No reasonably intelligent person imagines an artist’s statement about the horrors in Gaza would, in fact, end those horrors, but there are always limits to what one can take and hopes for what one could do. It might even be said that, as observers of the world and human behavior, filmmakers are especially inclined to recoil. When I interviewed Pedro Costa last month he spoke, unprompted, of a situation that’s only grown worse: “It’s very clear that we cannot stand images anymore. I can’t. I can’t. The images of the world for me [Exhales] I can’t. I turn my eyes, and I’m sure you do the same. It’s unbearable.” When I spoke with Anthony Dod Mantle a couple of weeks later it, again, emerged––vis-a-vis The Zone of Interest, whose own cinematographer alluded to it the next day. It’s difficult being a person in the world,...
- 12/29/2023
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
Moroccan director Hicham Lasri is presenting the world premiere of his seventh feature film, “Moroccan Badass Girl,” at the Marrakech Film Festival, and also participating in the Atlas Workshops with “Happy Lovers.” He describes both as dark comedies about antiheroes in the Arab world, “a bit in the vein of the Coen brothers.”
“Moroccan Badass Girl,” starring Fadoua Taleb, is a contemporary low-budget pic about a headstrong, unpredictable young Moroccan woman in Casablanca. “Happy Lovers” features a clumsy French writer who accepts a mission to kill a well-known author, with a fatwa on his head.
Both projects mark a major change from Lasri’s previous six feature films, which have all been set in Morocco in the 1980s, at the end of the so-called “Years of Lead,” during the reign of King Hassan II.
“Moroccan Badass Girl” is produced by Lasri through S.A. Prod., with sales handled by Mad Solutions.
“Moroccan Badass Girl,” starring Fadoua Taleb, is a contemporary low-budget pic about a headstrong, unpredictable young Moroccan woman in Casablanca. “Happy Lovers” features a clumsy French writer who accepts a mission to kill a well-known author, with a fatwa on his head.
Both projects mark a major change from Lasri’s previous six feature films, which have all been set in Morocco in the 1980s, at the end of the so-called “Years of Lead,” during the reign of King Hassan II.
“Moroccan Badass Girl” is produced by Lasri through S.A. Prod., with sales handled by Mad Solutions.
- 11/30/2023
- by Martin Dale
- Variety Film + TV
Projects come from 11 different countries across the Arab world and African continent.
The Atlas Workshops, the industry platform of the Marrakech International Film Festival, has unveiled 25 projects for its sixth edition, which runs from November 27-30.
Atlas Workshops has lined up 16 projects in development and nine films in production or post-production from 11 countries across the Arab world and African continent.
The line-up includes projects from Tunisian directors Youssef Chebbi and Erige Sehiri. Chebbi’s feature Ashkal played in Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes last year, as did Sehiri’s Under The Fig Trees.
Also coming to The Atlas Workshops is Somalia...
The Atlas Workshops, the industry platform of the Marrakech International Film Festival, has unveiled 25 projects for its sixth edition, which runs from November 27-30.
Atlas Workshops has lined up 16 projects in development and nine films in production or post-production from 11 countries across the Arab world and African continent.
The line-up includes projects from Tunisian directors Youssef Chebbi and Erige Sehiri. Chebbi’s feature Ashkal played in Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes last year, as did Sehiri’s Under The Fig Trees.
Also coming to The Atlas Workshops is Somalia...
- 11/3/2023
- by Tim Dams
- ScreenDaily
Festival has programmed 75 films from 36 countries.
The Marrakech International Film Festival has unveiled the full line-up for its 20th edition, which runs from November 24-December 2.
The festival is opening with Richard Linklater’s action comedy Hit Man, starring Glen Powell, and is screening 75 films in total from 36 countries.
Marrakech’s official competition, which comprises first and second feature films, includes Ramata-Toulaye Sy’s Cannes Competition title Banel & Adama, Lina Soualem’s Venice Giornate degli Autori documentary Bye Bye Tiberias and Moroccan director Kamal Lazraq’s feature debut Hounds, which premiered in Un Certain Regard at Cannes.
Scroll down for full line-up
Johnny Barrington,...
The Marrakech International Film Festival has unveiled the full line-up for its 20th edition, which runs from November 24-December 2.
The festival is opening with Richard Linklater’s action comedy Hit Man, starring Glen Powell, and is screening 75 films in total from 36 countries.
