Chatti Ya Dini (Here Comes the Rain) now available on DVD

Chatti Ya Dini (Here Comes the Rain) now available on DVD at Virgin, Librairie Antoine and in other shops. If you missed it, want to see it again or want to make a gift, please get an original DVD to support the authors copyright!

https://www.facebook.com/bahijho

2012 Oscar Predictions: Best Foreign Language Film (indieWIRE)

indieWIRE will provide regular updates of our predictions for the 84th Academy Award nominations through late January, when the nominations are announced. Here's our take on the notoriously controversial foreign language film category, with more commentary to come shortly.

Check out a list of official submissions in the category, and our predictions in all the categories here.

Best Foreign Language Film*

1. Where Do We Go Now? (Lebanon)
2. Le Havre (Finland)
3. A Separation (Iran)
4. In Darkness (Poland)
5. Miss Bala (Mexico)
6. War Is Declared (France)
7. Footnote (Israel)
8. Monsieur Lazhar (Canada)
9. Pina (Germany)
10. War of Flowers (China)

Check out the official trailer for the new Lebanese movie ‘Cash Flow'. Release Date: 26 JANUARY 2012 !

DAY TWO PICTURES     presents     A Film By SAMI KOUJAN     Starring CARLOS AZAR | NADINE NJEIM | TONY ABOU JAOUDEH | JOELLE DAGHER     HICHAM HADDAD | CHADY MAROUN | SHANT KABAKIAN | TETA LATIFA| ANTHONY NAJEM     And     HIAM ABOU CHEDID GHASSAN ESTEPHAN ANTOINE BALABAN     PIERRE CHAMOUN CLAUDE KHALIL     "CASH FLOW"

Executive Producer RONALD AJOURY | Music By CEDRIC KAYEM | Edited By NADIM KHAYRALLAH     Director Of Photography RONALD AJOURY | Sound Producer TONY KALAANY     Associate Executive Producer NATHALIE EL BOUSTANY | Assistant Director TAMARA ISMAIL     Written And Directed By SAMI KOUJAN    
© 2011 DAY TWO PICTURES - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED  


www.cashflowmovie.com
facebook.com/cashflowmovie

Yanoosak is now available on DVD

Yanoosak directed by Elie Khalife and Alexandre Monnier and starring Siegfried Terpoorten and Zeina Daccache tells the story of Rudi, an ordinary Swiss German living in Zurich, who decides one day to reside in Beirut in order to meet his soulmate and establish a small business. Between one heartbreak and another, he manages however to open a small pizzeria. The movie follows this segment of his tragic-comic life while revealing how European culture tries to blend into oriental culture without fully understanding its codes.

Yanoosak is now available on DVD in Lebanon.

Interview avec la realisatrice de "Beirut Hotel" a propos de la censure de son film au Liban

Censure : la société civile propose une loi sur la liberté cinématographique

Article de Sandra Noujeim - Orient-Le Jour 16/12/2011

Que les textes de loi qui soi-disant la fondent soient périmés ou pas, ou que la Sûreté générale la pratique avec « les meilleures intentions du monde », ne sont que des questions subsidiaires dans le débat sur la censure. Dénoncer cette pratique, c’est d’abord définir l’intérêt public – devenu prétexte d’empiètement sur la liberté d’expression –comme le corollaire du bonheur individuel et de la vitalité sociale.
Dans la salle du cinéma Métropolis (Sofil), à l’atmosphère feutrée, aux nuances bordeaux usées par les milliers de sélections projetées sur l’écran, des figures culturelles et médiatiques ont présenté hier un projet de loi sur la liberté des travaux cinématographiques.

Applications for 2012 TRT Documentary Awards Started

The TRT International Documentary Film Competition has been organized to support amateur and professional documentary film-makers; to contribute to the development and prevalence of the documentary film genre; to enable audiences to view different and high quality documentary films from various countries and in the long term to form the groundwork where worldwide documentary film-makers will meet and exchange their ideas.

Clôture des inscriptions FIDLab le 5 février 2012

Le FIDMarseille a inauguré en 2009 une plateforme internationale desoutien à la co-production, dans le but de
défendre et promouvoir des œuvres sensibles et singulièresàtous stades de développement, depuis l’écriture
jusqu’à la post-production.
Dans le cadre de la 4ème édition du FIDLab, qui se déroulera les 5 et 6 juillet 2012, nous vous invitons à
soumettre vos projets de films, sans critère de format, de durée, qu’ils soient fiction ou documentaire.

FIDMarseille - inscriptions

Clôture des inscriptions pour la sélection officielle du FIDMarseille 2012 le 18 mars
compétition internationale - compétition nationale - compétition premiers

SANAD FUND

Abu Dhabi Film Festival for Arab Feature & Documentary Filmmakers 
(Development & Post-production)

 Call for applications 2012: 
 First Deadline: January 26, 2012
 Second Deadline: June 26, 2012

Go to this page for more information

Who got funds from AFAC, December 2011

Stable Unstable
Feature film
by Mahmoud Hojeij
Producer: Georges Schoucair

Encounters
Documentary
by Sarah Francis
Producer: Joanna Saliba

Take me to this Place: I Want to Make the Artist
Feature Film
by Hatem Akram Imam
Producer: TBC

In stores soon: Mahmoud Kaabour's multiple award winning documentary!

Watch out for the iconic old woman & her Arguileh at DVD stores across the Arab world in late Jan 2012!

