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Details Revealed on the List of Juries and Films at the 17th Ismailia International Film Festival for Documentaries and Shorts / Ismailia Co-Production Platform Launches a Training Project for Documentary Filmmakers / The Ismailia Co-Production Platform Submissions Deadline Extended until 22nd April / 17th Ismailia International Film Festival for Documentaries and Shorts Opens the Call for Film Submissions in 2014 / Ismailia Co-production Platform Opens the Call for Film Entries as Part of Ismailia International Film Festival for Documentaries and Shorts
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  • Waves
    Documentaries Competition
    Director: Ahmed Nour
    Synopsis: A very personal reflection on the Egyptian revolution presented by Ahmed Nour through the city of Suez where the first spark of the revolution ignited.
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    Waves
    Documentaries Competition
    Director: Ahmed Nour

    synopsis:
    A very personal reflection on the Egyptian revolution presented by Ahmed Nour through the city of Suez where the first spark of the revolution ignited. The director shares his internal meditative look at the very special 5 periods of time in his life. Each period jumps between color and black-and-white, live action and animation, sweeping the viewer up in its imagery and fierce imagination.

    Country of production: Egypt

    Year of Production: 2013

    Duration: 71 minutes

    Production House: Moug Films

    Contact: nourmoug@gmail.com

    About Ahmed Nour

    Ahmed Nour is a 30 years old filmmaker. He studied Creative Documentary Film at the Arab Institute of Film. He has worked as First Assistant Director in for 5 years in Egypt. He writes and directs his own films since he was 18 and for approximately 11 years he has boasts a record of a TV documentary, a short film, and 2 medium length creative documentaries. Waves is Nour’s first feature length documentary.



  • My Love Awaits Me by the Sea
    Documentaries Competition
    Director: Mais Darwazah
    Synopsis: A poetic documentary narrating the story of the director who takes a first time journey back to her homeland,
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    My Love Awaits Me by the Sea
    Documentaries Competition
    Director: Mais Darwazah

    synopsis:
    A poetic documentary narrating the story of the director who takes a first time journey back to her homeland, Palestine, where she finds that everyone is still holding tightly onto his “dream” in spite of the brutal reality of occupation.

    Country of production: Jordan/Germany/Palestine/Qatar

    Year of Production: 2013

    Duration: 80 minutes

    Production House: Imaginarium Film - Little Wanderer Films - Mengamuk Films

    Contact: maisd66@yahoo.co.uk

    About Mais Darwazah

    Mais has worked in architecture, graphic design and TV documentaries. Her independent film career started by making short experimental films such as It Wasn't a Question of Olives-2001, The Human Puppet (2005) and Aisha's Journey (2009). Her films were screened in more than 20 film festivals.



  • Lost in the Bewilderness
    Documentaries Competition
    Director: Alexandra Anthony
    Synopsis: Filmed for over 20 years, Alexandra Anthony’s dramatic documentary chronicles the story of her cousin,
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    Lost in the Bewilderness
    Documentaries Competition
    Director: Alexandra Anthony

    synopsis:
    Filmed for over 20 years, Alexandra Anthony’s dramatic documentary chronicles the story of her cousin, who was kidnapped at the age of 5 from Greece and found in the US when he was 16. It’s an exploration of how the themes of ancient Greek myth are still very much alive in the modern world.

    Country of production:Greece/ USA

    Year of Production:2014

    Duration: 97 minutes

    Production House:AYA films

    Contact:snodgras@mit.edu

    About Alexandra Anthony:

    As an independent Producer, Director and Writer, Alex Anthony made her first film, Morning Born Blindly in 1977. She then worked on films with the theme of a family in crisis such as the award-winning Yaya (1984) and Lost in the Bewilderness (2014). She also received several Emmy and Peabody awards for her work as a film and video editor.



  • Kismet
    Documentaries Competition
    Director: Nina Maria Paschalidou
    Synopsis: With unprecedented access to the industry's most glamorous actors and creative talents, this film travels from North Africa to the Middle East,
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    Kismet
    Documentaries Competition
    Director: Nina Maria Paschalidou

    synopsis:
    With unprecedented access to the industry's most glamorous actors and creative talents, this film travels from North Africa to the Middle East, Turkey and the Balkans to unravel the secrets of the phenomenal success of Turkish soap operas that have taken the world by storm conquering the hearts of millions of viewers.

    Country of production: Greece/Cyprus

    Year of Production: 2013

    Duration: 57 minutes

    Production House: Anemon Productions & Forest Troop

    Contact: janrofekamp@filmstransit.com

    About Nina Maria Paschalidou:

    With extensive experience on documentaries focused on social strife, war and forgotten populations, Nina Maria is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, journalist and producer. Since 2007, she has been a producer for Exandas, a documentary series that won many international awards. Among the independent documentaries that she produced and directed are Spirited Paths and Boxing Cuba.



  • Jews of Egypt: The End of a Journey
    Documentaries Competition
    Director: Amir Ramses
    Synopsis: Through fragments of the lives of the Egyptian Jewish community in the first half of the twentieth century until their second grand exodus,
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    Jews of Egypt: The End of a Journey
    Documentaries Competition
    Director: Amir Ramses

    synopsis:
    Through fragments of the lives of the Egyptian Jewish community in the first half of the twentieth century until their second grand exodus, Amir Ramses, in this second installment, resumes his attempt to understand the change in the identity of the Egyptian society in terms of tolerance and acceptance of others.

    Country of production: Egypt

    Year of Production: 2014

    Duration: 56 minutes

    Production House: DAAL RM

    Contact:amirram@yahoo.com

    About Amir Ramses:

    Amir Ramses is a 35 years old filmmaker who studied film direction in the High Cinema Institute. He has directed more than 15 films including, shorts, documentaries and fiction features, with which he participated in numerous national and international film festivals. He also won the Best Film Award in Fifej festival in Tunisia and the Egyptian national Film Festival 2001.