Marrakech’s official competition, which comprises first and second feature films, includes Ramata-Toulaye Sy’s Cannes Competition title Banel & Adama, Lina Soualem’s Venice Giornate degli Autori documentary Bye Bye Tiberias and Moroccan director Kamal Lazraq’s feature debut Hounds, which premiered in Un Certain Regard at Cannes.
Scroll down for full line-up
Johnny Barrington,...
- 11/2/2023
- by Tim Dams
- ScreenDaily
Lamia Chraibi is one of Morocco’s best-known indie film producers whose credits include Mica, about a boy from the slums who is discovered to have a talent for tennis, and Sitges prize-winning horror Achoura as well as co-producing 2016 Cannes Critics’ Week winner Las Mimosas.
The Franco-Moroccan producer, who works under the banner of La Prod in Casablanca and Moons a Deal in Paris, is now attempting to break into drama series.
It is a transition that has been tried and tested by indie film producers in Europe and North America but is less common in the Middle East and North Africa.
Chraibi is giving it a shot in the belief that North African drama could eventually enjoy the same popularity as the non-English language shows out of Scandinavia, Turkey or South Korea.
“I’m convinced that they could seduce audiences in the same way,” she says.
“Language and origin...
The Franco-Moroccan producer, who works under the banner of La Prod in Casablanca and Moons a Deal in Paris, is now attempting to break into drama series.
It is a transition that has been tried and tested by indie film producers in Europe and North America but is less common in the Middle East and North Africa.
Chraibi is giving it a shot in the belief that North African drama could eventually enjoy the same popularity as the non-English language shows out of Scandinavia, Turkey or South Korea.
“I’m convinced that they could seduce audiences in the same way,” she says.
“Language and origin...
- 3/22/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Marrakech – One of Morocco’s highest-profile female producers has got her hands full with a slew of new projects. Lamia Chraibi of the Casablanca-based production shingle Laprod has revealed a full new production slate to Variety that she is working on beyond her current focus, the production “Thank You Satan” directed by Morocco’s Hicham Lasri (“Cruelty Free”).
Previously called “Happy Lovers,” the dark comedy is about a penniless novelist who plans to assassinate a famous author that has been issued a fatwa. He wants to use the money to buy his wife and new children a place in the sun.
“It will be a first of its kind and I cannot wait for this movie to be made,” she tells Variety.
Other projects in the works include drama/horror “Le Refuge” by Talal Selhami (“Achora”). The director described the film as Polanski-esque in style. The story unfolds inside an apartment with very few characters.
Previously called “Happy Lovers,” the dark comedy is about a penniless novelist who plans to assassinate a famous author that has been issued a fatwa. He wants to use the money to buy his wife and new children a place in the sun.
“It will be a first of its kind and I cannot wait for this movie to be made,” she tells Variety.
Other projects in the works include drama/horror “Le Refuge” by Talal Selhami (“Achora”). The director described the film as Polanski-esque in style. The story unfolds inside an apartment with very few characters.
- 11/19/2022
- by Liza Foreman
- Variety Film + TV
Film Independent today announced the names of the 30 filmmakers, from 11 nations, selected to participate in its 2022 Global Media Makers LA Residency, taking place in person this month.
The filmmakers and projects chosen are Sumon Delwar (My Cousin), Ali El Arabi and Ahmed El Zoghby (The Legend of Zeinab and Noah), Prantik Basu (Dengue), Archana Borhade and Mangesh Joshi (Purjey (Parts)), Sriram Raja and Deyali Mukherjee (New Sweetness), Kushal Batunge (They Call Her Mafia), Gaby Zarazir and Michael Zarazir, Lamia Chraibi and Hicham Lasri (Meskoun), Anup Poudel and Abinash Bikram Shah (Elephants in the Fog), Rajan Kathet and Sunir Pandey (No Winter Holidays), Fizza Ali Meerza and Nabeel Qureshi (There Was a Boy), Suzannah Mirghani (Cotton Queen), Amjad Abu Alala and Mohamed Kordofani (Goodbye Julia), Lotfi Achour and Anissa Daoud (Red Path), Rashid Abdelhamid and Ismahane Lahmar (A Respectable Family), Sezen Kayhan and Beste Yamalıoğlu (Women with...