For more info, visit their facebook page: Teta, Alf Marra

Film Funds: Screen Institute Beirut

Next application deadline: 30 December 2011

The Screen Institute Beirut is a Lebanese non-profit Association. Its objectives are to strengthen filmmaking and infrastructure and competences for filmmaking in the Arab region.

Go to: www.screeninstitutebeirut.org

Lebanese films in Distribution 2011-2012

It's all in Lebanon
by Wissam Charaf
Documentary
Lebanon/UAE
Producer: Pierre Sarraf

Gate #5
by Simon El haber
Documentary
Lebanon/UAE
Producer: Georges Schoucair

Sector Zero
by Nadim Meshlawi
Documentary
Lebanon/UAE
Producer: Georges Schoucair

Rue Huvelin
by Maroun Nassar
Feature film
Lebanon
Producer: Maroun Jack Nassar

Where do we go Now
by Nadine Labaki
FEature film
Lebanon/France
Producer: Anne-Dominique Toussaint

Lebanese films in Pre-Production 2011-2013

May in the Summer
Director: Cherien Dabis
Feature film
Lebanon/Jordan
Producer: Sabine Sidawi

Le Collier d'Helene
by Sylvio Tabet
Feature film
Lebanon/France/USA
Producer: Georges Schoucair

Beirut
by Peter el Daher
Feature film
Lebanon/USA
Producer: unkown

Stable Unstable
by Mahmoud Hojeij
Feature film
Lebanon
Producer: Georges Schoucair

Lebanese Rocket Society
by Joana Hadjithomas & Khalil Joreige
Documentary
Lebanon/France
Producer: Georges Schoucair

Une Histoire Vraisemblable
by Florence Strauss & Julie Marx
Idea by Radwan Kassar
Documentary
Lebanon/France
Producer: Radwan Kassar

Lebanese films in development 2011-2013

Back to the Jungle
by Wissam Charaf
Feature film
Lebanon/France
Producer: Charlotte Vincent

Beirut Hold’em Lebanon
by Michel Kammoun
Feature film
Lebanon
Producer: Georges Schoucair

The Eye of the Devil
by Katia Jarjoura
Feature film
Lebanon/France
Producer: Jerome Bleitrach

Ideal Love
by Dima El-Horr
Feature film
Lebanon/France
Producer: Arnaud Dommerc

Breathe
by Jihane Chouaib
Feature film
Lebanon/France
Producer: Nathalie Trafford

One day and 124 nights
by Sabine EL Chamaa
Feature film
Lebanon/Germany
Producer: Andreas Atzwanger

Beirut Solo
by Sabah Haider
Feature film
Lebanon/Canada/France
Producer: Pierre Sarraf

The World is Pink
by Myrna Maakaron
Feature film
Lebanon/Germany
Producer: Nicole Gerhards

3000 nights
by May Masri
Feature film
Lebanon/Palestine/France/Switzerland

Lebanese Salad
by Sabine Sebaali
Feature film
Country of production: unkown
Producer: unkown

The Orchard
by Carlos Chahine
Feature film
Lebanon
Producer: Georges Schoucair

Upside Down
by Ahmad Ghossein
Feature film
Lebanon
Producer: Georges Schoucair

Shidyaq
by Sherine Abou Chacra
Documentary
Lebanon/France
Producer: Georges Schoucair

Confession and Struggle
by Eliane Raheb
Documentary
Lebanon
Producer: Nizar Hassan

Between Sleep and Reason
by Laila Hotait & Marta Minorowicz
Documentary
Lebanon/Poland
Producer: unknown

Disorientations
by Carine Doumit
Documentary
Lebanon
Producer: Myriam Sassine (Abbout productions)

E muet
by Corine Shawi
Documentary
Lebanon
Producer: Georges Schoucair


Beirut I Love you
by Zeina el Khalil & Gigi Rocatti
Feature film
Lebanon/Italy
Producer: Marta Donzelli

Kawthar
by Samer Ghorayeb & Firas Khnaisser
Feature film
Lebanon/Georgia
Producer: Tinatin Kajrishvili


Encounters
Feature Film
by Sarah Francis
Producer: TBC

Take me to this Place: I Want to Make the Artist
Feature Film
by Hatem Akram Imam
Producer: TBC

Who got funds from AGENCE DE LA FRANCOPHONIE - Nov 2011

Home, sweet home
Director: Nadine Naous
70’ (documentaire, aide a la production)
15.000 €
Producer: Monika Borgmann


It's all in Lebanon
Director: Wissam Charaf
62’ (documentaire, aide a la finition)
7.500 €
Producer: Pierre Sarraf

Who got funds from SCREEN INSTITUTE BEIRUT 2011

Gate No. 5: Lebanon (Post-production)
Director: Simon El Haber – Producer: Georges Schoucair

Encounters: Lebanon (Production)
Director: Sarah Francis – Producer: Joanna Saliba

Conflit: Lebanon (Production)
Director: Josef kaluf – Producer: Bahaa Khaddaj

May 9 – Lebanon (Post-production)
Director: Tamara Stepanyan – Producer: Gohar Igityan

Who got funds from the Jordan Film Fund - Dec 2011

May in the Summer
Director: Cherien Dabis
Producer: Sabine Sidawi

In The Daily Star: The multifaceted, contentious world of Lebanese documentary

December 17, 2011
by Jim Quilty




DUBAI: (...) With 10 feature length films projected over three programs, Lebanese filmmakers were unusually well represented at DIFF this year. Perhaps because DIFF’s juries feted two of the Lebanese docs in competition, while the other two were locked out of the winners’ circle, these four works prompted a visceral debate – at least among some Lebanese at DIFF.

