Israel's Independence Day, which is celebrated in all glory in the country, actually coincides with the commemoration of Al-Nakba (The Catastrophe), a day the Palestinians commemorate the 1948 events that led to their dispossession and displacement from Mandatory Palestine. Firas Khoury, in his debut movie, uses the particular concept in order to present a coming-of-age story with intense social, political and historical repercussions, by focusing on the lives of youths whose Palestinian parents chose to actually stay in Israel.
“Alam” Premieres on VOD & Digital on April 26, courtesy of Film Movement
17-year-old Tamer is an artistic youth who has troubles at school, as, just like his best friends, Shekel and Rida, he spends most of his time hanging out on the street, searching for way to buy a joint, playing video games, talking about girls, and in general, slacking out. However, when a beautiful new student, Maysaa', joins the classroom, she draws...
“Alam” Premieres on VOD & Digital on April 26, courtesy of Film Movement
17-year-old Tamer is an artistic youth who has troubles at school, as, just like his best friends, Shekel and Rida, he spends most of his time hanging out on the street, searching for way to buy a joint, playing video games, talking about girls, and in general, slacking out. However, when a beautiful new student, Maysaa', joins the classroom, she draws...
- 4/10/2024
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival’s Eastern Promises industry strand has unveiled the winners of it’s project showcases, which took place at the fest from July 2-4.
This year’s edition presented 27 film projects that were screened across the festival’s three established programs: Works in Progress, Works in Development – Feature Launch, and First Cut+, competing for awards with a total value of 115,000 Eur.
In the Works in Progress sidebar, the post-production development prize went to filmmaker Klára Tasovská for her feature I Am Not Everything I Want to Be. The pic is produced by Lukáš Kokeš. The award consists of post-production services in Upp and Soundsquare.
Discussing the pic, the jury, featuring Esra Demirkiran, Festival Coordinator, Trt Sinema, Petr Tichý, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Barrandov Studio, Oscar Alonso, Festival Manager, Latido Films, Nadia Ben Rachid, Film Editor, and Agustina Chiarino, Producer, Bocacha Films,...
This year’s edition presented 27 film projects that were screened across the festival’s three established programs: Works in Progress, Works in Development – Feature Launch, and First Cut+, competing for awards with a total value of 115,000 Eur.
In the Works in Progress sidebar, the post-production development prize went to filmmaker Klára Tasovská for her feature I Am Not Everything I Want to Be. The pic is produced by Lukáš Kokeš. The award consists of post-production services in Upp and Soundsquare.
Discussing the pic, the jury, featuring Esra Demirkiran, Festival Coordinator, Trt Sinema, Petr Tichý, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Barrandov Studio, Oscar Alonso, Festival Manager, Latido Films, Nadia Ben Rachid, Film Editor, and Agustina Chiarino, Producer, Bocacha Films,...
- 7/5/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
‘Bikechess,’ a Dark Comedy About Journalism in Kazakhstan, Wins Karlovy Vary Works in Progress Award
Assel Aushakimova’s dark comedy about journalism in Kazakhstan “Bikechess” has won the Karlovy Vary Film Festival’s Works in Progress award, which runs as part of the festival’s industry section, Eastern Promises. The section is focused on feature film projects from Central and Eastern Europe, the Balkans, the former Soviet Union, the Middle East and North Africa.
The Kazakh film follows Dina, who works as a journalist for the national television station. The stories she is asked to report on are becoming increasingly absurd and full of praise for the government. Her love life is limited to a few secret meetings with her married cameraman. Dina looks after her young sister, a lesbian activist, who regularly finds herself in trouble with the authorities.
The jury said: “Pointing out through comedic eyes the absurdity to which the state can go to hide deeper issues, the jury...
The Kazakh film follows Dina, who works as a journalist for the national television station. The stories she is asked to report on are becoming increasingly absurd and full of praise for the government. Her love life is limited to a few secret meetings with her married cameraman. Dina looks after her young sister, a lesbian activist, who regularly finds herself in trouble with the authorities.
The jury said: “Pointing out through comedic eyes the absurdity to which the state can go to hide deeper issues, the jury...
- 7/5/2023
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
In the appealing, naturalistic drama “Alam,” a middle-class Arab teen living in a village in the Galilee undergoes a political awakening catalyzed by a pretty, outspoken girl from his high school class. Just like the protagonist, the audience, too, receives a provocative civics lesson on the symbolism — and power — of flags and what constitutes resistance. This intelligent, sensitive treatment of the rarely seen, everyday lives of young Palestinian citizens of Israel marks tyro feature writer-director Firas Khoury as a talent to watch, as well as a solid acquisition for Film Movement, the North American distributor. “The film. ”Alam” nabbed three prizes, including best film and audience award, at the Cairo Film Festival.