The filmmakers and projects chosen are Sumon Delwar (My Cousin), Ali El Arabi and Ahmed El Zoghby (The Legend of Zeinab and Noah), Prantik Basu (Dengue), Archana Borhade and Mangesh Joshi (Purjey (Parts)), Sriram Raja and Deyali Mukherjee (New Sweetness), Kushal Batunge (They Call Her Mafia), Gaby Zarazir and Michael Zarazir, Lamia Chraibi and Hicham Lasri (Meskoun), Anup Poudel and Abinash Bikram Shah (Elephants in the Fog), Rajan Kathet and Sunir Pandey (No Winter Holidays), Fizza Ali Meerza and Nabeel Qureshi (There Was a Boy), Suzannah Mirghani (Cotton Queen), Amjad Abu Alala and Mohamed Kordofani (Goodbye Julia), Lotfi Achour and Anissa Daoud (Red Path), Rashid Abdelhamid and Ismahane Lahmar (A Respectable Family), Sezen Kayhan and Beste Yamalıoğlu (Women with...
- 4/13/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
The El Gouna Film Festival’s project development platform showcased 20 projects in development and post-production.
Algerian filmmaker Sofia Djama’s unwanted pregnancy drama A Quarter To Thursday In Algiers and Palestinian-us filmmaker Hind Shoufani’s feature documentary work They Planted Strange Trees have scooped the top prizes at the CineGouna Platform.
Running October 16-21, within the framework of the El Gouna Film Festival, the platform’s CineGouna Springboard component showcased 20 projects in development and post-production.
The jury comprised Lebanese producer and film critic Mohamed Soueid, Nina Lath Gupta, the former managing director of India’s National Film and Television Development...
Algerian filmmaker Sofia Djama’s unwanted pregnancy drama A Quarter To Thursday In Algiers and Palestinian-us filmmaker Hind Shoufani’s feature documentary work They Planted Strange Trees have scooped the top prizes at the CineGouna Platform.
Running October 16-21, within the framework of the El Gouna Film Festival, the platform’s CineGouna Springboard component showcased 20 projects in development and post-production.
The jury comprised Lebanese producer and film critic Mohamed Soueid, Nina Lath Gupta, the former managing director of India’s National Film and Television Development...
- 10/25/2021
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Yomna Khattab’s “Fifty Meters” (Egypt) was the big winner at the CineGouna Platform, the El Gouna Film Festival’s industry arm created to support and empower Egyptian and Arab filmmakers and help them find artistic and financial support.
This year, the CineGouna Platform disbursed awards worth $300,000 across 13 projects in development and seven films in post-production. The platform operates the SpringBoard and Bridge programs. The SpringBoard jury included Lebanese producer and film critic Mohamed Soueid, Nina Lath Gupta, former CEO of India’s National Film Development Corporation and Moroccan director and screenwriter Ismaël Ferroukhi.
“Fifty meters” won a $10,000 full film promotion package from The Cell Post Production, a $10,000 cash grant from Trend VFX, $10,000 from Synergy Films, $15,000 cash grant for script development from Mariam Naoum and Sard Writing Room, $5,000 worth of post-production services from Bee Media Productions, $10,000 from Cult, $1,000 for locations services from Clackett and a $7,000 master’s degree U.S.
This year, the CineGouna Platform disbursed awards worth $300,000 across 13 projects in development and seven films in post-production. The platform operates the SpringBoard and Bridge programs. The SpringBoard jury included Lebanese producer and film critic Mohamed Soueid, Nina Lath Gupta, former CEO of India’s National Film Development Corporation and Moroccan director and screenwriter Ismaël Ferroukhi.
“Fifty meters” won a $10,000 full film promotion package from The Cell Post Production, a $10,000 cash grant from Trend VFX, $10,000 from Synergy Films, $15,000 cash grant for script development from Mariam Naoum and Sard Writing Room, $5,000 worth of post-production services from Bee Media Productions, $10,000 from Cult, $1,000 for locations services from Clackett and a $7,000 master’s degree U.S.
- 10/22/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
The fifth edition of project incubator event will showcase 20 projects in development and post-production.
Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival (October 14-22) has unveiled the selection of 20 projects in development and post-production from Arab filmmakers to be showcased at the fifth annual CineGouna Platform.
The platform will run from October 16-21.
The 13 projects in development include Algerian filmmaker Sofia Djama’s second feature A Quarter To Thursday In Algiers, about a woman whose plans to deal with an unwanted pregnancy are derailed by other life events.
Djama’s debut film The Blessed made its world premiere in Venice’s Horizons...
Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival (October 14-22) has unveiled the selection of 20 projects in development and post-production from Arab filmmakers to be showcased at the fifth annual CineGouna Platform.
The platform will run from October 16-21.