  • Guardians of Time Lost
    Documentaries Competition
    Director: Diala Kachmar
    Synopsis: Between courage and fear, between ideology and deviation, between chivalry and violence, lies the street.
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    Guardians of Time Lost
    Documentaries Competition
    Director: Diala Kachmar

    synopsis:
    Between courage and fear, between ideology and deviation, between chivalry and violence, lies the street. It has no borders but through them. They are a group of marginalized young men known as “thugs”, revealing a mysterious world which carries within its folds the complexities of social and political realities in Lebanon.

    Country of production:Lebanon/ UAE

    Year of Production:2013

    Duration: 109 minutes

    Production House: Carole Abboud, Diala Kachmar, Lida Charaf

    Contact:diala@artrip.me
    lida@artrip.me

    About Diala Kachmar:

    Four years after the outbreak of the civil war in Lebanon, Diala Kachmar was born. In 2005, Diala shifted from acting to screenwriting and directing documentary films. At 10th Dubai International Film Festival, she received for her feature, Guardians of Time Lost, the SpecialJury Prize at the Muhr Documentary competition.



  • My Name is Mirror
    Short Documentary Competition
    Director: Katarina Resek
    Synopsis: The film monitors the daily life of Ayna, a young Muslim who lives in Slovenia to Australian Bosnian parents.
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    My Name is Mirror
    Short Documentary Competition
    Director: Katarina Resek

    synopsis:
    The film monitors the daily life of Ayna, a young Muslim who lives in Slovenia to Australian Bosnian parents. She's in search for perfect spirituality in two contradictory worlds; the traditional Islam with the modern one, but keeps encountering obstacles.

    Country of production:Slovenia

    Year of Production:2013

    Duration:15 minutes

    Production House:UL AGRFT RTV Slovenija

    Contact:info@film-center.si

    About Director:

    KatarinaResek is an aspiring Slovenian Filmmaker. Born in 1991, she is studying Filmmaking and Television Directing at the Academy of Theatre. As a director, Katarina has several prominent films such asPuder, Wall, and My Name Is Mirror. In 2013, she was part of the Minsk International Festival "Listapad".



  • Grazing the Sky
    Documentaries Competition
    Director: Horacio Alcala
    Synopsis: Offering an exciting perspective for trapeze and circus lovers, Grazing the Sky is a magical documentary that conveys a personal look at
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    Grazing the Sky
    Documentaries Competition
    Director: Horacio Alcala

    synopsis:
    Offering an exciting perspective for trapeze and circus lovers, Grazing the Sky is a magical documentary that conveys a personal look at the challenge of defying gravity that shows the efforts of circus artists in their quest to achieve perfection and reach their goals.

    Country of production:Mexico/Portugal/Spainv Year of Production: 2013

    Duration:88 minutes

    Production House:Latido Films

    Contact:oalonso@latidofilms.com
    horacio@camaraboreal.com

    About Horacio Alcala

    Horacio is a talented Director and Scriptwriter. He worked for 5 years at Cirque du Soleil in the European tours. His list of filmography includes Manual de Uso Para una Nave Especial (2009), AbrazaMisRecuerdos(2010), and Grazing the Sky (2013).



  • Dangerous Acts Starring the Unstable Elements of Belarus
    Documentaries Competition
    Director: Madeleine Sackler
    Synopsis: Comprised of smuggled footage and uncensored interviews, Dangerous Acts gives audiences a front row seat to a resistance movement.
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    Dangerous Acts Starring the Unstable Elements of Belarus
    Documentaries Competition
    Director: Madeleine Sackler

    synopsis:
    Comprised of smuggled footage and uncensored interviews, Dangerous Acts gives audiences a front row seat to a resistance movement. As the members of the Free Theater confront the choice of either repression at home or exile, Dangerous Acts emphasizes that art and hope can indeed change the world.

    Country of production: USA

    Year of Production:2013

    Duration:76 minutes

    Production House: Great Curve Films

    Contact:global@dogwoof.com

    About Madeleine Sackler:

    Madeleine Sackler has a degree in biopsychology and is the Co-founder of Osmosis Films, a new media company dedicated to producing interactive, long form content. Her first Documentary The Lottery was shortlisted for the 2011 Academy Awards. Dangerous Acts is her third feature documentary.



  • Concerning Violence
    Documentaries Competition
    Director: Göran Hugo Olsson
    Synopsis: Based on Frantz Fanon’s famous book, The Wretched of the Earth, the documentary focuses on the uprisings that led to Africa’s decolonization.
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    Concerning Violence
    Documentaries Competition
    Director: Göran Hugo Olsson

    synopsis:
    Based on Frantz Fanon’s famous book, The Wretched of the Earth, the documentary focuses on the uprisings that led to Africa’s decolonization. Using frequent footages that were filmed back between 1966 and 1987, the director created nine narratives to tell about a true national struggle.

    Country of production:Sweden/USA

    Year of Production:2014

    Duration: 85 minutes

    Production House: Annika Rogell& Tobias Janson - Joslyn Barnes & Danny Glover

    Contact:info@filmsboutique.com

    About GöranHugo Olsson

    Göran is a prominent documentaries director and cinematographer who is best known forfilms such as Am I Black Enough for You (2009) and The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1957 (2011) which won the Best Editing Award at Guldbagge Awards 2012 and became a huge hit in festivals and theatres and on television throughout the world. His latest visual narrative Concerning Violence has premiered in Sundance Film Festival and was screened in Berlin 2014.



  • Cairo Drive
    Documentaries Competition
    Director: Sherief Elkatsha
    Synopsis: Cairo Drive offers a unique look at a special city and its people at a critical time in the history of Egypt.
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    Cairo Drive
    Documentaries Competition
    Director: Sherief Elkatsha

    synopsis:
    Cairo Drive offers a unique look at a special city and its people at a critical time in the history of Egypt. The film follows several characters as they navigate their lives on Cairo's hectic roads, but their view from behind the wheel sheds light on issues bigger than driving.

    Country of production: Egypt

    Year of Production: 2013

    Duration: 77 minutes

    Production House: Katsha Films

    Contact:skatsha@earthlink.net

    About Sherif Elkatsha:

    Born in the US, Sherief Elkatsha was raised in Cairo and has directed 3 documentaries highlighting contemporary issues of the Egyptian society, namely; Butts Out (2006), WeAre Watching You (2007), and finally Cairo Drive (2013) that premiered at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival (2013).



