xuan Zang,” Huo Jianqi, director;
Colombia, “Alias Maria,” José Luis Rugeles, director;
Costa Rica, “About Us,” Hernán Jiménez, director;
Croatia, “On the Other Side,...
The 2016 submissions are:
Albania, “Chromium,” Bujar Alimani, director;
Algeria, “The Well,” Lotfi Bouchouchi, director;
Argentina, “The Distinguished Citizen,” Mariano Cohn, Gastón Duprat, directors;
Australia, “Tanna,” Bentley Dean, Martin Butler, directors;
Austria, “Stefan Zweig: Farewell to Europe,” Maria Schrader, director;
Bangladesh, “link=tt5510934 auto]The Unnamed[/link],” Tauquir Ahmed, director;
Belgium, “The Ardennes,” Robin Pront, director;
Bolivia, “Sealed Cargo,” Julia Vargas Weise, director;
Bosnia and Herzegovina, “Death in Sarajevo,” Danis Tanovic, director;
Brazil, “Little Secret,” David Schurmann, director;
Bulgaria, “Losers,” Ivaylo Hristov, director;
Cambodia, “Before the Fall,” Ian White, director;
Canada, “It’s Only the End of the World,” Xavier Dolan, director;
Chile, “Neruda,” Pablo Larraín, director;
China, “Xuan Zang,” Huo Jianqi, director;
Colombia, “Alias Maria,” José Luis Rugeles, director;
Costa Rica, “About Us,” Hernán Jiménez, director;
Croatia, “On the Other Side,...
- 10/12/2016
- by Melissa Thompson
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Eighty-five countries have submitted a film for consideration in the 60th anniversary year of the foreign language film category.
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Science said on Tuesday that this season also marks the first time Yemen has submitted a film, Khadija Al-Salami’s I Am Nojoom, Age 10 And Divorced.
The 89th Oscars will take place on February 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood. László Nemes’ Hungarian entry Son Of Saul won the award last February.
Foreign-language Academy Award Submissions
(Country, Title, director)
Albania, Chromium, dir Bujar Alimani;
Algeria, The Well, Lotfi Bouchouchi;
Argentina, The Distinguished Citizen, Mariano Cohn, Gastón Duprat;
Australia, Tanna, Bentley Dean, Martin Butler;
Austria, Stefan Zweig: Farewell To Europe, Maria Schrader;
Bangladesh, The Unnamed, Tauquir Ahmed;
Belgium, The Ardennes, Robin Pront;
Bolivia, Sealed Cargo, Julia Vargas Weise;
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Death In Sarajevo, Danis Tanovic;
Brazil, Little Secret, David Schurmann.
Bulgaria, Losers, [link...
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Science said on Tuesday that this season also marks the first time Yemen has submitted a film, Khadija Al-Salami’s I Am Nojoom, Age 10 And Divorced.
The 89th Oscars will take place on February 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood. László Nemes’ Hungarian entry Son Of Saul won the award last February.
Foreign-language Academy Award Submissions
(Country, Title, director)
Albania, Chromium, dir Bujar Alimani;
Algeria, The Well, Lotfi Bouchouchi;
Argentina, The Distinguished Citizen, Mariano Cohn, Gastón Duprat;
Australia, Tanna, Bentley Dean, Martin Butler;
Austria, Stefan Zweig: Farewell To Europe, Maria Schrader;
Bangladesh, The Unnamed, Tauquir Ahmed;
Belgium, The Ardennes, Robin Pront;
Bolivia, Sealed Cargo, Julia Vargas Weise;
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Death In Sarajevo, Danis Tanovic;
Brazil, Little Secret, David Schurmann.
Bulgaria, Losers, [link...
- 10/11/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Joachim Trier’s drama Louder Than Bombs won four prizes including Best Director, while The Wave scooped Best Film.Scroll down for full list
Joachim Trier’s Louder than Bombs [pictured] starring Jesse Eisenberg and Gabriel Byrne won four Amanda awards at the 44th Norwegian Film Festival (Aug 20-16), including Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography and Best Editing.