(...)Complicating this situation is the fact that still more Lebanese documentaries – which in another year, or another festival, might have been included in a competition line-up – were projected in the festival’s non-competitive Arabian Nights panorama.

“Che Guevara Died in Lebanon” (2011), the debut feature of Christina Foerch Saab, is a sweet-natured biography of her husband Ziad, a one-time fighter with Lebanon’s Communist Party who, like so many leftists this century, has taken to re-evaluating his belief system. It’s an often-touching work that draws obvious comparisons to Maher Abi Samra’s 2010 “We Were Communists,” without being in any way derivative of that work.

More challenging is Wissam Charaf’s debut feature-length doc “It’s All in Lebanon.” This media study relies largely upon archival images drawn from a handful of Lebanese television stations – all owned and operated by different political parties in the country – complemented by the commentary of several figures, most notably Lokman Slim, co-founder of the Haret Hreik-based cultural institute UMAM Documentation and Research.

The film analyzes the ideal types that have been projected into the Lebanese public since the end of the country’s Civil War. At one extreme are the Lebanese music videos that encouraged Lebanese to simply ignore their difficult reality – that, as Charaf notes in his voiceover, the civil war has not really ended. At the other extreme were the public relations videos of Al-Manar Television, which promoted an ever greater attachment to and recollection of the past. This business has only been complicated by the Lebanese media response to the 2005 assassination of former Premier Rafik Hariri.

All these works are worth finding, whether you’re Lebanese or not.

Read full article.

In the news: Lebanon at the Dubai International Film Festival

A new documentary film seeks to find out where Lebanon is heading
Source: Gulfnews - 13.12.11

Dubai: Where is Lebanon heading? A new documentary film, which premiered at the Dubai International Film Festival, sought to ask this on Sunday. Directed by Wissam Charaf, It's All in Lebanon traces the evolution of the country from the end of the Civil War in 1990 to the present day.

Using mostly archival footage and soundbites by people from various backgrounds, Charaf, a former journalist, built his narrative via what he called the three main players in post Civil War Lebanon: the late prime minister Rafik Hariri, the Hezbollah party and the pop music industry.

"As a journalist covering post-war Lebanon, there was a wealth of stories. There was so much happening politically and in the evolution of the society," Charaf told the audience after the film's screening.

"The political propaganda was on overdrive, each relaying their messages while at the same time the entertainment industry was showing a positive and glamorous side of the country and selling dreams. It was interesting to say the least."

The 62-minute film, which includes extensive footage from Al Manar, the Hezbollah affiliated television station, and Future TV, which was founded by Hariri in 1993, also took a scathing look at the state of the media industry.

"Today the media in Lebanon is not really a media - it's like a propaganda machine… it's like a horror movie," said Charaf. "In contrast, there is hope in our movies, there is beauty."

The music industry, led by three of Lebanon's biggest pop stars - Haifa Wehbe, Nancy Ajram and Elissa - are portrayed as visions of hope of a country devastated by and the constant threat of war.

Hind Mezaina, an Emirati blogger and photographer who was at the screening, said she could relate to Charaf's message of hope but with an underlying fear.

"I think the current state of Lebanon is very well-portrayed," says Mezaina, who blogs on theculturist.com. "I liked how it touched upon the frustration of the media and how things are controlled and manipulated. I could relate to how he feels because much of the media is similar across the Middle East.

"There were also interesting observations being made by how Lebanon, which used to be referred to as ‘the discotheque of the Middle East', used to lead the charge in demonstrations and change. Yet now that there are things happening in the Arab World, nothing is happening in Lebanon.

"But there is also hope and that despite the tensions, people are still carrying on. Still there is also an underlying fear that things will start up again soon," Mezaina added.

DIFF Winners

Want to know who won at DIFF this year?
Click here: DIFF Winners

News: "Le Liban au Festival international du film de Dubaï"

Article complet sur: L'Agenda Culturel

"Le Festival international du film de Dubaï lance sa huitième édition du 7 au 14 décembre 2011. Un programme chargé, des vedettes internationales de renom… Le Liban sera présent à travers la participation de quatorze films. Coup de projecteur."

"’It’s All in Lebanon’: Documentaire de Wissam Charaf (Arabian Nights)
Le film retrace l’histoire récente du pays à travers ses campagnes électorales, l’imagerie de ses relations publiques et les vidéos de musique pop. Il montre surtout comment le Liban s’attelle à reconstruire l’identité d’une nation depuis la fin de la guerre civile il y a 20 ans."

Trailer: "It's All in Lebanon" by Wissam Charaf

Released by ..né.a Beyrouth

"IT'S ALL IN LEBANON" is a new 58 min documentary directed by Wissam Charaf, produced by ..ne.a Beyrouth and co-produced by UMAM.

Based on the main events that took place in Lebanon since the end of civil war, « It's all in Lebanon » is a journey through the icons of modern Lebanon: a country torn between violence, lust and amnesia.



The film will premiere at DIFF 2011. For those attending the festival you are invited to join us at the screening :

December 11th at 4.30 pm Mall of the Emirates 12
December 13th at 8.00 pm Mall of the Emirates 7

Trailer coming soon...

