The Closing Party of the LFF 2010
23.08.2010
ART LOUNGE
Karantina, River bridge
(click image to enlarge)
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
LEBANESE FILM FESTIVAL 2010
The Lebanese Film Festival 2010
will start tomorrow at 7PM
Come joins us at the Metropolis Empire Sofil in Ashrafieh
---
(click image to enlarge)
LFF 2010/ Director Close-Up
VATCHE BOULGHOURJIAN
LFF 2010 : Hinkerort Zorasune
LFF 2010 : Hinkerort Zorasune
Vatche Boulghourjian is a filmmaker and video artist based in Beirut and New York. Much of his work focuses on questions of identity, and political and social narratives of the Middle East. He has directed, shot, and edited several documentaries, short and experimental films. Hinkerort Zorasune (The Fifth Column) is Boulghourjian’s thesis film at the Graduate Film Program of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.
---
Congratulations on being selected for screening at this year's Lebanese Film Festival. Why did you submit your film to this particular festival?
My film was invited to participate in this year’s edition of the Lebanese Film Festival, for which I am deeply grateful towards the selection committee. I have attended the Festival as a spectator almost every year since its founding, and have always admired the curatorial vision of its directors. Audiences have had the privilege of viewing the very rich and diverse voices in film emerging from Lebanon during the Festival, which has been inspirational and a testament to the inordinately vibrant cultural production of Lebanon. As a Lebanese filmmaker, having just made a film in Beirut, I am very proud to partake in the Lebanese Film Festival.
How important is your Lebanese/Armenian identity in your cinematographic work, and in this movie in particular?
This is the first film that I have made in which my Lebanese/Armenian identity has been represented so explicitly. My previous films have never involved specifically Lebanese or Armenian subject matter. However, they have almost always involved themes of exile and life in minority communities – which are matters that Lebanese and Armenians are intimately familiar with and continue to face wherever they live in the world. So by channeling these issues through the experiences of cultures other than Lebanese or Armenian I was inadvertently trying to identify circumstances that are universal. This practice led me to produce Fifth Column that, although very specifically focuses on an incident taking place in the Armenian community of Lebanon, is meant to be a human story above all.
The movie is in colloquial Western Armenian. Was it an important factor for you and is this common?
The dialogue in the film is in colloquial Western Armenian, which is spoken in Lebanon. It is very important for me to represent speech that is true to life, whatever the language or the story. So it was extremely important for me that the dialogue in my film be in colloquial Western Armenian, with all of its influences from other languages that are commonly interspersed with its daily usage. Usually this type of representation has been avoided in Armenian drama, and certainly in literature. But I believe that this language, that is used daily in Lebanon, reflects a wealth of history by providing some insight into the exposure of Armenians to other cultures and languages. Specifically, I also believe that what is heard today is the outcome of a uniquely cosmopolitan, Lebanese experience. Far from being avoided, I believe it should be embraced and studied, at least in film.
The little boy in the movie is your nephew. Is it any different to work with family members than regular actors on a set?
The process remains the same for me no matter who I work with on set. I am nice with everyone. Harry Simitian, my nephew, was an unusually mature 12 year-old at the time of filming (now he’s 13). So not only was it easy to work with him, but also outrageously fun because of the sheer energy and humor he would bring to each day of the shoot. He was innately very respectful towards the older, professional actors and immediately created a bond with them. In return, the other actors welcomed him very warmly and worked with him with great care and tenderness. Cast and crew became one family intent on one goal: to make this film, and make it with as much fun as possible.
How was the film received by the critics in Cannes?
Being included in the Cinéfondation Program of the Cannes Film Festival’s Official Selection was a tremendous honor not least because it also suggested that the film was able to communicate some of the humanity that I had sought to achieve. After the screening in Cannes, critics and filmmakers from everywhere in the world approached me to express their appreciation of my film, how deeply moved they were by it, and that they understood and identified with the circumstances that I had represented on screen. It was an extraordinary experience, and very emotional. The prize that my film was awarded by the Cannes Film Festival further reassured me that the empathy with which I had made this film was found to be resonant with the jury of this year’s Festival.
What’s next?
I would like to continue exploring themes dealing with the consequences of exile. Looking at definitions of difference and deviance I hope to better understand some of the forces that shape society. Regardless of the place, language, ethnic background, or religion within the stories I seek to tell, the most important element for me in realizing any project is to work with and express unwavering empathy. I aspire to make films that are wide-awake and honest in approach, and very human in spirit.
Interview by Sandra Arslanian.
Monday, August 16, 2010
LFF 2010 - Film Selections - Part 10
Here are the last four selections for the 2010 Lebanese Film Festival.
Including the ones listed below, a total of 60 films have been selected and announced.
Now it's time for you to discover them from 19-23 August at Metropolis Empire Sofil, everyday starting 6.30PM
---
Masmou7 lasek al e3lanat de Tarek Chemaly
Lebanon, 2010 - Video Clip
Inspiré du livre de Tarek Chemaly (Re)ArcheWALLogy, le monologue ecrit par Chemaly lui-même revient sur les jingles le plus mémorables de la publicité libanaise (recite par Deborah Phares), pour temoigner que dans un pays ou tout est raison de discorde, la publicité est l’un des agents cohésifs et represente en quelque sorte la mémoire collective de toutes les générations confondues.
