Exclusive: Tunisian-Egyptian actress Hend Sabry, star of Oscar-nominated hybrid doc Four Daughters and Netflix hit show Finding Ola, has signed with Cairo-based talent management and promotional agency Mad Celebrity.
The company will manage and promote the star across the Middle East and North Africa, while CAA, which signed Sabry in 2023, continues to represent her internationally as her talent agent.
Sabry first became a household name across the Arab world with the 2010 Egyptian TV classic Ayza Atgawez, in the role of a young pharmacist desperate to get married before she turns 30. She has since rebooted the character for Netflix in the hit show Finding Ola.
The star joins a growing list of internationally recognized talents from the Arab world on the Mad Celebrity books, including megastar Yousra, the Emmy-nominated Menna Shalaby (Nawara), British Lebanese actress Razane Jammal (The Sandman) and the trail-blazing Saudi artist Fatima Al Banawi (Basma).
Sabry, who has...
The company will manage and promote the star across the Middle East and North Africa, while CAA, which signed Sabry in 2023, continues to represent her internationally as her talent agent.
Sabry first became a household name across the Arab world with the 2010 Egyptian TV classic Ayza Atgawez, in the role of a young pharmacist desperate to get married before she turns 30. She has since rebooted the character for Netflix in the hit show Finding Ola.
The star joins a growing list of internationally recognized talents from the Arab world on the Mad Celebrity books, including megastar Yousra, the Emmy-nominated Menna Shalaby (Nawara), British Lebanese actress Razane Jammal (The Sandman) and the trail-blazing Saudi artist Fatima Al Banawi (Basma).
Sabry, who has...
- 2/12/2025
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Egyptian acting star Mona Zaki did not hold back when she was asked about the new generation of actors in the Arab film industry being consumed by social media and brand deals.
“It’s all fake, from beginning to end,” declared Zaki during a conversation event at Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival.
“If the new generation relies purely on social media and brand deals for fame, they’re not going to learn anything. Even if they work with big important brands, they’ll be underpaid because they’re just being given a superficial image,” she continued. “They won’t be able to grow in their career as authentic actors.”
“I don’t really deal with social media, I don’t know how to. I think when people become too obsessed with it, they get stuck in a shallow mindset that doesn’t allow for much personal growth.”
Zaki,...
“It’s all fake, from beginning to end,” declared Zaki during a conversation event at Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival.
“If the new generation relies purely on social media and brand deals for fame, they’re not going to learn anything. Even if they work with big important brands, they’ll be underpaid because they’re just being given a superficial image,” she continued. “They won’t be able to grow in their career as authentic actors.”
“I don’t really deal with social media, I don’t know how to. I think when people become too obsessed with it, they get stuck in a shallow mindset that doesn’t allow for much personal growth.”
Zaki,...
- 12/8/2024
- by Nada Aboul Kheir
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Mena film distribution and marketing company and talent agency Mad Solutions has acquired worldwide rights to the short film The Last Miracle ahead of its world premiere as the opener of Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival later this month.
Its subsidiary Mad Distribution will handle its release across Arab-speaking territories, while the company’s recently-launched sales arm Mad World will look after sales in all other territories.
The Egyptian short is directed by Abdelwahab Shawky, whose previous credits include assistant director on Sudanese breakout feature You Will Die At 20 by Amjad Abu Alala.
Popular actor Khaled Kamal plays 40-year-old Yahya, who receives a surprising phone call from a deceased Sheikh at a bar. Little does he know he’s about to go on a spiritual journey with an unexpected conclusion.
It is based on a tale in a short story collection titled ‘The...
Its subsidiary Mad Distribution will handle its release across Arab-speaking territories, while the company’s recently-launched sales arm Mad World will look after sales in all other territories.
The Egyptian short is directed by Abdelwahab Shawky, whose previous credits include assistant director on Sudanese breakout feature You Will Die At 20 by Amjad Abu Alala.
Popular actor Khaled Kamal plays 40-year-old Yahya, who receives a surprising phone call from a deceased Sheikh at a bar. Little does he know he’s about to go on a spiritual journey with an unexpected conclusion.
It is based on a tale in a short story collection titled ‘The...
- 10/7/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
The International Coalition for Filmmakers at Risk (Ifcr) calls for his release of the producer in jail since May.
The International Coalition for Filmmakers at Risk (Icfr) has sounded the alarm for Egyptian producer Moataz Abdelwahab, following his continued imprisonment in Cairo.
Producing under the banner of Team One Productions, Abdelwahab’s recent credits include Tamer Ezzat’s musical drama When We’re Born, which world premiered at the El Gouna Film Festival last year, and also played at Tunisia’s Carthage Film Festival.
He was arrested last May on charges of “partnering with a terrorist organisation” and “spreading false...
The International Coalition for Filmmakers at Risk (Icfr) has sounded the alarm for Egyptian producer Moataz Abdelwahab, following his continued imprisonment in Cairo.
Producing under the banner of Team One Productions, Abdelwahab’s recent credits include Tamer Ezzat’s musical drama When We’re Born, which world premiered at the El Gouna Film Festival last year, and also played at Tunisia’s Carthage Film Festival.
He was arrested last May on charges of “partnering with a terrorist organisation” and “spreading false...
- 10/29/2020
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Parent event Cairo International Film Festival pushing on with 42nd edition.
Upcoming features by veteran Egyptian filmmaker Yousry Nasrallah and Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania are among 15 projects selected for the 7th edition of the Cairo Film Connection (Cfc), aimed at finding partners for Arab works in development and in post-production.
The event is an integral part of the Cairo Industry Days programme of the Cairo International Film Festival (Ciff), which is pushing on with plans to hold a live 42nd edition in November in spite of the Covid-19 pandemic.
There were 105 project submissions from across 12 Arab countries to the Cfc this year.
Upcoming features by veteran Egyptian filmmaker Yousry Nasrallah and Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania are among 15 projects selected for the 7th edition of the Cairo Film Connection (Cfc), aimed at finding partners for Arab works in development and in post-production.
The event is an integral part of the Cairo Industry Days programme of the Cairo International Film Festival (Ciff), which is pushing on with plans to hold a live 42nd edition in November in spite of the Covid-19 pandemic.
There were 105 project submissions from across 12 Arab countries to the Cfc this year.
- 9/15/2020
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Sheikh Jackson is the new film by Amr Salama, a prominent young Egyptian writer and director whose credits include the prize-winning AIDS drama Asmaa and the coming-of-age comedy Excuse My French, which swept the board at Egypt’s equivalent of the Oscars, as well as the documentary Tahrir which premiered in Venice, winning the Fipresci Award.
It is a strange thing to see an ultra strict iman recall his sweet innocent school days as a devotee of Michael Jackson. While playing like a comedy, there is a sadness to the amount of supression that goes into the creation of the fundamentalist strictness of the man today. As a child he was mistreated just enough by his father to lose the magical charm Michael Jackson exercised upon him.
I wanted to laugh but found it profoundly upsetting to realize the dynamic behind such fundamentalism today.
The director himself said,
I never...
It is a strange thing to see an ultra strict iman recall his sweet innocent school days as a devotee of Michael Jackson. While playing like a comedy, there is a sadness to the amount of supression that goes into the creation of the fundamentalist strictness of the man today. As a child he was mistreated just enough by his father to lose the magical charm Michael Jackson exercised upon him.
I wanted to laugh but found it profoundly upsetting to realize the dynamic behind such fundamentalism today.
The director himself said,
I never...
- 12/14/2017
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Exclusive: Off-beat, buddy road movie, which world premiered at Dubai in December, due to screen at Unifrance Rendez-vous in Paris.
Paris-based Loco Films has taken on world sales of Egyptian filmmaker Sherif El Bendary’s debut feature Ali, The Goat, And Ibrahim about a young man who sets off on a journey of self-discovery across Egypt in the company of his beloved pet goat Nada.
Ali Sobhy plays the titular Ali opposite Ahmed Magdy as tormented sound engineer and travelling companion Ibrahim, who joins the Egyptian odyssey.
“We fell in love with the film. It’s very humorous with a strong premise: a man who is deeply in love with his goat who sets off on a colourful journey across Egypt,” said Loco Films founding chief Laurent Danielou.
“They cast 2,000 goats for the role!” he added. “It’s a feel-good movie, which is original, exotic, funny and slightly crazy – in perfect sync with Loco.”
The deal covers...
Paris-based Loco Films has taken on world sales of Egyptian filmmaker Sherif El Bendary’s debut feature Ali, The Goat, And Ibrahim about a young man who sets off on a journey of self-discovery across Egypt in the company of his beloved pet goat Nada.
Ali Sobhy plays the titular Ali opposite Ahmed Magdy as tormented sound engineer and travelling companion Ibrahim, who joins the Egyptian odyssey.
“We fell in love with the film. It’s very humorous with a strong premise: a man who is deeply in love with his goat who sets off on a colourful journey across Egypt,” said Loco Films founding chief Laurent Danielou.
“They cast 2,000 goats for the role!” he added. “It’s a feel-good movie, which is original, exotic, funny and slightly crazy – in perfect sync with Loco.”
The deal covers...
- 1/12/2017
- ScreenDaily
Dubai/Exclusive: Egyptian producer Mohamed Samir has boarded Wheelchair, the first narrative feature from Little Eagles director Mohamed Rashad.
The Alexandria-set drama follows an 18-year-old who makes a life-changing discovery about his uncle. The project was previously selected for the Beirut Cinema Platform co-production market while still at treatment stage in 2015.
Samir previously produced Factory Girl, directed by the late Mohamed Khan, which screened at Diff in 2013.
Rashad, whose first feature documentary Little Eagles is screening in Diff’s Muhr Feature competition, is currently scripting Wheelchair and hopes to start shooting in 2018.
Produced by Hala Lotfy, Little Eagles is an autobiographical documentary about the impact of the revolution on the relationship between Egyptian youth and their formerly leftist parents.
“We used to have anger towards our parents for their passivity. But recent events have helped us understand how revolutionary zeal can fade,” said Rashad. “Researching this film has brought me closer to my own father.”...
The Alexandria-set drama follows an 18-year-old who makes a life-changing discovery about his uncle. The project was previously selected for the Beirut Cinema Platform co-production market while still at treatment stage in 2015.
Samir previously produced Factory Girl, directed by the late Mohamed Khan, which screened at Diff in 2013.
Rashad, whose first feature documentary Little Eagles is screening in Diff’s Muhr Feature competition, is currently scripting Wheelchair and hopes to start shooting in 2018.
Produced by Hala Lotfy, Little Eagles is an autobiographical documentary about the impact of the revolution on the relationship between Egyptian youth and their formerly leftist parents.
“We used to have anger towards our parents for their passivity. But recent events have helped us understand how revolutionary zeal can fade,” said Rashad. “Researching this film has brought me closer to my own father.”...
- 12/11/2016
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Filmmaker’s recent works included Factory Girl and Before The Summer Crowds.
Respected Egyptian director Mohamed Khan has died at the age of 73 in Cairo following a sudden illness.
Khan, who made more than 20 feature-length films over his 40-year career, was known for his realistic, contemporary dramas, many of them with a social edge and featuring strong female leads.
Born in Cairo in 1942 to an Egyptian and a Pakistani father, Khan grew up in Egypt but left in his early 20s to study cinema at the London International Film School in the early 1960s.
After stints working as an assistant director in Lebanon and writing a book on Egyptian cinema back in the UK, he returned home in the early 1970s.
The 1980s were a particularly prolific period for Khan, who is regarded as a key figure in Egyptian cinema’s “1980s generation” alongside the likes of Yousry Nasrallah.
Highlights of that period include the 1984 The Street...
Respected Egyptian director Mohamed Khan has died at the age of 73 in Cairo following a sudden illness.
Khan, who made more than 20 feature-length films over his 40-year career, was known for his realistic, contemporary dramas, many of them with a social edge and featuring strong female leads.
Born in Cairo in 1942 to an Egyptian and a Pakistani father, Khan grew up in Egypt but left in his early 20s to study cinema at the London International Film School in the early 1960s.
After stints working as an assistant director in Lebanon and writing a book on Egyptian cinema back in the UK, he returned home in the early 1970s.
The 1980s were a particularly prolific period for Khan, who is regarded as a key figure in Egyptian cinema’s “1980s generation” alongside the likes of Yousry Nasrallah.
Highlights of that period include the 1984 The Street...
- 7/26/2016
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Producer of Un Certain Regard opener Clash lines up new projects, including Lewis Carroll adaptation In The Land Of Wonder.
Egyptian producer Mohamed Hefzy [pictured] is developing a Cairo-set version of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland plunging the main character into the chaos of the city’s streets.
The project, In The Land Of Wonder, is the second film by Nadine Khan after her debut feature Chaos, Disorder, which won the jury prize at the Dubai International Film Festival in 2012.
The daughter of respected Egyptian filmmaker Mohamed Khan spent a decade working as a second unit and assistant director for the likes of Yousry Nasrallah and Nabil Ayouch before making her first film.
Hefzy is in Cannes this year with Mohamed Diab’s buzzed about Un Certain Regard opener Clash about a group of people locked in a police van for 24 hours after they arrested during violent demonstrations in Cairo at the end of Islamist President...
Egyptian producer Mohamed Hefzy [pictured] is developing a Cairo-set version of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland plunging the main character into the chaos of the city’s streets.
The project, In The Land Of Wonder, is the second film by Nadine Khan after her debut feature Chaos, Disorder, which won the jury prize at the Dubai International Film Festival in 2012.
The daughter of respected Egyptian filmmaker Mohamed Khan spent a decade working as a second unit and assistant director for the likes of Yousry Nasrallah and Nabil Ayouch before making her first film.
Hefzy is in Cannes this year with Mohamed Diab’s buzzed about Un Certain Regard opener Clash about a group of people locked in a police van for 24 hours after they arrested during violent demonstrations in Cairo at the end of Islamist President...
- 5/16/2016
- ScreenDaily
Egyptian producer Mohamed Samir has boarded compatriot film-maker Hala Lotfy’s Cairo-set drama The Bridge, ahead of its presentation at the Dubai Film Connection co-financing event, which kicks off today (Dec 11).
Inspired by a true story dating back to 2010, the film captures Cairo’s dark underbelly through the events surrounding the death of a child when he falls through a hole in a badly maintained bridge.
Samir, who produces under the Cairo-based DayDream Art Productions banner, said he felt compelled to collaborate with Lotfy’s film collective Hassala on the project due to the “sheer authenticity” of the work.
The Bridge will be Samir’s first production since Mohamed Khan’s romantic drama Factory Girl, starring Yasmin Raeis as an impoverished textile worker, which premiered at Diff in 2013, winning the best actress award and the Fipresci Prize.
Samir is also developing his own feature-length directorial debut The Northern Lights, about Syrian refugees in Sweden, inspired by the...
