Latest news with #ElKashef
Broadcast Pro
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Mostafa El Kashef wins award at Diagonale for ‘The Village Next to Paradise'
'The Village Next to Paradise' is a 2024 drama film written and directed by Mo Harawe in his feature-length debut. Egyptian cinematographer Mostafa El Kashef has clinched the Best Cinematography Award at the Diagonale – Festival of Austrian Film in Graz for his work on The Village Next to Paradise, a Somali feature by director Mo Harawe. This marks El Kashef's second cinematography award for the film. The film also received Best Fiction Feature at the festival, with the jury praising its 'fine sense of nuance' and 'gentle impact.' In addition to the accolades, the film was awarded €15,000 from the Culture Department of the Federal State of Styria, a €1,000 prize and €3,000 advertising credit from streaming platform watchAUT, and a €4,000 voucher from The Grand Post – Post Production House. Set against the backdrop of a remote Somali desert village, The Village Next to Paradise follows a newly formed family as they navigate love, trust and resilience amidst civil unrest and environmental hardship. The film is Mo Harawe's feature directorial debut and the first-ever Somali-shot film to screen at Cannes, where it premiered to a standing ovation in the Un Certain Regard section. El Kashef's cinematography has been a key element in the film's international success, previously earning him Best Cinematography at the Carthage Film Festival. The film has collected six additional international awards from prestigious festivals in Chicago, Sarajevo, Munich, Cork, and Marrakech and won Best Austrian Film at the Viennale. Critics have widely celebrated the film's visuals, with The Hollywood Reporter's Lovia Gyarkye calling the imagery 'truly striking,' while Screendaily's Nikki Baughan praised its 'striking visual literacy.' Featuring rising Somali talents such as Ahmed Ali Farah, Ahmed Mohamud Saleban and Anab Ahmed Ibrahim, the film is an international co-production between FreibeuterFilm (Austria), Kazak Productions (France), Niko Film (Germany), and Maanmaal ACC (Somalia). International sales are handled by Totem Films, with Jour2Fête managing French distribution and MAD Distribution covering the MENA region. El Kashef, a celebrated member of the MAD Crew, is also known for his work on 13 cinematic projects including his debut feature 19 B, which earned him the Best Artistic Contribution Award at the Cairo International Film Festival. His earlier short films such as My Festival, Jebel Banat, and This Is My Night have garnered critical acclaim, including a Best Cinematography win at Cinemaz Brasil.
Egypt Today
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Egypt Today
Egyptian DOP Mostafa El Kashef wins Best Cinematography at Festival of Austrian Film
Egyptian DOP Mostafa El Kashef wins Best Cinematography at Festival of Austrian Film for his film THE VILLAGE NEXT TO PARADISE Marking his second award for the film and further showcasing his exceptional talent, DOP Mostafa El Kashef has won the Best Cinematography Award for his work on the Somali film THE VILLAGE NEXT TO PARADISE by Mo Harawe, at the Diagonale - Festival of Austrian Film, held in Graz from March 27th to April 1st. In addition to this award, THE VILLAGE NEXT TO PARADISE won Best Fiction Feature at the festival, with the jury praising it for its 'fine sense of nuance, developing its gentle impact in the process.' It also received €15,000 from the Culture Department of the Federal State of Styria, €1,000 donated by streaming platform watchAUT, a €3,000 coupon for ads on watchAUT, and a €4,000 donation as a voucher by The Grand Post – Post Production House. THE VILLAGE NEXT TO PARADISE previously won El Kashef the Best Cinematography Award at the Tunisian Carthage Film Festival and has garnered six other awards from various festivals, including Chicago, Sarajevo, Munich, Cork, and Marrakech, along with the Best Austrian Film Award at the Viennale. Set in a windy Somali desert village, THE VILLAGE NEXT TO PARADISE revolves around a newly assembled family that must navigate between their different aspirations and the complex world surrounding them. Love, trust, and resilience will power them through their life paths - even amidst the throes of civil war and natural disasters. This film marks El Kashef's second feature-length film, which is the first ever film to be shot in Somalia to screen at Cannes and the recipient of a post-production prize from the Atlas Workshops of the Marrakech Film Festival and a Locarno Industry award, enjoyed widespread popularity and a packed world premiere at the festival's Un Certain Regard, with the general audience hailing the film and giving it a standing ovation. The film also took the internet by storm, receiving widespread praise from prominent critics worldwide, who lauded its exceptional cinematography in their reviews. This included Lovia Gyarke of The Hollywood Reporter, who described El Kashef's cinematography as "offering truly striking images," and Nikki Baughan of Screendaily, who highlighted the film's "striking visual literacy." Written and directed by Harawe as his feature-length directorial debut, the film is a poignant take on Somali life that features a cast of emerging Somali actors, including Ahmed Ali Farah, Ahmed Mohamud Saleban, and Anab Ahmed Ibrahim.