The story unfolds through the eyes of watchful, artistically-inclined Tamer, a high school senior nearing his matriculation exams. Like his friends, loudmouth Shekel (Mohammad Karaki) and electronic games nerd Rida (Ahmad Zaghmouri), Tamer shares the concerns of a typical male slacker: girls,...
The story unfolds through the eyes of watchful, artistically-inclined Tamer, a high school senior nearing his matriculation exams. Like his friends, loudmouth Shekel (Mohammad Karaki) and electronic games nerd Rida (Ahmad Zaghmouri), Tamer shares the concerns of a typical male slacker: girls,...
- 11/23/2022
- by Alissa Simon
- Variety Film + TV
At long last, after years of development, Abderrahmane Sissako is set to embark on his first feature since 2014’s Timbuktu. The Mauritanian-born Malian director’s next work is The Perfumed Hill, which will begin shooting this month.
As reported by Variety, the romantic drama, scripted by the director and Kessen Tall, will star Nina Melo (Girlhood), Han Chang (Little Big Women), and Ke-Xi Wu (Nina Wu) in an ambitious story set “between China’s tea hills, the Ivory Coast, and Cape Verde.” Picked up for a U.S. release by Cohen Media Group and Gaumont in France, the project has come to TIFF for buyers, and thus an expanded synopsis has arrived:
The movie follows the journey of Joice, who leaves the Ivory Coast to start a new life in Guangzhou, China, after saying “no” on her wedding day. She finds a job at a tea boutique owned by Cai,...
As reported by Variety, the romantic drama, scripted by the director and Kessen Tall, will star Nina Melo (Girlhood), Han Chang (Little Big Women), and Ke-Xi Wu (Nina Wu) in an ambitious story set “between China’s tea hills, the Ivory Coast, and Cape Verde.” Picked up for a U.S. release by Cohen Media Group and Gaumont in France, the project has come to TIFF for buyers, and thus an expanded synopsis has arrived:
The movie follows the journey of Joice, who leaves the Ivory Coast to start a new life in Guangzhou, China, after saying “no” on her wedding day. She finds a job at a tea boutique owned by Cai,...
- 9/7/2022
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Eight years after delivering his Oscar-nominated film “Timbuktu,” Abderrahmane Sissako is set to make his anticipated directorial comeback with “The Perfumed Hill.” Gaumont is representing in international markets and will introduce it to buyers at at Toronto. The French studio will also distribute the film in France, while Cohen Media Group will release it in the U.S.
Re-teaming Sissako with his “Timbuktu” co-writer Kessen Tall, “The Perfumed Hill” is a romance drama set between China’s tea hills, the Ivory Coast and Cape Verde. It stars Nina Melo (“Girlhood”), Han Chang (“Little Big Women”) and Ke-Xi Wu (“Nina Wu”).
The movie follows the journey of Joice, who leaves the Ivory Coast to start a new life in Guangzhou, China, after saying “no” on her wedding day. She finds a job at a tea boutique owned by Cai, a Chinese man, in the vibrant region of Guangzhou, known as the “Chocolate City.
Re-teaming Sissako with his “Timbuktu” co-writer Kessen Tall, “The Perfumed Hill” is a romance drama set between China’s tea hills, the Ivory Coast and Cape Verde. It stars Nina Melo (“Girlhood”), Han Chang (“Little Big Women”) and Ke-Xi Wu (“Nina Wu”).
The movie follows the journey of Joice, who leaves the Ivory Coast to start a new life in Guangzhou, China, after saying “no” on her wedding day. She finds a job at a tea boutique owned by Cai, a Chinese man, in the vibrant region of Guangzhou, known as the “Chocolate City.
- 9/6/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Other winners include ‘Pain and Glory’ and ‘System Crasher’.
The Favourite has scooped four European Film Awards (EFAs) ahead of the main ceremony next month.
Yorgos Lanthimos’ period drama picked up half of the craft prizes awarded by the European Film Academy and chosen by an eight-member jury.
They included best European cinematography for Robbie Ryan, editing for Yorgos Mavropsaridis, Sandy Powell for costume design and Nadia Stacey for hair and make-up.
They will be the first to be honoured at the EFAs in Berlin on December 7.
Further awards saw production design go to Antxon Gómez for his work on...
