Fans of David Lynch's Wild At Heart will find much to love in this Moroccan kindred spirit of a movie that has energy to burn from the off. The title itself refers to the Moroccan slang phrase for "street fighting" and it's an entirely appropriate description for writer/director Ismael El Iraki's pugilistic and unruly, heavy metal style, as he drags us straight into the melee via prostitute Rajae (Khansa Batma), who has just left her last job in a hurry and, in an indication of Iraki's take-no-prisoners attitude, is regaling a taxi driver with a joke about "a whore and an Islamist". Some of what follows may feel a bit scrappy in places, but El Iraki ensures the hits keep coming, dragging us back with a new twist every time we think he's stopped for breath.
Rajae's path is about to cross that of Larsen (Ahmed Mammoud), a heroin-addicted rocker,...
Rajae's path is about to cross that of Larsen (Ahmed Mammoud), a heroin-addicted rocker,...
- 6/11/2021
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
U.S indie distributor Film Movement has acquired North American rights from Italian sales company True Colours to Palestinian director Ameen Nayfeh’s drama “200 Meters,” about a Palestinian construction worker who takes huge risks to cross the West Bank wall to reach his hospitalized son.
In September, “200 Meters,” which marks Nayfeh’s debut, launched from the Venice Film Festival’s Venice Days section, where it won the audience award. The pic was praised by Variety critic Jay Weissberg for “drawing out how one man’s story is a reflection of a collective experience.” “200 Meters” subsequently scooped the best actor prize at Turkey’s Antalya Golden Orange fest for protagonist Ali Suliman and other awards at the El Gouna Film Festival in Egypt.
Suliman (“Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan”) plays the Palestinian construction worker named Mustafa, who is separated from his family on the other side of the wall in the West Bank.
In September, “200 Meters,” which marks Nayfeh’s debut, launched from the Venice Film Festival’s Venice Days section, where it won the audience award. The pic was praised by Variety critic Jay Weissberg for “drawing out how one man’s story is a reflection of a collective experience.” “200 Meters” subsequently scooped the best actor prize at Turkey’s Antalya Golden Orange fest for protagonist Ali Suliman and other awards at the El Gouna Film Festival in Egypt.
Suliman (“Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan”) plays the Palestinian construction worker named Mustafa, who is separated from his family on the other side of the wall in the West Bank.
- 3/9/2021
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Since True Colours launched in 2015, it has rapidly doubled the size of its lineups to roughly 20 titles per year, while continuing to carefully curate distribution strategies for each film and made lots of global inroads.
The company is known among Italian producers for transparency and providing rapid sales reports, while foreign buyers like working with execs “because they always make things easy,” says Nicolas Zumaglini, head of content at prominent Latin American distributor Telefilms, who notes that “they have definitely helped spread Italian cinema in the region.” As for True Colours giving cinema Italiano more global reach, the most poignant recent example is “Il Testimone Invisibile” (“The Invisible Witness”), a remake of Spanish thriller (“Contratiempo”), directed by Italy’s Stefano Mordini. “Invisible Witness” is the European title that’s scored the highest gross at the Chinese box office, roughly $5 million, since movie theaters re-opened in China post-pandemic.
The True Colours...
The company is known among Italian producers for transparency and providing rapid sales reports, while foreign buyers like working with execs “because they always make things easy,” says Nicolas Zumaglini, head of content at prominent Latin American distributor Telefilms, who notes that “they have definitely helped spread Italian cinema in the region.” As for True Colours giving cinema Italiano more global reach, the most poignant recent example is “Il Testimone Invisibile” (“The Invisible Witness”), a remake of Spanish thriller (“Contratiempo”), directed by Italy’s Stefano Mordini. “Invisible Witness” is the European title that’s scored the highest gross at the Chinese box office, roughly $5 million, since movie theaters re-opened in China post-pandemic.
The True Colours...