Cinemoz : une plateforme de VOD pour le cinéma panarabe

Cinemoz est une plateforme de VOD online destinée au cinéma (longs et courts métrages, documentaires, animations, clips vidéo…) du monde arabe.

La particularité de cette plateforme est qu’elle tire son financement des revenus d’insertions publicitaires et qu’elle propose un système de rémunération des ayants-droits en fonction du nombre de vues générées par leur film.

L’innovation de Cinemoz réside aussi dans sa très forte interaction avec les réseaux sociaux. L’utilisateur de la plateforme – qui ne débourse strictement rien pour pouvoir visionner les films du catalogue Cinemoz – pourra partager et discuter ses choix avec ses communautés.

Ce nouveau système de distribution non-exclusif est l’occasion pour les ayants-droits de mettre en ligne leurs productions et de donner une seconde vie à celles qui commencent à dater. Un moyen de rémunération supplémentaire qui permet aussi de bénéficier de la visibilité et du contexte de qualité de la plateforme Cinemoz.

Partenaire de Cinemoz, ..né.à Beyrouth est chargé de rassembler et de négocier les productions libanaises.

Les ayants-droits de productions libanaises qui souhaitent plus d’information sur cette plateforme et qui désirent proposer leurs films à Cinemoz peuvent écrire à jean-roch@neabeyrouth.org ou appeler aux bureaux de ..né.à Beyrouth (+961.1.499606)

Ici, vous pouvez visiter le site internet de Cinemoz

Curtas Vila do Conde – International Film Festival

The 20th Curtas Vila do Conde – International Film Festival, taking place from 7 to 15 of July 2012, announces the call for entries for new short films produced in 2011 or 2012; within the duration limit of 60 minutes, film or video.

You can submit your new films in the following competitions:

- INTERNATIONAL (fiction, documentary and animation);
- PORTUGUESE (fiction, documentary and animation);
- EXPERIMENTAL;
- MUSIC VIDEOS;
- CURTINHAS (dedicated to children's films, under 10 years old).


You could get more information and register online here

Interchange workshop

Dubai International film Festival, TorinoFilmLab and the European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs (EAVE) present Interchange, the feature film development and co-production workshop.

The programme is for teams of writer/director and producer from the Arab world or Europe that are working on a feature-length fiction film. The workshop is also open to three trainee script consultants from the Arab world.

The aim is to build cooperation between film professionals from Europe and the Arab countries. 12 teams will be selected for 2 residential 5-day workshops, one in Torino (Between May and June 2012) and another in Dubai (In December.

The workshops are conducted in English.

Here to register and for further information

Registration is open from 1st November 2011 to 4th March 2012

Sundance Festival

Enter For Your Chance to Experience the SUNDANCE Film Festival.
FINAL DEADLINE EXTENDED through Dec. 5th!

SHORTS submit here

FEATURES/PILOTS submit here

..né.à Beyrouth est sur iTunes Store

Le DVD de court métrage Libanais edité en 2009 par "..né.à Beyrouth" est désormais sur Itunes Store.

C'est la premiere opération de diffusion de courts métrages libanais sur cette plateforme.

5 courts métrages y sont presentés y compris "Non Métrage Libanais" qui avait été interdit de distribution au Liban ce qui avait causé la confiscation de 5000 DVD par les autorités.

En plus avec le haut débit vous pouvez tous acheter l'application.

3D Korea International Film Festival

Official Selection “3D Choreography”, the first 3D video that promotes the choreography and dance, directed by Jordan River

The 3D Korea International Film Festival (Gwangju, Korea, 17/21 Nov. 2011) introduces 3D films made not only in Korea but also in other Asian countries, Europe, and the United States. About 50 feature and short 3D films from various countries will be screened.

This year to 3DKIFF was selected '3D Choreography' (the first 3D video that promotes the choreography and dance) by Jordan River, among young european experts stereoscopic 3D cinema, and produced by Delta Star Pictures.

This video is made with modern innovative techniques, with 3D live-action, Motion capture, VFX/Stereography.. 3DKIFF is also a forum to the world to share 3D contents and technologies in order to improve awareness of stereoscopic 3D.

Movies that Matter

Twice a year Movies that Matter provides small grants to promote screenings of human rights films all over the world. Last month 15 new projects were selected, four of which are presented here:

Next week, the first-ever Queer Film Festival in Turkey will be held in Ankara. In Cambodia, community- and film-based outreach activities are organised of the documentary film We Want (u) to Know.
In the course of 2012 a series of screenings will take place in Iraq of the documentary “A Handful of Ash”, as a tool to raise awareness about the harmful effects of female genital mutilation.
In Ecuador a mobile festival will be organized in different Amazonian cities, screenings documentaries about the rights of indigenous peoples.

For more information about all 25 projects supported by Movies that Matter in 2011, please click here. The next deadline to apply for funding will be 15 April 2012

Cinema without Borders - Call for Applications

During the Movies that Matter Festival 2012, Movies that Matter will again organize its workshop on how to set up a human rights film festival.

This workshop, Cinema without Borders, offers a platform to share practical knowledge and provides good networking opportunities. Those interested in - and eligible for - participation are most welcome to send in their application before 7 December 2011.

For more info, click here.

The Good Pitch - Call for Entries

The Movies that Matter Festival - taking place from 22-28 March 2012 in The Hague - is launching its first Good Pitch².

The Good Pitch² brings together filmmakers with leading broadcasters, NGO's, foundations, philanthropists, brands and media to expand the resources aimed at maximizing the impact of documentaries on human rights and social justice.