In 2015, the film was the first Norwegian feature to play in competition at Cannes for 36 years.
Marking the first English language film made by Trier, Louder Than Bombs follows a father and his two sons who are made to come to terms with the death of their mother, a notable war photographer.
Roar Uthaug’s The Wave took the night’s top prize, Best Norwegian Film in Theatrical Release. Submitted by Norway to last year’s Academy Awards for the best foreign-language category, it depicts the 1934 Tafjord Tsunami which resulted in the death of 40 people.
Rune Denstad Langlo’s [link...
Joachim Trier’s Louder than Bombs [pictured] starring Jesse Eisenberg and Gabriel Byrne won four Amanda awards at the 44th Norwegian Film Festival (Aug 20-16), including Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography and Best Editing.
In 2015, the film was the first Norwegian feature to play in competition at Cannes for 36 years.
Marking the first English language film made by Trier, Louder Than Bombs follows a father and his two sons who are made to come to terms with the death of their mother, a notable war photographer.
Roar Uthaug’s The Wave took the night’s top prize, Best Norwegian Film in Theatrical Release. Submitted by Norway to last year’s Academy Awards for the best foreign-language category, it depicts the 1934 Tafjord Tsunami which resulted in the death of 40 people.
Rune Denstad Langlo’s [link...
- 8/30/2016
- ScreenDaily
Drama centres on two little people from a town in Kurdish Iraq who risk their lives to deliver shoes to Cristiano Ronaldo.
International sales outfit LevelK has picked up international sales for Norwegian-Kurdish director Halkawt Mustafa’s El Clásico.
The film had its world premiere at Dubai International Film Festival last December 2015 and screened at Tribeca Film Festival, where it was awarded best cinematography in an international narrative feature film. It will next screen at Munich International Film Festival on Sunday (June 26).
Halkawt Mustafa is also nominated for an Amanda for best director at the Norwegian Film Awards in August. El Clásico had its theatrical release in Norway on April 15 through Euforia and recorded more than 10,000 admissions.
El Clásico centres on brothers Alan and Shirwan, two little people from a town in Kurdish Iraq, who are willing to risk their lives to deliver a pair of shoes to football star Cristiano Ronaldo, which Alan believes...
International sales outfit LevelK has picked up international sales for Norwegian-Kurdish director Halkawt Mustafa’s El Clásico.
The film had its world premiere at Dubai International Film Festival last December 2015 and screened at Tribeca Film Festival, where it was awarded best cinematography in an international narrative feature film. It will next screen at Munich International Film Festival on Sunday (June 26).
Halkawt Mustafa is also nominated for an Amanda for best director at the Norwegian Film Awards in August. El Clásico had its theatrical release in Norway on April 15 through Euforia and recorded more than 10,000 admissions.
El Clásico centres on brothers Alan and Shirwan, two little people from a town in Kurdish Iraq, who are willing to risk their lives to deliver a pair of shoes to football star Cristiano Ronaldo, which Alan believes...
- 6/22/2016
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Benedikt Erlingsson, Gréta Olafsdóttir and Margrét Jónasdóttir in the arms of Frédéric Boyer Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze
Tribeca Film Festival Artistic Director Frédéric Boyer met me for a conversation at Benedikt Erlingsson's The Show Of Shows at MoMA PS1's Vw Dome, where Michelangelo Frammartino's Alberi, Tsai Ming-liang's Journey To The West and Celia Rowlson-Hall's Ma premiered. Parents came to mind as a theme with Halkawt Mustafa's El Clásico, Lorene Scafaria's The Meddler, Robert Schwartzman's Dreamland, Jason Bateman's The Family Fang, Kadri Kõusaar's Mother, Bart Freundlich's Wolves and Christian Tafdrup's Parents (Forældre). Andrew Rossi's The First Monday In May, John Dower's My Scientology Movie, Thierry Demaizière and Alban Teurlai's Reset, Benjamin Ree's Magnus, Ferne Pearlstein's The Last Laugh and Dylan Harvey and Ian Roderick Gray's The Banksy Job are some of the original documentaries of note.