- 11/9/2020
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Above: NomadlandIn CompetitionGolden Lion – Nomadland (Chloé Zhao) | Read our reviewSilver Lion (Grand Jury Prize) – New Order (Michel Franco) | Read our reviewSilver Lion (Best Director) – Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Wife of a Spy) | Read our interviewCoppa Volpi for Best Actress – Vanessa Kirby (Pieces of a Woman) | Read our reviewCoppa Volpi for Best Actor – Pierfrancesco Favino (Padrenostro)Best Screenplay – Chaitanya Tamhane (The Disciple) | Read our reviewSpecial Jury Prize – Dear Comrades! (Andrei Konchalovsky) | Read our reviewMarcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actor or Actress – Rouhollah Zamani (Sun Children) | Read our reviewOrizzontiOrizzonti Award for Best Film – The Wasteland (Ahmad Bahrami) | Read our reviewOrizzonti Award for Best Director – Lav Diaz (Genus Pan) | Read our reviewSpecial Orizzonti Jury Prize – Listen (Ana Rocha de Sousa)Orizzonti Award for Best Actress – Khansa Batma (Zanka Contact)Orizzonti Award for Best Actor — Yahya Mahayni (The Man Who Sold His Skin)Orizzonti Award for Best Screenplay – Pietro Castellitto (I Predatori)Orizzonti Award for...
- 9/17/2020
- MUBI
The first major award of 2020, and in particular, the 2020 fall film festival season, has now been given out. The Venice Film Festival announced their prize winners, with the top prize, known as the Golden Lion, going to Chloe Zhao’s Nomadland. This cements the movie as an early player, though it’s obviously still early. However, taking the Golden Lion is an excellent feather in its cap, as well as something to build on in the months to come. In all likelihood, this is only the first bit of feting for the flick. Read on to see all of the award winners out of Venice… In addition to Nomadland’s big win, the most notable prize, in terms of the Academy Awards and award season in general, was Vanessa Kirby taking the Volpi Cup (which is their Best Actress category) for her powerful turn in Pieces Of a Woman. In fact,...
- 9/13/2020
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
Vanessa Kirby wins best actress Coppa Volpi for Pieces Of A Woman.
Chloé Zhao’s US drama Nomadland starring Frances McDormand has won the Golden Lion for best film at the 2020 Venice Film Festival, which held its awards in a socially-distanced ceremony on Saturday evening (September 12).
The Silver Lion – Grand Jury prize went to Michel Franco’s Mexican-French feature New Order, about a high society wedding which is interrupted by protesters. Franco was present in Venice to accept the award, which was presented in front of a half-full Sala Grande, as part of the measures in place to combat the...
Chloé Zhao’s US drama Nomadland starring Frances McDormand has won the Golden Lion for best film at the 2020 Venice Film Festival, which held its awards in a socially-distanced ceremony on Saturday evening (September 12).
The Silver Lion – Grand Jury prize went to Michel Franco’s Mexican-French feature New Order, about a high society wedding which is interrupted by protesters. Franco was present in Venice to accept the award, which was presented in front of a half-full Sala Grande, as part of the measures in place to combat the...
- 9/12/2020
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
“Nomadland” has received the Golden Lion Award as the best film of the 2020 Venice International Film Festival, a jury headed by Cate Blanchett announced on Saturday.
The Searchlight drama, a simultaneous premiere by the Venice, Telluride and Toronto festivals, was directed by Chloe Zhao and stars Frances McDormand as a woman who travels through the American West in a van after losing her job and her home. Apart from McDormand and David Strathairn, almost all of the actors in the film are actual “nomads” that Zhao cast on her own travels through the area.
“Nuevo Orden” (“New Order”) by Mexican director Michel Franco won the Silver Lion, the festival’s second-place award, while acting prizes went to Vanessa Kirby for “Pieces of a Woman” and Pierfrancesco Favino for “Padrenostro.”
Kiyoshi Kurosawa was named the festival’s best director for “Wife of a Spy.”
Ahmad Bahrami’s “The Wasteland” won the...
The Searchlight drama, a simultaneous premiere by the Venice, Telluride and Toronto festivals, was directed by Chloe Zhao and stars Frances McDormand as a woman who travels through the American West in a van after losing her job and her home. Apart from McDormand and David Strathairn, almost all of the actors in the film are actual “nomads” that Zhao cast on her own travels through the area.
“Nuevo Orden” (“New Order”) by Mexican director Michel Franco won the Silver Lion, the festival’s second-place award, while acting prizes went to Vanessa Kirby for “Pieces of a Woman” and Pierfrancesco Favino for “Padrenostro.”
Kiyoshi Kurosawa was named the festival’s best director for “Wife of a Spy.”
Ahmad Bahrami’s “The Wasteland” won the...
