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GFF DAILY
Day 07- April 16, 2012
The Gulf Film Festival comes to an end with a new beginning for the filmmakers
By Zainab Akbarali
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Photo Credits: Zainab Akbarali
he grand closing ceremony of the fifth edition of the Gulf Film Festival was held on 16th April 2012 honoring the best filmmakers in the region and from around the world. His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Rashid Al Maktoum presented the awards worth more than half a million dirhams to the winners of various categories such as GFF’s official Gulf Features, International and Gulf Shorts and Student Short features. The ceremony commenced with a special honorary award to the veteran Bahraini filmmaker Bassam Al Thawadi, for his outstanding and pioneering role for strengthening Bahrain’s film industry. The official jury for International and Gulf Student competition included Tampere Flm Festival Finland director Jukka-Pekka Laaks, Emirati filmmaker and writer Jamal Salim, and Egyptian flm critic Essam Zakarea. The Gulf jury comprised of Abdulla Al Eyaf, Jamal Matar and Jawal Al Assadi. Commenting on how films like these benefit from a festival such as GFF, Jamal Salim said, “all the filmmakers come here and get recognized at a professional level, the difference is very noticeable.” Zakarea highlighted that international movies take on a new level at different festivals as they get exposed to other ideas, meet different film makers, see different culture etc, benefiting both the sides. The first set of awards was given out by the New York Film Academy Abu Dhabi, to two female filmmakers who would receive a year’s scholarship from the academy each. The ‘Aspiring Filmmaker’ award was given to Eman Al Suwaidi for ‘The Old Palm’ and Aisha Abdullah for ‘Beginning. End’ The official award ceremony began with the first category, the Official Gulf Students
Winners of the Gulf Film Festival 2012, stand for a picture. For more photos click here.
Shorts awards, the Best Emirati film award given by Essam Zakarea, was taken by Fatema Abdullah for ‘Rithath Al Hayat’ (Life Spray), UAE, the Best Director award was given to Melak Abd Ali for Casette, UAE, the third place in the category was given to Abdulrahman Al Madani for ‘The Gamboo3a Revolution’, second place was taken by Mohammed Ebrahim for ‘Patience Salt’ and the Special Jury award was given to Hashim Al Efari for ‘Smile Again’. For the International Short film category, the award for the Best Director given by Jukka-Pekka Laakso, was taken by Ulo Pikkov for ‘Body Memory’, Estonia, the second place in the category was taken by Antonio Junior for ‘The Factory’, Brazil, and the Special Jury award was given to Hala Galal for ‘Payback’. The Best Short film award was bagged by Jalal Saed for ‘The Sound of Rain’. The Official Gulf Shorts awards given by Jamal Matar the first Special Jury award was received by Nayla Al Khaja for ‘Glimpse’, second award was taken by Hadi Mahood for ‘Arabana’ and the third award was taken
by Hani Al Shaibani for ‘Rahma’s Heaven’. The Best Script Production award was given to Rezgar Hussein for ‘Bicycle’ and the Best Director award was given to Dana Al Mojil for ’Wonderland A true story’. The third place in the category was bagged by Mohammed Rashid for ‘This is London’, the second place was taken by Sameer Ahmed for ‘Hidden Fences’ and the Special Jury mention was given to Dana Al Mojil for ‘Wonderland a true story’. The final round of awards of the evening, the Official Gulf Features awards were given out by Jawad Al Assadi. The Special Jury mention was given to Kais Nashef for ‘Tora Bora’, Best Director award given to Akram Hidou for ‘Halabja- The Lost children’, third place in the category was taken by Taha Karimi for ‘I am a white mercenary’ and the second place was taken by Nujoom al Ghanem for ‘Amal’. The most important award of the festival, the Best Feature film award was given to Akram Hidou for ‘Halabja- The lost children’. Other highlights of GFF 2012 were its strong response to the Gulf Script Market
MEDIA PARTNER:
Additional Inputs by Nazia Fatma
Photo Credits: Anzuma Akhter
Photo Credits: Anzuma Akhter
Photo Credits: Anzuma Akhter
ORGANIZER:
and Gulf Nights, both held for the first time at the festival. The Gulf Script Market saw over 100 script submissions of which 14 projects were selected and polished over the three-day mentoring session and pitched to producers, directors and film-professionals. The Gulf Script market was mentored Fareed Ramadan, Mohammed Khaled and Michel Kammoun, all established Arabic-speaking film-makers, scriptwriters and authors. The GFF Enjaaz programme added another weight to aspiring filmmakers as it extended its production funding to $50,000. With 155 films from over 40 countries, all screened for free for the public had an excellent response and turnout. Not to mention, the notable filmmakers who added another dimension to the fest, avant-garde French filmmaker, Gerard Courant who awed audiences with the world longest movie, Cinematon that had carefully crafted 154 vignettes. Veteran and renowned Iranian director, Abbas Kiarostami conducted a special masterclass and week’s worth screening of 39 films in ‘cherries of Kiarostami’ all part of the programme. With yet another successful year, we look forward to the fresh talent and intriguing stories told through the power of film and cinema in the sixth edition. For now, we can seal our sweet memories at the Gulf Film Festival as we mark a successful end and a new beginning for the winners and participants.