The 13 projects in development include Algerian filmmaker Sofia Djama’s second feature A Quarter To Thursday In Algiers, about a woman whose plans to deal with an unwanted pregnancy are derailed by other life events.
Djama’s debut film The Blessed made its world premiere in Venice’s Horizons...
- 9/17/2021
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Projects by Claire Burger, Kamal Lazraq, Hicham Lasri, Julie Caty and brothers Paul and Gaëtan Brizzi steal focus on the agenda of the co-production market, which is unspooling online 17 - 18 November. Organised in digital form for the very first time, the French-German Film Meetings are set to unspool between 17 – 19 November, with this 18th edition set to tackle the major issues currently impacting the film industry on both sides of the Rhine. But attention will also shift to the co-production market and its 17 featured projects. Standing particularly tall among the 10 projects of French derivation is Langue étrangère, which will be the 3rd feature film by Claire...
- 11/16/2020
- Cineuropa - The Best of European Cinema
Sixth edition was due to run March 20-25.
Qumra, the annual talent incubator event of the Doha Film Institute (Dfi), has been cancelled due to concerns over the global coronavirus outbreak.
A Dfi statement said the sixth edition, due to be held March 20-25, and all related activities had been cancelled. Directors Clare Denis and James Gray were among those set to attend.
“Although this is an extremely important event for our community and participants, the wellbeing of the residents and visitors to Qatar remains our first priority,” said the statement.
“Due to current global concern regarding the Covid-19 outbreak,...
Qumra, the annual talent incubator event of the Doha Film Institute (Dfi), has been cancelled due to concerns over the global coronavirus outbreak.
A Dfi statement said the sixth edition, due to be held March 20-25, and all related activities had been cancelled. Directors Clare Denis and James Gray were among those set to attend.
“Although this is an extremely important event for our community and participants, the wellbeing of the residents and visitors to Qatar remains our first priority,” said the statement.
“Due to current global concern regarding the Covid-19 outbreak,...
- 3/3/2020
- by 1100453¦Michael Rosser¦9¦
- ScreenDaily
The Doha Film Institute has added French auteur Claire Denis and Oscar-nominated cinematographer Phedon Papamichael (“Nebraska”) to the lineup of star talent who will act as mentors for the Qumra Masters program during its upcoming Qumra event dedicated to fostering fresh Arab film fare that is opening up to TV projects.
They join previously announced directors James Gray and Jessica Hausner and sound designer Mark A. Mangini (“Mad Max: Fury Road”) for the 2020 edition that will run March 20-25 in the Qatari capital.
Mangini will be the first sound designer to attend the unique event conceived by Palestinian director Elia Suleiman, who is Qumra’s creative director.
Qumra, which is an Arab word believed to be the origin of the word “camera,” is dedicated to supporting and shepherding first and second works mostly by Arab directors. The mentors, through one-on-one meetings and master classes, will nurture the talent attached to...
They join previously announced directors James Gray and Jessica Hausner and sound designer Mark A. Mangini (“Mad Max: Fury Road”) for the 2020 edition that will run March 20-25 in the Qatari capital.
Mangini will be the first sound designer to attend the unique event conceived by Palestinian director Elia Suleiman, who is Qumra’s creative director.
Qumra, which is an Arab word believed to be the origin of the word “camera,” is dedicated to supporting and shepherding first and second works mostly by Arab directors. The mentors, through one-on-one meetings and master classes, will nurture the talent attached to...
- 2/23/2020
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
They join previously announced directors James Gray, Jessica Hausner and sound editor Mark Mangini.
French director Claire Denis and Greek cinematographer Phedon Papamichael have been confirmed as the final ‘Masters’ at the sixth edition of Qumra, the annual talent incubator event of the Doha Film Institute (Dfi), running March 20 to 25 this year.
They will join previously announced Us director James Gray, Austrian filmmaker Jessica Hausner and awarding winning sound editor Mark Mangini. The five ‘Masters’ give a master-class as well as one-on-one advice to select Dfi-supported projects invited to the event.
Denis, whose most recent credits include High Life and Let The Sunshine In,...
French director Claire Denis and Greek cinematographer Phedon Papamichael have been confirmed as the final ‘Masters’ at the sixth edition of Qumra, the annual talent incubator event of the Doha Film Institute (Dfi), running March 20 to 25 this year.
They will join previously announced Us director James Gray, Austrian filmmaker Jessica Hausner and awarding winning sound editor Mark Mangini. The five ‘Masters’ give a master-class as well as one-on-one advice to select Dfi-supported projects invited to the event.