  • The High Heel High
    Animation Film Competition
    Director: Christer Lindström (Chrzu)
    Synopsis: Driven by her passion for high heels, Janette is always on the look for them. She has at least 70 pairs of high heels and still wants more
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    The High Heel High
    Animation Film Competition
    Director: Christer Lindström (Chrzu)

    synopsis:
    Driven by her passion for high heels, Janette is always on the look for them. She has at least 70 pairs of high heels and still wants more, thinking that life on heels tastes sweeter despite the pain and trauma they cause.

    Country of production: Finland

    Year of Production: 2013

    Duration: 8 minutes

    Production House: Hallavi Filmi Chrzu

    Contact: toni.panula@hallavafilmi.fi
    Marja.pallassalo@ses.fi

    About Christer Lindström:

    Christer lindstrom is a Director and Writer who is best known for films like Treevil (2002), Curse of the Remote Island (2008) and English Lessons (2008).



  • Alone
    Animation Film Competition
    Director: Ahmed Hanno, Ashraf Mahdy
    Synopsis: Alone is about departed people, who stand isolated thinking they belong and attached to others. The main character timing and existence is not synchronized with the city next to him,
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    Alone
    Animation Film Competition
    Director: Ahmed Hanno, Ashraf Mahdy

    synopsis:
    Alone is about departed people, who stand isolated thinking they belong and attached to others. The main character timing and existence is not synchronized with the city next to him, where love is lost by the passing years. Is time related to our existence or does it stand still?

    Country of production: Egypt

    Year of Production: 2013

    Duration: 4 minutes

    Production House: Ahmed Hanno, Ashraf Mahdy

    Contact: ashmahdy@yahoo.com

    About Ahmed Hanno:

    Hanno studied Graphic Design at the faculty of Fine Arts. He directed 4 films namely; The Bird- 1992, Sinbad Adventures..from the Arabian Nights- 1994, Through Over 2002 and Change through Exchange- 2010. He obtained a PhD degree in Art Philosophy and History, Visual Communication and Animation Films from Kassel University in Germany. He currently teaches Film Animation at the Faculty of Fine Arts.



    About Ashraf Mahdy:

    Mahdy is a 40 years old Graphic Designer, Photographer and Director. In 1996, he obtained a B.A in Graphic Design, which was followed by a Master’s degree in Graphics in 2006. His works have been exhibited in several galleries where he received awards in recognition of his works of art.



  • The Kiosk
    Animation Film Competition
    Director: Anete Melece
    Synopsis: For several years now, the Kiosk has become Olga’s little home because her sweet tooth and monotonous life have made her bigger than the exit.
    Read More

    The Kiosk
    Animation Film Competition
    Director: Anete Melece

    synopsis:
    For several years now, the Kiosk has become Olga’s little home because her sweet tooth and monotonous life have made her bigger than the exit. To distract herself, she reads travel magazines and dreams of being far away. But then an absurd incident starts the beginning of her journey.

    Country of production: Switzerland

    Year of Production: 2013

    Duration: 7 minutes

    Production House: Saskia von Virág Schweizer Fersehen SRF, red. Catherine Ann Berger Hochschule Luzern, Master in Arts of Design Nina Gellersen

    Contact: anete.melece@gmail.com
    mail@viragefilm.ch



    About Anete Melece:

    Born in Latvia in 1983, Anete Melece studied Visual Communication at the Art Academy of Latvia in 2007and in 2012, she earned her MA in animation at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. She illustrated for many establishments including Madara Cosmetics, and the artbook Roja.



  • Mythopolis
    Animation Film Competition
    Director: Alexandra Hetmerova
    Synopsis: Multi-awarded animation envisioning a city inhabited by legendary characters from Greek mythology, not living in an epic historical land, instead .
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    Mythopolis
    Animation Film Competition
    Director: Alexandra Hetmerova

    synopsis:
    Multi-awarded animation envisioning a city inhabited by legendary characters from Greek mythology, not living in an epic historical land, instead they are facing and attempting to overcome problems of today’s world.

    Country of production: Czech Republic

    Year of Production: 2013

    Duration: 11 minutes

    Production House: Vera Hoffmannova

    Contact: vera.hoffmannova@famu.cz
    info@filmcenter.cz



    About Alexandra Hetmerova:

    Along with various animation contributions, Alexandra Hetmerova is best known for the award-winning animation Swimming Pool (2010), which scooped more than 15 awards from several film festivals across the world. Hetmerova is an independent director with an Academic background from The Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, Czech Republic.



  • La Testa Tra Le Nuvole
    Animation Film Competition
    Director: Roberto Catani
    Synopsis: A child’s daydream during a school lesson is abruptly interrupted by the teacher who threatens to cut off an ear to his young student to "stimulate" the concentration .
    Read More

    La Testa Tra Le Nuvole
    Animation Film Competition
    Director: Roberto Catani

    synopsis:
    A child’s daydream during a school lesson is abruptly interrupted by the teacher who threatens to cut off an ear to his young student to "stimulate" the concentration and prevent further escapes into the realm of imagination.

    Country of production: Italy

    Year of Production: 2013

    Duration: 8 minutes

    Production House: Roberto Catani

    Contact: roberto.catani@libero.it



    About Roberto Catani:

    Born in Jesi in 1965, Roberto graduated from ISA-School of Book- in Urbino, Italy. His animated films; Il Pesce Rosso” -1995, La Sagra -1998 and La Funambola -2002, have been awarded in several international festivals as Espinho, New York, Zagreb, Annecy, Hiroshima, Dresden and Cracow.



  • Father
    Animation Film Competition
    Director: Santiago 'bou' Grasso
    Synopsis: Set in 1983 Argentina, a woman is devoting herself to care for her sick father, a retired officer, and her daily routine is set by the ticking of the clock.
    Read More

    Father
    Animation Film Competition
    Director: Santiago 'bou' Grasso

    synopsis:
    Set in 1983 Argentina, a woman is devoting herself to care for her sick father, a retired officer, and her daily routine is set by the ticking of the clock. As days go by, the woman keeps withdrawing into her own little world, refusing to face reality.

