Latest news with #ArabCinemaWeekVolume4
Broadcast Pro
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Fujifilm ME announces inaugural short film festival for emerging filmmakers
The Fujifilm Short Film Festival is now open for submissions, inviting filmmakers to submit bold, original work across five categories: Narrative, Documentary, Experimental, Commercial and Student Shorts. Fujifilm Middle East has announced the launch of the inaugural Fujifilm Short Film Festival (FFSFF), a new platform dedicated to spotlighting emerging filmmakers from the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia. Nominations are now open, with the festival set to culminate in December with public screenings and an awards ceremony celebrating standout stories from across the region. Created in collaboration with Cinema Akil, the GCC's independent arthouse cinema, and Gulf Photo Plus, the region's visual storytelling hub, FFSFF aims to address a long-standing cultural gap by providing an international stage for rising creative talent. Designed as more than just a competition, the festival seeks to foster a community rooted in storytelling, uniting Fujifilm's network of visual creators, Cinema Akil's dedicated cinephile audience, and Gulf Photo Plus' community of passionate image-makers. Open to filmmakers from 22 countries in which Fujifilm Middle East operates, submissions are invited across five categories: Narrative, Documentary, Experimental, Commercial and Student. Accepted entries will lead into a rich cultural programme in the latter half of the year, including public screenings at Cinema Akil, curated workshops and mentorship sessions at Gulf Photo Plus, and a grand awards event in December. Winning filmmakers will receive cash prizes and Fujifilm equipment to support their future projects. The launch of FFSFF also reflects Fujifilm's renewed commitment to filmmaking, more than a decade after discontinuing its 'Eterna' motion picture film stocks in 2013. The festival sets the stage for the global debut of its first-ever digital moviemaking system—also named 'Eterna'—in 2025. Shortlisted entries will be announced in November 2025, ahead of the December screenings and awards ceremony. Submissions are open from July until September 15, 2025, offering filmmakers across the region the chance to share their stories on one of the boldest new platforms for short film in the MENA region and beyond. Speaking about the festival, Richard Lackey, Marketing Manager at Fujifilm Middle East, said: 'This festival marks an exciting return for Fujifilm into the world of filmmaking, an art form that's long been part of our creative DNA. Earlier this year, our collaboration with Cinema Akil on Arab Cinema Week Volume 4 helped us reconnect with filmmakers and audiences across the region, laying the groundwork for deeper engagement. The Fujifilm Short Film Festival builds on that foundation, supporting visual storytellers across the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia as we prepare for the next chapter in our filmmaking journey. Our hope is to see this festival grow into an annual celebration. a fixture on the regional cultural calendar and a meaningful space for emerging filmmakers to thrive.' Butheina Kazim, founder of Cinema Akil, added: 'In a natural progression for Cinema Akil's collaboration with Fujifilm, our partners on the fourth Arab Cinema Week and our long term partners Gulf Photo Plus, that we debut the Fujifilm Short Film Festival as a commitment to our shared goals to exhibit and enable storytelling from our region. We see this Festival as an alliance of partners, all three who have long placed their bets on regional storytellers both in photography and the moving image. Our proud collaboration on the Fujifilm Short Film Festival is not only a reaffirmation of that belief, but a way to tangibly support the continuity of that storytelling.' Raz Hansrod, General Manager at Gulf Photo Plus, stated: 'For over 15 years at Gulf Photo Plus, we've been developing visual stories from the region, made by storytellers that represent the region. We're super excited to be working with Cinema Akil and Fujifilm, who share our mission to support and nurture the next generation of image-makers across all genres, styles, and areas of focus. In screenings region-wide, attendees will become familiar with, and celebrate, emerging and established endemic talent; participate in workshops and educational programs with industry-leaders; and something that we're particularly excited to see: Fujifilm will be lending much-needed material support to creatives in the form of equipment and prizes. We're very excited to see what you submit!'