Denis, whose most recent credits include High Life and Let The Sunshine In,...
- 2/23/2020
- by 1100388¦Melanie Goodfellow¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Feted film professionals will each deliver a masterclass at talent development event.
Directors James Gray and Jessica Hausner and Hollywood sound designer Mark Mangini have been confirmed as the first three ‘Masters’ at the 2020 edition of Qumra, Doha Film Institute’s annual talent incubator event, which runs from March 20-25 in Qatar.
The three Masters will each deliver a masterclass and also offer one-on-one advice to assigned participants during their time at Qumra.
Now in its sixth year, the event supports the development of a selection of projects awarded grants by the Doha Film Institute (Dfi) as well as their attached directors and producers.
Directors James Gray and Jessica Hausner and Hollywood sound designer Mark Mangini have been confirmed as the first three ‘Masters’ at the 2020 edition of Qumra, Doha Film Institute’s annual talent incubator event, which runs from March 20-25 in Qatar.
The three Masters will each deliver a masterclass and also offer one-on-one advice to assigned participants during their time at Qumra.
Now in its sixth year, the event supports the development of a selection of projects awarded grants by the Doha Film Institute (Dfi) as well as their attached directors and producers.
- 2/4/2020
- by 1100388¦Melanie Goodfellow¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Qatari institute supports a record 42 projects in autumn funding round.
Moroccan director Hicham Lasri, Syrian Venice Lion of the Future winner Soudade Kaadan and Brazil’s Karim Aïnouz are among the latest round of new grantees of the Doha Film Institute (Dfi).
The Qatari institute has announced a record 42 projects for its autumn 2019 selection, 35 of which have strong Middle East and North Africa connections.
Prolific director Lasri, whose last work Jahilya screened in the Berlinale Forum in 2018, received backing for his upcoming supernatural TV series Meskoun.
The fantasy drama revolves around a Moroccan man who drowns crossing the Mediterranean on...
Moroccan director Hicham Lasri, Syrian Venice Lion of the Future winner Soudade Kaadan and Brazil’s Karim Aïnouz are among the latest round of new grantees of the Doha Film Institute (Dfi).
The Qatari institute has announced a record 42 projects for its autumn 2019 selection, 35 of which have strong Middle East and North Africa connections.
Prolific director Lasri, whose last work Jahilya screened in the Berlinale Forum in 2018, received backing for his upcoming supernatural TV series Meskoun.
The fantasy drama revolves around a Moroccan man who drowns crossing the Mediterranean on...
- 1/28/2020
- by 1100388¦Melanie Goodfellow¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
New films from Pepa San Martín and Golden Bear winner Adina Pintilie among the line up.
The films selected for the Berlinale Co-Production Market (February 22-26) have been revealed and top 50% by female directors in the official project selection for the first time.
Scroll down for full list of titles
A total of 36 features from 34 countries will be showcased by producers seeking co-production partners through one-to-one meetings with distributors, financiers and sales agents.
For the official project selection, 21 projects with budgets ranging from €750,000 to €5m were selected from more than 300 submissions. With 11 projects by female directors, the proportion here has exceeded 50% for the first time.
The films selected for the Berlinale Co-Production Market (February 22-26) have been revealed and top 50% by female directors in the official project selection for the first time.
Scroll down for full list of titles
A total of 36 features from 34 countries will be showcased by producers seeking co-production partners through one-to-one meetings with distributors, financiers and sales agents.
For the official project selection, 21 projects with budgets ranging from €750,000 to €5m were selected from more than 300 submissions. With 11 projects by female directors, the proportion here has exceeded 50% for the first time.
- 1/15/2020
- by 1100453¦Michael Rosser¦9¦
- ScreenDaily
2019 has been an excellent year for films from Africa and the Middle East, with a higher presence in A-list festivals, and kudos for films such as Mati Diop’s “Atlantics,” which won the Grand Prix at Cannes.
The “new wave” of Arab and African cinema includes a small group of films that explore links with genre cinema – including fantasy, sci-fi and horror – which is related to a broader trend in literature and the contemporary arts in the Arab world that is exploring dystopias and fantasy settings.
Lamia Chraibi, a leading producer of daring films from the Middle East and North Africa region, is developing a pan-Arab genre series, “Meskoun,” with Moroccan filmmaker Hicham Lasri (“Jahilya”) as showrunner, in coproduction with Mohamed Hefzy’s Film Clinic (Egypt), Georges Schoucair’s Abbout Productions (Lebanon) and Habib Attia’s Cinetelefilms (Tunisia).