    Country of production: Argentina/France

    Year of Production: 2013

    Duration: 12 minutes

    Production House: Les Films de l’Arlequin / ARTE France / Opus Bous

    Contact: dora.arlequin@gmail.com

    info@opusbou.com.a r
    info@patricioplaza.com.ar



    About Santiago 'bou' Grasso:

    Born in 1979, Argentina, Santiago 'BOU' Grasso graduated from La Plata National University. He worked as a Web Illustrator and Freelance Illustrator and participated in various in several animated film productions. In 2007, his 2D animation short film project The Job won more than 85 prizes.



  • Family in the Park
    Animation Film Competition
    Director: Pedro “Zulu” González
    Synopsis: A Sunday trip to the park inspires happiness for the patriarch of a visiting family. However, a thoughtfully posed question forces him to find the source
    Read More

    Family in the Park
    Animation Film Competition
    Director: Pedro “Zulu” González

    synopsis:
    A Sunday trip to the park inspires happiness for the patriarch of a visiting family. However, a thoughtfully posed question forces him to find the source of his dejection and engenders the beginning of a more positive outlook on life.

    Country of production: Mexico

    Year of Production: 2013

    Duration: 7 minutes

    Production House: Instituto Mexicano de Cinematografía (IMCINE)

    Contact: mercaint@imcine.gob.mx

    About Pedro “Zulu” González:

    Being a self-taught video artist, Pedro “Zulu” González, born in 1975, is a Mexican Director who has created more than 15 videos and animations; including Un Día en Familia (2013), Se Me Hizo Fácil (2009), and Lección Mágica (2005), which has successfully participated in numerous film festivals.



  • Baths
    Animation Film Competition
    Director: Tomek Ducki
    Synopsis: The film takes us into the murky waters of fantasy. With a cool kind of magic, this delicately stylized film draws us into various layers of reality,
    Read More

    Baths
    Animation Film Competition
    Director: Tomek Ducki

    synopsis:
    The film takes us into the murky waters of fantasy. With a cool kind of magic, this delicately stylized film draws us into various layers of reality, as we plunge from silent melancholia into the graphic frenzy of competitive sports, where everything is turned upside down.

    Country of production: Poland

    Year of Production: 2013

    Duration: 4 minutes

    Production House: Polish Film Institute

    Contact: egordziejuk@gmail.com

    zofia@kff.com.pl

    About Tomek Ducki:

    Tomek is a Krakow-based Polish filmmaker. His films took several awards from remarkable film festivals such as Amatriks Animation Film Festival and Befilm Underground Film Festival. He studied animation at several schools such as MOME Budapest and ASP Krakow.



  • Ana - A Palindrome
    Animation Film Competition
    Director: Joana Toste
    Synopsis: In a desperate moment of her life, Ana discovers that her life is a typical embodiment of the known Greek mythology,
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    Ana - A Palindrome
    Animation Film Competition
    Director: Joana Toste

    synopsis:
    In a desperate moment of her life, Ana discovers that her life is a typical embodiment of the known Greek mythology, Palindromes; it’s no different from a verse that can be read from left to right or from right to left.

    Country of production: Portugal

    Year of Production: 2013

    Duration: 5 minutes

    Production House: Sardinha em lata

    Contact: agencia@curtas.pt

    About Director:

    Joana Toste is a Portuguese director born in 1970. Having interrupted her academic career to perform animation studies, Toste started working in animation, collaborating with several studios. In 2004, she founded her own production’s company Gomtch-Gomtch. She has participated in several film festivals as a jury member.



  • A Cup of Turkish Coffee
    Animation Film Competition
    Director: Nazli Eda Noyan amd Daghan Celayir
    Synopsis: No matter how hard she resists looking at her old family photographs, an old woman brings to memory her old events and feelings,
    Read More

    A Cup of Turkish Coffee
    Animation Film Competition
    Director: Nazli Eda Noyan amd Daghan Celayir

    synopsis:
    No matter how hard she resists looking at her old family photographs, an old woman brings to memory her old events and feelings, surrounded by the warmness of her granddaughter and a delicious hot cup of Turkish coffee.

    Country of production: Turkey

    Year of Production: 2013

    Duration: 8 minutes

    Production House: Yalan Dünya Films

    Contact: daghancelayir@gmail.com



    About Nazlı Eda Noyan:

    In Izmir, Nazlı Eda Noyan was born in 1974. With a strong academic background in Graphic Design, Noyan worked as a writer, freelance illustrator and designer in various books and magazines. She also produced animation works including Children of the Other Lands, which won Best Animation award in Istanbul Short Film Festival.


    About Daghan Celayir:

    Daghan Celayir finished his studies in Visual Arts then obtained Master's degree in Film Production in Istanbul. His short The One Note Man won him 18 prizes and was officially selected in 65 international film festivals, including Valladolid, Los Angeles, Paris, Tokyo, Cannes and Rotterdam IF. He has directed over 35 commercial films in Turkey, Switzerland, Austria, Azerbaijan and Dubai.



  • Zela Trovke
    Short Documentary Competition
    Director: Asier Altuna
    Synopsis: “Moritats” are old folk songs about crimes and are typical of Central Europe. ZELA TROVKE is a “moritat” from Slovakia and the Holland Baroque Society has recovered it to include it in its Barbaric Beauty program
    Read More

    Zela Trovke
    Short Documentary Competition
    Director: Asier Altuna

    synopsis:
    “Moritats” are old folk songs about crimes and are typical of Central Europe. ZELA TROVKE is a “moritat” from Slovakia and the Holland Baroque Society has recovered it to include it in its Barbaric Beauty program. Maite Larburu, the orchestra’s violinist, unveils the song’s hidden secrets.

    Country of production: Spain

    Year of Production: 2013

    Duration: 13 minutes

    Production House: TXINTXUA FILMS

    Contact: katherineantoine@gmail.com
    kimuak@filmotecavasca.com

    About Asier Altuna:

    Asier Altuna is a Spanish Writer and Director, who made the leap into filmmaking and screenwriting more than 15 years ago. He has two feature films, six shorts and a television series. In 2005, his first feature, Aupa Etxebeste! won the Youth Award at the San Sebastian Festival and was nominated for the best new director award.