Inspired by a true story dating back to 2010, the film captures Cairo’s dark underbelly through the events surrounding the death of a child when he falls through a hole in a badly maintained bridge.
Samir, who produces under the Cairo-based DayDream Art Productions banner, said he felt compelled to collaborate with Lotfy’s film collective Hassala on the project due to the “sheer authenticity” of the work.
The Bridge will be Samir’s first production since Mohamed Khan’s romantic drama Factory Girl, starring Yasmin Raeis as an impoverished textile worker, which premiered at Diff in 2013, winning the best actress award and the Fipresci Prize.
Samir is also developing his own feature-length directorial debut The Northern Lights, about Syrian refugees in Sweden, inspired by the...
- 12/10/2015
- ScreenDaily
Mad Solutions has acquired pan-Arab rights to seven films in this year’s Diff line-up, including The Curve and Before The Summer Crowds, which receive their world premieres in the Muhr feature competition today.
The Cairo and Abu Dhabi-based distributor has also picked up two other Muhr feature titles – Omar Shargawi’s Al Medina, which also receives its world premiere at Diff, and Mai Masri’s 3,000 Nights, which premiered in Toronto.
Mad’s distribution slate also includes Arabian Nights title Love, Theft And Other Entanglements, directed by Muayad Alayan, and short films Ave Maria and 5th Floor Room 52.
Mad, which deals directly with cinemas across the region, is planning limited releases of up to 20 screens for each film. “Our strategy is to prolong the life of each film in the cinema, which is easier to manage when you have a smaller number of screens,” said Mad CEO Alaa Karkouti.
Mai Masri’s 3,000 Nights will be rolled out across...
The Cairo and Abu Dhabi-based distributor has also picked up two other Muhr feature titles – Omar Shargawi’s Al Medina, which also receives its world premiere at Diff, and Mai Masri’s 3,000 Nights, which premiered in Toronto.
Mad’s distribution slate also includes Arabian Nights title Love, Theft And Other Entanglements, directed by Muayad Alayan, and short films Ave Maria and 5th Floor Room 52.
Mad, which deals directly with cinemas across the region, is planning limited releases of up to 20 screens for each film. “Our strategy is to prolong the life of each film in the cinema, which is easier to manage when you have a smaller number of screens,” said Mad CEO Alaa Karkouti.
Mai Masri’s 3,000 Nights will be rolled out across...
- 12/10/2015
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
The Dubai International Film Festival (Diff) has revealed the selection of director Mohamed Khan's film "Before the Summer Crowds" to compete in the Muhr Feature Competition at the 12th edition of the festival (December 9 - 16). The new film will land its world premiere at Diff which also hosted the world premiere of Khan's previous award-winning film, "Factory Girl," in 2013.
"Before the Summer Crowds" stars Maged El Kedwany, Hana Shiha, Ahmed Dawood, LanaMushtaq and Hany El Metennawy. Set in a seaside resort, the film tracks a group of people who meet each other by the beginning of summer season. The film was produced by Middle West Films, Film Clinic, The Producers, Wika Production and Distribution and Mad Solutions, which will be in charge of the international distribution of the film.
Khan is one of Egypt's most acclaimed directors whose films have earned the audiences' admiration throughout the years. Since 1979, Khan has directed 26 films winning 25 awards in international and local film festivals.
Diff is one of the most important film festivals in the Arab world. In its 12th edition this year,Diff will showcase over 120 features, shorts films and documentaries from around the world and will include several world premieres. Every year Diff presents new and exciting cinema from the Arab world and beyond, introducing audiences to fresh new talent and original and distinctive filmmaking.
Khan 's previous film, "Factory Girl," won the Fipresci award at Dubai International Film Festival 2013, and the film's star, Yasmin Raeis, received the Best Actress Award. The film scored the total of 17 awards from several film festivals."Factory Girl" also represented Egypt in Best Foreign Language Film category at the 87th Academy Awards.
Take a look at the film's official poster below:...
"Before the Summer Crowds" stars Maged El Kedwany, Hana Shiha, Ahmed Dawood, LanaMushtaq and Hany El Metennawy. Set in a seaside resort, the film tracks a group of people who meet each other by the beginning of summer season. The film was produced by Middle West Films, Film Clinic, The Producers, Wika Production and Distribution and Mad Solutions, which will be in charge of the international distribution of the film.
Khan is one of Egypt's most acclaimed directors whose films have earned the audiences' admiration throughout the years. Since 1979, Khan has directed 26 films winning 25 awards in international and local film festivals.
Diff is one of the most important film festivals in the Arab world. In its 12th edition this year,Diff will showcase over 120 features, shorts films and documentaries from around the world and will include several world premieres. Every year Diff presents new and exciting cinema from the Arab world and beyond, introducing audiences to fresh new talent and original and distinctive filmmaking.
Khan 's previous film, "Factory Girl," won the Fipresci award at Dubai International Film Festival 2013, and the film's star, Yasmin Raeis, received the Best Actress Award. The film scored the total of 17 awards from several film festivals."Factory Girl" also represented Egypt in Best Foreign Language Film category at the 87th Academy Awards.
Take a look at the film's official poster below:...
- 11/25/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Paris-based industry veteran, who also works with actor Amr Waked, deepens ties with Egypt.
Paris-based producer Daniel Ziskind has signed to act as the European representative of Egyptian Mohamed Hefzy’s Cairo-based production house Film Clinic.
Under the accord, Ziskind will support Film Clinic’s co-production and sales activities in Europe.
“I’m very happy to join the Film Clinic family,” Ziskind said. “The company has a great line-up and strategy.”
First feature
The first project under the collaboration will be Mohamed Diab’s drama Clash, his second film after the much-praised Cairo 678 tackling sexual harassment through the experiences of women on a bus.
Set against the backdrop of violent demonstrations that erupted at the end of former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi’s Islamist reign in summer of 2013, Clash revolves around two groups of opposing protestors who find themselves trapped in the same police van as fighting rages around them.
“It’s a timely...
Paris-based producer Daniel Ziskind has signed to act as the European representative of Egyptian Mohamed Hefzy’s Cairo-based production house Film Clinic.
Under the accord, Ziskind will support Film Clinic’s co-production and sales activities in Europe.
“I’m very happy to join the Film Clinic family,” Ziskind said. “The company has a great line-up and strategy.”
First feature
The first project under the collaboration will be Mohamed Diab’s drama Clash, his second film after the much-praised Cairo 678 tackling sexual harassment through the experiences of women on a bus.
Set against the backdrop of violent demonstrations that erupted at the end of former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi’s Islamist reign in summer of 2013, Clash revolves around two groups of opposing protestors who find themselves trapped in the same police van as fighting rages around them.
“It’s a timely...
- 4/9/2015
- ScreenDaily
A year has passed since its theatrical release in the Arab world and "Factory Girl" continues its burgeoning success, carrying forward with non-stop lucrative festival tours worldwide reaping awards including 4 prizes for its leading star Yasmin Raeis. The film combined all the elements of success starting from the funding and production to a great team and efforts that have been put by the marketing and distribution team.
Helmed by veteran director Mohamed Khan, the film is written by Wessam Soliman, and stars Yasmin Raeis, Hani Adel, Salwa Khattab , Salwa Mohamed Ali, Ibtihal El Sereti and a diverse array of new promising stars. The film is produced by Mohamed Samir's DayDream Art Production and is distributed in the Arab world by Mad Solutions, which also promoted the film worldwide.
The film hit Egyptian theaters on March 19th, 2014, and was released in the UAE the next day. Factory Girl carried on its flourishing commercial tour across Lebanon, the Palestinian territories and other 3 Arab countries. Garnering a total of 1.6 million Egp in Egyptian box office, "Factory Girl" ran for 19 consecutive weeks.
In a fresh breakthrough for Mohamed Khan's "Factory Girl" across international film festivals, Arab Cinema in Sweden (Acis), a distribution arm under the umbrella of Malmo Arab Film Festival, has announced the theatrical release of "Factory Girl" across Sweden on Friday, April 24th, 2015. Marking the film's first release beyond the Arab world, the film will be screened in 9 cities in Sweden. The film will also get a theatrical release in several countries the list of which will be announced soon.
This month, "Factory Girl" is taking part of the 10th International Oriental Film Festival of Geneva. Marking its 17th participation at an international film festival, director Mohamed Khanis will be attending the festival.
The film has also been presented at the European Film Market (Efm) within the 65thBerlin International Film Festival through the Arab Cinema Center (Acc), which is helmed by Mad Solutions as part of its long-term strategy in backing and promoting Arab filmmaking.
"Factory Girl" tells the story of Hiyam, a young factory worker, lives in a lower-middle-class neighborhood, along with her co-workers. She is clearly under the spell of Salah, the factory's new supervisor, who has expressed his admiration for her. She believes love can transcend the class differences between them. However, when a pregnancy test is discovered in the factory premises, her family and close friends accuse her of sinning. Hiyam decides not to defend herself and pays an enormous price in a society that fails to accept independent women.
Mohamed Khan's "Factory Girl" was Egypt's official submission to the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 87th Academy Awards (Oscars). In December 2013, the film had its world premiere at the Dubai International Film Festival within the Muhr Arab Feature competition where the film received the International Federation of Film Critics (Fipresci) award for the Arab Feature Competition, and the film's star Yasmin Raeis walked away with the Best Actress award. In July 2014, the film earned a Special Jury Prize from MEDFilm Festival in Italy, where it was screened at the opening gala of the festival.
The film's star, Yasmin Raeis, reaped the Best Actress Award at Malmo Arab Film Festival in Sweden, and its ccreenwriter Wessam Soliman also received the Best Writing Award at the Sala Women Film Festival in Morocco.
"Factory Girl" ended 2014 receiving multiple awards from international film festivals earning 4 awards from the 18thEgyptian National Film Festival, which hosted an honorary screening of the film at the closing ceremony after competing in the festival's Feature-length Competition. The film swept the festival's major awards; Best Director award, Best Screenplay and the Best Actress award.
In February, 2015, "Factory Girl" swept 6 awards from the 41st Egyptian Film Association Festival. The film earned the Excellence Award for director Mohamed Khan; a Special Jury Award; Best Actressaward for Yasmin Raeis; Best Supporting Actress for Salwa Khatab; Best Screenplay award for Wessam Suleiman; Best Film Editing award for Dina Farouk.
Adding to its festival screenings in a string of highly prestigious international film festivals, "Factory Girl" had its North American premiere at Montreal World Film Festival in Canada, and then was part of the Ana Contemporary Arab Cinema Festival in New York. On November 9th, 2014, "Factory Girl" concluded the screenings of Twin Cities Arab Film Festival in Minnesota, USA, which was held under the patronage of Mizna.
The film was also screened as part of Shanghai International Film Festival and at the opening ceremony of the Arab Film Festival in Seoul, Korea. Also, the film has taken part at the 20th Kolkata Film Festivalin India within Focus: Arabian Countries section, which showcased 7 films from the Arab world that achieved artistic triumphs at international film festivals.
Moreover, Mohamed Khan's "Factory Girl" was showcased at Safar: A Journey Through Popular Arab Cinema in London, which took place at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (Ica). The film has also been part of the 34th African Film Festival of Verona in Italy within Panorama Africa competition, which encompassed 10 African feature-length films.Following its screening at Franco Arab Film Festival in Jordon, Factory Girl was featured at Carthage Film Festival within Special Sessions section.
The film received financial support from a total of 7 entities including: Dubai International Film Festival's Enjaaz,Abu Dhabi Film Festival's Sanad Fund, Giz institution, Global Film Initiative,Women in Film Foundation and the Ministry of Culture's Filmmaking Fund. The film was also produced by Wika and Middle West Films
International Sales are being handled by Mad Solutions, U.S. Rights are still available.
Helmed by veteran director Mohamed Khan, the film is written by Wessam Soliman, and stars Yasmin Raeis, Hani Adel, Salwa Khattab , Salwa Mohamed Ali, Ibtihal El Sereti and a diverse array of new promising stars. The film is produced by Mohamed Samir's DayDream Art Production and is distributed in the Arab world by Mad Solutions, which also promoted the film worldwide.
The film hit Egyptian theaters on March 19th, 2014, and was released in the UAE the next day. Factory Girl carried on its flourishing commercial tour across Lebanon, the Palestinian territories and other 3 Arab countries. Garnering a total of 1.6 million Egp in Egyptian box office, "Factory Girl" ran for 19 consecutive weeks.
In a fresh breakthrough for Mohamed Khan's "Factory Girl" across international film festivals, Arab Cinema in Sweden (Acis), a distribution arm under the umbrella of Malmo Arab Film Festival, has announced the theatrical release of "Factory Girl" across Sweden on Friday, April 24th, 2015. Marking the film's first release beyond the Arab world, the film will be screened in 9 cities in Sweden. The film will also get a theatrical release in several countries the list of which will be announced soon.
This month, "Factory Girl" is taking part of the 10th International Oriental Film Festival of Geneva. Marking its 17th participation at an international film festival, director Mohamed Khanis will be attending the festival.
The film has also been presented at the European Film Market (Efm) within the 65thBerlin International Film Festival through the Arab Cinema Center (Acc), which is helmed by Mad Solutions as part of its long-term strategy in backing and promoting Arab filmmaking.
"Factory Girl" tells the story of Hiyam, a young factory worker, lives in a lower-middle-class neighborhood, along with her co-workers. She is clearly under the spell of Salah, the factory's new supervisor, who has expressed his admiration for her. She believes love can transcend the class differences between them. However, when a pregnancy test is discovered in the factory premises, her family and close friends accuse her of sinning. Hiyam decides not to defend herself and pays an enormous price in a society that fails to accept independent women.
Mohamed Khan's "Factory Girl" was Egypt's official submission to the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 87th Academy Awards (Oscars). In December 2013, the film had its world premiere at the Dubai International Film Festival within the Muhr Arab Feature competition where the film received the International Federation of Film Critics (Fipresci) award for the Arab Feature Competition, and the film's star Yasmin Raeis walked away with the Best Actress award. In July 2014, the film earned a Special Jury Prize from MEDFilm Festival in Italy, where it was screened at the opening gala of the festival.
The film's star, Yasmin Raeis, reaped the Best Actress Award at Malmo Arab Film Festival in Sweden, and its ccreenwriter Wessam Soliman also received the Best Writing Award at the Sala Women Film Festival in Morocco.
"Factory Girl" ended 2014 receiving multiple awards from international film festivals earning 4 awards from the 18thEgyptian National Film Festival, which hosted an honorary screening of the film at the closing ceremony after competing in the festival's Feature-length Competition. The film swept the festival's major awards; Best Director award, Best Screenplay and the Best Actress award.
In February, 2015, "Factory Girl" swept 6 awards from the 41st Egyptian Film Association Festival. The film earned the Excellence Award for director Mohamed Khan; a Special Jury Award; Best Actressaward for Yasmin Raeis; Best Supporting Actress for Salwa Khatab; Best Screenplay award for Wessam Suleiman; Best Film Editing award for Dina Farouk.