Broadcast Pro
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Cinema Akil to screen Somali film ‘The Village Next to Paradise'
'The Village Next to Paradise', a Cannes-selected poetic drama by Mo Harawe, centred on a family in a Somali village navigating life between hardship and hope. As part of Arab Cinema Week Volume 4, Cinema Akil will host special screenings of The Village Next to Paradise on May 4 and May 9, with director Mo Harawe in attendance. Presented by Fujifilm in collaboration with Alserkal Avenue and supported by Soul Communications, the event highlights a landmark in Somali cinema. Directed and written by Mo Harawe in his feature debut, The Village Next to Paradise transports viewers to the serene backdrop of a Somali village, where a family recently brought back together must navigate the fragile balance between personal aspirations and societal pressures. The film offers an intimate portrayal of life in the village, capturing the everyday struggles and dreams of its residents. The cast includes Ahmed Ali Farah, Ahmed Mahmoud Suleiman and Anab Ahmed Ibrahim. Joana Scrinzi handled the film's editing, while Noor Abdulkadir served as production designer. Egyptian cinematographer Mostafa El Kashef made his feature debut on the film, earning the Best Cinematography award at the Diagonale Austrian Film Festival. The film also won Best Feature Film at the same festival. The Village Next to Paradise holds the distinction of being the first Somali film to screen at the Cannes Film Festival. El Kashef, who gained acclaim for his work on the project, will return to Cannes this May with his latest film, Aisha Can't Fly. International sales are handled by Totem Films, with Jour2Fête managing French distribution and MAD Distribution covering the MENA region.
Broadcast Pro
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Cinema Akil to host fourth edition of Arab Cinema Week in May
The Arab Cinema Week will open with 'Three', a psychological horror directed by Nayla Al Khaja. Cinema Akil is gearing up to host Arab Cinema Week Volume 4, presented by Fujifilm, running from May 2 to May 11, 2025, in partnership with Alserkal Avenue and communications partner Soul Communications. This year's edition promises a rich cinematic experience, showcasing stories from 10 different countries and embracing a variety of genres that reflect the dynamic identity of the Arab world. At the heart of Volume 4 is an exploration of human resilience and aspiration—stories rooted in the pursuit of home, freedom, reconciliation and survival. These films offer a poignant reminder that personal dreams often carry immense collective resonance. The festival opens with Three, a psychological horror by Nayla Al Khaja, set between the UAE and Thailand. The film follows a desperate mother who turns to ancient rituals in a bid to save her son, merging elements of faith, tradition and the supernatural. Among the highlights is The Village Next to Paradise, a Cannes-selected poetic drama by Mo Harawe, centred on a family in a Somali village navigating life between hardship and hope. Arzé by Mira Shaib adds humour and heart, telling the story of a mother and son chasing a stolen scooter across Beirut, confronting sectarian divides along the way. In Mond, Austrian director Kurdwin Ayub crafts a surreal narrative of an Austrian martial artist entering the secluded world of three Jordanian sisters, exploring power dynamics and control. From Saudi Arabia, Saify by Wael Abu Mansour delivers satire through a man entrenched in the past, clinging to his cassette store, while Aicha by Mehdi Barsaoui tells a sobering story of a woman's attempt at escape and the harsh realities that follow. The festival's documentary selection is equally compelling. Abo Zaabal 89 by Bassam Mortada examines the generational echoes of political decisions, while In My Memory is Full of Ghosts by Anas Zawahri offers a hauntingly poetic view of post-war Homs. Sudan, Remember Us by Hind Meddeb, fresh from the Venice Film Festival, captures the energy of youth activism and creative defiance amid Sudan's ongoing unrest. Tell Them About Us by Rand Beiruty portrays the empowering journeys of Arab, Kurdish and Roma teenage girls in Germany through performance and storytelling. Audiences can expect screenings, Q&As with filmmakers and thought-provoking discussions throughout the week.