  • Xenos
    Short Documentary Competition
    Director: Mahdi Fleifel
    Synopsis: Aspiring to start a new life in a European country, Abu Eyad and others flee from the Ain el-Helweh refugee camp, reaching Greece which is stuck in a serious economic, political and social crisis
    Read More

    Xenos
    Short Documentary Competition
    Director: Mahdi Fleifel

    synopsis:
    Aspiring to start a new life in a European country, Abu Eyad and others flee from the Ain el-Helweh refugee camp, reaching Greece which is stuck in a serious economic, political and social crisis. Their dreams are soon stifled by a brutal realitythat only permits a hand-to-mouth existence.

    Country of production: UK/Denmark

    Year of Production: 2014

    Duration: 13 minutes

    Production House: Nakba Filmworks

    Contact: patrick@nakbafilmworks.com

    About Mahdi Fleifel:

    With fascinating record of shorts and documentaries, Mahdi Fleifel is a promising Palestinian filmmaker born in Dubai in 1979. He is best known for A World Not Ours (2012) and Shadi in the Beautiful Well (2003). Mahdi has participated in several film festivals; including Berlinale, Dubai International Film Festival and many others.



  • The Visit
    Short Documentary Competition
    Director: Matej Bobrik
    Synopsis: In a care house, the residents lead unruffled quite lives except on Sundays which is the visiting day.
    Read More

    The Visit
    Short Documentary Competition
    Director: Matej Bobrik

    synopsis:
    In a care house, the residents lead unruffled quite lives except on Sundays which is the visiting day. In the early morning, the elders start preparations for their families, but then they lose hope for no one shows in the end.

    Country of production: Poland

    Year of Production: 2013

    Duration: 11 minutes

    Production House: Polish Filmmakers Association Munk Studio Karolew Film

    Contact: katarzyna@kff.com.pl
    zofia@@kff.com.pl

    About Matej Bobrik:

    A young filmmaker from Slovakia, Matej Bobrik graduated from the Leon Schiller National Film, Television and Theatre School in Lodz and the DOK PRO Programme at the Wajda School in Warsaw. His films were remarkably awarded in various film festivals including Lodzia po Wisle, Warsa, Kameralne Lato Filmowe, Rado and San Sebastian International Film Festival



  • The Orchard Keepers
    Short Documentary Competition
    Director: Bryony Dunne
    Synopsis: To a backdrop of political upheaval, an island of green life floats in an arid desert; two Bedouin embark on a daily quest to keep their orchard alive
    Read More

    The Orchard Keepers
    Short Documentary Competition
    Director: Bryony Dunne

    synopsis:
    To a backdrop of political upheaval, an island of green life floats in an arid desert; two Bedouin embark on a daily quest to keep their orchard alive, a duty which is deeply rooted within their cultural identity; representing a wealth of knowledge in oral tradition, folklore and myth.

    Country of production: Egypt

    Year of Production: 2014

    Duration: 28 minutes

    Production House: Bryony Dunne

    Contact: contact@bryonymay.com

    About Bryony Dunne:

    Seeking to explore human’s relationship with the landscape, Bryony Dunne is an Irish artist whose work engages multiple disciplines – Anthropology, Sociology, Ecology and Visual Arts. Her work is produced through installations, film and photography, participating in several exhibitions, most recently at the International Conference on Living with World Heritage in Africa in Johannesburg.



  • Romy, I am Shy
    Short Documentary Competition
    Director: Andreas Grutzner
    Synopsis: Juergen Vollmer is a talented photographer who hung out with the Beatles at the Hamburg music club Kaiserkeller back in 1960 where he took several photos.
    Read More

    Romy, I am Shy
    Short Documentary Competition
    Director: Andreas Grutzner

    synopsis:
    Juergen Vollmer is a talented photographer who hung out with the Beatles at the Hamburg music club Kaiserkeller back in 1960 where he took several photos. When they met again in Paris, the band insisted he get a haircut. A montage of animated sequences, interviews and original artist photos by J.Vollmer.

    Country of production: Germany

    Year of Production: 2013

    Duration: 15 minutes

    Production House: Von Oertzen Uriz, Gruetzner Andreas

    Contact: info@gruetzner-film.de
    scheuring@german-films.de

    About Andreas Grutzner:

    Born in 1962, Germany, Andreas Grutzner is an independent filmmaker. He is the founder and head of KLAPPE AUF! short film festival in Hamburg. Grutzner boasts a record of short and long documentaries including My Friend Uwe, This is Walter Speaking and Romy, I Am Shy.



  • Pure State of the Soul
    Short Documentary Competition
    Director: Uğur Egemen İres
    Synopsis: Yusuf Ires is originally an Armenian Muslim who decides to be baptized at the age of 71.
    Read More

    Pure State of the Soul
    Short Documentary Competition
    Director: Uğur Egemen İres

    synopsis:
    Yusuf Ires is originally an Armenian Muslim who decides to be baptized at the age of 71. Although his wife Emine İres, 72, hardly accepts the fact, she cannot stop herself from interrogating the past.

    Country of production: Turkey

    Year of Production: 2013

    Duration: 19 minutes

    Production House: Anadolu Üniversitesi

    Contact: ugurires@gmail.com

    About Uğur Egemen İres:

    Uğur Egemen İres graduated from School of Communication Sciences, Department of Cinema and Television, Anadolu University. In 2011, Uğur made his film Su Çatlağını Buldu (Water Found Its Cleft) which was screened in several countries and international film festivals.



  • Om Amira
    Short Documentary Competition
    Director: Naji Esmail
    Synopsis: Om Amira, resides with her family on a roof top in Downtown Cairo. Having no other option but to toughen up to support her family and her sick daughter suffering from a heart condition
    Read More

    Om Amira
    Short Documentary Competition
    Director: Naji Esmail

    synopsis:
    Om Amira, resides with her family on a roof top in Downtown Cairo. Having no other option but to toughen up to support her family and her sick daughter suffering from a heart condition, she sells home-made sandwiches for living, spending all night long until the sun rise in the streets of the sleepless city of Cairo.