Tribeca Film Festival Artistic Director Frédéric Boyer met me for a conversation at Benedikt Erlingsson's The Show Of Shows at MoMA PS1's Vw Dome, where Michelangelo Frammartino's Alberi, Tsai Ming-liang's Journey To The West and Celia Rowlson-Hall's Ma premiered. Parents came to mind as a theme with Halkawt Mustafa's El Clásico, Lorene Scafaria's The Meddler, Robert Schwartzman's Dreamland, Jason Bateman's The Family Fang, Kadri Kõusaar's Mother, Bart Freundlich's Wolves and Christian Tafdrup's Parents (Forældre). Andrew Rossi's The First Monday In May, John Dower's My Scientology Movie, Thierry Demaizière and Alban Teurlai's Reset, Benjamin Ree's Magnus, Ferne Pearlstein's The Last Laugh and Dylan Harvey and Ian Roderick Gray's The Banksy Job are some of the original documentaries of note.
- 4/20/2016
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Top brass at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival presented by At&T have announced selections in the Us Narrative, International Narrative and Documentary Competition strands.
The films comprise 55 out of 110 features that will play during the 15th edition of the New York festival from April 13-24. The festival will present features films in the Spotlight, Midnight, and Special Sections on March 8.
Also included in Wednesday’s announcement are the out-of-competition Viewpoints titles.
The world premiere of Bill Ross and Turner Ross’ Contemporary Color will open the World Documentary competition on April 14, while the world premiere of Kicks by Justin Tipping will open the Us Narrative competition.
The world premiere of Madly directed by Gael García Bernal, Mia Wasikowska, Sebastian Silva, Anurag Kashyap, Sion Sono, and Natasha Khan will open the International Narrative Competition. Viewpoints will open with the world premiere of Nerdland directed by Chris Prynoski.
One third of the festival’s feature films are directed by women...
The films comprise 55 out of 110 features that will play during the 15th edition of the New York festival from April 13-24. The festival will present features films in the Spotlight, Midnight, and Special Sections on March 8.
Also included in Wednesday’s announcement are the out-of-competition Viewpoints titles.
The world premiere of Bill Ross and Turner Ross’ Contemporary Color will open the World Documentary competition on April 14, while the world premiere of Kicks by Justin Tipping will open the Us Narrative competition.
The world premiere of Madly directed by Gael García Bernal, Mia Wasikowska, Sebastian Silva, Anurag Kashyap, Sion Sono, and Natasha Khan will open the International Narrative Competition. Viewpoints will open with the world premiere of Nerdland directed by Chris Prynoski.
One third of the festival’s feature films are directed by women...
- 3/2/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The Marché du Film (Cannes Film Market), in partnership with the Dubai Film Market (Dfm), will present an exclusive screening of five Arab films in post-production amongst the works-in-progress line-up at this year’s Cannes Film Festival: "300 Nights," "Border of Heaven," "The Curve," "Medina," and "The Other Side of November." Films part of the Dubai Film Market Goes to Cannes showcase will be screened to sales agents, distributors and festival programmers in Cannes, with filmmakers giving a brief introduction before showcasing excerpts from their films.
In addition five filmmakers who showcased their films at Diff’s 11th edition and the winners of the ‘The Reel Dubai Short Film Contest’ and ‘The Samsung Short Film Contest’ will present their films in the Cannes Short Film Corner, an essential platform to show their projects to a massive audience, pitch future projects, and make many important connections with industry professionals from around the world.
Through the Dubai Film Market’s (Dfm), the Dubai International Film Festival (Diff) plans to strengthen its program to further support filmmakers, develop a thriving film culture in the region, build a sustainable industry and promote Arab cinema on an international platform for the 12th edition which runs from December 9-16, 2015.
The Dubai Film Connection (Dfc), the region’s co-production market will return to the Dfm. Launched in 2007, the Dfc raised the visibility of Arab filmmakers and stimulated the growth of independent film production in the region. Over the years, numerous past Dfc projects have found critical acclaim around the world.