---
Wehde by Amin Dora
Lebanon, 2010 - Video Clip
Until July 2010, this song has not been officially launched in Lebanon. This screening will be a premiere. The song is called “Wehde” which has three different meanings: girl, unity and solitude. This song applies to the Lebanese people who for more than 60 years have been looking for their national unity. Instead of choosing one political agenda, the Lebanese are still living in anarchy where each individual is practically living in solitude.
---
Fog El Nakhel de Pedros Temizian
Liban, 2010 - Video Clip
Hiba se lève dans son sommeil et plonge dans son rêve fantastique. Conçu et réalisé par Pedros Temizian, La conception de la video renait avec l’animation, les couleus pastelles et le jeux de lumieres vacillantes, une lutte entre un monde féerique delicat, et un monde urbain, une approche vers le theme de la beauté, de l'innocence et de la liberté. La chanson est basée sur une chanson traditionnelle d'Alep et rechanter par Hiba. Celle-ci fut accompagnée par son mari et enfant pour le tournage de la vidéo. La musique était produite par Zeid Hamdan.
---
Back to The Roots de Samer Ghorayeb
Liban, Italie, 2009 - Documentaire
Le film Back to The Roots a mené Samer et son caméscope, accompagné d’un ami italien, vers un petit village du sud de l'Italie où il se lance dans une exploration intime de ses origines italiennes. Francesco Baffa Volpe, l’arrière grand-père de Samer, vint au Liban et épousa une libanaise qui lui donna quatre enfants dont Antonio (le grand-père de Samer) au début des années 1900 et depuis, aucun membre de la famille ne retourna au village natal...
Sunday, August 15, 2010
LFF 2010 - Film Selections - Part 9
Here are four more selections for the 2010 Lebanese Film Festival.
Including the ones listed below, a total of 56 film selections have been announced thus far. Stay tuned for more..
---
Para La Eternidad d'Elie Lamah
Liban, 2010 - Fiction
“Mona” est une veuve dans sa trentaine qui s’échappe dans des excursions, où elle devient une femme assez courageuse pour déterrer les souvenirs de son défunt amour.
“Para la Eternidad” révèle une image dure de l’obsession qu'éprouve Mona envers la mort de son mari, le seul homme qui lui avait permis d’éprouver la joie d’être libre et qui lui a offert la chance d'être heureuse dans un terrain assez loin de ses proches.
Assistez à la ranimation de la passion aveugle que ressent Mona pour l’homme qu’elle a aimé, épousé, et enterré..
---
Maman, le Liban et moi d'Olga Nakkas
Liban, 2009, Documentaire
En 2005, je suis rentrée au Liban pour faire un film sur ma mère malade. Petit à petit le Liban a sombre dans le chaos. Ma mère au seuil de la mort ne pense qu’à son héros Ataturk , alors que le Liban passe d’une guerre avec Israël, a des « petites guerres » entre sunnites et shiites, assassinats politiques, mais aussi ma guerre , l’intolérance, la nostalgie du passé.
---
Le Temps de la Balle de Hervé Jakubowicz
France-Liban, 2010
Kurdistan irakien, 1991. Quelques mois après la première guerre du Golfe, deux humanitaires bravent le couvre-feu pour sauver le fils de leur interprète, blessé par une mine. Le temps d’une nuit, les vies se brisent, les secrets se révèlent, les nœuds se dénouent. Dans un pays dévasté, au bout d’une piste de poussière, chacun a rendez-vous avec son destin.
---
Akh Ursula Akh by Lucien Bourjeily
Lebanon, 2010 - Fiction
On a regular summer day in Beirut, a film crew stumbles upon a young man actively posting leaflets about his missing girlfriend. Intrigued by this odd story (since, in Beirut, it is very rare - almost impossible - to find someone posting missing people leaflets); they immediately summon him for an interview to discover what the real reasons behind his action are.
---
Saturday, August 14, 2010
LFF 2010 - Film Selections - Part 8 - Video Clips - Part II
Here are five more selections for the 2010 Lebanese Film Festival.
Including the ones listed below, a total of 52 film selections have been announced thus far. Stay tuned for more..
Maddening Day de Sandra Arslanian
Belgique, Liban, 2010 - Video ClipDeux filles qui s’opposent, qui s’unissent, qui se rencontrent toujours mais ne se rencontrent jamais. Un clip de sandmoon.
---
The Incompetents – Urinal Blues Part 1 by Elyse Tabet
Liban, 2010 - Video Clip
The Incompetents have that kind of precious « Daniel Jhonston on a high » sloppyness about them that just makes perfect sense and that had to be portrayed in the video clip. Urinal Blues is about escapism through alcohol and partying all that goes wrong away. It's the Pink Elephant growing bigger in the small round the corner pub that no one wants to talk about.
---
General Suleyman by Gigi Roccati
Lebanon, 2010 - Video Clip
Falling in Love with Beirut and Zeid's music, I told him i wanted to make a video for his song, General Suleyman. Together with Mr Sadek we began a journey through vibrant beauty, schizophrenic energy, and the multi colored characters of this city, true bridge of east and west. A unique meltin'pot parading under the lebanese flag, dancing to the groove of Zeid and the Wings. This is what we found. Where were You ?
---
Welia by Zeid Hamdan
Lebanon, 2008 - Video Clip
A video Shot in the Oasis of Beni Abbes in the desert of Algeria with Kanjha Kora on vocals and Zeid Hamdan on the music.
---
Raksit Leila de Jad Sarout, Chadi Aoun, Yasmine Sarout - Liban, 2010 - Video Clip
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