At least six filmmaking teams will get the opportunity to pitch their project. Good plans are still most welcome! The Call for Entries is open until 11 December.

Click here for more information.

Human rights films @ IDFA

Human rights films @ IDFA

Movies that Matter has a special programme at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA).
On Sunday 20 November, a selection of 4 films will be screened, followed by debates. The programme includes Tahrir 2011, which gives a view of the revolution in Egypt from inside, and 5 Broken Cameras, a powerful and personal portrait of a Palestinian village's opposition to encroaching Jewish settlements.

Please click here for more information about the Movies that Matter programme at IDFA.

Embassy screenings 10 December

On 10 December 2011, International Human Rights Day will be celebrated all over the world. On this occasion, and in partnership with Movies that Matter, 35 Netherlands Embassies and Consulates are organizing human rights film screenings.

Films to be screened are "Blood in the Mobile", "Cameroon: coming out of the Nkuta", "The Devil Operation", "Son of Babylon" and "Position among the Stars".

In many places these film screenings will be followed by discussions about the topics addressed in these films, such as corporate social responsibility, missing persons, LGBT rights and freedom of religion

Ciné-clubs libanais

Ici, un article de Mohamed Ghandour sur les Ciné-clubs libanais tiré de Dar Al Hayat

Cinema without Borders

Movies that Matter is organizing "Cinema without Borders" again : a workshop programme on how to organize a human rights film festival.

International participants will gain practical knowledge, exchange ideas and build a valuable network in a six-day programme.

Various aspects of organizing a human rights film festival will be discussed:
content, needs, management & extra

Movies that Matter will invite around 12-15 qualified guests from the field of cinema and human rights, who have realistic plans to set up a human rights film event in their own region but who lack professional, communicative and financial means.

You could check the eligibility requirements and criteria here

If you wish to participate, please send in your application before 7 December 2011.

Contact:international@moviesthatmatter.nl, or +31 20 7733630.

Interchange 2012

The Interchange 2012 call for applications is open, apply now!

Interchange is a programme for teams of writer/director and producer from Europe or the Arab world working at a fiction feature film and film professionals interested in script editing training. The programme is also open to 3 trainee script consultants from the Arab world.

The aim is to build cooperation between film professionals from Europe and the Arab countries.
The training is designed to match the needs of experienced professionals who want to develop their skills through concrete work on their projects.

Who can apply ?
Teams of writer/director and producer applying with a fiction feature film project.
Arab film professionals interested in story editing training.

You could get more information about the workshop sessions and how to apply here.

ITVS International call for Funding

ITVS International call for Funding … Is open NOW
Call Deadline: December 9, 2011

The International Call funding initiative was created to give United States audiences access to international programming and voices on American television. This fund is only accessible to independent producers but not U.S. citizens nor residents of the United States.

This funding is for production and post-production funding only, for international producers and filmmakers making documentaries with international content. However, they do not provide research and development funding in this Call. In addition, former applicants are welcome to apply again with the same project or an entirely new one.

The deadline for materials is 5pm PST on December 9, 2011.

For more information here

Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF)

With nearly a decade of celebrated history, the Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) has become Asia’s premier film financing platform where filmmakers and producers connect with international financiers and other industry players every year.

The 10th edition of the HAF will take place from 19-21 March 2012 at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, and we cordially invite you to spread the good news or submit a film project yourself to be part of this world-renowned event and win our prestigious cash and in-kind awards.

From this year on, we also welcome non-fiction and documentary works to showcase a wider range of talents. A total of 25 to 30 projects will be selected to participate in HAF 2012, and the producer and director of each successful entry will be invited to present their project during the three-day event.

Cash awards of up to HK$350,000 will be given to projects with outstanding originality, while we continue to support Chinese-language films with the HAF Script Development Fund and the all-new FOX Chinese Film Development Award – a “First Look Deal” with FOX International Productions and a prize of HK$100,000.

We are now accepting submissions.
The application deadline has been extended to 30 Nov 2011 (official announcement to be made on 11 Nov 2011).
Information on selection criteria and required materials is available here.

For enquiries, please feel free to contact us at haf@hkiff.org.hk.

4th Jaipur International Film Festival

This is the last and final chance for FILM SUBMISSION

for the World’s growing fastest film festival

4th Jaipur International Film Festival
January 27-31, 2012, Jaipur, India


For Short / Documentary / Animation
Now late deadline: 15 November, 2011


For Feature Film / World Premiere
Regular deadline: 15 November, 2011 late deadline: 30 November, 2011


Website: www.jiffindia.org
HERE FOR ONLINE SUBMISSION

13th AUBAGNE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

19>24 MARCH 2012
Deadline posponed until October 26th 2011

Dear friends,

Aubagne International Film Festival supports the young cinematographic creation and the musical creation related to image. So, we are pleased to sen you the "Call for entries" of 13th edition. We'll be very pleased to receive your films. Feel free to contact us for any questions.