Adding to its festival screenings in a string of highly prestigious international film festivals, "Factory Girl" had its North American premiere at Montreal World Film Festival in Canada, and then was part of the Ana Contemporary Arab Cinema Festival in New York. On November 9th, 2014, "Factory Girl" concluded the screenings of Twin Cities Arab Film Festival in Minnesota, USA, which was held under the patronage of Mizna.
The film was also screened as part of Shanghai International Film Festival and at the opening ceremony of the Arab Film Festival in Seoul, Korea. Also, the film has taken part at the 20th Kolkata Film Festivalin India within Focus: Arabian Countries section, which showcased 7 films from the Arab world that achieved artistic triumphs at international film festivals.
Moreover, Mohamed Khan's "Factory Girl" was showcased at Safar: A Journey Through Popular Arab Cinema in London, which took place at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (Ica). The film has also been part of the 34th African Film Festival of Verona in Italy within Panorama Africa competition, which encompassed 10 African feature-length films.Following its screening at Franco Arab Film Festival in Jordon, Factory Girl was featured at Carthage Film Festival within Special Sessions section.
The film received financial support from a total of 7 entities including: Dubai International Film Festival's Enjaaz,Abu Dhabi Film Festival's Sanad Fund, Giz institution, Global Film Initiative,Women in Film Foundation and the Ministry of Culture's Filmmaking Fund. The film was also produced by Wika and Middle West Films
International Sales are being handled by Mad Solutions, U.S. Rights are still available.
- 4/1/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Arab Cinema in Sweden will release Mohamed Khan’s feature on April 24.
Egyptian filmmaker Mohamed Khan’s Factory Girl is set for theatrical release in Sweden through Arab Cinema in Sweden (Acis), the distribution arm of the Malmo Arab Film Festival.
Acis will release the film on April 24 across 12 screening venues in cities including Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmo, Norrkoping, Fajo, Umea, Lulea, Lund and Hillsburg.
Although Sweden has one of Europe’s largest Arabic-speaking communities, Arabic-language films rarely receive a theatrical release in the territory. Factory Girl’s Swedish release marks its first beyond the Arab world.
Egypt and UAE-based Mad Solutions handled the film’s distribution in the Arab world across six territories and is also organising the Arab Cinema Center (Acc) here at the European Film Market (Efm). The film will screen in the Efm on Feb 7.
Produced by Mohamed Samir’s Day Dream Art Production, Factory Girl was Egypt’s official submission to the best...
Egyptian filmmaker Mohamed Khan’s Factory Girl is set for theatrical release in Sweden through Arab Cinema in Sweden (Acis), the distribution arm of the Malmo Arab Film Festival.
Acis will release the film on April 24 across 12 screening venues in cities including Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmo, Norrkoping, Fajo, Umea, Lulea, Lund and Hillsburg.
Although Sweden has one of Europe’s largest Arabic-speaking communities, Arabic-language films rarely receive a theatrical release in the territory. Factory Girl’s Swedish release marks its first beyond the Arab world.
Egypt and UAE-based Mad Solutions handled the film’s distribution in the Arab world across six territories and is also organising the Arab Cinema Center (Acc) here at the European Film Market (Efm). The film will screen in the Efm on Feb 7.
Produced by Mohamed Samir’s Day Dream Art Production, Factory Girl was Egypt’s official submission to the best...
- 2/6/2015
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Arab Cinema in Sweden will release Mohamed Khan’s feature on April 24.
Egyptian filmmaker Mohamed Khan’s Factory Girl is set for theatrical release in Sweden through Arab Cinema in Sweden (Acis), the distribution arm of the Malmo Arab Film Festival.
Acis will release the film on April 24 across 12 screening venues in cities including Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmo, Norrkoping, Fajo, Umea, Lulea, Lund and Hillsburg.
Although Sweden has one of Europe’s largest Arabic-speaking communities, Arabic-language films rarely receive a theatrical release in the territory. Factory Girl’s Swedish release marks its first beyond the Arab world.
Egypt and UAE-based Mad Solutions handled the film’s distribution in the Arab world across six territories and is also organising the Arab Cinema Center (Acc) here at the European Film Market (Efm). The film will screen in the Efm on Feb 7.
Produced by Mohamed Samir’s Day Dream Art Production, Factory Girl was Egypt’s official submission to the best...
Egyptian filmmaker Mohamed Khan’s Factory Girl is set for theatrical release in Sweden through Arab Cinema in Sweden (Acis), the distribution arm of the Malmo Arab Film Festival.
Acis will release the film on April 24 across 12 screening venues in cities including Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmo, Norrkoping, Fajo, Umea, Lulea, Lund and Hillsburg.
Although Sweden has one of Europe’s largest Arabic-speaking communities, Arabic-language films rarely receive a theatrical release in the territory. Factory Girl’s Swedish release marks its first beyond the Arab world.
Egypt and UAE-based Mad Solutions handled the film’s distribution in the Arab world across six territories and is also organising the Arab Cinema Center (Acc) here at the European Film Market (Efm). The film will screen in the Efm on Feb 7.
Produced by Mohamed Samir’s Day Dream Art Production, Factory Girl was Egypt’s official submission to the best...
- 2/6/2015
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Lee Daniels is heading the jury for the Muhr Feature competition at this year’s Dubai International Film Festival (Diff), while Egyptian filmmaker Mohamed Khan heads the jury for the Muhr Shorts & Emirati competition.
Daniels, the director and producer of Oscar-winning films Precious and The Butler, will be joined by Dutch cinematographer and director Leonard Retel Helmrich, Algerian director Malik Bensmail, actress Virginia Madsen and Lebanese director and actress Nadine Labaki.
Khan will be joined by Palestinian director Cherien Dabis and Emirati screenwriter Mohammed Hasan Ahmed.
One of Egypt’s best-known directors, Khan attended Diff last year with his latest film Factory Girl, which won the Fipresci award and best actress for Yasmin Raeis’ performance.
“The groundbreaking works entered into the reputable Muhr Awards this year have proven the fruits of our labour over the past 11 years,” said Diff artistic director Masoud Amralla Al Ali.
“The number of entries has increased in line with the caliber of the...
Daniels, the director and producer of Oscar-winning films Precious and The Butler, will be joined by Dutch cinematographer and director Leonard Retel Helmrich, Algerian director Malik Bensmail, actress Virginia Madsen and Lebanese director and actress Nadine Labaki.
Khan will be joined by Palestinian director Cherien Dabis and Emirati screenwriter Mohammed Hasan Ahmed.
One of Egypt’s best-known directors, Khan attended Diff last year with his latest film Factory Girl, which won the Fipresci award and best actress for Yasmin Raeis’ performance.
“The groundbreaking works entered into the reputable Muhr Awards this year have proven the fruits of our labour over the past 11 years,” said Diff artistic director Masoud Amralla Al Ali.
“The number of entries has increased in line with the caliber of the...
- 12/5/2014
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Despite the cancellation of last year’s Cairo International Film Festival due to continued political unrest, this year’s festival, now in its 36th year, possesses an optimistic energy that change is happening within Egypt’s film industry.
Working under the newly appointed Minister of Culture Gaber Asfour, festival president Samir Farid (also in his first year) has added a staff of fresh new faces to help pull together a programme showcasing films from over 50 countries, including both animated and short films for the first time.
Also new, a cultural sidebar has been included that features an exhibition celebrating film icon Henry Barakat, a showcase of works from female artist Najat Makki, a film publications symposium and a musical concert comprised of scores by composer Rageh Daoud.
“Cinema, and culture, is a way of life for Egyptians, so how is it that our once beautiful cinemas have turned into shops, cafes have turned...
Working under the newly appointed Minister of Culture Gaber Asfour, festival president Samir Farid (also in his first year) has added a staff of fresh new faces to help pull together a programme showcasing films from over 50 countries, including both animated and short films for the first time.
Also new, a cultural sidebar has been included that features an exhibition celebrating film icon Henry Barakat, a showcase of works from female artist Najat Makki, a film publications symposium and a musical concert comprised of scores by composer Rageh Daoud.
“Cinema, and culture, is a way of life for Egyptians, so how is it that our once beautiful cinemas have turned into shops, cafes have turned...
- 11/19/2014
- ScreenDaily
Every year Hollywood gets a curated batch of films from dozens of countries seeking an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. One film per nation is chosen to represent the best of its cinematic production during the previous year. Certainly the chosen film is not always the ideal candidate, but the reasoning behind the selection usually follows two patterns: there are countries that go with the best film even if this is not the most appealing choice and there are countries that go with the most ambitious, industry-friendly, and financially successful work. This year the astonishing number of submissions – a total of 83 – makes for an incredible list of films that range from those that sport festival pedigree of the highest caliber, unknown gems looking for an audience, expensive visual achievements, and obscure art house hopefuls.
This year more than most, there are a great number of films with serious possibilities. There is no unshakable front-runner, but there are numerous favorites. Yet, looking at last year’s 9 shortlisted films and eventual 5 nominees, nothing is written in stone. Critics and audience favorites like “ The Past” (Iran), “Gloria” (Chile), “Heli” (Mexico), and “Wadjda” (Saudi Arabia) were left out to include surprises like “The Missing Picture“ (Cambodia), “An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker” (Bosnia & Herzegovina) or “The Notebook” (Hungary).
With Awards Season now in full swing and knowing that this is one of the most difficult races to follow, here is a comprehensive list that includes information for each of the 83 submissions. Below each poster you will find the title of the film linked to its page on IMDb Pro followed by the title in the original language; the director’s name also linked to his/her IMDb Page; the language the film is primarily in; the name of the U.S. distributor if there is one; the name of the film’s International Sales Agent (Isa) or Production Company (PC) linked to the film’s page on Cinando; and a link to the film’s trailer (most of them have English subtitles, others are only in the original language, and a few are videos related to the film because a trailer wasn't available). In addition, reviews and interviews with many of these filmmakers will be added regularly.
Before getting into the list, let’s take a look at some of the statistics and patterns among these 83 foreign language features.
Period Dramas/Biopics
Several countries selected films based on the lives of prominent local figures or great period pieces, both showcase the level of films being produced across the globe in terms of production value and scope. Mexico’s “Cantinflas,” Venezuela’s “The Liberator,” Kyrgyzstan “Kurmanjan Datka Queen of the Mountains,” Bolivia’s “Forgotten,” Indonesia’s “Soekarno,” Greece’s “Little England,” Macedonia’s “To the Hilt,” Hong Kong’s “The Golden Era,” Austria’s “The Dark Valley,” Switzerland’s “The Circle,” Bulgaria’s “Bulgarian Rhapsody,” Serbia’s “ See You in Montevideo,” Slovakia’s “A Step Into the Dark” and New Zealand’s “The Dead Lands” are some of the most expensive films ever made in their respective territories. All of them are epic productions that highlight an important historical period using impressive cinematography, a great number of extras, intricate costumes, lavish locations, detailed production design, as well as great battle sequences in several of them. Other more traditional biopics/period pieces on the list include France’s “Saint Laurent,” The Netherlands “ Accused,” Germany’s “Beloved Sisters,” Spain’s “Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed” and the Czech Republic’s “Fair Play”
Masters and Festival Winners
Not surprisingly many of the films on the list come into this race after winning important awards at international festivals. Furthermore, a handful of them are from master filmmakers, masters in the making, or unique new voices. These films include Belgium’s “Two Days, One Night” (Cannes, Telluride, Tiff, Nyff, AFI Fest) by the Dardenne Brothers, Canada’s “Mommy” (Cannes, Telluride, Tiff, AFI Fest) by prodigy Xavier Dolan, Chile’s “To Kill a Man” (Sundance, Rotterdam, Cartagena) by Alejandro Fernandez Almendras, Hungary's "White God" (Cannes) by Kornél Mundruczó, Norway’s “1001 Grams” (Tiff) by Bent Hamer, Poland’s “Ida”(Tiff, Sundance) by Pawel Pawlikowski, Russia’s “Leviathan” (Cannes, Telluride, Tiff, AFI Fest) by Andrey Zvyagintsev, Sweden’s “Force Majeure” (Cannes, Telluride, Tiff) by Ruben Östlund, and Turkey’s “ Winter Sleep” (Cannes, Telluride, Tiff) by Nuri Bilge Ceylan. All of these films have played at renowned international festivals and most have earned important recognition there.
Out of the Box
Whether they are aware of their actual possibilities at a nomination or not, each year a few countries take the risk of sending a film that defies convention despite having more safe choices. But that is not say they are entirely out of the race, films like “The Missing Picture” and “Dogtooth” prove that sometimes there is room for daring and unique filmmaking. With “Rocks in My Pockets” Latvia is the only country to submit an animated film this year. The film is an inventive and colorful look at depression. Then there is the almost-silent and highly poetic Ecuadorian entry “Silence in Dreamland” and Singapore’s musically driven drama “Sayang Disayang.” However, the boldest selection has to be the Philippines’ “Norte, the End of History” by acclaimed auteur Lav Diaz, which runs over four hours and is inspired by Dostoyevsky Crime and Punishment.
Documentaries
Only two countries chose to go with non-fiction entries. One of them is Panama’s “Invasion,” which deals with the aftermath of the U.S. intervention in that country in 1989. This is the Central American nation’s first ever Oscar submission. The other documentary contending is Portugal’s “ What Now? Remind Me,“ a self-portrait by filmmaker Joaquim Pinto exploring his struggles living with HIV. One should note that Portugal is one of the few countries in Western Europe to have never obtained a nomination in the category despite entering films consecutively for several decades.
Lgbt
Films with stories that highlight sexual diversity occasionally make their way into this list. Last year the only Lgbt title submitted was “ Soongava: Dance of the Orchids,” which surprisingly came from Nepal and dealt with the relationship between two young women in the traditional Asian society. This time around two countries selected films with similar themes. Brazil’s festival darling “ The Way He Looks” – a sweet coming-of-age tale- was an audacious choice among the many other films the South American country produces every year. Then there is Switzerland’s “The Circle” about a pioneering gay publication during the 1940s/1950s in Zurich and the real life relationship between two of its prominent members.
Surprising Choices
As it usually happens, some countries go against what the industry expects and decide to send films that weren’t on most people’s radars. Bulgaria for example selected “Bulgarian Rhapsody” by veteran director Ivan Nitchev over Sundance’s “Viktoria” by young female director Maya Vitkova. Similarly, Ukraine overlooked Cannes favorite “The Tribe”- a powerful drama entirely in sign language - and decided to go with “The Guide” by Oles Sanin. Nevertheless, the most shocking decision came from China. Instead of selecting a Chinese-directed film like Berlin’s Golden Bear winner “Black Coal, Thin Ice” or Zhang Yimou’s “Coming Home,” the Chinese selection committee chose “The Nightingale” by French director Philippe Muyl. Despite having a European helmer the film is authentically Chinese in terms of language and story, but it was still an unexpected move from the traditionally patriotic country.