Shivani Pandya, Diff Managing Director said: “We’re very excited to reinstate the Dubai Film Connection. The filmmakers and industry professionals wanted it back and we listened. By offering the right networking and support opportunities the Dfc opens doors for Arab talent to promote and develop their film projects and it becomes a platform for producers and funds to find the best Arab projects ready for production.
The Dfc is now open for submissions for feature-length fiction and documentary projects in development by directors of Arab nationality or origin. The co-production market introduces Arab filmmakers to regional and international film backers and organizations. Deadline for submission is August 1st, 2015 and details are available at www.diff.ae
Enjaaz, the Dubai Film Market’s post-production and production support program continues to go from strength to strength, lending invaluable backing to a further ten of the region’s filmmakers.
The latest recipients of Enjaaz funding include: Mahmoud Al Massad’s "Blessed Benefit," Jihane Chouaib’s "Breathe," Halkawt Mustafa’s "El Clasico," Fares Naanaa’s "Borders of Heaven," Fawzi Saleh’s "Fish Killed Twice," Mai Masri’s "3000 Nights," Hany Abu Assad’s "Arab Idol," Afraa Batous’s "Skin," Maryanne Zéhil’s "The Other Side of November" and Hakim Belabbes’s "Weight of the Shadow."
Enjaaz is central to the Dfm’s strategy of developing the regional film industry by discovering and supporting filmmaking talent. By enabling more films to get realized, Enjaaz serves to diversify the choice of Arab films available to audiences. A total of 17 films supported by Enjaaz were screened at the 11th edition of Diff and more than 110 films have benefited from the program since its inception.
Swiss luxury watch manufacturer Iwc Schaffhausen, the Official ‘Festival-Time’ Partner of the Diff, continue their support with the highly anticipated fourth Iwc Filmmaker Award offering a cash prize of $100,000 which will help the winning filmmaker bring their ideas to life on screen. This collaboration reinforces Iwc’s global commitment to promoting the film-making industry and supporting talent in cinema with submissions opening later this month.
The Dfm’s most recent initiative, the Dubai Distribution Program (Ddp) launched last year to promote and facilitate the distribution of Arab films has achieved success with local, regional and international titles being picked up from Diff’s 2014 film program. The Ddp has expanded this year to offer greater opportunity for independent filmmakers to obtain distribution and showcase their films to a wider audience by screening films at Miptv, the largest global distribution market and at the Cannes International Film Festival.
In addition five filmmakers who showcased their films at Diff’s 11th edition and the winners of the ‘The Reel Dubai Short Film Contest’ and ‘The Samsung Short Film Contest’ will present their films in the Cannes Short Film Corner, an essential platform to show their projects to a massive audience, pitch future projects, and make many important connections with industry professionals from around the world.
Through the Dubai Film Market’s (Dfm), the Dubai International Film Festival (Diff) plans to strengthen its program to further support filmmakers, develop a thriving film culture in the region, build a sustainable industry and promote Arab cinema on an international platform for the 12th edition which runs from December 9-16, 2015.
The Dubai Film Connection (Dfc), the region’s co-production market will return to the Dfm. Launched in 2007, the Dfc raised the visibility of Arab filmmakers and stimulated the growth of independent film production in the region. Over the years, numerous past Dfc projects have found critical acclaim around the world.
Shivani Pandya, Diff Managing Director said: “We’re very excited to reinstate the Dubai Film Connection. The filmmakers and industry professionals wanted it back and we listened. By offering the right networking and support opportunities the Dfc opens doors for Arab talent to promote and develop their film projects and it becomes a platform for producers and funds to find the best Arab projects ready for production.
The Dfc is now open for submissions for feature-length fiction and documentary projects in development by directors of Arab nationality or origin. The co-production market introduces Arab filmmakers to regional and international film backers and organizations. Deadline for submission is August 1st, 2015 and details are available at www.diff.ae
Enjaaz, the Dubai Film Market’s post-production and production support program continues to go from strength to strength, lending invaluable backing to a further ten of the region’s filmmakers.