Registrations are open for 2 competitions

- FEATURE FILMS: first, second and third films of any cinematographic genre (fiction, documentary, experimental, animation), having imperatively an original music, are accepted. Shooting formats allowed: film and video. Entry form and regulation to be download on our website : http://www.cineaubagne.fr

- SHORT FILMS: first, second and third works whose running time does not exceed 30 minutes of any cinematographic genres (fiction, documentary, experimental, animation) are accepted as long as the film presents an original music or a particular treatment of the sound. Shooting formats allowed: film and video. The Short Films registrations will be done on line directly ! Please go to the shared film festival registration system : http://www.filmfestplatform.com/index.php?&lang=_en&lang=_fr&lang=_en

-ENDOWMENT: Eight awards out of eleven are endowed. 2 000 € rewards the composer winner of the Grand prix for the best original music for long feature film; 3 000 €, shared between the director and the composer rewards the Grand Prix for the best sound or musical creation on short film. Half of this reward is endowed by the SACEM; 750 €, endowed by the Champagne Tsarine, are awarded to all the prize-winners for Fiction, Documentary, Animation, Experimental and Public short film while the Beaumarchais-SACD prize awards 1 500 € to a francophone fiction short film.

Contact us : serge@cineaubagne.fr


Serge Guidi
coordination compétitions courts métrages
Festival international du film d'aubagne
Tel: +33(0)4 42 18 92 10

63 chemin de la vallée-Camp Major
13400 Aubagne
www.cineaubagne.fr

Winter 2012 Feature Film Production Grants

San Francisco, CA - October 20, 2011 - In its continuing effort to promote original filmmaking by individuals from around the world, the Global Film Initiative is pleased to announce the Winter 2012 cycle of its feature film production grants program. Applications will be accepted until January 15, 2012, and decisions will be announced in March 2012.

Global Film Initiative production grants are awarded twice a year, in winter and summer, to filmmakers whose work exhibits artistic excellence, accomplished storytelling and cultural perspective on daily life. Funds received through the Initiative's Granting Program are used to support completion of film production, and to subsidize post-production costs, such as laboratory and sound mixing fees, and access to modern editing systems.

The Global Film Initiative will award production grants of up to $10,000 each to select applicants during its winter granting cycle. These funds are made available following the Initiative's evaluation of an applicant's completed screenplay and early film-footage, and may include a pre-sale option for exclusive U.S. distribution of an applicant's film by the Initiative.

Individuals may submit more than one film for consideration per granting cycle but please note that only applications from qualifying countries or regions will be considered and that production grants are not available for documentary or short films.*

The Global Film Initiative strongly believes in supporting narrative storytelling traditions from around the world and invites all qualified applicants to submit their work for granting consideration.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: January 15, 2012.
Applications must be postmarked by this date to be eligible for consideration.
For Applications & Guidelines, please visit: www.globalfilm.org/granting.htm.

*The Global Film Initiative accepts grant applications from countries in the following regions: Africa, Asia (excluding Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan), the Caribbean (excluding Cuba), Central & Eastern Europe (excluding European Union), Latin America, the Middle East (excluding Iran) and Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand).

Contact:
The Global Film Initiative
145 Ninth Street, Suite 105
San Francisco, CA 94103
415-934-9500
gfi-info@globalfilm.org

FIDLab, une plateforme professionnelle de soutien à la coproduction internationale

APPEL A PROJETS : 15 octobre 2011 > 5 février 2012

Le FIDlab est un espace de travail autour de projets de films sélectionnés en réponse à un appel international, pour offrir aux réalisateurs l’opportunité de rencontres dynamiques avec des producteurs, fonds de soutien, diffuseurs, distributeurs.

Chaque année, 10 projets internationaux sont sélectionnés, sans critères de format, de durée, de sujet, fictions et documentaires, qu’ils en soient au stade d’écriture, de développement ou de postproduction.

Dans le cadre de la 4ème édition du FIDLab, qui se déroulera au début du mois de juillet 2012, nous vous invitons ici à soumettre vos projets de films, sans critère de format, de durée, qu’ils soient fiction ou documentaire.


FIDLab
FIDMarseille – Fabienne Moris
14, allée Léon Gambetta 13001 Marseille / fmoris@fidmarseille.org
Tél : + 33 (0)4 95 04 44 90 / Fax : + 33 (0)4 95 04 44 91

DOCmed programme de formation

DOCmed propose un programme de formation pour producteurs et réalisateurs arabes de documentaires de création.

Si vous êtes producteur ou réalisateur / producteur de documentaires de création
de l’Algérie, l’Egypte, la Jordanie, le Liban, le Maroc, les territoires occupés Palestiniens, la Syrie ou la Tunisie

Porteur d’un projet de film documentaire
ayant pour ambition une coproduction internationale

Et vous souhaitez
- Appréhender en détail toutes les étapes de travail ; écriture du projet, développement, financement, budgétisation, et accords de coproduction
- Bénéficier d’une expertise approfondie au niveau de la production de votre projet
- Echanger et débattre autour de projets concrets avec des professionnels du documentaire des pays arabes, d’Europe ou d’ailleurs

Inscrivez-vous à DOCmed 2012
Date limite d’inscription le Mercredi 30 Novembre 2011
Pour la liste des documents requis : www.docmed.me

DOCmed est un programme de formation sur 3 ans, destiné aux professionnels du secteur documentaire ayant un projet apte pour une coproduction internationale.

Chaque année, 10 professionnels seront sélectionnés pour participer au programme DOCmed. Ils seront encadrés par des experts et tuteurs expérimentés et actifs dans le champ de la production et du financement du documentaire.

Ce programme est une initiative de Beirut DC (Liban), Eurodoc (France), Doc à Tunis (Tunisie) et en association avec ARTE France

33e Festival international du cinéma méditerranéen de Montpellier

Se déroulera du 21 au 29 octobre 2011.

Ici, le programme complet du festival.