    Country of production: Egypt

    Year of Production: 2013

    Duration: 25 minutes

    Production House: RAHALA Production & Distribution

    Contact: ishady16@hotmail.com

    About Naji Esmail:

    Coming from Upper Egypt, Naji Ismail graduated from the High Cinema Institute in 2005. With many contributions to filmmaking industry in Egypt; including several short films and two feature films, Ismail is a promising director, scriptwriter, and most recently a producer as he established RAHALA for film production in 2012.



  • My Old Grandmother
    Short Documentary Competition
    Director: Hadi Moussally
    Synopsis: When time flies and life is boring, the only thing we wait for is death. Mayssar, the old grandmother, leads a boring life where days go by and blend into each other
    Read More

    My Old Grandmother
    Short Documentary Competition
    Director: Hadi Moussally

    synopsis:
    When time flies and life is boring, the only thing we wait for is death. Mayssar, the old grandmother, leads a boring life where days go by and blend into each other, having nothing left but a photo here or there that makes her relive unforgettable emotions recalling memories.

    Country of production: Lebanon/ France

    Year of Production: 2014

    Duration: 3 minutes

    Production House: H7O7Films

    Contact: h7o7films@gmail.com

    About Hadi Moussally:

    Hadi Moussally is a Lebanese filmmaker who takes residence in France. He holds two master’s degrees in Cinematography from Paris Universities. Moussally directed and scripted more than 20 movies including shorts, music videos, fashion films, experimental films and documentaries.



  • Joanna
    Short Documentary Competition
    Director: Aneta Kopacz
    Synopsis: From the darkest moments of her life which is about to end within 3 months, Joanna has become an icon of a thoughtful and joyful life.
    Read More

    Joanna
    Short Documentary Competition
    Director: Aneta Kopacz

    synopsis:
    From the darkest moments of her life which is about to end within 3 months, Joanna has become an icon of a thoughtful and joyful life, through her blog, in which people look for inspiration through the words describing her daily life honestly and accurately.

    Country of production: Poland

    Year of Production: 2013

    Duration: 40 minutes

    Production House: Andrzej Wajda Master School of Film Directing

    Contact: jsolecka@wajdachool.pl

    About Aneta Kopacz:

    Graduated in Psychology Department and Documentary Program DOK PRO, along with undergoing post-graduate Reportage Studies at the Institute of Journalism, Aneta is a Director, Screenwriter and Editor hailing from Poland. She has been repeatedly awarded and nominated for awards under the Best Documentary category in several film festivals. Her latest film Joana won a Special Prize of The Magic Hour competition at the 10th Planete + Doc Film Festival.



  • Inside The Game
    Short Documentary Competition
    Director: Omar Manjouneh
    Synopsis: Being trapped within a game is more than just a metaphor with the widespread use of video games, and their imaginary parallel worlds influencing young generations of Egyptian .
    Read More

    Inside The Game
    Short Documentary Competition
    Director: Omar Manjouneh

    synopsis:
    Being trapped within a game is more than just a metaphor with the widespread use of video games, and their imaginary parallel worlds influencing young generations of Egyptian gamers for whom the gaming world has become the most significant dream of their “normal life”.

    Country of production: Egypt

    Year of Production: 2013

    Duration: 15 minutes

    Production House: High Cinema Institute

    Contact: elmanjouneh@gmail.com

    About Omar Manjouneh:

    Omar Manjouneh made his leap into the filmmaking industry after studying Law for two years and currently he is a senior at the High Cinema Institute in Egypt. Manjouneh has presented several shorts which were screened at numerous national festivals. His latest directorial effort Inside the Game was officially selected in several national and international festivals



  • Identities
    Short Documentary Competition
    Director: Aiste Zegulyte
    Synopsis: A short documentary reflecting on self-identity and journey in search of beauty.
    Read More

    Identities
    Short Documentary Competition
    Director: Aiste Zegulyte

    synopsis:
    A short documentary reflecting on self-identity and journey in search of beauty.

    Country of production: Lithuania

    Year of Production: 2013

    Duration: 19 minutes

    Production House: ČIOBRELIAI

    Contact: marija@ciobreliai@lt

    About Aiste Zegulyte:

    Aiste Zegulyte was born in Panevėžys, where she has graduated from the Fine Arts school. Since 2009, she has been studying Television Directing at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater. Zegulyte has made several fictional and documentary short films. Her Nikodemas was in a competition programme New Baltic Cinema (2012).



  • Agri And The Mountain
    Short Fiction Competition
    Director: Hasan Serin
    Synopsis: An award-winning short film that tracks a day in the life of a 6-year-old girl who lives in Ağri Ve Dağ, a small village in the outskirts of Mount Ararat at winter time.
    Read More

    Agri And The Mountain
    Short Fiction Competition
    Director: Hasan Serin

    synopsis:
    An award-winning short film that tracks a day in the life of a 6-year-old girl who lives in Ağri Ve Dağ, a small village in the outskirts of Mount Ararat at winter time.

    Country of Production: Turkey

    Year of production: 2013

    Duration: 14 minutes

    Production House: Alternatiffilm

    Contact: serinhasanserin@gmail.com

    About Hasan Serin:

    Born in Bingöl, Turkey, in 1984, Hasan Serin studied Radio TV Cinema at Yeditepe University. In 2009, he founded Alternatiffilm for film production. Agri and the Mountain is his latest film which was screened in several film festivals where it received numerous awards.



  • AVERY PRIVATE PLACE
    Short Fiction Competition
    Director: Jamal Al Ghailan
    Synopsis: A one-scene drama highlighting the stories of 14 ladies, from different walks of life, happened to pass by the same place, where each of them gets a one-minute chance to shed light on her different personality, needs, and interests.
    Read More

    AVERY PRIVATE PLACE
    Short Fiction Competition
    Director: Jamal Al Ghailan

    synopsis:
    A one-scene drama highlighting the stories of 14 ladies, from different walks of life, happened to pass by the same place, where each of them gets a one-minute chance to shed light on her different personality, needs, and interests.