Chraibi recently produced Talal Selhami’s “Achoura,” Morocco’s first fantasy film,...
The “new wave” of Arab and African cinema includes a small group of films that explore links with genre cinema – including fantasy, sci-fi and horror – which is related to a broader trend in literature and the contemporary arts in the Arab world that is exploring dystopias and fantasy settings.
Lamia Chraibi, a leading producer of daring films from the Middle East and North Africa region, is developing a pan-Arab genre series, “Meskoun,” with Moroccan filmmaker Hicham Lasri (“Jahilya”) as showrunner, in coproduction with Mohamed Hefzy’s Film Clinic (Egypt), Georges Schoucair’s Abbout Productions (Lebanon) and Habib Attia’s Cinetelefilms (Tunisia).
Chraibi recently produced Talal Selhami’s “Achoura,” Morocco’s first fantasy film,...
- 12/8/2019
- by Martin Dale
- Variety Film + TV
Lamia Chraibi, a leading producer of daring films from the Middle East and North Africa region, is developing “Meskoun,” an ambitious pan-Arab genre-bending series with Moroccan filmmaker Hicham Lasri (“Jahilya”) on board as showrunner.
Chraibi (“Mimosas”) will produce the 14-episode series with her Moroccan banner La Prod, along with Mohamed Hefzy’s Egyptian company Film Clinic, Lebanese outfit Abbout Productions and Habib Attia’s Tunisian company Cinetelefilms.
“Meskoun” follows Lotfi, a young man who lost his fiancée and decides to take off to Europe without a permit, and tries crossing the sea. But Lotfi ends up drowning in high waters with seven other illegal immigrants from different nationalities. A month later, he reemerges inhabited by the souls of the seven strangers who drowned with him. In order to free himself from these souls, Lotfi, who has become a sort of unwilling superhero, must accomplish their respective last wish, taking him...
Chraibi (“Mimosas”) will produce the 14-episode series with her Moroccan banner La Prod, along with Mohamed Hefzy’s Egyptian company Film Clinic, Lebanese outfit Abbout Productions and Habib Attia’s Tunisian company Cinetelefilms.
“Meskoun” follows Lotfi, a young man who lost his fiancée and decides to take off to Europe without a permit, and tries crossing the sea. But Lotfi ends up drowning in high waters with seven other illegal immigrants from different nationalities. A month later, he reemerges inhabited by the souls of the seven strangers who drowned with him. In order to free himself from these souls, Lotfi, who has become a sort of unwilling superhero, must accomplish their respective last wish, taking him...
- 12/5/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Both titles premiered at Cannes 2018.
Egyptian director A. B. Shawky’s road movie Yomeddine, about a leper who travels across Egypt in a bid to reconnect with his long-lost family, has scooped best film at the Arab cinema Critics Awards.
The film won the François Chalais Award and went onto tour a slew of festivals, winning the top prize in Tunisia’s Carthage Film Festival, following its premiere in Competition in Cannes last year.
Lebanese filmmaker Nadine Labaki won best director for her 2018 Cannes jury prize winner Capernaum, about the plight of a young refugee boy living in the slums of Beirut.
Egyptian director A. B. Shawky’s road movie Yomeddine, about a leper who travels across Egypt in a bid to reconnect with his long-lost family, has scooped best film at the Arab cinema Critics Awards.
The film won the François Chalais Award and went onto tour a slew of festivals, winning the top prize in Tunisia’s Carthage Film Festival, following its premiere in Competition in Cannes last year.
Lebanese filmmaker Nadine Labaki won best director for her 2018 Cannes jury prize winner Capernaum, about the plight of a young refugee boy living in the slums of Beirut.
- 5/18/2019
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Nadine Labaki and A.B. Shawky’s films gained three nods each.
Two 2018 Cannes Palme d’Or contenders top the third edition of the Annual Critics Awards organised by the Arab Cinema Centre (Acc).
Lebanese filmmaker Nadine Labaki’s Capernaum and Egyptian director A. B. Shawky’s Yomeddine have both clinched three nominations.
Following with two nominations each are Palestinian filmmaker Muayad Alayan’s drama The Reports On Sarah And Saleem, about the ill-fated affair between an Israeli woman and a Palestinian man, and Moroccan director Meryem Benm’Barek’s Sofia, revolving around a woman in Casablanca who illegally gives birth out of wedlock.