The latest recipients of Enjaaz funding include: Mahmoud Al Massad’s "Blessed Benefit," Jihane Chouaib’s "Breathe," Halkawt Mustafa’s "El Clasico," Fares Naanaa’s "Borders of Heaven," Fawzi Saleh’s "Fish Killed Twice," Mai Masri’s "3000 Nights," Hany Abu Assad’s "Arab Idol," Afraa Batous’s "Skin," Maryanne Zéhil’s "The Other Side of November" and Hakim Belabbes’s "Weight of the Shadow."
Enjaaz is central to the Dfm’s strategy of developing the regional film industry by discovering and supporting filmmaking talent. By enabling more films to get realized, Enjaaz serves to diversify the choice of Arab films available to audiences. A total of 17 films supported by Enjaaz were screened at the 11th edition of Diff and more than 110 films have benefited from the program since its inception.
Swiss luxury watch manufacturer Iwc Schaffhausen, the Official ‘Festival-Time’ Partner of the Diff, continue their support with the highly anticipated fourth Iwc Filmmaker Award offering a cash prize of $100,000 which will help the winning filmmaker bring their ideas to life on screen. This collaboration reinforces Iwc’s global commitment to promoting the film-making industry and supporting talent in cinema with submissions opening later this month.
The Dfm’s most recent initiative, the Dubai Distribution Program (Ddp) launched last year to promote and facilitate the distribution of Arab films has achieved success with local, regional and international titles being picked up from Diff’s 2014 film program. The Ddp has expanded this year to offer greater opportunity for independent filmmakers to obtain distribution and showcase their films to a wider audience by screening films at Miptv, the largest global distribution market and at the Cannes International Film Festival.
- 5/13/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Dubai International Film Festival (Diff) has announced a series of industry initiatives for this year’s edition of the festival (Dec 9-16), including the return of co-production market Dubai Film Connection (Dfc).
Launched in 2007, Dfc was not held last year as Diff recalibrated its market activities, but returns this year following industry demand.
Dfc is now open for submissions for feature-length fiction and documentary projects in development from directors of Arab nationality or origin. Deadline for submissions is August 1, 2015.
“We’re very excited to reinstate the Dubai Film Connection,” said Diff managing director Shivani Pandya. “The filmmakers and industry professionals wanted it back and we listened.
“By offering the right networking and support opportunities, the Dfc opens doors for Arab talent to promote and develop their film projects and it becomes a platform for producers and funds to find the best Arab projects ready for production.”
Diff is also continuing with its Enjaaz post-production and production support...
Launched in 2007, Dfc was not held last year as Diff recalibrated its market activities, but returns this year following industry demand.
Dfc is now open for submissions for feature-length fiction and documentary projects in development from directors of Arab nationality or origin. Deadline for submissions is August 1, 2015.
“We’re very excited to reinstate the Dubai Film Connection,” said Diff managing director Shivani Pandya. “The filmmakers and industry professionals wanted it back and we listened.
“By offering the right networking and support opportunities, the Dfc opens doors for Arab talent to promote and develop their film projects and it becomes a platform for producers and funds to find the best Arab projects ready for production.”
Diff is also continuing with its Enjaaz post-production and production support...
- 5/11/2015
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
fter Saddam Hussein.s long, oppressive rule and the subsequent Us invasion of Iraq in 2003 that ended only last year, Iraqi and Kurdish filmmakers seem to be in a hurry to make films . on poison gas attacks on Kurdish villages, mass graves, Iraqi bloggers and even love stories..Halabja - The Lost Children. begins with a young man, Ali, visiting the cemetery. He stands in front of a gravestone and says: .Until two months ago, this was my grave..The documentary by Kurdish Syrian filmmaker Akram Hidou highlights the agony of people after Saddam.s poison gas attack in 1988 on Halabja, the Kurdish city near the border with Iran. Nearly 5,000 people lost their lives, while hundreds of children went missing.Twenty-one years after the attack, Ali returns looking for his lost family. And five families in the Kurdish city hope against hope that Ali is their missing child..When I met Ali,...
- 4/22/2012
- Filmicafe
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