Over 125 volunteers make GFF a smooth sail By Maria Hussain
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he fifth edition of the Gulf Film Festival, this year, witnessed a spectacular involvement of participants who hail from various countries. With almost 127 volunteers taking part in the film festival, including Faz’at- a group of Emirati students, the event turned out to be a success with massive help from the volunteering team. According to Samina Yusuf, Assistant Manager of GFF’s Volunteer Department, “This year, we have more static volunteers; almost 40% of returning members, which is more compared to last year. Also, more than 50 percent of them are UAE nationals.” The volunteer team consists of
Volunteers of GFF’12
people of different age group, starting from age 15. There is an active participation of enthusiastic
students- 70-80 of who are assigned to manage the theatre operations. The festival’s volunteer programme
is one of the most successful and widespread community outreach programmes of GFF and DIFF that aims to encourage both- the student community, as well as the film fans and members of the public. Muna Ahmed Al Maazmi, one of the special need students said that she had an amazing experience at GFF, which provided her with an opportunity to meet the stars, along with an increase in knowledge on the various aspects of protocol management. Co-volunteers Moza Obaid Bin Dhalam and Fatima Khalifa Al Mnaie also expressed the importance of volunteering initiatives that helps them gain valuable experience,
Veteran director, Abbas Kiarostami urges filmmakers to find their areas of interests By Nazia Fatma
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he Gulf Film Festival, this year saw the return of one of the most reowned directors in the world, Mr. Abbas Kiarostami. The Iranian director had conducted a 10 day workshop last year, in which about 45 young filmmakers got the opportunity to gain knowledge of filmmaking from the veteran director. 39 filmmakers this year showcased their movies which were produced under his guidance. Several budding and recognized filmmakers from the Arab world, including the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt, Sudan, Iraq and as well as Iran, Germany and Denmark had participated in the workshop. ‘Cherries of Kiarostami’ was the title given to all the short movies which were made; the movies were also screened at the festival for the audiences.
Masoud Amralla Al Ali, Festival Director said, “The Kiarostami master class was a rare opportunity to work alongside and learn from one of the world’s finest directors, he brings unique insight and an understanding of the medium to his work. We look forward to sharing the films that evolved from this master class with local and regional audiences.” The film maker has a number of highly appreciated movies to this credit which are more than 40 short movies, documentaries and features; he is
Abbas Kiarostami
also a receiver of several awards. Mr. Kiarostami is one of those directors who begin on the tradition of the neorealism, but he says “in the beginning I used to focus on this kind of cinema but as I evolved, the film making and its components became more personal.” The film maker has inspired many young upcoming talents. According to him film making is not for everyone, as some who came for the workshop did not succeed, he says “find out what you are made for, everyone is good at something or the other, find out your area of interest and work on it, you might be better at it than other things.” Talking about what he thinks about the Arab cinema, the film maker said “I didn’t get the chance to watch much of this cinema, as my work has been focused on a very different side, but I am sure there is a good existing one, which will develop thorough time.”
which will be of a major help in their future careers. Film festivals prove to be an excellent podium that bridges gaps and connects people from all around the world. Volunteers who participate ever year walk out with an enriched experience and knowledge that would help them on a later stage in their lives.