    Country of production: Bahrain

    Year of Production: 2014

    Duration: 14 minutes

    Production House: Nooran Pictures

    Contact: jn.alghailan@yahoo.com

    About Jamal Al Ghailan:

    Jamal Al Ghailan is a Bahraini filmmaker, graduated from the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts, in Kuwait. He directed 4 films that were officially selected in international film festivals including; The Coma (2009), Yaseen (2010), Lamentation (2011), and A Very Private Place.



  • Des ( pecho) truccion
    Short Fiction Competition ‎
    Director: María Ruiz
    Synopsis: A bitter girlfriend goes great lengths to forget about her ex by mutilating all the items that reminds him of her; she wants to wipe out every memory related to him.
    Read More

    Des ( pecho) truccion
    Short Fiction Competition
    Director: María Ruiz

    synopsis:
    A bitter girlfriend goes great lengths to forget about her ex by mutilating all the items that reminds him of her; she wants to wipe out every memory related to him. ‎

    Country of Production: Venezuela

    Year of Production:2013

    Duration: 11 minutes

    Production House: Alocha Films

    Contact: albertorodriguezandres@gmail.com

    About María Ruiz:

    Born in Venezuela, Maria Ruiz earned a bachelor degree in cinema studies in Caracas at the Universidad Central de Venezuela. Des (pecho)trucción is her short debut, and it was one of the selected projects of the 2011 C.N.A.C. contest for cinematographic projects.



  • Flora and Fauna
    Short Fiction Competition ‎
    Director: Piotr Litwin
    Synopsis: Deciding to buy a young girl’s virginity, a high school teacher concludes a contract with a teenager and they both decide to meet at a hotel for the execution of their deal. However, things doesn’t pan out as planned.
    Read More

    Flora and Fauna
    Short Fiction Competition
    Director: Piotr Litwin

    synopsis:
    Deciding to buy a young girl’s virginity, a high school teacher concludes a contract with a teenager and they both decide to meet at a hotel for the execution of their deal. However, things doesn’t pan out as planned.

    Country of Production: Poland

    Year of Production:2013

    Duration: 29 minutes

    Production House: Malatynski Marcin - PWSFTViT (The Polish National Film, Television and Theater School)

    Contact: katarzyna@kff.com.pl
    zofia@kff.com.pl

    About Piotr Litwin:

    Born in 1983, Moscow, USSR, Piotr Litwin attended Warsaw University at Law Faculty Social Science Faculty from 2002 – 2007. He has been studying directing from 2007-2013 at the Polish National Film at Television and Theater School. Flora and Fauna is his graduation film.



  • Get Married
    Short Fiction Competition
    Director: Ismahane Lahmar
    Synopsis: A bitter satire on the Tunisian bourgeoisie under the Ben Ali’s presidency through the story of Neila who attends a course at Cupidland to learn all the tips she needs to be the perfect bride she always dreams
    Read More

    Get Married
    Short Fiction Competition
    Director: Ismahane Lahmar

    synopsis:
    A bitter satire on the Tunisian bourgeoisie under the Ben Ali’s presidency through the story of Neila who attends a course at Cupidland to learn all the tips she needs to be the perfect bride she always dreams

    Country of Production: Tunisia

    Year of Production:2013

    Duration: 26 minutes

    Production House: AUDIMAGES

    Contact: audimage.mirada@gmail.com

    About Ismahane Lahmar:

    Born in 1982, Ismahane Lahmar spent his childhood in Tunisia, and then he moved to France where he studied Economics. Lahmar discovered his passion for filmmaking industry at later stages and now he's boasting a record of 4 contributions; namely Mon 14, Enti Essout, Get Married and Rainbow.



  • Killing Auntie
    Short Fiction Competition ‎
    Director: Mateusz Glowacki
    Synopsis: Based on the unfinished novella of the same name by Andrzej Bursa, the film is about Jurek, 23 years old, who is tired of the stifling stability and security provided by his aunt. He decides to change his fate and quite her incessant jabbering using a hammer.
    Read More

    Killing Auntie
    Short Fiction Competition
    Director: Mateusz Glowacki

    synopsis:
    Based on the unfinished novella of the same name by Andrzej Bursa, the film is about Jurek, 23 years old, who is tired of the stifling stability and security provided by his aunt. He decides to change his fate and quite her incessant jabbering using a hammer.

    Country of Production: Poland

    Year of Production:2013

    Duration: 30 minutes

    Production House: Radio and TV Faculty of Silesian University

    Contact: katarzyna@kff.com.pl
    zofia@kff.com.pl

    About Mateusz Glowacki:

    Born in 1982, Poland, Mateusz Głowacki studied Film Directing at Radio and Television Department of Silesia University. Author of over a dozen of short films, including: “Richard” (2011), “When the Lights of Dawn Arise” (2012) and “Survey about Women” (2012).



  • Little Secret
    Short Fiction Competition ‎
    Director: Martin Krejci
    Synopsis: As the consequences begin to snowbell, a 15-year-old boy innocently tells a lie which makes him live a complicated inner struggle. Unlikely, the more he moves on with his lie, the harder it is to back out of the lie and tell the truth.
    Read More

    Little Secret
    Short Fiction Competition
    Director: Martin Krejci

    synopsis:
    As the consequences begin to snowbell, a 15-year-old boy innocently tells a lie which makes him live a complicated inner struggle. Unlikely, the more he moves on with his lie, the harder it is to back out of the lie and tell the truth.

    Country of Production: Czech Republic

    Year of Production:2013

    Duration: 20 minutes

    Production House: Stink Ltd

    Contact: info@filmcenter.cz
    daniel@stink.tv

    About Martin Krejci:

    Martin Krejci is a Czech director who was born in 1978, and graduated from Film and TV School at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. His creativity in films like Fricasee won him critical acclaim on the International Festival circuit, and was officially selected for Cannes, Rotterdam and Toronto film festivals.



  • More Than Two Hours
    Short Fiction Competition ‎
    Director: Ali Asgari
    Synopsis: Set in Iran, a young couple spends the night looking for a hospital at 03:00 am to find a treatment for the girl who has been bleeding for more than two hours. Being unmarried, they are brutally mistreated and the girl never receives the medical treatment she needs.
    Read More

    More Than Two Hours
    Short Fiction Competition
    Director: Ali Asgari

    synopsis:
    Set in Iran, a young couple spends the night looking for a hospital at 03:00 am to find a treatment for the girl who has been bleeding for more than two hours. Being unmarried, they are brutally mistreated and the girl never receives the medical treatment she needs.

