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FOUR COMPETING ARAB FILMS SCREENED FOR MEDIAPERSONS
Qatar Tribune
November 20, 2012 Tuesday
Qatar
AILYN AGONIA DOHA FOUR Arab films competing at the Doha Tribeca Film
Festival (DTFF 2012) were presented to the media at a press conference
on Monday.
The competition features seven narratives, seven documentaries,
and 13 short films.
The documentary Embers, is a touching tribute of its director Tamara
Stepanyan to her grandmother, also named Tamara, whom she considers
her inspiration. It also serves as the director's journey to rediscover
her home country Armenia.
"I am missing my grandmother and I am missing Armenia. Through this
documentary I was rediscovering my own country. It started about my
grandmother and ended as a dialogue of two generations," Tamara said.
According to her, working on the film made her more involved with
the life and journey of her grandmother.
Michele Tyan, co-producer of the film, stressed the challenge of
editing such a personal documentary. She said the challenge lay in
being sensitive to the feelings of the director and making sure it
was captured by the movie's tempo.
Another documentary, The Lebanese Rocket Society, takes viewers on
a historic journey to Lebanon during the 60s when it launched Middle
East's first rocket.
"We found a postal stamp in a library and conducted research based on
that. The 12-year research took us to the era when Lebanon launched
the region's first rocket," according to director Khalil Joreige.
Joanna Hadjithomas, codirector of the film, said the movie is not
just a product of research but a pride of Lebanon and a meaningful
contribution to history.
Meanwhile, the narrative, Asham: A Man Called Hope, offers viewers
an unconventional romantic theme. It tells the stories of six couples
during the January 25 Revolution in Cairo.
Director Maggie M Morgan shared the difficulty in choosing the lead
actors for the project. She said the film required actors who were
open-spirited to complement the theme. The director stressed that the
movie should not be classified as political. "The movie is not at all
political, as it is human. In the film' no one is condemning Mubarak",
she said.
The last film presented during the press conference was Professor,
directed by Mahmoud Ben Mahmoud.
The story revolves around the life of a professor and his extra-marital
affair with a student jailed for her political views.
Through the characters, Mahmoud examines the state of human rights
in Tunisia during the 70s.
"The movie was funded by Tunisia's Ministry of Culture during
the former regime. We started working on it six months before the
revolution.
The delay in the release of the film has nothing to do with the
political transition in Tunisia but has to do with economic and
administrative reasons," the director said.
He said there were no modifications to the movie. He also mentioned
the generous support of the Doha Film Institute in seeing the project
through.
The Arab Film Competition Award ceremony will be held at the Al Rayyan
Theatre on Thursday.
TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA DOHA Film Institute (DFI) Head of Film
Financing Paul Miller and Media Finance Advisor Hal Sadoff chaired a
panel discussion on Investment Strategies in the Global Film Industry
on Sunday, hosted by Miramax, to discuss how films are financed and
the changing nature of studio verses independent film production.
The session at the St Regis Doha was held to engage Qatar's business
leaders, to inform and inspire them regarding new ways of becoming
involved in the growth of Qatar's national film industry.
In opening remarks, Chairman and Managing Director of al khaliji
HE Sheikh Hamad bin Faisal bin Thani al Thani, one of Qatar's most
influential business figures, said: "There is a deep interest in cinema
and the development of the film industry in Qatar. DFI is fulfilling
the vision of developing a local film culture." Going on to discuss how
Qatar is looking to diversify the economy in the region, Sheikh Hamad
also stated that a unique opportunity for media stakeholders exists
in the region due to the acceleration in growth of the global film
market. "I'm positive the panel will inspire businesses to invest in
local, regional and global films but its not just about business. Film
can also inspire and drive social change and address important issues
and subjects that can influence culture." DFI CEO Abdulaziz al Khater
said: "DFI is focused on working with partners from across the spectrum
of creative industries to help build a sustainable film industry in
Qatar. This is about revitalising the cultural story of the Middle
East and the Arab world. Cinema is a powerful platform for telling
stories, and through our financing initiatives we are extending our
support to the regional talent."
Speaking at the event, Miller said: "This is about understanding and
realising the film industry as potentially lucrative and a business
to invest in. DFI cannot fulfil its mission alone without the support
of financiers, banks and lawyers. Together we can help to shape the
Doha film industry." Sadoff gave an overview of the Hollywood studio
sector and the independent film sector and said it was a very exciting
time for the independent film business.
"Actors and directors are not working as much as Hollywood is focussing
on big tentpole movies with fewer releases each year. So more actors
and directors are available to the independent film sector and want
to work.
This means we can make more commercial movies at a lower cost with
a higher value of talent." Key findings from the session included:
n The global movies and entertainment market had total revenues of
$90.1 billion in 2011.
n Box office sales were the most lucrative for the global movies &
entertainment market in 2011, with total revenues of $33.6 billion,
equivalent to 37.3 percent of the market's overall value.
n The performance of the market is forecast to accelerate, with
an anticipated compound annual growth rate of 0.6 percent for the
five-year period 2011 - 2016, which is expected to drive the market
to a value of $93 billion by the end of 2016.
n A five percent growth rate is anticipated in the Middle East region.
n There is significant growth in the film sector in such emerging
markets as China, India, South America and the Middle East.
n New technology is creating new forms of film distribution outside
of traditional cinema exhibition.
n The development of cable and satellite services and the VOD market
makes it easier for consumers to access content in new and engaging
ways.