Meet the Volunteers of GFF’12 click here
German foundation Robert Bosch Stiftung opens doors new doors to Arab filmmakers By Christine Cherian
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obert Bosch Stiftung, one of Germany’s major charitable foundations announced a new initiative to expand the reach and resources of filmmakers from the Arab world via the Gulf Film Festival. Out of the 15 shortlisted teams, the foundation will award three prizes of up to 60,000 Euros each for animated, documentary and short films jointly produced by young German filmmakers and directors based in the Arab world. Frank Albers, the Arts and Culture head of Robert Bosch said, “The main reason for this program is to strengthen the relations between the German and Arab World. Ever since the Arab Spring, filmmakers have been making more movies.” Albers hopes that through this platform many more young filmmakers will come and showcase their talent and excel in what they do. For more details and criteria log on to www. coproductionprize.com. The deadline for submission is September 30, 2012.
ONE-ON-ONE
Veteran filmmaker, Bassam Al Thawadi urges filmmakers to focus and take up responsibility By Nazia Fatma
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eteran Bahraini film-maker Bassam AlThawadi, director of Bahrain’s first feature film, ‘The Barrier’ (1990) was honored at the fifth edition of the Gulf Film Festival for his pioneering role in strengthening the regional cinema in the Bahraini film industry. The Arab film-maker has A founding member of the GCC Cinema Society, Al-Thawadi is also the founder and director-general of the first Arab Cinema Festival in Bahrain since 2000 and served on the jury of, the Muhr Arab Features of Dubai International Film Festival, Arab Film Festival in Paris and the international shorts competition of the Gulf Film Festival last year. Known for his flexibility in style and subject, narrating tales of social concern in a simple yet striking manner, Al Thawadi has directed three films, including ‘Visitor’ (2004), Bahrain’s second feature film and the first in Dolby Sound system in the Gulf, and ‘A Bahraini Tale’ (2006). Here is a one on one with the renowned filmmaker.
Q. What were the challenges you faced while making movies, especially when you were a student and as a professional?
When you are a student you are freer, there are no responsibilities. I didn’t know that studying cinema could be something as
challenging as it is in my country. But when you become professional you need to know why are you making movies, it becomes a responsibility, so you start thinking about the topics you want to bring in focus and show and the need to take the profession more seriously is important.
Q. Most of your films are about real issues, and told in a very simplistic manner, do you have a particular reason behind that? That is because when you do stories, people who don’t know anything about your country or the issues will gain a better insight and knowledge about it. We do have movies which portray Bahrain but I think there is need for more.
Q. Do you think the Arab film makers are influenced by the changes happening in the Arab World? I think film makers are influenced by everything that happens around the world and not only certain places. They are taking account of all the topics that will bring about change.
Q. What is your favorite part of film making?
When I think of an idea, I plan the whole movie, even the small parts like costumes etc which are fun initially turn out to be serious elements when the shooting starts for when you create something from scratch and then
see it progressing, it is a very wonderful process.
Q. You started with acting when you were younger and then turned to movies, how was the transition?
Yes, I had started with acting actually and then got into photography and then I started writing stories and poems and also got into choreography, because when you get into movies you have do all this for your own movie and cinema. All these things make you professional.
Q. You started making movies in a much closed environment and still there isn’t much support from the government, so what will you like you see or being done about it?
I think Bahrain is not closed, there is freedom about your expression and especially in movies, I cover all kind of topics. I think it’s more of a stereotype that people have, but in some countries the government takes a more active part than the other countries. It’s when you don’t have many people making movies, it gets sidelined and I think we need more film makers and also the infrastructure in our community to make it a prominent one.
which I’ve seen is that, most of them are short movies, which don’t make enough money and I think most of the filmmakers should go on to making something more serious like maybe features, that will get you more experience and money as well. The short movies are only shown at festivals and since you have the knowledge of that, get into other areas of film making and make it a business.
Q. What are your plans for the future?
First of all, I want to finish my feature film that I am making, and I have produced few films so I will be working on that. And I am also looking forward to more festivals like Dubai International Film Festival and Gulf Film Festival because I think they need our support, it really helps the new talent and takes them to a next level. All these workshops, markets etc. these push them to become better.
Q. You’ve always been actively involved in every medium; what are your expectations for the future of Arab cinema? It has a bright future but one of the problems
Bassam Al Thawadi
Publication by the Media and Communcations Department, Manipal University Dubai Executive Editors: Joseph John, Sabir Haque Managing Editor: Megna Kalvani Technical In-Charge: Sambhram Pattanayak Production Designer: Khadija Shabbir Proofreader: Qudsiya Siddiqui, Heena Makhijani