First Timers
The unprecedented number of entries is in part due to the addition of countries submitting for the first time. Besides aforementioned Panama, there are three other debutant nations in the mix. Kosovo- a tiny Balkan state often associated with the rampart war that afflicted the region a few decades ago - is finally showcasing its film production. Their entry titled “Three Windows and a Hanging” is said to be a high quality, affecting drama. Malta - a European island nation near Italy - is often used as astonishing location for big budget studio films. This year, however, “ Simshar,” a great immigration drama will represent the country. Lastly, Mauritania – a prominently Muslim nation in Sub-Saharan Africa – selected Abderrahmane Sissako’s “Timbuktu,”which played in competition at Cannes,as their inaugural submission. Although Sissako has had several successful films at international festivals, this is the first time his country decides to participate.
Female Directors
Out of the 83 films, 14 were directed by women. That’s 17% of all entries. What’s more interesting is the fact that some of these films come from countries that are often seen as traditionally patriarchal societies. 3 Latin American entries were created by female directors: Colombia’s “Mateo,” Costa Rica’s “Red Princesses” and the Dominican Republic’s “Cristo Rey.” 4 from Asia: Hong Kong’s “ The Golden Era,” India’s “Liar’s Dice,” Japan’s “The Light Shines Only There,” and Pakistan’s “Dukhtar.” 2 from the Middle East: Israel’s “Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem” (Co-directed) and Palestine’s “Eyes of a Thief.” Lastly, 5 films from Europe: The Czech Republic’s “Fair Play,” Finland’s “Concrete Night,” Latvia’s “ Rocks in My Pockets,” Malta’s “Simshar” and the Netherlands’ “Accused.”
U.S. Distribution
Another interesting fact is the number of these films that already have U.S. distribution. Several of them have actually already opened theatrically here, and others are set to open early next year. Out 83 films, 24 already have U.S. distribution. That’s 29% of all films. Hopefully that number increases by the end of the season. The films are: Argentina’s “Wild Tales,” Austria’s “The Dark Valley,” Belgium’s “Two Days, One Night,” Brazil’s “The Way He Looks,” Canada’s “Mommy,” Chile’s “To Kill a Man,” France’s “Saint Laurent,” Germany’s “Beloved Sisters,” Hungary’s “White God,” Israel’s “ Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem,” Italy’s “Human Capital,” Latvia’s “Rocks in My Pockets,” Mauritania’s “Timbuktu,” Mexico’s “Cantinflas,” Norway’s “1001 Grams,” The Philippines “Norte, the End of History,” Poland’s “Ida,” Portugal's "What Now? Remind Me," Russia’s “Leviathan,” Spain’s “Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed,” Sweden’s “Force Majeure,” Switzerland’s “The Circle,” Turkey’s “Winter Sleep,” and Venezuela’s “ The Liberator.”
To see which distribution company has each of these films please refer to the list below.
Afghanistan
"A Few Cubic Meters of Love" (چند متر مکعب عشق)
Dir: Jamshid Mahmoudi
Language: Persian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Dreamlab Films
Trailer
Argentina
"Wild Tales" (Relatos Salvajes)
Dir: Damián Szifrón
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: Sony Pictures Classics
Isa: Film Factory Entertainment
Trailer
Austria
"The Dark Valley" (Das finstere Tal)
Dir: Andreas Prochaska
Language: German
U.S Distribution: Film Movement
Isa: Films Distribution
Trailer
Australia
"Charlie's Country"
Dir: Rolf de Heer
Language: Yolŋu Matha/English
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Visit Films
Trailer
Azerbaijan
"Nabat"
Dir: Elcin Musaoglu
Language: Azerbaijani
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Dreamlab Films
Trailer
Bangladesh
"Glow of the Firefly" (Jonakir Alo)
Dir: Khalid Mahmood Mithu
Language: Bengali
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Impress Telefilm
Trailer
Belgium
"Two Days, One Night" (Deux jours, une nuit)
Dir: Jean-Pierre Dardenne & Luc Dardenne
Language: French/Arabic
U.S Distribution: Sundance Selects
Isa: Wild Bunch
Trailer
Bolivia
"Forgotten" (Olvidados)
Dir: Carlos Bolado
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Flor de Loto Pictures
Trailer
Bosnia & Herzegovina
"With Mom" (Sa mamom)
Dir: Faruk Loncarevic
Language: Bosnian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Scca/pro.ba
TraileR
Brazil
"The Way He Looks" (Hoje Eu Quero Voltar Sozinho)
Dir: Daniel Ribeiro
Language: Portuguese
U.S Distribution: Strand Releasing
Isa: Films Boutique Trailer
Bulgaria
"Bulgarian Rhapsody" (българска рапсодия)
Dir: Ivan Nitchev
Language: Bulgarian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Cinepaz Eood
Trailer
Canada
"Mommy"
Dir: Xavier Dolan
Language: French/English
U.S Distribution: Roadside Attractions
Isa: Seville International
Trailer
Chile
"To Kill a Man" (Matar a un Hombre)
Dir: Alejandro Fernández Almendras
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: Film Movement
Isa: Film Factory Entertainment
Trailer
China
"The Nightingale" (夜莺/Le promeneur d'oiseau)
Dir: Philippe Muyl
Language: Mandarin
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Kinology
Trailer
Colombia
"Mateo"
Dir: Maria Gamboa ♀
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Alpha Violet
Trailer
Costa Rica
"Red Princesses" (Princesas Rojas)
Dir: Laura Astorga ♀
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Latido Films Trailer
Croatia
"Cowboys" (Kauboji)
Dir: Tomislav Mrsic
Language: Croatian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Wide
Trailer
Cuba
"Behavior" (Conducta)
Dir: Ernesto Daranas
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Latido Films
Trailer
Czech Republic
"Fair Play"
Dir: Andrea Sedlácková Andrea Sedlácková
Language: Czech
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: IntraMovies
Trailer
Denmark
"Sorrow and Joy" (Sorg og glæde)
Dir: Nils Malmros
Language: Danish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Nordisk Film Production
Trailer
Dominican Republic
"Cristo Rey"
Dir: Leticia Tonos ♀
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: The Little Film Company
Trailer
Ecuador
"Silence in Dreamland" (El Silencio en la Tierra de los Sueños)
Dir: Tito Molina
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: La Facultad
Trailer
Egypt
"Factory Girl" (فتاة المصنع )
Dir: Mohamed Khan
Language: Arabic
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: DayDream Art Production
Trailer
Estonia
"Tangerines" (Mandariinid)
Dir: Zaza Urushadze
Language: Estonian/Russian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Cinemavault
Trailer
Ethiopia
"Difret"
Dir: Zeresenay Mehari
Language: Amharic
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Films Boutique Trailer
Finland
"Concrete Night" (Betoniyö)
Dir: Pirjo Honkasalo ♀
Language: Finnish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Film Republic Trailer
France
"Saint Laurent"
Dir: Bertrand Bonello
Language: French
U.S Distribution: Sony Pictures Classics
Isa: Europacorp
Trailer
Georgia
"Corn Island" (სიმინდის კუნძული)
Dir: George Ovashvili
Language: Georgian/Abkhazian/Russian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Arizona Productions
Trailer
Germany
"Beloved Sisters" (Die geliebten Schwestern)
Dir: Dominik Graf
Language: German /French
U.S Distribution: Music Box Films
Isa: Global Screen
Trailer
Greece
"Little England" (Μικρά Αγγλία)
Dir: Pantelis Voulgaris
Language: Greek
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Black Orange
Trailer
Hong Kong
"The Golden Era" (黄金时代)
Dir: Ann Hui ♀
Language: Mandarin
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Edko Films
Trailer
Hungary
"White God" (Fehér isten)
Dir: Kornél Mundruczó
Language: Hungarian/English
U.S Distribution: Magnolia Pictures
Isa: The Match Factory
Trailer
Iceland
"Life in a Fishbowl" (Vonarstræti)
Dir: Baldvin Zophoníasson
Language: None Yet
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Films Boutique Trailer
India
"Liar's Dice" (लायर्स डाइस)
Dir: Geethu Mohandas ♀
Language: Hindi
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Jar Pictures Trailer
Indonesia
"Soekarno"
Dir: Hanung Bramantyo
Language: Indonesian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Mvp Pictures
Trailer
Iran
"Today" (امروز )
Dir: Reza Mirkarimi
Language: Persian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Dreamlab Films
Trailer
Iraq
"Mardan"
Dir: Batin Ghobadi
Language: Kurdish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Versatile Trailer
Ireland
"The Gift" (An Bronntanas)
Dir: Tom Collins
Language: Irish/English
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Rosg/De Facto Films
Trailer
Israel
"Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem" (Gett: Le Procès de Viviane Amsalem)
Dir: Ronit Elkabetz ♀ & Shlomi Elkabetz
Language: Hebrew/French/Arabic
U.S Distribution: Music Box Films
Isa: Films Distribution
Trailer
Italy
"Human Capital" (Il Capitale Umano)
Dir: Paolo Virzì
Language: Italian
U.S Distribution: Film Movement
PC: Indiana Production Company
Trailer
Japan
"The Light Shines Only There" (そこのみにて光輝く)
Dir: Mipo Oh ♀
Language: Japanese
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Open Sesame
Trailer
Kosovo
"Three Windows and a Hanging" (Tri Dritare dhe një Varje)
Dir: Isa Qosja
Language: Albanian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: CMb Productions
Trailer
Kyrgyzstan
"Kurmanjan Datka Queen of the Mountains" (Курманжан Датка)
Dir: Sadyk Sher-Niyaz
Language: Kirghiz
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Aitysh Film
Trailer
Latvia
"Rocks in My Pockets" (Akmeņi manās kabatās)
Dir: Signe Baumane ♀
Language: Latvian
U.S Distribution: Zeitgeist Films
Isa: New Europe Film Sales
Trailer
Lebanon
"Ghadi" (غدي)
Dir: Amin Dora
Language: Arabic
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Fortissimo Films
Trailer
Lithuania
"The Gambler" (Lošėjas)
Dir: Ignas Jonynas
Language: Lithuanian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Wide
Trailer
Luxembourg
"Never Die Young"
Dir: Pol Cruchten
Language: French
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: EastWest Distribution
Trailer
MacEdonia
"To the Hilt" (До балчак)
Dir: Stole Popov
Language: Macedonian/French/English/ Turkish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Triangle Film- Skopje
Trailer
Malta
"Simshar"
Dir: Rebecca Cremona ♀
Language: Maltese
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Kukumajsa Productions
Trailer
Mauritania
"Timbuktu"
Dir: Abderrahmane Sissako
Language: French/Arabic/Bambara/English/Songhay/Tamasheq
U.S Distribution: Cohen Media Group
Isa: Le Pacte
Trailer
Mexico
"Cantinflas"
Dir: Sebastian del Amo
Language: Spanish/English
U.S Distribution: Pantelion Films
Isa: 6 Sales
Trailer
Moldova
"The Unsaved" (La Limita de Jos a Cerului)
Dir: Igor Cobileanski
Language: Romanian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Insomnia World Sales Trailer
Montenegro
"The Boys from Marx and Engels Street" (Djecaci iz ulice Marksa i Engelsa)
Dir: Nikola Vukcevic
Language: Serbian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Artikulacija Production
Trailer
Morocco
"The Red Moon" (القمر الأحمر)
Dir: Hassan Benjelloun
Language: Arabic
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Bentaqerla
Trailer
Nepal
"Jhola" (झोला)
Dir: Yadav Kumar Bhattarai
Language: Nepali
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Media for Culture
Trailer
The Netherlands
"Accused" (Lucia de B.)
Dir: Paula van der Oest ♀
Language: Dutch
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Fortissimo Films
Trailer
New Zealand
"The Dead Lands"
Dir: Toa Fraser
Language: Maori
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Xyz Films
Trailer
Norway
"1001 Grams" (1001 Gram)
Dir: Bent Hamer
Language: Norwegian/French/ English
U.S Distribution: Kino Lorber
Isa: Les Films du Losange
Trailer
Pakistan
"Dukhtar" (دختر، بیٹی)
Dir: Afia Nathaniel ♀
Language: Urdu
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Zambeel Films
Trailer
Palestine
"Eyes of a Thief" (عيون الحراميه)
Dir: Najwa Najjar ♀
Language: Arabic
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Ustura Films Trailer
Panama
"Invasion" (Invasión)
Dir: Abner Benaim
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Apertura Films Trailer
Peru
"The Gospel of the Flesh" (El Evangelio de la Carne)
Dir: Eduardo Mendoza de Echave
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: La Soga Producciones
Trailer
The Philippines
"Norte, the End of History" (Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan)
Dir: Lav Diaz
Language: Tagalog/English
U.S Distribution: The Cinema Guild
Isa: M-Appeal World Sales
Trailer
Poland
"Ida"
Dir: Pawel Pawlikowski
Language: Polish
U.S Distribution: Music Box Films
Isa: Portobello Film Sales
Trailer
Portugal
"What Now? Remind Me" (E Agora? Lembra-me)
Dir: Joaquim Pinto
Language: Portuguese
U.S Distribution: The Cinema Guild
PC: C.R.I.M Productions
Trailer
Romania
"The Japanese Dog" (Câinele Japonez)
Dir: Tudor Cristian Jurgiu
Language: Romanian/Japanese
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: M-Appeal World Sales
Trailer
Russia
"Leviathan" (Левиафан)
Dir: Andrey Zvyagintsev
Language: Russian
U.S Distribution: Sony Pictures Classics
Isa: Pyramide International
Trailer
Serbia
"See You in Montevideo" (Montevideo, vidimo se!)
Dir: Dragan Bjelogrlic
Language: Serbian/Spanish/ English
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Intermedia Network
Trailer
Singapore
"Sayang Disayang"
Dir: Sanif Olek
Language: Malay/Indonesian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: ReelJuice
Trailer
Slovakia
"A Step Into the Dark" (Krok do tmy)
Dir: Miloslav Luther
Language: Slovak
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Trigon Production Trailer
Slovenia
"Seduce Me" (Zapelji me)
Dir: Marko Santic
Language: Slovenian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Radio-Television Slovenia
Trailer
South Africa
"Elelwani"
Dir: Ntshaveni Wa Luruli
Language: Venda
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: EastWest FilmDistribution
Trailer
South Korea
"Haemoo" (해무)
Dir: Sung Bo Shim
Language: Korean
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Finecut
Trailer
Spain
"Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed" (Vivir es fácil con los ojos cerrados)
Dir: David Trueba
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: Outsider Pictures
Isa: 6 Sales
Trailer
Sweden
"Force Majeure" (Turist)
Dir: Ruben Östlund
Language: Swedish/English
U.S Distribution: Magnolia Pictures
Isa: Coproduction Office (Paris)
Trailer
Switzerland
"The Circle" (Der Kreis)
Dir: Stefan Haupt
Language: Swiss German/ German/ French
U.S Distribution: Wolfe Video
Isa: Wide House
Trailer
Taiwan
"Ice Poison" (冰毒)
Dir: Midi Z.
