Bafta to mark Arab cinema's success |
|
Network this!
British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta), in association with the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) will celebrate Arab cinema with "Bafta Goes To The Arab World."
A four-day event, to be held in London from July 11, will showcase some of the recent releases from Arab filmmakers, who are making an impact on world cinema and achieving international recognition.
The selection includes films that have won prominent awards at DIFF, such as Captain Abu Raed, which received the Best Actor and Under the Bombs, which took the Gold Muhr at the annual Muhr Awards for Excellence in Arab Cinema.
The two films went onto win awards at the Sundance and Venice film festivals, respectively. The event will also introduce UK audiences to an Emirati short, The Water Guard, screened at DIFF 2007.
Directed by Walid Al Shehhi, the film celebrates birth in a time of drought, which highlights the Gulf as a new destination for cultural creativity. Most of the films are UK Premieres.
DIFF Chairman Abdulhamid Juma said: "Since its inception, DIFF has played a pivotal role in creating a cinematic movement in the Arabian Gulf and supporting filmmaking talent in the larger Arab world. The festival has brought the best of international cinema to the Arab region and provided a global platform for Arab filmmakers. We believe that cinema has proved to be a powerful medium for creating better understanding and wider acceptance of other peoples, and we support efforts to bridge the divides between the East and the West.
"In the last 100 years, Arab cinema has flourished as a tool of creative expression within a fascinating milieu. Through their films, Arab filmmakers have continued the ancient Arab art of storytelling, and have captivated audiences around the world. We are confident that 'Bafta Goes To The Arab World' will showcase the talents of established and upcoming talent in the Arab region, and will offer a compelling insight into the lives of the Arab people."
Academy Chairman David Parfitt said: "We are delighted to partner with the Dubai International Film Festival who have now become an established part of the festival circuit since their launch in 2004. In our collaboration over this prestigious event, we will showcase some of the best recent releases from filmmakers who defy simple categorisation. Despite award-winning critical success across the decades, Arab productions have often struggled to find a broader international audience. Despite these challenges, Arab filmmakers are asserting their right to express the complex and diverse tapestry of their societies more personally, directly and unapologetically than ever before. We appreciate and applaud their persistence of vision."
Films from Algeria, Tunisia, Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt, Iraq, Syria, and the Emirates will be screened, and audiences will be able to partake in Questions & Answers sessions with directors, as well as a talk charting the 100-year history of Arab cinema.
Filmmakers from the UK will hear the benefits of filming in the Arab region, particularly in Tunisia, Jordan, the Emirates and Morocco, and an Industry Networking Event will bring together Arab filmmakers and UK distributors to promote further commercial releases of Arab films in Europe.
The fifth edition of the Dubai International Film Festival will run from December 11 to 18, 2008.
By Staff Writer
© Emirates Business 24/7 2008
Community Comments (0) - 
Comment on this article 
Comment on this article
The opinions of the authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect Zawya. Read our Comment Policy.
Loading ...
Zawya Comment Policy:
-
Zawya encourages you to add a comment to this discussion. You agree that when you add content to this discussion your comments will not:
1.1 Contain any material which is libelous or defamatory of any person, is obscene, offensive, hateful or inflammatory or causes damage to the reputation of any person or organisation.
1.2 Promote sexually explicit material, violence, discrimination based on race, sex, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age or any illegal activity.
1.3 Be made in breach of any legal duty owed to a third party, such as a contractual duty or a duty of confidence.
1.4 Be threatening, abuse or invade another's privacy, or cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety.
1.5 Be used to impersonate any person, to misrepresent your identity or affiliation with any person, or be likely to deceive any person.
1.6 Give the impression that they represent Zawya.
1.7 Advocate, promote or assist any unlawful act such as (by way of example only) copyright infringement or computer misuse. - The content posted on www.zawya.com is created by members of the public. The views expressed are theirs and unless specifically stated are not those of Zawya. Zawya reserves the right to review all comments prior to posting and edit or delete any contribution, but Zawya is not responsible for and can not be held liable for any content posted by members of the public on www.zawya.com.
- Zawya is not responsible for the availability or content of any third party sites that are accessible through www.zawya.com. Any links to third party websites from www.zawya.com do not amount to any endorsement of that site by Zawya and any use of that site by you is at your own risk.
- By submitting your comment, you hereby give Zawya the right, but not the obligation, to post, air, edit, exhibit, telecast, webcast, re-use, publish, reproduce, use, license, print, distribute or otherwise use your comments worldwide, in perpetuity.
Loading ...
Post Your Tender Notices for FREE
(No Sign-in Required)
Zawya Tenders is a Tender Notices service entirely driven by contribution
from issuers in both public and private sectors. It is not an e-tendering service and is entirely FREE.
As an Issuer, you can benefit from posting an unlimited number of Tender
Notices for FREE and reaching out to an online community of bidders.
The service also offers you a tool to track the interest of bidders to your
tenders 'live' online.
from issuers in both public and private sectors. It is not an e-tendering service and is entirely FREE.
As an Issuer, you can benefit from posting an unlimited number of Tender
Notices for FREE and reaching out to an online community of bidders.
The service also offers you a tool to track the interest of bidders to your
tenders 'live' online.
| Media Tenders | Due Date |
Community Buzz
Stories
Companies
Most viewed companies by Community in the last 24 hrs
| Company Name | Country | Industry |
| Consolidated Contractors Company | Overseas | Construction and Design |
| Saudi Binladin Group | Saudi Arabia | Construction and Design |
| Saudi Electricity Company | Saudi Arabia | Electric Utilities |
| Saudi Telecom | Saudi Arabia | Telecommunications Services |
| Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority | UAE | Electric Utilities |
| Hyundai Engineering and Construction Company - Saudi Arabia | Saudi Arabia | Construction and Design |
| Al Azizia Panda United Company | Saudi Arabia | General Retailers |
| Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company | Qatar | Landlords and Developers |
| Emirates Telecommunications Corporation | UAE | Telecommunications Services |
| Almarai Company | Saudi Arabia | Food |
Projects
Most viewed projects by Community in the last 24 hrs
| Project Name | Country | Sector |
| Takreer - Ruwais Refinery Expansion | UAE | Oil and Gas |
| Al Futtaim Carillion - Marina Hotel (Yas Island) | UAE | Real Estate |
| Emirates Aluminium (EMAL) - Smelter Complex - Phase 1 | UAE | Industry |
| Abu Dhabi DOT - Abu Dhabi Metro | UAE | Infrastructure |
| ENEC - Nuclear Power Plant | UAE | Power and Water |
| SATORP - Jubail Refinery and Petrochemical Complex | Saudi Arabia | Oil and Gas |
| Dubai RTA - Dubai Metro | UAE | Infrastructure |
| Al Safwa - Jeddah Cement Plant | Saudi Arabia | Industry |
| Qatar Bahrain Causeway Foundation - Qatar Bahrain Causeway | Bahrain | Infrastructure |
| Qatar Bahrain Causeway Foundation - Qatar Bahrain Causeway | Qatar | Infrastructure |