Two 2018 Cannes Palme d’Or contenders top the third edition of the Annual Critics Awards organised by the Arab Cinema Centre (Acc).
Lebanese filmmaker Nadine Labaki’s Capernaum and Egyptian director A. B. Shawky’s Yomeddine have both clinched three nominations.
Following with two nominations each are Palestinian filmmaker Muayad Alayan’s drama The Reports On Sarah And Saleem, about the ill-fated affair between an Israeli woman and a Palestinian man, and Moroccan director Meryem Benm’Barek’s Sofia, revolving around a woman in Casablanca who illegally gives birth out of wedlock.
- 4/25/2019
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Morocco is becoming a popular destination for international film and TV shoots, while Moroccan talent is producing cinema and TV content that is traveling widely abroad.
Earlier this year Morocco implemented a new 20% cash rebate scheme that has helped generate a foreign production spend of $60 million up until last month, up on the $48 million spend recorded last year, according to Sarim Fassi Fihri, head of the Moroccan Cinema Center.
Moroccan films also enjoyed a higher presence in leading international film festivals this year, including films that are screening in Marrakech Film Festival’s Morocco Panorama, such as Meryem Benm’barek’s “Sofia,” Hicham Lasri’s “Jahiliya,” Narjiss Nejjar’s “Stateless,” and Faouzi Bensaidi’s “Volubilis.”
International productions lensing in Morocco this year include 18 feature films and 16 TV series. The biggest film productions this year include Ciro Guerra’s “Waiting for the Barbarians,” based on J.M. Coetzee’s novel, starring Johnny Depp and Robert Pattinson,...
Earlier this year Morocco implemented a new 20% cash rebate scheme that has helped generate a foreign production spend of $60 million up until last month, up on the $48 million spend recorded last year, according to Sarim Fassi Fihri, head of the Moroccan Cinema Center.
Moroccan films also enjoyed a higher presence in leading international film festivals this year, including films that are screening in Marrakech Film Festival’s Morocco Panorama, such as Meryem Benm’barek’s “Sofia,” Hicham Lasri’s “Jahiliya,” Narjiss Nejjar’s “Stateless,” and Faouzi Bensaidi’s “Volubilis.”
International productions lensing in Morocco this year include 18 feature films and 16 TV series. The biggest film productions this year include Ciro Guerra’s “Waiting for the Barbarians,” based on J.M. Coetzee’s novel, starring Johnny Depp and Robert Pattinson,...
- 12/8/2018
- by Martin Dale
- Variety Film + TV
This year’s edition of the Marrakech Intl. Film Festival includes an unprecedented number of Moroccan films, including seven films in the new Morocco Panorama sidebar, and a tribute to local actor/director Jillali Ferhati.
When the festival was launched in 2001, Moroccan cinema was in a relatively fragile state and one of the fest’s key goals was to reinforce the local industry, which now seems to be paying dividends.
Over recent years, Moroccan cinema has enjoyed significant popular success at home and also rising international acclaim, as shown by the fact that several of the films playing in the Morocco Panorama have also screened at fests such as Berlin, Cannes and Venice.
Local filmmakers include both powerful male and female helmers, as reflected in the Morocco Panorama.
The fest’s artistic director Christoph Terhechte says that he hopes its international guests will discover the best of recent Moroccan cinema,...
When the festival was launched in 2001, Moroccan cinema was in a relatively fragile state and one of the fest’s key goals was to reinforce the local industry, which now seems to be paying dividends.
Over recent years, Moroccan cinema has enjoyed significant popular success at home and also rising international acclaim, as shown by the fact that several of the films playing in the Morocco Panorama have also screened at fests such as Berlin, Cannes and Venice.
Local filmmakers include both powerful male and female helmers, as reflected in the Morocco Panorama.
The fest’s artistic director Christoph Terhechte says that he hopes its international guests will discover the best of recent Moroccan cinema,...
- 12/2/2018
- by Martin Dale
- Variety Film + TV
Kent Jones’ “Diane,” Eva Trobisch’s “All Good” and Lila Aviles’ “The Chambermaid” are among the 14 features competing at the revamped Marrakech Film Festival, which opened Friday and runs to Dec. 8.
“Diane,” which world premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and won three awards, stars Mary Kay Place (“The Big Chill”) as a mother desperately trying to bond with her son, who suffers from drug addiction. The movie was executive produced by Martin Scorsese.
“All Good,” Trobisch’s debut, revolves around a young woman who is raped but refuses to be a victim. The movie was a standout at Locarno, where it won the first-feature competition.