Language: Burmese/Chinese
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Flash Forward Enterteinment
Trailer
Thailand
"The Teacher's Diary" (คิดถึงวิทยา)
Dir: Nithiwat Tharathorn
Language: Thai
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Gth
Trailer
Turkey
"Winter Sleep" (Kis uykusu)
Dir: Nuri Bilge Ceylan
Language: Turkish/English
U.S Distribution: Adopt Films
Isa: Memento Films International
Trailer
Ukraine
"The Guide" (Поводир)
Dir: Oles Sanin
Language: Ukrainian/Russia/English
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Pronto Film
Trailer
United Kingdom
"Little Happiness" (Uzun Yol)
Dir: Nihat Seven
Language: Turkish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: 7&7 Producers' Sales Services
Trailer
Uruguay
"Mr. Kaplan"
Dir: Álvaro Brechner
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Memento Films International
Trailer
Venezuela
"The Liberator" (Libertador)
Dir: Alberto Arvelo
Language: Spanish/English/ French
U.S Distribution: Cohen Media Group
Isa: Mundial
Trailer...
This year more than most, there are a great number of films with serious possibilities. There is no unshakable front-runner, but there are numerous favorites. Yet, looking at last year’s 9 shortlisted films and eventual 5 nominees, nothing is written in stone. Critics and audience favorites like “ The Past” (Iran), “Gloria” (Chile), “Heli” (Mexico), and “Wadjda” (Saudi Arabia) were left out to include surprises like “The Missing Picture“ (Cambodia), “An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker” (Bosnia & Herzegovina) or “The Notebook” (Hungary).
With Awards Season now in full swing and knowing that this is one of the most difficult races to follow, here is a comprehensive list that includes information for each of the 83 submissions. Below each poster you will find the title of the film linked to its page on IMDb Pro followed by the title in the original language; the director’s name also linked to his/her IMDb Page; the language the film is primarily in; the name of the U.S. distributor if there is one; the name of the film’s International Sales Agent (Isa) or Production Company (PC) linked to the film’s page on Cinando; and a link to the film’s trailer (most of them have English subtitles, others are only in the original language, and a few are videos related to the film because a trailer wasn't available). In addition, reviews and interviews with many of these filmmakers will be added regularly.
Before getting into the list, let’s take a look at some of the statistics and patterns among these 83 foreign language features.
Period Dramas/Biopics
Several countries selected films based on the lives of prominent local figures or great period pieces, both showcase the level of films being produced across the globe in terms of production value and scope. Mexico’s “Cantinflas,” Venezuela’s “The Liberator,” Kyrgyzstan “Kurmanjan Datka Queen of the Mountains,” Bolivia’s “Forgotten,” Indonesia’s “Soekarno,” Greece’s “Little England,” Macedonia’s “To the Hilt,” Hong Kong’s “The Golden Era,” Austria’s “The Dark Valley,” Switzerland’s “The Circle,” Bulgaria’s “Bulgarian Rhapsody,” Serbia’s “ See You in Montevideo,” Slovakia’s “A Step Into the Dark” and New Zealand’s “The Dead Lands” are some of the most expensive films ever made in their respective territories. All of them are epic productions that highlight an important historical period using impressive cinematography, a great number of extras, intricate costumes, lavish locations, detailed production design, as well as great battle sequences in several of them. Other more traditional biopics/period pieces on the list include France’s “Saint Laurent,” The Netherlands “ Accused,” Germany’s “Beloved Sisters,” Spain’s “Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed” and the Czech Republic’s “Fair Play”
Masters and Festival Winners
Not surprisingly many of the films on the list come into this race after winning important awards at international festivals. Furthermore, a handful of them are from master filmmakers, masters in the making, or unique new voices. These films include Belgium’s “Two Days, One Night” (Cannes, Telluride, Tiff, Nyff, AFI Fest) by the Dardenne Brothers, Canada’s “Mommy” (Cannes, Telluride, Tiff, AFI Fest) by prodigy Xavier Dolan, Chile’s “To Kill a Man” (Sundance, Rotterdam, Cartagena) by Alejandro Fernandez Almendras, Hungary's "White God" (Cannes) by Kornél Mundruczó, Norway’s “1001 Grams” (Tiff) by Bent Hamer, Poland’s “Ida”(Tiff, Sundance) by Pawel Pawlikowski, Russia’s “Leviathan” (Cannes, Telluride, Tiff, AFI Fest) by Andrey Zvyagintsev, Sweden’s “Force Majeure” (Cannes, Telluride, Tiff) by Ruben Östlund, and Turkey’s “ Winter Sleep” (Cannes, Telluride, Tiff) by Nuri Bilge Ceylan. All of these films have played at renowned international festivals and most have earned important recognition there.
Out of the Box
Whether they are aware of their actual possibilities at a nomination or not, each year a few countries take the risk of sending a film that defies convention despite having more safe choices. But that is not say they are entirely out of the race, films like “The Missing Picture” and “Dogtooth” prove that sometimes there is room for daring and unique filmmaking. With “Rocks in My Pockets” Latvia is the only country to submit an animated film this year. The film is an inventive and colorful look at depression. Then there is the almost-silent and highly poetic Ecuadorian entry “Silence in Dreamland” and Singapore’s musically driven drama “Sayang Disayang.” However, the boldest selection has to be the Philippines’ “Norte, the End of History” by acclaimed auteur Lav Diaz, which runs over four hours and is inspired by Dostoyevsky Crime and Punishment.
Documentaries
Only two countries chose to go with non-fiction entries. One of them is Panama’s “Invasion,” which deals with the aftermath of the U.S. intervention in that country in 1989. This is the Central American nation’s first ever Oscar submission. The other documentary contending is Portugal’s “ What Now? Remind Me,“ a self-portrait by filmmaker Joaquim Pinto exploring his struggles living with HIV. One should note that Portugal is one of the few countries in Western Europe to have never obtained a nomination in the category despite entering films consecutively for several decades.
Lgbt
Films with stories that highlight sexual diversity occasionally make their way into this list. Last year the only Lgbt title submitted was “ Soongava: Dance of the Orchids,” which surprisingly came from Nepal and dealt with the relationship between two young women in the traditional Asian society. This time around two countries selected films with similar themes. Brazil’s festival darling “ The Way He Looks” – a sweet coming-of-age tale- was an audacious choice among the many other films the South American country produces every year. Then there is Switzerland’s “The Circle” about a pioneering gay publication during the 1940s/1950s in Zurich and the real life relationship between two of its prominent members.
Surprising Choices
As it usually happens, some countries go against what the industry expects and decide to send films that weren’t on most people’s radars. Bulgaria for example selected “Bulgarian Rhapsody” by veteran director Ivan Nitchev over Sundance’s “Viktoria” by young female director Maya Vitkova. Similarly, Ukraine overlooked Cannes favorite “The Tribe”- a powerful drama entirely in sign language - and decided to go with “The Guide” by Oles Sanin. Nevertheless, the most shocking decision came from China. Instead of selecting a Chinese-directed film like Berlin’s Golden Bear winner “Black Coal, Thin Ice” or Zhang Yimou’s “Coming Home,” the Chinese selection committee chose “The Nightingale” by French director Philippe Muyl. Despite having a European helmer the film is authentically Chinese in terms of language and story, but it was still an unexpected move from the traditionally patriotic country.
First Timers
The unprecedented number of entries is in part due to the addition of countries submitting for the first time. Besides aforementioned Panama, there are three other debutant nations in the mix. Kosovo- a tiny Balkan state often associated with the rampart war that afflicted the region a few decades ago - is finally showcasing its film production. Their entry titled “Three Windows and a Hanging” is said to be a high quality, affecting drama. Malta - a European island nation near Italy - is often used as astonishing location for big budget studio films. This year, however, “ Simshar,” a great immigration drama will represent the country. Lastly, Mauritania – a prominently Muslim nation in Sub-Saharan Africa – selected Abderrahmane Sissako’s “Timbuktu,”which played in competition at Cannes,as their inaugural submission. Although Sissako has had several successful films at international festivals, this is the first time his country decides to participate.
Female Directors
Out of the 83 films, 14 were directed by women. That’s 17% of all entries. What’s more interesting is the fact that some of these films come from countries that are often seen as traditionally patriarchal societies. 3 Latin American entries were created by female directors: Colombia’s “Mateo,” Costa Rica’s “Red Princesses” and the Dominican Republic’s “Cristo Rey.” 4 from Asia: Hong Kong’s “ The Golden Era,” India’s “Liar’s Dice,” Japan’s “The Light Shines Only There,” and Pakistan’s “Dukhtar.” 2 from the Middle East: Israel’s “Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem” (Co-directed) and Palestine’s “Eyes of a Thief.” Lastly, 5 films from Europe: The Czech Republic’s “Fair Play,” Finland’s “Concrete Night,” Latvia’s “ Rocks in My Pockets,” Malta’s “Simshar” and the Netherlands’ “Accused.”
U.S. Distribution
Another interesting fact is the number of these films that already have U.S. distribution. Several of them have actually already opened theatrically here, and others are set to open early next year. Out 83 films, 24 already have U.S. distribution. That’s 29% of all films. Hopefully that number increases by the end of the season. The films are: Argentina’s “Wild Tales,” Austria’s “The Dark Valley,” Belgium’s “Two Days, One Night,” Brazil’s “The Way He Looks,” Canada’s “Mommy,” Chile’s “To Kill a Man,” France’s “Saint Laurent,” Germany’s “Beloved Sisters,” Hungary’s “White God,” Israel’s “ Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem,” Italy’s “Human Capital,” Latvia’s “Rocks in My Pockets,” Mauritania’s “Timbuktu,” Mexico’s “Cantinflas,” Norway’s “1001 Grams,” The Philippines “Norte, the End of History,” Poland’s “Ida,” Portugal's "What Now? Remind Me," Russia’s “Leviathan,” Spain’s “Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed,” Sweden’s “Force Majeure,” Switzerland’s “The Circle,” Turkey’s “Winter Sleep,” and Venezuela’s “ The Liberator.”
To see which distribution company has each of these films please refer to the list below.
Afghanistan
"A Few Cubic Meters of Love" (چند متر مکعب عشق)
Dir: Jamshid Mahmoudi
Language: Persian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Dreamlab Films
Trailer
Argentina
"Wild Tales" (Relatos Salvajes)
Dir: Damián Szifrón
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: Sony Pictures Classics
Isa: Film Factory Entertainment
Trailer
Austria
"The Dark Valley" (Das finstere Tal)
Dir: Andreas Prochaska
Language: German
U.S Distribution: Film Movement
Isa: Films Distribution
Trailer
Australia
"Charlie's Country"
Dir: Rolf de Heer
Language: Yolŋu Matha/English
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Visit Films
Trailer
Azerbaijan
"Nabat"
Dir: Elcin Musaoglu
Language: Azerbaijani
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Dreamlab Films
Trailer
Bangladesh
"Glow of the Firefly" (Jonakir Alo)
Dir: Khalid Mahmood Mithu
Language: Bengali
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Impress Telefilm
Trailer
Belgium
"Two Days, One Night" (Deux jours, une nuit)
Dir: Jean-Pierre Dardenne & Luc Dardenne
Language: French/Arabic
U.S Distribution: Sundance Selects
Isa: Wild Bunch
Trailer
Bolivia
"Forgotten" (Olvidados)
Dir: Carlos Bolado
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Flor de Loto Pictures
Trailer
Bosnia & Herzegovina
"With Mom" (Sa mamom)
Dir: Faruk Loncarevic
Language: Bosnian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Scca/pro.ba
TraileR
Brazil
"The Way He Looks" (Hoje Eu Quero Voltar Sozinho)
Dir: Daniel Ribeiro
Language: Portuguese
U.S Distribution: Strand Releasing
Isa: Films Boutique Trailer
Bulgaria
"Bulgarian Rhapsody" (българска рапсодия)
Dir: Ivan Nitchev
Language: Bulgarian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Cinepaz Eood
Trailer
Canada
"Mommy"
Dir: Xavier Dolan
Language: French/English
U.S Distribution: Roadside Attractions
Isa: Seville International
Trailer
Chile
"To Kill a Man" (Matar a un Hombre)
Dir: Alejandro Fernández Almendras
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: Film Movement
Isa: Film Factory Entertainment
Trailer
China
"The Nightingale" (夜莺/Le promeneur d'oiseau)
Dir: Philippe Muyl
Language: Mandarin
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Kinology
Trailer
Colombia
"Mateo"
Dir: Maria Gamboa ♀
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Alpha Violet
Trailer
Costa Rica
"Red Princesses" (Princesas Rojas)
Dir: Laura Astorga ♀
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Latido Films Trailer
Croatia
"Cowboys" (Kauboji)
Dir: Tomislav Mrsic
Language: Croatian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Wide
Trailer
Cuba
"Behavior" (Conducta)
Dir: Ernesto Daranas
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Latido Films
Trailer
Czech Republic
"Fair Play"
Dir: Andrea Sedlácková Andrea Sedlácková
Language: Czech
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: IntraMovies
Trailer
Denmark
"Sorrow and Joy" (Sorg og glæde)
Dir: Nils Malmros
Language: Danish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Nordisk Film Production
Trailer
Dominican Republic
"Cristo Rey"
Dir: Leticia Tonos ♀
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: The Little Film Company
Trailer
Ecuador
"Silence in Dreamland" (El Silencio en la Tierra de los Sueños)
Dir: Tito Molina
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: La Facultad
Trailer
Egypt
"Factory Girl" (فتاة المصنع )
Dir: Mohamed Khan
Language: Arabic
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: DayDream Art Production
Trailer
Estonia
"Tangerines" (Mandariinid)
Dir: Zaza Urushadze
Language: Estonian/Russian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Cinemavault
Trailer
Ethiopia
"Difret"
Dir: Zeresenay Mehari
Language: Amharic
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Films Boutique Trailer
Finland
"Concrete Night" (Betoniyö)
Dir: Pirjo Honkasalo ♀
Language: Finnish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Film Republic Trailer
France
"Saint Laurent"
Dir: Bertrand Bonello
Language: French
U.S Distribution: Sony Pictures Classics
Isa: Europacorp
Trailer
Georgia
"Corn Island" (სიმინდის კუნძული)
Dir: George Ovashvili
Language: Georgian/Abkhazian/Russian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Arizona Productions
Trailer
Germany
"Beloved Sisters" (Die geliebten Schwestern)
Dir: Dominik Graf
Language: German /French
U.S Distribution: Music Box Films
Isa: Global Screen
Trailer
Greece
"Little England" (Μικρά Αγγλία)
Dir: Pantelis Voulgaris
Language: Greek
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Black Orange
Trailer
Hong Kong
"The Golden Era" (黄金时代)
Dir: Ann Hui ♀
Language: Mandarin
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Edko Films
Trailer
Hungary
"White God" (Fehér isten)
Dir: Kornél Mundruczó
Language: Hungarian/English
U.S Distribution: Magnolia Pictures
Isa: The Match Factory
Trailer
Iceland
"Life in a Fishbowl" (Vonarstræti)
Dir: Baldvin Zophoníasson
Language: None Yet
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Films Boutique Trailer
India
"Liar's Dice" (लायर्स डाइस)
Dir: Geethu Mohandas ♀
Language: Hindi
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Jar Pictures Trailer
Indonesia
"Soekarno"
Dir: Hanung Bramantyo
Language: Indonesian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Mvp Pictures
Trailer
Iran
"Today" (امروز )
Dir: Reza Mirkarimi
Language: Persian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Dreamlab Films
Trailer
Iraq
"Mardan"
Dir: Batin Ghobadi
Language: Kurdish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Versatile Trailer
Ireland
"The Gift" (An Bronntanas)
Dir: Tom Collins
Language: Irish/English
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Rosg/De Facto Films
Trailer
Israel
"Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem" (Gett: Le Procès de Viviane Amsalem)
Dir: Ronit Elkabetz ♀ & Shlomi Elkabetz
Language: Hebrew/French/Arabic
U.S Distribution: Music Box Films
Isa: Films Distribution
Trailer
Italy
"Human Capital" (Il Capitale Umano)
Dir: Paolo Virzì
Language: Italian
U.S Distribution: Film Movement
PC: Indiana Production Company
Trailer
Japan
"The Light Shines Only There" (そこのみにて光輝く)
Dir: Mipo Oh ♀
Language: Japanese
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Open Sesame
Trailer
Kosovo
"Three Windows and a Hanging" (Tri Dritare dhe një Varje)
Dir: Isa Qosja
Language: Albanian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: CMb Productions
Trailer
Kyrgyzstan
"Kurmanjan Datka Queen of the Mountains" (Курманжан Датка)
Dir: Sadyk Sher-Niyaz
Language: Kirghiz
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Aitysh Film
Trailer
Latvia
"Rocks in My Pockets" (Akmeņi manās kabatās)
Dir: Signe Baumane ♀
Language: Latvian
U.S Distribution: Zeitgeist Films
Isa: New Europe Film Sales
Trailer
Lebanon
"Ghadi" (غدي)
Dir: Amin Dora
Language: Arabic
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Fortissimo Films
Trailer
Lithuania
"The Gambler" (Lošėjas)
Dir: Ignas Jonynas
Language: Lithuanian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Wide
Trailer
Luxembourg
"Never Die Young"
Dir: Pol Cruchten
Language: French
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: EastWest Distribution
Trailer
MacEdonia
"To the Hilt" (До балчак)
Dir: Stole Popov
Language: Macedonian/French/English/ Turkish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Triangle Film- Skopje
Trailer
Malta
"Simshar"
Dir: Rebecca Cremona ♀
Language: Maltese
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Kukumajsa Productions
Trailer
Mauritania
"Timbuktu"
Dir: Abderrahmane Sissako
Language: French/Arabic/Bambara/English/Songhay/Tamasheq
U.S Distribution: Cohen Media Group
Isa: Le Pacte
Trailer
Mexico
"Cantinflas"
Dir: Sebastian del Amo
Language: Spanish/English
U.S Distribution: Pantelion Films
Isa: 6 Sales
Trailer
Moldova
"The Unsaved" (La Limita de Jos a Cerului)
Dir: Igor Cobileanski
Language: Romanian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Insomnia World Sales Trailer
Montenegro
"The Boys from Marx and Engels Street" (Djecaci iz ulice Marksa i Engelsa)
Dir: Nikola Vukcevic
Language: Serbian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Artikulacija Production
Trailer
Morocco
"The Red Moon" (القمر الأحمر)
Dir: Hassan Benjelloun
Language: Arabic
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Bentaqerla
Trailer
Nepal
"Jhola" (झोला)
Dir: Yadav Kumar Bhattarai
Language: Nepali
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Media for Culture
Trailer
The Netherlands
"Accused" (Lucia de B.)