Prix documentaire organisé au Festival International de Programmes Audiovisuels (FIPA).

L’appel à projet pour documentaire est lancé, la date limite de réception des dossiers, est fixée au 31 octobre. 10 projets seront sélectionnés par un jury de professionnels. Les producteurs seront invités à l’atelier de formation.

Pour plus d'information:

cps@cfi.fr
lkt@cfi.f

62nd Berlin International Film Festival

The 62nd Berlin International Film Festival will take place from February 09-19, 2012.

Online Film submission is now activated and you can start entering films for the programme there.

Film submissions can only be made via online registration from September 20 until October, 31st (feature length films) and November 14, 2011 (short films).

The 9th International Festival Signes de Nuit

The 9th International Festival Signes de Nuit
(October 5th 16th 2011)

A particular festival focused on a
"Cinema different"

Discover the world in another way
Discover other worlds
Discover other worlds in another way

The Creation of Difference

Program
Dossier de presse

DOCmed calls for entries

Producers and directors from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia and Palestine can now register to participate in DOCmed, a documentary programme designed to help filmmakers improve development standards, finance and the management of documentary projects.

Deadline for registration is January 25, 2012. More information on DOCmed

Oslo Screen Festival

Oslo Screen Festival, international festival for video art, is now open for entries to its third edition in March 2012 and would like to invite all artists and filmmakers to send their works.

Please find regulation & entry form here.
The deadline for entries is November 1st.

In: The Daily Star - Time to rethink the festival formula (Aug 4, 2011)

BEIRUT: Pierre Sarraf says the financial crisis did not kill Né a Beyrouth’s Lebanese Film Festival. The dodgy business practices that drove the juggernaut of deregulated global capital before 2008 may have had a crushing impact upon many states’ social welfare and arts funding programs, but it left Né a Beyrouth intact.

“Bank Audi [LFF’s official partner] had some major budget cutbacks,” Sarraf says. “They wanted to cut their participation but, during negotiations, they increased it a little from the original cut so it wasn’t so damaging.”

Festival director since LFF was launched in 2001 – under the name “Né a Beyrouth,” after the production company that created and ran it – Sarraf says that, the 2010 edition actually ran at a surplus.

“People … assume that that bank’s budget cuts are the reason we’re stopping,” he smiles. “Just like some other people will say, ‘Ah there’s a change of government! That’s why!’”

Since it was launched in 2001, the August event has opened Lebanon’s film festival season and come to fill a niche for Beirutis yearning to see their stories projected in air-conditioned comfort. LFF’s extinction is surprising, since its 2010 edition was more successful – in terms of box office receipts and film quality – than any other.

To read the full article: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Culture/Film/2011/Aug-04/Time-to-rethink-the-festival-formula.ashx#axzz1U3jYjQD4

Le "Festival du Film Libanais" n'aura pas lieu cette année

2011 ne verra pas les salles du Metropolis Empire Sofil pleines à craquer à la fin du mois d'août à l'occasion du Festival du Film Libanais.

Ce festival, si prisé par le milieu cinématographique local et qui présente depuis près de 10 ans une sélection presque exclusivement libanaise, dans un souci de promotion de la production « bien de chez nous », ne sera pas au programme des festivals de cette année.

Une révision de la formule et une recomposition de l'équipe du festival sont de mise, et ce particulièrement à la lumière du paysage festivalier actuel et des partenariats disponibles.

..né.à Beyrouth espère présenter une formule rénovée l'année prochaine, une édition qui marquerait 10 ans de Festival, une décennie qui a vu revivre la toile libanaise.

Lundi 28 mars: Le Temps de la Balle sur FRANCE 2

FRANCE 2

Lundi 28 Mars

12:30am - 1:30am

LE TEMPS DE LA BALLE

Moyen métrage co-produit par ..né.à Beyrouth

Durée: 30min

synopsis -

Kurdistan irakien, 1991. Quelques mois après la première guerre du Golfe, deux humanitaires bravent le couvre-feu pour sauver le fils de leur interprète...

Regarder la bande-annonce/Watch the trailer

Avec:

Hiam Abbas

Marc Robert

Alexis Michalik

Issam Bou Khaled

REALISATION: HERVE JACKUBOWICZ

PRODUCTION: DIFFERENCE FILMS

DOP: JEAN-PAUL SEAULIEU

PRODUCTION EXECUTIVE: PIERRE SARRAF & KARIM MAKHLOUF

COORDINATION DE PRODUCTION: REINE RAZZOUK

DECOR: PETRA ABOU SLEIMAN

CASTING: MERASS SADEK

1ER ASSISTANT A LA REALISATION: RANA SALEM

COSTUMES: BSHARA ATALLAH

CHEF MAQUILLEUR: STEPHANIE AZENAREZ

EFFETS SPECIAUX: JEAN-MICHEL TARI

JOIN OUR FACEBOOK PAGE!

To all né à Beyrouth followers!

We just set up a new Facebook page to keep you up to date with our latest production work and the upcoming 2011 Lebanese Film Festival.

And more...

Just click 'Like' on the ..né.à Beyrouth facebook page -> www.facebook.com/neabeyrouth

sincerely,
the ..né à Beyrouth team.

Coverage: Circumstance in nymag.com

go to full article

Coverage: Circumstance in Lebanese press

Un film tourné au Liban remporte un prix au festival Sundance

Le long métrage de la réalisatrice américaine d’origine iranienne Maryam Keshavarz, « Circumstance », a remporté le prix du public au festival américain du film indépendant Sundance. Le film, qui relate les aventures de deux jeunes amies de seize ans dans un Iran parallèle, celui de la nuit, a été tourné au Liban avec l’aide de la société de production ..né.à Beyrouth.