“The Chambermaid,” from Mexican theater actress-turned-helmer Aviles, premiered in Toronto’s Discovery section and won two awards at the Morelia Film Festival. The movie portrays Eve, a young chambermaid working at Mexico City’s classy Hotel Presidente Internacional. Trobisch and Aviles’ pics are among...
“Diane,” which world premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and won three awards, stars Mary Kay Place (“The Big Chill”) as a mother desperately trying to bond with her son, who suffers from drug addiction. The movie was executive produced by Martin Scorsese.
“All Good,” Trobisch’s debut, revolves around a young woman who is raped but refuses to be a victim. The movie was a standout at Locarno, where it won the first-feature competition.
“The Chambermaid,” from Mexican theater actress-turned-helmer Aviles, premiered in Toronto’s Discovery section and won two awards at the Morelia Film Festival. The movie portrays Eve, a young chambermaid working at Mexico City’s classy Hotel Presidente Internacional. Trobisch and Aviles’ pics are among...
- 11/30/2018
- by Elsa Keslassy
- 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
Berlin’s Panorama lineup also includes new films from Us, China and Brazil.
Berlin’s Panorama strand is now complete following the addition of 24 additional titles.
A total of 51 works from 43 countries have been chosen for screening in the section, including 21 in Panorama Dokumente and 29 feature films in the main programme and Panorama Special. 36 of these films will be getting their world premieres at the Berlinale.
The German production Tiger Girl by Jakob Lass will open this year’s edition of Panorama Special at Berlin’s Zoo Palast cinema, along with the previously announced Brazilian production Vazante.
Among newly confirmed films are UK Sundance title God’s Own Country, Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me By Your Name, Cate Shortland’s Berlin Syndrome, feminist fairy tale The Misandrists by Berlinale regular Bruce Labruce, Erik Poppe’s The King’s Choice and Belgian-French-Lebanese co-production Insyriated which stars Hiam Abbass as a woman trapped in an apartment during war.[p...
Berlin’s Panorama strand is now complete following the addition of 24 additional titles.
A total of 51 works from 43 countries have been chosen for screening in the section, including 21 in Panorama Dokumente and 29 feature films in the main programme and Panorama Special. 36 of these films will be getting their world premieres at the Berlinale.
The German production Tiger Girl by Jakob Lass will open this year’s edition of Panorama Special at Berlin’s Zoo Palast cinema, along with the previously announced Brazilian production Vazante.
Among newly confirmed films are UK Sundance title God’s Own Country, Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me By Your Name, Cate Shortland’s Berlin Syndrome, feminist fairy tale The Misandrists by Berlinale regular Bruce Labruce, Erik Poppe’s The King’s Choice and Belgian-French-Lebanese co-production Insyriated which stars Hiam Abbass as a woman trapped in an apartment during war.[p...
- 1/25/2017
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
The Dubai International Film Festival has unveiled the first seven selections for its Muhr feature film competition, which will in total include 18 films from across the Arab world.
The selections include Moroccan filmmaker Hisham Lasri’s Starve Your Dog, which marks his third time in competition in Dubai; the film has premiered in Toronto. The Casablanca-set story is about a journalist trying to make a comeback when he lands an interview with the minister of a despotic former regime.
Two other Toronto titles selected are: Mai Masri with her fictional directorial debut 3000 Nights, also supported by Enjaaz. The story follows a woman in an Israeli prison who discovers she is pregnant after being wrongly sentenced. And Lebanese director Danielle Arbid’s Parisienne, about a young girl who escapes the Lebanese Civil War in the 1990s to live in Paris.
Iraq-born Halkwat Mustafa comes to the competition with the world premiere of El Clasico, which is supported...
The selections include Moroccan filmmaker Hisham Lasri’s Starve Your Dog, which marks his third time in competition in Dubai; the film has premiered in Toronto. The Casablanca-set story is about a journalist trying to make a comeback when he lands an interview with the minister of a despotic former regime.
Two other Toronto titles selected are: Mai Masri with her fictional directorial debut 3000 Nights, also supported by Enjaaz. The story follows a woman in an Israeli prison who discovers she is pregnant after being wrongly sentenced. And Lebanese director Danielle Arbid’s Parisienne, about a young girl who escapes the Lebanese Civil War in the 1990s to live in Paris.
Iraq-born Halkwat Mustafa comes to the competition with the world premiere of El Clasico, which is supported...
- 11/3/2015
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
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