- 9/12/2020
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
The Venice Film Festival, which reinvigorated the fall festival season with a physical event that began on September 2 in Italy, concluded on Saturday with its annual awards ceremony. See the full list of winners and watch the live stream below.
Led by president Cate Blanchett, the jurors for the main competition included Austrian director Veronika Franz, British filmmaker Joanna Hogg (“The Souvenir”), Italian writer and novelist Nicola Lagioia, German filmmaker Christian Petzold, actor Matt Dillon (“Crash”), and French actress Ludivine Sagnier.
Together, they awarded the festival’s top prizes, including the Golden Lion, which last year went to “Joker” under jury president Lucrecia Martel. This year’s Golden Lion went to “Nomadland,” which received a rapturous reception out of the Toronto International Film Festival as well this week, and looks to be headed straight for Oscar contention.
Meanwhile, in the Orizzonti, or Horizons, section running parallel to the main competition,...
Led by president Cate Blanchett, the jurors for the main competition included Austrian director Veronika Franz, British filmmaker Joanna Hogg (“The Souvenir”), Italian writer and novelist Nicola Lagioia, German filmmaker Christian Petzold, actor Matt Dillon (“Crash”), and French actress Ludivine Sagnier.
Together, they awarded the festival’s top prizes, including the Golden Lion, which last year went to “Joker” under jury president Lucrecia Martel. This year’s Golden Lion went to “Nomadland,” which received a rapturous reception out of the Toronto International Film Festival as well this week, and looks to be headed straight for Oscar contention.
Meanwhile, in the Orizzonti, or Horizons, section running parallel to the main competition,...
- 9/12/2020
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
On the final night of the Venice Film Festival, the awards ceremony of the official selection is currently in progress.
Prizes will be handed out in the virtual reality and debut feature contests, before winners in the Horizons section, under the jury presidency of French filmmaker Claire Denis, are announced. Finally, Competition jury president Cate Blanchett will lead the award presentations in the festival’s most prestigious bracket, with Chloe Zhao’s “Nomadland” and Michel Franco’s “New Order” among the acclaimed titles hoping to take the Golden Lion.
Fill list of winners below, updated as they are announced:
Horizons
Best Actress: Khansa Batma, “Zanka Contact”
Best Actor: Yahya Mahayni, “The Man Who Sold His Skin”
Best Screenplay: “I Predatori,” Pietro Castellitto
Best Short Film: “Entre tú y milagros,” Mariana Safron
Lion Of The Future
Luigi De Laurentiis Award for Best Debut Film: “Listen,” Ana Rocha de Sousa
Virtual Reality...
Prizes will be handed out in the virtual reality and debut feature contests, before winners in the Horizons section, under the jury presidency of French filmmaker Claire Denis, are announced. Finally, Competition jury president Cate Blanchett will lead the award presentations in the festival’s most prestigious bracket, with Chloe Zhao’s “Nomadland” and Michel Franco’s “New Order” among the acclaimed titles hoping to take the Golden Lion.
Fill list of winners below, updated as they are announced:
Horizons
Best Actress: Khansa Batma, “Zanka Contact”
Best Actor: Yahya Mahayni, “The Man Who Sold His Skin”
Best Screenplay: “I Predatori,” Pietro Castellitto
Best Short Film: “Entre tú y milagros,” Mariana Safron
Lion Of The Future
Luigi De Laurentiis Award for Best Debut Film: “Listen,” Ana Rocha de Sousa
Virtual Reality...
- 9/12/2020
- by Guy Lodge
- Variety Film + TV
Update, writethru: Following a successful two weeks that marked the first major international industry event in the pandemic era, the Venice Film Festival drew to a close tonight as Cate Blanchett’s jury handed out its awards. Despite a lack of major Hollywood fare, there was no shortage of well-received movies — one film from a studio, Searchlight’s Nomadland, energized the proceedings just yesterday, garnering strong notices for Chloe Zhao’s direction and Frances McDormand’s lead performance — and ultimately took the Golden Lion for Best Picture.
There were more female filmmakers in competition this year, and the Golden Lion going to Zhao’s Nomadland is a first since Sofia Coppola’s Somewhere in 2010.
Among the rest of the competition, there was a lot of praise for Mona Fastvold’s The World To Come. Vanessa Kirby co-stars in that frontier drama and did double duty with Kornel Mundruczo’s Pieces Of A Woman,...