« La réalisatrice cherchait un lieu de tournage qui ressemble géographiquement à l’Iran, où se déroule l’histoire du film », explique au Commerce du Levant le directeur de ..né.à Beyrouth et producteur exécutif du film, Pierre Sarraf. « Circumstance » sera distribué aux Etats-Unis et en France, « mais nous ne savons pas encore s’il le sera dans la région », ajoute-t-il.

« Nous avons réussi à faire valoir le Liban comme lieu de tournage grâce aux talents et au parc de matériel disponibles, à des prix relativement compétitifs, sans parler du climat qui joue un rôle important », poursuit Sarraf. Le tournage a mobilisé une cinquantaine d'employés libanais, techniciens, caméramen, maquilleurs, figurants, acteurs...etc.

Lisez la suite: Un film tourné au Liban...

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Et aussi, dans BeirutNightLife ...

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Circumstance the Movie: A first glance!

Sundance News - Circumstance gets the Audience Award: Dramatic

The Audience Award: Dramatic was presented to Circumstance, directed and written by Maryam Keshavarz, in which a wealthy Iranian family struggles to contain a teenager's growing sexual rebellion and her brother's dangerous obsession.

For the full article: 2011 Sundance Film Festival Announces Awards

Coverage: Circumstance on Euronews

“Circumstance”, le film de l’ Américaine d’origine iranienne Maryam Keshavarz, s’intéresse lui à l’adolescence dans un pays où tout est interdit, surtout aux femmes. La caméra suit la rébellion de deux jeunes amies de seize ans dans un Iran parallèle, celui de la nuit. On y découvre des boîtes underground où circulent drogues et alcool. La réalisatrice s’est inspirée de ses propres expériences, révélant des facettes insoupçonnées de son pays d’origine.

Watch the Euronews segment: Vague iranienne au Sundance Festival

Pictures: Circumstance at Sundance

Pierre Sarraf, MD ...né.à Beyrouth with actors

Maryam Keshavarz - 'Circumstance' Film Director

Coverage: Circumstance in NYT (Front page - 21.01.11)

For the complete article: For Women, Sundance is sunnier than Hollywood

Coverage: Circumstance in Hollywood Reporter (23.01.11)

"Circumstance" is an amazingly accomplished and complex first feature from Iranian-American writer-director Maryam Keshavarz.

Drawing on some of her own experiences, she has created an insiders look at a world few of us will ever get to see. The political, sexual and religious labyrinth of Iran today feels at once contemporary and utterly foreign. Told with a modern rhythm and propulsive soundtrack, it’s a compelling story that should attract both a young and older audience of culturally curious moviegoers.

For the complete article: Sundance Review: Circumstance and also in Reuters News and http://www.filmindependent.org/content/thr-sundance-review-circumstance

Video: Circumstance - Sundance "insider"

Cinema: "Circumstance" at Sundance 2011!

The movie “Circumstance” by Maryam Keshavarz, shot in Beirut by Né à Beyrouth Production, will be having its World Premiere in US Dramatic Competition at Sundance 2011!

It is one of 16 films chosen for the US competition – a section that receives the most attention at Sundance. It is an incredibly rare occurrence for a foreign-language film to be in the US Competition.

Circumstance
Run time: 105 min. U.S.A., Iran, Lebanon Language: Farsi with English subtitles color

Synopsis – A rare glimpse of forbidden love in today’s Iranian youth culture.

A wealthy Iranian family struggles to contain a teenager’s growing sexual rebellion and her brother’s dangerous obsession.

Teenagers Atafeh, and her best friend, Shireen, are experimenting with their burgeoning sexuality when Atafeh’s brother, Mehran, returns home from drug rehab.

Battling his demons, Mehran vehemently renounces his former life as a classical musician and joins the morality police. He disapproves of his sister’s developing intimate relationship with Shireen and becomes obsessed with saving Shireen from Atafeh’s influence. Suddenly, the two siblings, who were close confidants, are entangled in a triangle of suspense, surveillance, and betrayal as the once-liberal haven of the family home becomes a place of danger for the beautiful Atafeh.

Splendidly constructed and saturated with a sumptuous sense of style and sensuality, Circumstance marks the arrival of an exciting, original talent.

.

Director: Maryam Keshavarz
Screenwriter: Maryam Keshavarz
Cast: Nikohl Boosheri, Sarah Kazemy, Reza Sixo Safai, Soheil Parsa, Nasrin Pakkho, Sina Amedson, Keon Mohajeri

Producer: Karin Chien, Maryam Keshavarz, Melissa M. Lee

Line Producer: Pierre Sarraf
Composer: Gingger Shankar
Cinematographer: Brian Rigney Hubbard
Editor: Andrea Chignoli
Coproducer: Antonin Dedet

.

The Director - Maryam Keshavarz studied Persian literature at the University of Shiraz before turning to filmmaking. She has a B.A. in literature and women’s studies from Northwestern University and a master’s in Near Eastern studies from the University of Michigan.

Maryam Keshavarz worked closely with Sundance Institute staff and industry mentors to shepherd drafts into scripts, scripts into films, and films into Festival-worthy features.

Circumstance website: http://www.circumstancethemovie.com/

Pictures: "Circumstance"