Dir: Paula van der Oest ♀
Language: Dutch
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Fortissimo Films
Trailer
New Zealand
"The Dead Lands"
Dir: Toa Fraser
Language: Maori
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Xyz Films
Trailer
Norway
"1001 Grams" (1001 Gram)
Dir: Bent Hamer
Language: Norwegian/French/ English
U.S Distribution: Kino Lorber
Isa: Les Films du Losange
Trailer
Pakistan
"Dukhtar" (دختر، بیٹی)
Dir: Afia Nathaniel ♀
Language: Urdu
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Zambeel Films
Trailer
Palestine
"Eyes of a Thief" (عيون الحراميه)
Dir: Najwa Najjar ♀
Language: Arabic
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Ustura Films Trailer
Panama
"Invasion" (Invasión)
Dir: Abner Benaim
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Apertura Films Trailer
Peru
"The Gospel of the Flesh" (El Evangelio de la Carne)
Dir: Eduardo Mendoza de Echave
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: La Soga Producciones
Trailer
The Philippines
"Norte, the End of History" (Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan)
Dir: Lav Diaz
Language: Tagalog/English
U.S Distribution: The Cinema Guild
Isa: M-Appeal World Sales
Trailer
Poland
"Ida"
Dir: Pawel Pawlikowski
Language: Polish
U.S Distribution: Music Box Films
Isa: Portobello Film Sales
Trailer
Portugal
"What Now? Remind Me" (E Agora? Lembra-me)
Dir: Joaquim Pinto
Language: Portuguese
U.S Distribution: The Cinema Guild
PC: C.R.I.M Productions
Trailer
Romania
"The Japanese Dog" (Câinele Japonez)
Dir: Tudor Cristian Jurgiu
Language: Romanian/Japanese
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: M-Appeal World Sales
Trailer
Russia
"Leviathan" (Левиафан)
Dir: Andrey Zvyagintsev
Language: Russian
U.S Distribution: Sony Pictures Classics
Isa: Pyramide International
Trailer
Serbia
"See You in Montevideo" (Montevideo, vidimo se!)
Dir: Dragan Bjelogrlic
Language: Serbian/Spanish/ English
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Intermedia Network
Trailer
Singapore
"Sayang Disayang"
Dir: Sanif Olek
Language: Malay/Indonesian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: ReelJuice
Trailer
Slovakia
"A Step Into the Dark" (Krok do tmy)
Dir: Miloslav Luther
Language: Slovak
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Trigon Production Trailer
Slovenia
"Seduce Me" (Zapelji me)
Dir: Marko Santic
Language: Slovenian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Radio-Television Slovenia
Trailer
South Africa
"Elelwani"
Dir: Ntshaveni Wa Luruli
Language: Venda
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: EastWest FilmDistribution
Trailer
South Korea
"Haemoo" (해무)
Dir: Sung Bo Shim
Language: Korean
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Finecut
Trailer
Spain
"Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed" (Vivir es fácil con los ojos cerrados)
Dir: David Trueba
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: Outsider Pictures
Isa: 6 Sales
Trailer
Sweden
"Force Majeure" (Turist)
Dir: Ruben Östlund
Language: Swedish/English
U.S Distribution: Magnolia Pictures
Isa: Coproduction Office (Paris)
Trailer
Switzerland
"The Circle" (Der Kreis)
Dir: Stefan Haupt
Language: Swiss German/ German/ French
U.S Distribution: Wolfe Video
Isa: Wide House
Trailer
Taiwan
"Ice Poison" (冰毒)
Dir: Midi Z.
Language: Burmese/Chinese
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Flash Forward Enterteinment
Trailer
Thailand
"The Teacher's Diary" (คิดถึงวิทยา)
Dir: Nithiwat Tharathorn
Language: Thai
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Gth
Trailer
Turkey
"Winter Sleep" (Kis uykusu)
Dir: Nuri Bilge Ceylan
Language: Turkish/English
U.S Distribution: Adopt Films
Isa: Memento Films International
Trailer
Ukraine
"The Guide" (Поводир)
Dir: Oles Sanin
Language: Ukrainian/Russia/English
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Pronto Film
Trailer
United Kingdom
"Little Happiness" (Uzun Yol)
Dir: Nihat Seven
Language: Turkish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: 7&7 Producers' Sales Services
Trailer
Uruguay
"Mr. Kaplan"
Dir: Álvaro Brechner
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Memento Films International
Trailer
Venezuela
"The Liberator" (Libertador)
Dir: Alberto Arvelo
Language: Spanish/English/ French
U.S Distribution: Cohen Media Group
Isa: Mundial
Trailer...
- 11/11/2014
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
Oscar-nominated producer, writer and director Lee Daniels will head the jury for the 11th Dubai International Film Festival’s (Diff) prestigious Muhr Feature Competition, festival organizers announced today. This year’s edition of the festival will run from December 10 to 17, 2014.
Daniels’s most recent production was the box-office hit "Lee Daniels' The Butler" (2013), which starred Forrest Whittaker, Oprah Winfrey and Mariah Carey. Prior to "The Butler" he produced and directed the critically acclaimed Oscar winning drama "Precious", which won numerous awards including two Oscars for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role for Monique, and Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay for Geoffrey Fletcher and made Daniels the first African-American to have directed a film nominated for the Best Picture Oscar.
The multi-talented Daniels has not followed a traditional role in film; he started in the industry as a casting director, and subsequently managed talent for a number of years before producing and, finally, directing and writing films which have received international acclaim.
Masoud Amralla Al Ali, Artistic Director, Dubai International Film Festival, said: “Lee Daniels is one of the most distinguished American filmmakers today, who has built his illustrious career on embracing the dynamics and diversities of life’s challenging situations, he is uniquely poised to understand filmmakers from the Arab world, their aspirations, and their unique viewpoints.”
“It is exciting to welcome an artist as unconventional, yet commercially minded; a compassionate and honest artist who has created a niche for himself within Hollywood. We look forward to understanding the motivation behind Mr. Daniels work further when we welcome him to the UAE.”
Daniels will head a jury of four members, who will weigh each of the formidable entries in the hopes of garlanding a winner. The Muhr competition has become the region’s foremost platform for launching new works by Arab filmmakers, regularly welcoming cinematic giants such as Egypt’s Mohamed Khan, Palestinian Oscar nominee Hany Abu Assad, and Saudi Arabia’s Haifaa Al Mansour.
Speaking ahead of his visit to Diff Lee Daniels commented, “I’m thrilled to be visiting the Emirates for the first time and to have the privilege of being part of the Dubai International Film Festival’s jury. This festival is truly a host to international cinema, it’s an exciting time for me to join the festival and experience everything that it has to offer.”
The Muhr competition celebrates feature, documentary and short films, and non-feature films by filmmakers from the region. Diff audiences can view all shortlisted competition films as part of the regular festival programming from December 10 to 17, 2014.
Further information, as well as screening times and venues, can be found on the festival’s website on www.dubaifilmfest.com.
Daniels’s most recent production was the box-office hit "Lee Daniels' The Butler" (2013), which starred Forrest Whittaker, Oprah Winfrey and Mariah Carey. Prior to "The Butler" he produced and directed the critically acclaimed Oscar winning drama "Precious", which won numerous awards including two Oscars for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role for Monique, and Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay for Geoffrey Fletcher and made Daniels the first African-American to have directed a film nominated for the Best Picture Oscar.
The multi-talented Daniels has not followed a traditional role in film; he started in the industry as a casting director, and subsequently managed talent for a number of years before producing and, finally, directing and writing films which have received international acclaim.
Masoud Amralla Al Ali, Artistic Director, Dubai International Film Festival, said: “Lee Daniels is one of the most distinguished American filmmakers today, who has built his illustrious career on embracing the dynamics and diversities of life’s challenging situations, he is uniquely poised to understand filmmakers from the Arab world, their aspirations, and their unique viewpoints.”
“It is exciting to welcome an artist as unconventional, yet commercially minded; a compassionate and honest artist who has created a niche for himself within Hollywood. We look forward to understanding the motivation behind Mr. Daniels work further when we welcome him to the UAE.”
Daniels will head a jury of four members, who will weigh each of the formidable entries in the hopes of garlanding a winner. The Muhr competition has become the region’s foremost platform for launching new works by Arab filmmakers, regularly welcoming cinematic giants such as Egypt’s Mohamed Khan, Palestinian Oscar nominee Hany Abu Assad, and Saudi Arabia’s Haifaa Al Mansour.
Speaking ahead of his visit to Diff Lee Daniels commented, “I’m thrilled to be visiting the Emirates for the first time and to have the privilege of being part of the Dubai International Film Festival’s jury. This festival is truly a host to international cinema, it’s an exciting time for me to join the festival and experience everything that it has to offer.”
The Muhr competition celebrates feature, documentary and short films, and non-feature films by filmmakers from the region. Diff audiences can view all shortlisted competition films as part of the regular festival programming from December 10 to 17, 2014.
Further information, as well as screening times and venues, can be found on the festival’s website on www.dubaifilmfest.com.
- 11/10/2014
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Exclusive: Film Clinic’s Hefzy also co-producing Mohamed Khan’s new film Before the Summer Crowds.
Egyptian producer Mohamed Hefzy and director Ahmad Abdalla are reuniting for an adaptation of Lebanese writer Rabee Jaber’s 1995 novel Black Tea.
“Set mostly in Beirut, the story follows a young man during one night as he journeys through various incidents of his past as he prepares to reconnect with friends he had left behind,” said Hefzy.
He and Abdalla will launch the project at the Crossroads Co-production forum, taking place Nov 4-8 during the Thessaloniki International Film Festival.
“It’s the first time we’ll present it,” said Hefzy, who is at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival (Adff) this year as one of the creative producers on Emirati Ali Mostafa’s second feature From A to B.
Hefzy is initially seeking Lebanese and possibly French partners for the film.
Lebanese writer Jaber won the International Prize for Arabic Fiction in 2012, also...
Egyptian producer Mohamed Hefzy and director Ahmad Abdalla are reuniting for an adaptation of Lebanese writer Rabee Jaber’s 1995 novel Black Tea.
“Set mostly in Beirut, the story follows a young man during one night as he journeys through various incidents of his past as he prepares to reconnect with friends he had left behind,” said Hefzy.
He and Abdalla will launch the project at the Crossroads Co-production forum, taking place Nov 4-8 during the Thessaloniki International Film Festival.
“It’s the first time we’ll present it,” said Hefzy, who is at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival (Adff) this year as one of the creative producers on Emirati Ali Mostafa’s second feature From A to B.