Three Japanese films to be screened today
Qatar Tribune
November 20, 2012 Tuesday
Qatar
AILYN AGONIA DOHA FOUR Arab films competing at the Doha Tribeca Film
Festival (DTFF 2012) were presented to the media at a press conference
on Monday.
The competition features seven narratives, seven documentaries,
and 13 short films.
The documentary Embers, is a touching tribute of its director Tamara
Stepanyan to her grandmother, also named Tamara, whom she considers
her inspiration. It also serves as the director's journey to rediscover
her home country Armenia.
"I am missing my grandmother and I am missing Armenia. Through this
documentary I was rediscovering my own country. It started about my
grandmother and ended as a dialogue of two generations," Tamara said.
According to her, working on the film made her more involved with
the life and journey of her grandmother.
Michele Tyan, co-producer of the film, stressed the challenge of
editing such a personal documentary. She said the challenge lay in
being sensitive to the feelings of the director and making sure it
was captured by the movie's tempo.
Another documentary, The Lebanese Rocket Society, takes viewers on
a historic journey to Lebanon during the 60s when it launched Middle
East's first rocket.
"We found a postal stamp in a library and conducted research based on
that. The 12-year research took us to the era when Lebanon launched
the region's first rocket," according to director Khalil Joreige.
Joanna Hadjithomas, codirector of the film, said the movie is not
just a product of research but a pride of Lebanon and a meaningful
contribution to history.
Meanwhile, the narrative, Asham: A Man Called Hope, offers viewers
an unconventional romantic theme. It tells the stories of six couples
during the January 25 Revolution in Cairo.
Director Maggie M Morgan shared the difficulty in choosing the lead
actors for the project. She said the film required actors who were
open-spirited to complement the theme. The director stressed that the
movie should not be classified as political. "The movie is not at all
political, as it is human. In the film' no one is condemning Mubarak",
she said.
The last film presented during the press conference was Professor,
directed by Mahmoud Ben Mahmoud.
The story revolves around the life of a professor and his extra-marital
affair with a student jailed for her political views.
Through the characters, Mahmoud examines the state of human rights
in Tunisia during the 70s.
"The movie was funded by Tunisia's Ministry of Culture during
the former regime. We started working on it six months before the
revolution.
The delay in the release of the film has nothing to do with the
political transition in Tunisia but has to do with economic and
administrative reasons," the director said.
He said there were no modifications to the movie. He also mentioned
the generous support of the Doha Film Institute in seeing the project
through.
The Arab Film Competition Award ceremony will be held at the Al Rayyan
Theatre on Thursday.
TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA DOHA Film Institute (DFI) Head of Film
Financing Paul Miller and Media Finance Advisor Hal Sadoff chaired a
panel discussion on Investment Strategies in the Global Film Industry
on Sunday, hosted by Miramax, to discuss how films are financed and
the changing nature of studio verses independent film production.
The session at the St Regis Doha was held to engage Qatar's business
leaders, to inform and inspire them regarding new ways of becoming
involved in the growth of Qatar's national film industry.
In opening remarks, Chairman and Managing Director of al khaliji
HE Sheikh Hamad bin Faisal bin Thani al Thani, one of Qatar's most
influential business figures, said: "There is a deep interest in cinema
and the development of the film industry in Qatar. DFI is fulfilling
the vision of developing a local film culture." Going on to discuss how
Qatar is looking to diversify the economy in the region, Sheikh Hamad
also stated that a unique opportunity for media stakeholders exists
in the region due to the acceleration in growth of the global film
market. "I'm positive the panel will inspire businesses to invest in
local, regional and global films but its not just about business. Film
can also inspire and drive social change and address important issues
and subjects that can influence culture." DFI CEO Abdulaziz al Khater
said: "DFI is focused on working with partners from across the spectrum
of creative industries to help build a sustainable film industry in
Qatar. This is about revitalising the cultural story of the Middle
East and the Arab world. Cinema is a powerful platform for telling
stories, and through our financing initiatives we are extending our
support to the regional talent."
Speaking at the event, Miller said: "This is about understanding and
realising the film industry as potentially lucrative and a business
to invest in. DFI cannot fulfil its mission alone without the support
of financiers, banks and lawyers. Together we can help to shape the
Doha film industry." Sadoff gave an overview of the Hollywood studio
sector and the independent film sector and said it was a very exciting
time for the independent film business.
"Actors and directors are not working as much as Hollywood is focussing
on big tentpole movies with fewer releases each year. So more actors
and directors are available to the independent film sector and want
to work.
This means we can make more commercial movies at a lower cost with
a higher value of talent." Key findings from the session included:
n The global movies and entertainment market had total revenues of
$90.1 billion in 2011.
n Box office sales were the most lucrative for the global movies &
entertainment market in 2011, with total revenues of $33.6 billion,
equivalent to 37.3 percent of the market's overall value.
n The performance of the market is forecast to accelerate, with
an anticipated compound annual growth rate of 0.6 percent for the
five-year period 2011 - 2016, which is expected to drive the market
to a value of $93 billion by the end of 2016.
n A five percent growth rate is anticipated in the Middle East region.
n There is significant growth in the film sector in such emerging
markets as China, India, South America and the Middle East.
n New technology is creating new forms of film distribution outside
of traditional cinema exhibition.
n The development of cable and satellite services and the VOD market
makes it easier for consumers to access content in new and engaging
ways.
Three Japanese films to be screened today