The Favourite has scooped four European Film Awards (EFAs) ahead of the main ceremony next month.
Yorgos Lanthimos’ period drama picked up half of the craft prizes awarded by the European Film Academy and chosen by an eight-member jury.
They included best European cinematography for Robbie Ryan, editing for Yorgos Mavropsaridis, Sandy Powell for costume design and Nadia Stacey for hair and make-up.
They will be the first to be honoured at the EFAs in Berlin on December 7.
Further awards saw production design go to Antxon Gómez for his work on...
- 11/19/2019
- by 1100453¦Michael Rosser¦9¦
- ScreenDaily
With four gongs in the categories of Cinematography, Editing, Costume Design, and Hair and Make-up, The Favourite by Yorgos Lanthimos is the clear leader of the pack. The European Film Academy and Efa Productions have announced the first clutch of winners who are set to be honoured at this year’s European Film Awards. A special eight-member jury convened in Berlin and, choosing from among the movies in the Efa Feature Film Selection, decided on the winners in the categories of cinematography, editing, production design, costume design, hair and make-up, original score, sound and visual effects. The members of the jury were editor Nadia Ben Rachid (France), cinematographer Vanja Černul (Croatia), composer Annette Focks (Germany), hair and make-up artist Gerda Koekoek (Netherlands), costume designer Eimer Ní Mhaoldomhnaigh (Ireland), production designer Artur Pinheiro (Portugal), sound designer Gisle Tveito (Norway) and visual effects designer István Vajda (Hungary). Here is the full list of.
- 11/19/2019
- Cineuropa - The Best of European Cinema
Tragicomedy “The Favourite” has walked away with four craft prizes – cinematography, editing, costume design, and hair and makeup – of the European Film Awards. The craft awards were decided by a jury drawn from various below-the-line professions. The 32nd European Film Awards will take place on Dec. 7 in Berlin.
Robbie Ryan picked up the cinematography prize, with the jury saying that he and director Yorgos Lanthimos were “committed to stay as far away from the photographic conventions of a period drama as they could.”
The jury added that it is “both inspiring and encouraging to see how strong imagery and bold cinematographic choices did not take away from the drama, but reinforced it.” The film’s use of natural light and candlelight was “reminiscent of Kubrick’s masterpiece ‘Barry Lyndon,'” the jury said.
The film’s editor, Yorgos Mavropsaridis, won for editing the film in “a clever, new and inventive way,...
Robbie Ryan picked up the cinematography prize, with the jury saying that he and director Yorgos Lanthimos were “committed to stay as far away from the photographic conventions of a period drama as they could.”
The jury added that it is “both inspiring and encouraging to see how strong imagery and bold cinematographic choices did not take away from the drama, but reinforced it.” The film’s use of natural light and candlelight was “reminiscent of Kubrick’s masterpiece ‘Barry Lyndon,'” the jury said.
The film’s editor, Yorgos Mavropsaridis, won for editing the film in “a clever, new and inventive way,...
- 11/19/2019
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
The Favourite has scooped four of the the first eight 2019 European Film Awards, which were unveiled this morning ahead of next month’s official ceremony.
The first round of prizes sees eight craft categories named prior to the event. The Favourite picked up European cinematography for Robbie Ryan, editing for Yorgos Mavropsaridis, costume design for Sandy Powell, and hair and make-up for Nadia Stacey.
The other four winners were Pain And Glory, which took production design for Antxon Gómez, System Crasher, which won original score for John Gürtler, A Twelve-Year Night, which won sound for Eduardo Esquide, Nacho Royo-Villanova and Laurent Chassaigne, and About Endlessness, which took the visual effects prize for Martin Ziebell, Sebastian Kaltmeyer, Néha Hirve, Jesper Brodersen and Torgeir Busch.
Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, The Favourite was an Oscar winner at the beginning of this year, with one win (best actress for Olivia Colman) from its 10 nominations.
The first round of prizes sees eight craft categories named prior to the event. The Favourite picked up European cinematography for Robbie Ryan, editing for Yorgos Mavropsaridis, costume design for Sandy Powell, and hair and make-up for Nadia Stacey.
The other four winners were Pain And Glory, which took production design for Antxon Gómez, System Crasher, which won original score for John Gürtler, A Twelve-Year Night, which won sound for Eduardo Esquide, Nacho Royo-Villanova and Laurent Chassaigne, and About Endlessness, which took the visual effects prize for Martin Ziebell, Sebastian Kaltmeyer, Néha Hirve, Jesper Brodersen and Torgeir Busch.
Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, The Favourite was an Oscar winner at the beginning of this year, with one win (best actress for Olivia Colman) from its 10 nominations.
- 11/19/2019
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Oscar-winning composer A. R. Rahman has written the score for the film.
Franck Priot’s Paris-based production outfit Ghosts City is co-producing Tamil-language drama Madras Beats, directed by Rajiv Menon, with India’s Mindscreen Cinemas.
Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman has written the score for the film, about a boy from India’s ‘untouchable’ caste who dreams of becoming a drummer in the South Indian ‘Carnatic’ classical music tradition. Gv Prakash, who is a trained classical musician in addition to an actor, heads the cast.
French editor Nadia Ben Rachid and sound mixer Thierry Delor, who both won Cesars for Timbuktu,...
Franck Priot’s Paris-based production outfit Ghosts City is co-producing Tamil-language drama Madras Beats, directed by Rajiv Menon, with India’s Mindscreen Cinemas.
Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman has written the score for the film, about a boy from India’s ‘untouchable’ caste who dreams of becoming a drummer in the South Indian ‘Carnatic’ classical music tradition. Gv Prakash, who is a trained classical musician in addition to an actor, heads the cast.
French editor Nadia Ben Rachid and sound mixer Thierry Delor, who both won Cesars for Timbuktu,...
- 5/13/2018
- by Liz Shackleton
- ScreenDaily
Academy invitee Eddie Redmayne in 'The Theory of Everything.' Academy invites 322 new members: 'More diverse and inclusive list of filmmakers and artists than ever before' The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has offered membership to 322 individuals "who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures." According to the Academy's press release, "those who accept the invitations will be the only additions to the Academy's membership in 2015." In case all 322 potential new members say an enthusiastic Yes, that means an injection of new blood representing about 5 percent of the Academy's current membership. In the words of Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs (as quoted in the press release), in 2015 "our branches have recognized a more diverse and inclusive list of filmmakers and artists than ever before, and we look forward to adding their creativity, ideas and experience to our organization." In recent years, the Academy membership has...
- 7/1/2015
- by Anna Robinson
- Alt Film Guide
©Renzo Piano Building Workshop/©Studio Pali Fekete architects/©A.M.P.A.S.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced this week that the Los Angeles City Council, in a unanimous vote, approved plans for the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Construction will begin this summer, and ceremonial groundbreaking festivities will occur this fall.
“I am thrilled that Los Angeles is gaining another architectural and cultural icon,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti. “My office of economic development has worked directly with the museum’s development team to ensure that the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will create jobs, support tourism, and pay homage to the industry that helped define our identity as the creative capital of the world.”
“We are grateful to our incredible community of supporters who have helped make this museum a reality,” said Dawn Hudson, the Academy’s CEO. “Building this museum has been an Academy...
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced this week that the Los Angeles City Council, in a unanimous vote, approved plans for the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Construction will begin this summer, and ceremonial groundbreaking festivities will occur this fall.
“I am thrilled that Los Angeles is gaining another architectural and cultural icon,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti. “My office of economic development has worked directly with the museum’s development team to ensure that the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will create jobs, support tourism, and pay homage to the industry that helped define our identity as the creative capital of the world.”
“We are grateful to our incredible community of supporters who have helped make this museum a reality,” said Dawn Hudson, the Academy’s CEO. “Building this museum has been an Academy...
- 6/27/2015
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Strangely dropping a press release on a historic day where the nation's attention is elsewhere, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed their annual list of new member invitees this morning. For those who criticize the makeup of the Academy there was some good news and the stark realization the organization still has a long way to go. The Academy has spent the last eight to 10 years attempting to diversify its membership and this year's class mostly reflects that. There are significantly more invitees of Asian and African-American descent, but the male to female disparity is still depressing. Out of the 25 potential new members of the Actor's Branch only seven are women. And, no, there isn't really an acceptable way for the Academy to spin that sad fact. Additionally, It's important to realize the 322 people noted in the release have only been invited to join Hollywood's most exclusive club.
- 6/26/2015
- by Gregory Ellwood
- Hitfix
Film is nominated for Oscar in foreign language category. Kristen Stewart and Sean Penn also win Césars.
Abderrahmane Sissako’s Timbuktu picked up seven awards at France’s César ceremony in Paris on Friday evening (February 20), including best film and best director.
The film, inspired by the stoning to death of an unmarried couple with children by Islamists in northern Mali in 2012, has gained fresh resonance in France following the deadly attack on satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in January.