Hefzy is initially seeking Lebanese and possibly French partners for the film.
Lebanese writer Jaber won the International Prize for Arabic Fiction in 2012, also...
- 10/26/2014
- ScreenDaily
x
A record 83 countries have submitted films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 87th Academy Awards. Kosovo, Malta, Mauritania and Panama are first-time entrants.
The 2014 submissions are:
Afghanistan, “A Few Cubic Meters of Love,” Jamshid Mahmoudi, director;
Argentina, “Wild Tales,” Damián Szifrón, director;
Australia, “Charlie’s Country,” Rolf de Heer, director;
Austria, “The Dark Valley,” Andreas Prochaska, director;
Azerbaijan, “Nabat,” Elchin Musaoglu, director;
Bangladesh, “Glow of the Firefly,” Khalid Mahmood Mithu, director;
Belgium, “Two Days, One Night,” Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne, directors;
Bolivia, “Forgotten,” Carlos Bolado, director;
Bosnia and Herzegovina, “With Mom,” Faruk Lončarevič, director;
Brazil, “The Way He Looks,” Daniel Ribeiro, director;
Bulgaria, “Bulgarian Rhapsody,” Ivan Nitchev, director;
Canada, “Mommy,” Xavier Dolan, director;
Chile, “To Kill a Man,” Alejandro Fernández Almendras, director;
China, “The Nightingale,” Philippe Muyl, director;
Colombia, “Mateo,” María Gamboa, director;
Costa Rica, “Red Princesses,” Laura Astorga Carrera, director;
Croatia, “Cowboys,” Tomislav Mršić,...
A record 83 countries have submitted films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 87th Academy Awards. Kosovo, Malta, Mauritania and Panama are first-time entrants.
The 2014 submissions are:
Afghanistan, “A Few Cubic Meters of Love,” Jamshid Mahmoudi, director;
Argentina, “Wild Tales,” Damián Szifrón, director;
Australia, “Charlie’s Country,” Rolf de Heer, director;
Austria, “The Dark Valley,” Andreas Prochaska, director;
Azerbaijan, “Nabat,” Elchin Musaoglu, director;
Bangladesh, “Glow of the Firefly,” Khalid Mahmood Mithu, director;
Belgium, “Two Days, One Night,” Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne, directors;
Bolivia, “Forgotten,” Carlos Bolado, director;
Bosnia and Herzegovina, “With Mom,” Faruk Lončarevič, director;
Brazil, “The Way He Looks,” Daniel Ribeiro, director;
Bulgaria, “Bulgarian Rhapsody,” Ivan Nitchev, director;
Canada, “Mommy,” Xavier Dolan, director;
Chile, “To Kill a Man,” Alejandro Fernández Almendras, director;
China, “The Nightingale,” Philippe Muyl, director;
Colombia, “Mateo,” María Gamboa, director;
Costa Rica, “Red Princesses,” Laura Astorga Carrera, director;
Croatia, “Cowboys,” Tomislav Mršić,...
- 10/10/2014
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Thursday the final submissions for the Foreign Language Film category for the 87th annual Academy Awards. A record 83 countries have entered a film for consideration, including Kosovo, Malta, Mauritania, and Panama for the first time. Notable selections include Xavier Dolan's Canadian drama Mommy, a favorite at this year's Cannes, Sweden's Force Majeure, and the Russian retelling of the Book of Job, Leviathan, winner of the Best Screenplay award at Cannes. Nominations will be announced on Thursday, Jan. 15, ahead of the live telecast on ABC Sunday, Feb. 22, from Hollywood. Last...
- 10/9/2014
- by Jake Perlman
- EW - Inside Movies
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has released the list of submissions for the 2015 Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award. According to the Academy's press release, a record 83 countries have submitted films for consideration, including first-timers Kosovo, Malta, Mauritania, and Panama. Now, if only all those movies were made available for online viewing — or at least on DVD (outside of their respective countries). The 2015 Oscar nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 15, at 5:30 a.m. Pt in the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. The 2015 Oscar ceremony will be held on Sunday, February 22, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood. In the United States, the Oscarcast will be televised live by ABC; additionally, the Oscars will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide. See below the full list of 2015 Best Foreign Language Film Oscar submissions. Afghanistan, A Few Cubic Meters of Love,...
- 10/9/2014
- by Steve Montgomery
- Alt Film Guide
The Academy has announced the complete list of 2015 Foreign Language Oscar contenders for the 2015 Oscar awards and again its a new record, topping last year's record 76 submissions, this year the list reaches 83 total submissions. Kosovo, Malta, Mauritania and Panama are first-time entrants. I've seen a few more on the list than I did last year and I actually have to assume with the buzz from those I've seen they may end up being major players. I'm particularly happy to see Xavier Dolan's Mommy in the field from Canada and it's great seeing the hilarious Wild Tales submitted by Argentina. The Russian submission of Leviathan (Leviafan) came, I think, as a bit of a surprise to everyone considering its subject matter, which could be looked at as critical of its native country. The Dardennes' Two Days, One Night has received a lot of acclaim everywhere it has played and we...
- 10/9/2014
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
The Academy has received a record 83 submissions for the Best Foreign-Language Film Oscar.
Last year, a record 76 countries submitted features and the eventual winner was Italian entry The Great Beauty, directed by Paolo Sorrentino.
Nine finalists will be shortlisted, which will be whittled down to five nominees that will be announced on Jan 15, 2015.
The awards ceremony will be held on Feb 22, 2015 in the Dolby Theatre, Hollywood.
The 2014 submissions are (in alphabetical order of country):
Afghanistan, A Few Cubic Meters Of Love, Jamshid Mahmoudi
Argentina, Wild Tales, Damián Szifrón
Australia, Charlie’s Country, Rolf de Heer
Austria, The Dark Valley, Andreas Prochaska
Azerbaijan, Nabat, Elchin Musaoglu
Bangladesh, Glow Of The Firefly, Khalid Mahmood Mithu
Belgium, Two Days, One Night, Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne
Bolivia, Forgotten, Carlos Bolado
Bosnia and Herzegovina, With Mom, Faruk Lončarevič
Brazil, The Way He Looks, Daniel Ribeiro
Bulgaria, Bulgarian Rhapsody, Ivan Nitchev
Canada, Mommy, Xavier Dolan
Chile, To Kill A...
Last year, a record 76 countries submitted features and the eventual winner was Italian entry The Great Beauty, directed by Paolo Sorrentino.
Nine finalists will be shortlisted, which will be whittled down to five nominees that will be announced on Jan 15, 2015.
The awards ceremony will be held on Feb 22, 2015 in the Dolby Theatre, Hollywood.
The 2014 submissions are (in alphabetical order of country):
Afghanistan, A Few Cubic Meters Of Love, Jamshid Mahmoudi
Argentina, Wild Tales, Damián Szifrón
Australia, Charlie’s Country, Rolf de Heer
Austria, The Dark Valley, Andreas Prochaska
Azerbaijan, Nabat, Elchin Musaoglu
Bangladesh, Glow Of The Firefly, Khalid Mahmood Mithu
Belgium, Two Days, One Night, Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne
Bolivia, Forgotten, Carlos Bolado
Bosnia and Herzegovina, With Mom, Faruk Lončarevič
Brazil, The Way He Looks, Daniel Ribeiro
Bulgaria, Bulgarian Rhapsody, Ivan Nitchev
Canada, Mommy, Xavier Dolan
Chile, To Kill A...
- 10/9/2014
- ScreenDaily
Mohamed Khan’s Factory Girl has been selected as Egypt’s submission to the best foreign-language film category of the Academy Awards.
The Egyptian Film Syndicate formed a committee to select the film, which included renowned directors Ali Badrakhan, Ali Abdel Khalek and Mohamed El Naggar; film critics Tarek El Shenawy, Rami Abdel Razak and Ahmed Shawky; along with music composer Rageh Daoud, DoP Kamal Abdel Aziz and production designers Fawzy Al Awamry and Onsy Abu Youssef.
Factory Girl also recently received the Best Writing Award for Wessam Soliman at Morocco’s Sala Women Film Festival. It is currently participating in the feature film competition at the 4th Malmo Arab Film Festival in Sweden.
Produced by Mohamed Samir’s DayDream Art Production, the film tells the story of a young factory worker who falls in love with her boss and creates a scandal when a pregnancy testing kid is found in the factory.
Factory Girlhad...
The Egyptian Film Syndicate formed a committee to select the film, which included renowned directors Ali Badrakhan, Ali Abdel Khalek and Mohamed El Naggar; film critics Tarek El Shenawy, Rami Abdel Razak and Ahmed Shawky; along with music composer Rageh Daoud, DoP Kamal Abdel Aziz and production designers Fawzy Al Awamry and Onsy Abu Youssef.
Factory Girl also recently received the Best Writing Award for Wessam Soliman at Morocco’s Sala Women Film Festival. It is currently participating in the feature film competition at the 4th Malmo Arab Film Festival in Sweden.
Produced by Mohamed Samir’s DayDream Art Production, the film tells the story of a young factory worker who falls in love with her boss and creates a scandal when a pregnancy testing kid is found in the factory.
Factory Girlhad...
- 9/29/2014
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
After its successful run in Egyptian theaters and 6 Arab countries, in addition to playing during Ramallah, Palestinian territories, Mohamed Khan's "Factory Girl" has taken part in several film festivals across the world including Shanghai International Film Festival, which launched June the 14 th, 2014, where the film competed in the Panorama section.
Director Mohamed Khan attended the screenings of the film as part of the Franco-Arab Film Festival in Jordan, which opened on June 15th, 2014. Following this, the film participated in the Arab Film Festival in Seoul, Korea, as the opening film of the festival which launched on June 19th, 2014. The film will then screen at the Med Film Festival in Italy, which starts on July 4th, 2014. The film screens as the opening night film.
Starting on June 16th, 2014, "Factory Girl" has been screened during Ramallah twice a day at Al-Kasaba Theatre and Cinematheque, until June 28th, 2014. The first screening will be at 06:00 pm and the second will be at 08:30 pm.
"Factory Girl" has played in local theaters for 13 weeks in a row, and it has secured successful release in Arab countries including the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Lebanon.
The film had its world premiere at the 10th Dubai International Film Festival in 2013, where it earned the International Federation of Film Critics (Fipresci) award for the Arab Feature Competition, and the film's star Yasmin Raeis walked away with the Best Actress award, in the Muhr Arab Feature Competition.
Directed by Mohamed Khan, and written by Wessam Soliman, "Factory Girl" is produced by Mohamed Samir's Day Dream Art Productions. The film tells the story of Hiyam, a young factory worker who lives in a lower-middle-class neighborhood along with her co-workers. She is clearly under the spell of Salah, the factory's new supervisor, who has expressed his admiration for her. She believes love can transcend the class differences between them.
However, when a pregnancy test is discovered in the factory premises, her immediate family and close friends accuse her of sinning. Hiyam decides not to defend herself and pays an enormous price in a society that fails to accept independent women. the film examines the changes that take place in her life over the four seasons of the year. From falling in love to facing heartbreak, her life comes around full circle by the end of the year.
Director Mohamed Khan attended the screenings of the film as part of the Franco-Arab Film Festival in Jordan, which opened on June 15th, 2014. Following this, the film participated in the Arab Film Festival in Seoul, Korea, as the opening film of the festival which launched on June 19th, 2014. The film will then screen at the Med Film Festival in Italy, which starts on July 4th, 2014. The film screens as the opening night film.
Starting on June 16th, 2014, "Factory Girl" has been screened during Ramallah twice a day at Al-Kasaba Theatre and Cinematheque, until June 28th, 2014. The first screening will be at 06:00 pm and the second will be at 08:30 pm.
"Factory Girl" has played in local theaters for 13 weeks in a row, and it has secured successful release in Arab countries including the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Lebanon.
The film had its world premiere at the 10th Dubai International Film Festival in 2013, where it earned the International Federation of Film Critics (Fipresci) award for the Arab Feature Competition, and the film's star Yasmin Raeis walked away with the Best Actress award, in the Muhr Arab Feature Competition.
Directed by Mohamed Khan, and written by Wessam Soliman, "Factory Girl" is produced by Mohamed Samir's Day Dream Art Productions. The film tells the story of Hiyam, a young factory worker who lives in a lower-middle-class neighborhood along with her co-workers. She is clearly under the spell of Salah, the factory's new supervisor, who has expressed his admiration for her. She believes love can transcend the class differences between them.
However, when a pregnancy test is discovered in the factory premises, her immediate family and close friends accuse her of sinning. Hiyam decides not to defend herself and pays an enormous price in a society that fails to accept independent women. the film examines the changes that take place in her life over the four seasons of the year. From falling in love to facing heartbreak, her life comes around full circle by the end of the year.
- 6/25/2014
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Cairo-based distributor will release the films across the region over the next year.
Cairo-based distributor Mad Solutions has unveiled a slate of ten Arab features that it will release across the region over the next year.
All ten titles will receive a multi-territory release, with the territories determined by what is appropriate for each film. “These are specialist films so the idea is to give them a wide geographic release, rather than wide in terms of the number of screens,” said Mad co-founder Alaa Karkouti.
Following the August release of Hany Abu Assad’s Omar in eight Arab territories, Mad will distribute an as-yet-untitled Arabic-language horror in August and Ahmed Amer mocumentary Kiss Me Not in October.
Produced by Middle West Films, Kiss Me Not revolves around an Egyptian director who is facing issues with his kissing scenes.
Egyptian omnibus film The Mice Room, which premiered at Dubai film festival last year, will be released...
Cairo-based distributor Mad Solutions has unveiled a slate of ten Arab features that it will release across the region over the next year.
All ten titles will receive a multi-territory release, with the territories determined by what is appropriate for each film. “These are specialist films so the idea is to give them a wide geographic release, rather than wide in terms of the number of screens,” said Mad co-founder Alaa Karkouti.
Following the August release of Hany Abu Assad’s Omar in eight Arab territories, Mad will distribute an as-yet-untitled Arabic-language horror in August and Ahmed Amer mocumentary Kiss Me Not in October.
Produced by Middle West Films, Kiss Me Not revolves around an Egyptian director who is facing issues with his kissing scenes.
Egyptian omnibus film The Mice Room, which premiered at Dubai film festival last year, will be released...
- 5/20/2014
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: First title to be released under the deal is The Double.
Cairo-based distribution and marketing outfit Mad Solutions has signed an output deal with Front Row Filmed Entertainment to handle the regional distributor’s films in Egypt.
The first title to be released under the deal is Richard Ayoade’s The Double, which is scheduled for release by the end of May. Other upcoming titles include The Wind Rises, Dom Hemingway, Blood Ties and Welcome To The Jungle.
Egypt has seen box office decline due to political turmoil and limits foreign releases to 10 screens. But Mad co-founder Alaa Karkouti said the market still has potential if films are handled in the right way.