There were more female filmmakers in competition this year, and the Golden Lion going to Zhao’s Nomadland is a first since Sofia Coppola’s Somewhere in 2010.
Among the rest of the competition, there was a lot of praise for Mona Fastvold’s The World To Come. Vanessa Kirby co-stars in that frontier drama and did double duty with Kornel Mundruczo’s Pieces Of A Woman,...
- 9/12/2020
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
With his feature debut, director Ismaël El Iraki presents a raucous, rock-and-roll-fueled tour through the underworld of Casablanca. Shot on 35mm and featuring a number of live performances, “Zanka Contact,” which premiered on Sunday at the Venice Film Festival, is a musical romp that mixes gangster film swagger with a marked sense of place.
“I’m a child of the 90s,” El Iraki tells Variety. “I was breastfed on Tarantino and Sergio Leone. Those films mixed with my Moroccan experience. Casablanca is a very violent city, and our project was to capture that spirit. It has a vulgar street poetry that can swing between laughter and violence from one sentence to the next. When I saw that in Tarantino movies, I said, hey, these are the guys from my neighborhood!”
The film, which the director describes as “a 70s subversive genre movie seen through a 90s lens,” follows a drug-addled...
“I’m a child of the 90s,” El Iraki tells Variety. “I was breastfed on Tarantino and Sergio Leone. Those films mixed with my Moroccan experience. Casablanca is a very violent city, and our project was to capture that spirit. It has a vulgar street poetry that can swing between laughter and violence from one sentence to the next. When I saw that in Tarantino movies, I said, hey, these are the guys from my neighborhood!”
The film, which the director describes as “a 70s subversive genre movie seen through a 90s lens,” follows a drug-addled...
- 9/9/2020
- by Ben Croll
- Variety Film + TV
The film-maker was at the Paris concert venue when attackers opened fire. His debut feature is inspired by his gruelling journey to recovery
‘For three days after the Bataclan, I thought I was dead,” says Ismaël el Iraki, whose debut feature, Zanka Contact, about two lost souls recovering from Ptsd, is playing at the Venice film festival. It’s a Wild at Heart-type love story starring Ahmed Hammoud and Moroccan music star Khansa Batma with debts to Quentin Tarantino and Sergio Leone. A car crash throws together a has-been rocker who has just returned to Casablanca and a streetwise con-artist, who get lulled into the shenanigans of the city’s music underworld.
Zanka Contact riffs on the director’s experiences trying to recover from all he witnessed at the Eagles of Death Metal concert at Paris’s Bataclan venue in November 2015, when gunmen massacred 90 people in a night of coordinated...
‘For three days after the Bataclan, I thought I was dead,” says Ismaël el Iraki, whose debut feature, Zanka Contact, about two lost souls recovering from Ptsd, is playing at the Venice film festival. It’s a Wild at Heart-type love story starring Ahmed Hammoud and Moroccan music star Khansa Batma with debts to Quentin Tarantino and Sergio Leone. A car crash throws together a has-been rocker who has just returned to Casablanca and a streetwise con-artist, who get lulled into the shenanigans of the city’s music underworld.
Zanka Contact riffs on the director’s experiences trying to recover from all he witnessed at the Eagles of Death Metal concert at Paris’s Bataclan venue in November 2015, when gunmen massacred 90 people in a night of coordinated...
- 9/7/2020
- by Kaleem Aftab
- The Guardian - Film News
Zanka Contact on display at the Venice Film Festival - Production / Funding - France/Belgium/Morocco
The feature debut from Ismaël El Iraki, produced by Barney Productions, Velvet Films and Mont Fleuri Production, will have its world premiere on the Lido, in the Orizzonti programme. A 2008 graduate from the directing department of La Fémis, and noticed with his short film H’rash (in national competition at Clermont-Ferrand in 2009), Ismaël El Iraki will benefit from great visibility for his feature length debut as his film Zanka Contact has been selected in the Orizzonti section of the 77th Venice Film Festival (2-12 September). Presented as a romantic rock road movie somewhere between the thriller and the musical, the film stars Khansa Batma, Ahmed Hammoud, Saïd Bey, Abderrahmane Oubihem, Mourad Zaoui and Fatima Attif. Written by Ismaël El Iraki, the script (which was one of the finalists for the Prix du Scénario) begins in a hellish Casablanca. A car-crash sets ablaze a burning, passionate love story between has-been...
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