The picture also picked up awards for its screenplay, sound, editing and cinematography while celebrated Tunisian composer Amine Bouhafa clinched the César for best original score.
Timbuktu is in the running for an Oscar in the foreign language category on Sunday night, alongside Ida, Leviathan, Tangerines and Wild Tales.
Another top winner at Friday’s ceremony was Thomas Cailley’s Love At First Fight (Les Combattants), about the relationship that blooms on an army assault course. It won for...
Abderrahmane Sissako’s Timbuktu picked up seven awards at France’s César ceremony in Paris on Friday evening (February 20), including best film and best director.
The film, inspired by the stoning to death of an unmarried couple with children by Islamists in northern Mali in 2012, has gained fresh resonance in France following the deadly attack on satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in January.
The picture also picked up awards for its screenplay, sound, editing and cinematography while celebrated Tunisian composer Amine Bouhafa clinched the César for best original score.
Timbuktu is in the running for an Oscar in the foreign language category on Sunday night, alongside Ida, Leviathan, Tangerines and Wild Tales.
Another top winner at Friday’s ceremony was Thomas Cailley’s Love At First Fight (Les Combattants), about the relationship that blooms on an army assault course. It won for...
- 2/21/2015
- ScreenDaily
With Timbuktu, director and co-writer Abderrahmane Sissako has created a film to test our understanding of what words such as "terrorist", "jihadist" and "Islamic extremists" mean as much as what they don't mean, offering a glimpse into a world I could never say I understand or even comprehend. Sissako's level of empathy for his characters is what gives the film its weight, opening your eyes as you just might find your morals tested in ways you couldn't have expected. Set during the takeover of the titular Malian city by self-described jihadists in 2012, the film is both horrifying and beautiful, managing to even merge dread with small doses of humor as a group of young people play soccer in a dusty field, but must halt their game so a donkey can pass through. The dread in this instance is far more lasting, coming from the fact they are playing without a ball.
- 2/20/2015
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Designer biopic leads the pack with 10 nominations; Kristen Stewart, Marion Cotillard and Juliette Binoche in the running for actress awards.Scroll down for full list of nominees
Bertrand Bonello’s Saint Laurent and Olivier Assays’ Sils Maria are the hot favourites in France’s 40th annual Cesar awards.
France’s Academy of Cinema Arts and Sciences unveiled the nominations for this year’s César Awards at its traditional news conference at Le Fouquet’s restaurant on the Champs Elysées on Friday morning.
Biopic Saint Laurent - exploring fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent’s life from 1967 to 1976 - led the pack with 10 nominations including best film, best director for Bonello, best actor for Gaspard Ulliel and best supporting actor for Louis Garrel.
Jalil Lespert’s rival biopic, Yves Saint Laurent, secured seven nominations. While it missed out in the best film and director categories, it scored nods with Pierre Niney for best actor, Charlotte Le Bon for best...
Bertrand Bonello’s Saint Laurent and Olivier Assays’ Sils Maria are the hot favourites in France’s 40th annual Cesar awards.
France’s Academy of Cinema Arts and Sciences unveiled the nominations for this year’s César Awards at its traditional news conference at Le Fouquet’s restaurant on the Champs Elysées on Friday morning.
Biopic Saint Laurent - exploring fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent’s life from 1967 to 1976 - led the pack with 10 nominations including best film, best director for Bonello, best actor for Gaspard Ulliel and best supporting actor for Louis Garrel.
Jalil Lespert’s rival biopic, Yves Saint Laurent, secured seven nominations. While it missed out in the best film and director categories, it scored nods with Pierre Niney for best actor, Charlotte Le Bon for best...
- 1/28/2015
- ScreenDaily
Welcome back to Cannes Check, In Contention's annual preview of the films in Competition at this year's Cannes Film Festival, which kicks off on May 14. Taking on different selections every day, we'll be examining what they're about, who's involved and what their chances are of snagging an award from Jane Campion's jury. Next up, the Competition's only African entry: Abderrahmane Sissako's "Timbuktu." The director: Abderrahmane Sissako (Mauritanian/French, 52 years old). Another of this year's five newcomers, Sissako has established himself as one of Africa's premier auteurs, though he's been based in France since the early 1990s -- a background that complements his favored themes of globalization and outsider identity. Born in Mauritania, he moved with his family at an early age to Mali, where he completed his schooling, before studying film at Russia's Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography in Moscow -- an institution that also boasts Aleksandr Sokurov and Andrei Tarkovsky among its alumni.
- 5/12/2014
- by Guy Lodge
- Hitfix
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