“It’s a case of not just throwing films in cinemas any more but about carefully positioning each title,” said Karkouti.
Mad has also acquired theatrical rights for the Arab world to Hany Abu Assad’s award-winning drama Omar from Arab Radio and Television...
Cairo-based distribution and marketing outfit Mad Solutions has signed an output deal with Front Row Filmed Entertainment to handle the regional distributor’s films in Egypt.
The first title to be released under the deal is Richard Ayoade’s The Double, which is scheduled for release by the end of May. Other upcoming titles include The Wind Rises, Dom Hemingway, Blood Ties and Welcome To The Jungle.
Egypt has seen box office decline due to political turmoil and limits foreign releases to 10 screens. But Mad co-founder Alaa Karkouti said the market still has potential if films are handled in the right way.
“It’s a case of not just throwing films in cinemas any more but about carefully positioning each title,” said Karkouti.
Mad has also acquired theatrical rights for the Arab world to Hany Abu Assad’s award-winning drama Omar from Arab Radio and Television...
- 5/18/2014
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Hany Abu-Assad’s Omar won best film in the Muhr Arab feature competition at this year’s Dubai International Film Festival (Diff), while Anthony Chen’s Ilo Ilo won best film in the Muhr AsiaAfrica section.
Abu-Assad also won best director in the Arab feature section, while Yasmine Raees won best actress for Egyptian filmmaker Mohamed Khan’s Factory Girl. Best actor went to Hassan Badida for Moroccan filmmaker Hicham Lasri’s They Are The Dogs, which also picked up the Special Jury Prize.
Special Mentions went to Mohamed Amin Benamraoui for Adios Carmen and to Moroccan actress Raouia for her roles in Rock The Casbah and Pillow Secrets.
Ilo Ilo was also a multiple prize-winner, adding to an already weighty awards stash, by taking best actress for Yeo Yann Yann’s performance. Best actor in the AsiaAfrica section went to Irrfan Khan for his role in Ritesh Batra’s The Lunchbox, which also won...
Abu-Assad also won best director in the Arab feature section, while Yasmine Raees won best actress for Egyptian filmmaker Mohamed Khan’s Factory Girl. Best actor went to Hassan Badida for Moroccan filmmaker Hicham Lasri’s They Are The Dogs, which also picked up the Special Jury Prize.
Special Mentions went to Mohamed Amin Benamraoui for Adios Carmen and to Moroccan actress Raouia for her roles in Rock The Casbah and Pillow Secrets.
Ilo Ilo was also a multiple prize-winner, adding to an already weighty awards stash, by taking best actress for Yeo Yann Yann’s performance. Best actor in the AsiaAfrica section went to Irrfan Khan for his role in Ritesh Batra’s The Lunchbox, which also won...
- 12/13/2013
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
The Dubai Film Market (Dfm) enjoyed one of its buzziest editions to date this year, with a big increase in screenings, deals and meetings.
Some 1,400 participants benefitted from a new set-up which put 30 exhibition booths in close proximity with the producers and filmmakers at Dfm’s co-financing events – the Dubai Film Connection (Dfc) and Interchange. New national attendees included Algeria, Thailand and France.
“The general feeling was that the new set-up really worked. It was a lot easier for people to bump into one another – it was really buzzy,” said Dfm’s international business manager Pascal Diot.
The Dfm’s digital video library, the Cinetech also registered at increase in screenings. There were some 1,151 screenings by films professionals as opposed to 1,042 in 2012.
The five most popular titles by midday on Thursday were Mohamed Khan’s Factory Girl, Gaza Strip-set short Condom Lead, Hany Abu-Assad’s Omar, Emirati short Don’t Leave Me and Stable Unstable, about...
Some 1,400 participants benefitted from a new set-up which put 30 exhibition booths in close proximity with the producers and filmmakers at Dfm’s co-financing events – the Dubai Film Connection (Dfc) and Interchange. New national attendees included Algeria, Thailand and France.
“The general feeling was that the new set-up really worked. It was a lot easier for people to bump into one another – it was really buzzy,” said Dfm’s international business manager Pascal Diot.
The Dfm’s digital video library, the Cinetech also registered at increase in screenings. There were some 1,151 screenings by films professionals as opposed to 1,042 in 2012.
The five most popular titles by midday on Thursday were Mohamed Khan’s Factory Girl, Gaza Strip-set short Condom Lead, Hany Abu-Assad’s Omar, Emirati short Don’t Leave Me and Stable Unstable, about...
- 12/13/2013
- ScreenDaily
Mohamed Samir’s DayDream Art Production is developing a slate of documentaries and short films to follow its debut feature, Mohamed Khan’s Factory Girl, which premiered at Diff last night.
DayDream has two documentaries in the pipeline – Ali Sheikh Khudr’s Cows Farm and Ahmed Rahal’s Pentatonic, both of which are in post-production.
Cows Farm is a creative documentary about a pro-regime farmer in Syria, while Pentatonic is about Nubian music in southern Egypt, which uses the pentatonic (five-tone) scale.
Samir is also gearing up to make his directorial debut with short film 7-10 and documentary The Season, revolving around an orchestra at the Cairo Opera House, which examines perceptions towards the arts in Egypt.
A former editor, Samir established DayDream in 2007 to produce independent films. He raised financing for Factory Girl from seven international funds including Egypt’s Ministry of Culture, Germany’s Giz institution, Global Film Initiative (Gfi), Abu Dhabi’s Sanad, Diff’s...
DayDream has two documentaries in the pipeline – Ali Sheikh Khudr’s Cows Farm and Ahmed Rahal’s Pentatonic, both of which are in post-production.
Cows Farm is a creative documentary about a pro-regime farmer in Syria, while Pentatonic is about Nubian music in southern Egypt, which uses the pentatonic (five-tone) scale.
Samir is also gearing up to make his directorial debut with short film 7-10 and documentary The Season, revolving around an orchestra at the Cairo Opera House, which examines perceptions towards the arts in Egypt.
A former editor, Samir established DayDream in 2007 to produce independent films. He raised financing for Factory Girl from seven international funds including Egypt’s Ministry of Culture, Germany’s Giz institution, Global Film Initiative (Gfi), Abu Dhabi’s Sanad, Diff’s...
- 12/9/2013
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Mohamed Samir’s DayDream Art Production is developing a slate of documentaries and short films to follow its debut feature, Mohamed Khan’s Factory Girl, which premiered at Diff last night.
DayDream has two documentaries in the pipeline – Ali Sheikh Khudr’s Cows Farm and Ahmed Rahal’s Pentatonic, both of which are in post-production. Cows Farm is a creative documentary about a pro-regime farmer in Syria, while Pentatonic is about Nubian music in southern Egypt, which uses the pentatonic (five-tone) scale.
Samir is also gearing up to make his directorial debut with short film 7-10 and documentary The Season, revolving around an orchestra at the Cairo Opera House, which examines perceptions towards the arts in Egypt.
A former editor, Samir established DayDream in 2007 to produce independent films. He raised financing for Factory Girl from seven international funds including Egypt’s Ministry of Culture, Germany’s Giz institution, Global Film Initiative (Gfi), Abu Dhabi’s Sanad, Diff’s...
DayDream has two documentaries in the pipeline – Ali Sheikh Khudr’s Cows Farm and Ahmed Rahal’s Pentatonic, both of which are in post-production. Cows Farm is a creative documentary about a pro-regime farmer in Syria, while Pentatonic is about Nubian music in southern Egypt, which uses the pentatonic (five-tone) scale.
Samir is also gearing up to make his directorial debut with short film 7-10 and documentary The Season, revolving around an orchestra at the Cairo Opera House, which examines perceptions towards the arts in Egypt.
A former editor, Samir established DayDream in 2007 to produce independent films. He raised financing for Factory Girl from seven international funds including Egypt’s Ministry of Culture, Germany’s Giz institution, Global Film Initiative (Gfi), Abu Dhabi’s Sanad, Diff’s...
- 12/9/2013
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Cairo-based Mad Solutions is presenting a slate of ten high-profile Arabic-language pictures at this year’s Dubai Film Market (Dfm).
Mad will handle regional and international distribution, as well as serve as marketing consultant, on the ten-picture slate, which includes Diff Muhr Arab feature competition titles Factory Girl, directed by Mohamed Khan, and The Mice Room, a feature directed by six Egyptian directors.
The slate also includes three other Diff Muhr Arab competition titles: Mais Darwazah’s creative doc My Love Awaits Me By The Sea; Emirati filmmaker Ali Mostafa’s short film Don’t Judge A Subject By Its Photograph, and Lebanese filmmaker Tobufic Khreish’s short Troubled Waters.
Mad is also handling Ayten Amin’s Villa 69, which recently won a special jury prize at Abu Dhabi Film Festival; Hany Fawzy’s gay-themed drama Family Secrets; and Hala Lotfy’s award-winning narrative feature Coming Forth By Day.
Rounding out the slate are documentary In Search Of Oil And Sand, co-directed...
Mad will handle regional and international distribution, as well as serve as marketing consultant, on the ten-picture slate, which includes Diff Muhr Arab feature competition titles Factory Girl, directed by Mohamed Khan, and The Mice Room, a feature directed by six Egyptian directors.
The slate also includes three other Diff Muhr Arab competition titles: Mais Darwazah’s creative doc My Love Awaits Me By The Sea; Emirati filmmaker Ali Mostafa’s short film Don’t Judge A Subject By Its Photograph, and Lebanese filmmaker Tobufic Khreish’s short Troubled Waters.
Mad is also handling Ayten Amin’s Villa 69, which recently won a special jury prize at Abu Dhabi Film Festival; Hany Fawzy’s gay-themed drama Family Secrets; and Hala Lotfy’s award-winning narrative feature Coming Forth By Day.
Rounding out the slate are documentary In Search Of Oil And Sand, co-directed...
- 12/8/2013
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
The Dubai International Film Festial (Diff) has unveiled the latest recipients of its Enjaaz funding programme, along with a new initiative, Filmi, which aims to support Emirati filmmakers.
While Enjaaz provides post-production assistance to filmmakers across the Mena region, Filmi has been created specifically to focus on filmmakers from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In its first funding round, Filmi has awarded grants to Walid Shehhi’s Dolphins, which is currently in post-production, and Nujoom Al Ghanem’s Red Blue Yellow, which is screening at Diff.
Of the 14 Enjaaz recipients, 11 are also screening at this year’s Diff including Mohamed Khan’s Factory Girl, which is receiving a gala screening, Phillippe Aractingi’s documentary Heritages and Kaouther Ben Hania’s Challat Of Tunis (see list below).
Since its launch in 2009, Enjaaz has supported more than 80 Arab films across two annual funding cycles. The next Enjaaz deadlines are February 1 and July 1, 2014.
Enjaaz Grantees 2013:
The Mice Room – dirs:...
While Enjaaz provides post-production assistance to filmmakers across the Mena region, Filmi has been created specifically to focus on filmmakers from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In its first funding round, Filmi has awarded grants to Walid Shehhi’s Dolphins, which is currently in post-production, and Nujoom Al Ghanem’s Red Blue Yellow, which is screening at Diff.
Of the 14 Enjaaz recipients, 11 are also screening at this year’s Diff including Mohamed Khan’s Factory Girl, which is receiving a gala screening, Phillippe Aractingi’s documentary Heritages and Kaouther Ben Hania’s Challat Of Tunis (see list below).
Since its launch in 2009, Enjaaz has supported more than 80 Arab films across two annual funding cycles. The next Enjaaz deadlines are February 1 and July 1, 2014.
Enjaaz Grantees 2013:
The Mice Room – dirs:...
- 12/3/2013
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
An edgy, in-your-face sketch of Egypt’s lower depths, Chaos, Disorder can’t help but resonate with the times and thus generated a good amount of critical buzz at its Dubai festival premiere. Director Nadine Khan, a short filmmaker and well-known A.D. (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen) whose father is the noted director Mohamed Khan, makes her feature film bow with a story set in a poor but lively Cairo neighborhood, a kind of exotic Bronx where two tough youths vie for a girl and scores are settled on the football field. Story: Dubai Film Festival's Best Arab
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- 12/18/2012
- by Deborah Young
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Geetu Mohan Das’ Liars’ Dice is one among the ten projects selected for the Summer 2012 grants from Global Film Initiative (Gfi).
Liars’ Dice is the story of a young mother from a remote Himalayan village who hires an aggressive, petty gambler to find her husband, who’s been out of touch for months after leaving for work in Delhi.
“The Global Film Initiative is a U.S.-based international arts organization specializing in cultural diplomacy, education and literacy through film. Established in 2002, it has awarded numerous grants to filmmakers in emerging nations around the world, and promoted community arts and education through distribution and exhibition of its signature world cinema series, Global Lens. All proceeds from Global Lens directly support filmmakers and are reinvested in the Granting Program and other philanthropic programs of the Initiative,” reads the official statement of Gfi.
Miss Lovely by Ashim Ahluwalia is among the earlier Indian recipients of the grant.
Liars’ Dice is the story of a young mother from a remote Himalayan village who hires an aggressive, petty gambler to find her husband, who’s been out of touch for months after leaving for work in Delhi.
“The Global Film Initiative is a U.S.-based international arts organization specializing in cultural diplomacy, education and literacy through film. Established in 2002, it has awarded numerous grants to filmmakers in emerging nations around the world, and promoted community arts and education through distribution and exhibition of its signature world cinema series, Global Lens. All proceeds from Global Lens directly support filmmakers and are reinvested in the Granting Program and other philanthropic programs of the Initiative,” reads the official statement of Gfi.
Miss Lovely by Ashim Ahluwalia is among the earlier Indian recipients of the grant.
- 10/9/2012
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
- With Eran Kolirin's The Band's Visit out of the foreign Oscar picture, Ioncinema.com predicts a four-way race between audience faves Persepolis, The Counterfeiters, 4 months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days and Caramel. Spain's The Orphanage has the best chance at completing the 5 pack. That said everything else is just a formality. The final five picks will be announced on Jan. 22. The Oscar ceremony takes place Feb. 24. 2008 Foreign Oscar Long ListArgentina: Xxy (Lucia Puenzo)Australia: The Home Song Stories (Tony Ayres) Austria: The Counterfeiters (Stefan Ruzowitzky)Azerbaijan: Caucasia (Farid Gumbatov)Bangladesh: On The Wings Of Dreams (Golam Rabbany Biblob)Belgium: Ben X (Nic Balthazar) Bosnia and Herzegovina: It's Hard To Be Nice (Srdjan Vuletic)Brazil: The Year My Parents Went on Vacation (Cao Hamburger)Bulgaria: Warden of the Dead (Ilian Simeonov)Canada: The Days of Darkness (Denys Arcand)Chile: Padre nuestro (Our Father) - (Rodrigo Sepulveda)China: The Knot (Yun shui
- 10/18/2007
- IONCINEMA.com
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