    Country of Production: Iran

    Year of Production: 2013

    Duration: 15 mins

    Production House: Sasan Salour

    Contact: aliasgari1982@gmail.com

    About Ali Asgari:

    Ali Asgari was born in 1982 in Tehran, Iran. Following his graduation from Rome Tre University, Italy, he began his career as an assistant director. Asgari’s shorts were screened and awarded at numerous film festivals around the world. His More Than Two Hours was nominated for Palme d’Or at Cannes 2013.



  • PRIDE
    Short Fiction Competition ‎
    Director: Pavel Vesnakov
    Synopsis: Manol, a retired grandfather, is a patriarch of firm morals which he has always upheld in his household. It was suddenly revealed that the boy he's raised is gay. The life choices of his loved ones challenge his values in a battle he has lost already.
    Read More

    PRIDE
    Short Fiction Competition
    Director: Pavel Vesnakov

    synopsis:
    Manol, a retired grandfather, is a patriarch of firm morals which he has always upheld in his household. It was suddenly revealed that the boy he's raised is gay. The life choices of his loved ones challenge his values in a battle he has lost already.

    Country of production: Germany

    Year of Production: 2013

    Duration: 30 minutes

    Production House: Weyland Sebastian, Rainova Vanya

    Contact: sw@directorsdarling.com

    About Pavel Vesnakov:

    Pavel Vesnakov is an award winning Bulgarian director who was born in 1987. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Visual Arts and a Master's Degree in Film Arts from the New Bulgarian University. He is known for his highly realistic and provocative works including; Trains, The Paraffin Prince, and Pride.



  • Rest in Peace
    Short Fiction Competition ‎
    Director: Dina Abd Elsalam
    Synopsis: Trying to pass the night together after one of them has just lost her husband; two sisters spend their night praying and listening to Quranic recitals. Seeming slow-paced at the beginning, the night then takes an unexpected turn.
    Read More

    Rest in Peace
    Short Fiction Competition
    Director: Dina Abd Elsalam

    synopsis:
    Trying to pass the night together after one of them has just lost her husband; two sisters spend their night praying and listening to Quranic recitals. Seeming slow-paced at the beginning, the night then takes an unexpected turn.

    Country of production: Egypt

    Year of Production: 2013

    Duration: 16 minutes

    Production House: Bibliotheca Alexandrina

    Contact: dinasalam2000@gmail.com

    About Dina Abd Elsalam:

    Born in Alexandria, Egypt, Dina Abd Elsalam holds a Master's degree in English Literature and earned her Ph.D. in 2010. She made her film debut This is Not a Pipe in 2010 which was granted the Arab Women Filmmakers award from Baghdad International Film Festival in 2011.



  • SPEECHLESS
    Short Fiction Competition ‎
    Director: Miguel Parra
    Synopsis: Lola is somehow satisfied with her job as a telemarketing phone operator for a financial institution, although she suffers through the daily pressures. One day, while she plays her role to remind her contacts of their due payments, she is surprisingly left “Speechless”.
    Read More

    SPEECHLESS
    Short Fiction Competition
    Director: Miguel Parra

    synopsis:
    Lola is somehow satisfied with her job as a telemarketing phone operator for a financial institution, although she suffers through the daily pressures. One day, while she plays her role to remind her contacts of their due payments, she is surprisingly left “Speechless”.

    Country of production: Spain

    Year of Production: 2013

    Duration: 10 minutes

    Production House: Miguel Parra

    Contact: info@playtimeaudiovisuales.com

    About Miguel Parra:

    Born in Madrid in 1967, Miguel Parra started as a technician in Canal+ in Spain, and then he developed his TV career to be involved in almost all the broadcasting of the Academy Award through Canal +; which provided him with a deep knowledge of the film industry in Hollywood.



  • That Afternoon We Went to See the Pandas
    Short Fiction Competition ‎
    Director: Yue Weng Pok
    Synopsis: Failing to realize their long-awaited dream to move into Singapore, a young Chinese couple decides to have some fun time, seeing the pandas.
    Read More

    That Afternoon We Went to See the Pandas
    Short Fiction Competition
    Director: Yue Weng Pok

    synopsis:
    Failing to realize their long-awaited dream to move into Singapore, a young Chinese couple decides to have some fun time, seeing the pandas.

    Country of production: Singapore

    Year of Production: 2013

    Duration: 22 minutes

    Production House: The Creative Room

    Contact: awric@yahoo.com

    About Yue Weng Pok:

    Pok is an experienced cameraman and cinematographer. He has been involved in many major film productions in Singapore and Hong Kong for more than a decade where developed a keen eye for beautiful and interesting visuals. Among his short animations are SuperDONG and Tattoo Wars which have received several awards at international film festivals.



  • The Cave
    Short Fiction Competition ‎
    Director: Ahmed Ghoneimy
    Synopsis: Tired of the limited opportunities in his city, Adham travels from Alexandria to Cairo to pursue his musical career and rebound with his old friend, Amr, a member of his former band, who has transformed keeping up with the ever-evolving Cairo.
    Read More

    The Cave
    Short Fiction Competition
    Director: Ahmed Ghoneimy

    synopsis:
    Tired of the limited opportunities in his city, Adham travels from Alexandria to Cairo to pursue his musical career and rebound with his old friend, Amr, a member of his former band, who has transformed keeping up with the ever-evolving Cairo.

    Country of production: Egypt

    Year of Production: 2013

    Duration: 23 minutes

    Production House: Zero Production

    Contact: steven@bigworld.co.za
    Ghoneimy.a@gmail.com

    About Ahmed Ghoneimy:

    Based in Alexandria, Ahmed Ghoneimy majored in Expressive Arts at the Faculty of Fine Arts in 2009. Ghoneimy’s second short film, Bahari, won the Hamburg Short Film Award whereas his third directorial effort, The Cave, had its European premiere at the Rotterdam Film Festival in 2014.



  • TheHunger
    Short Fiction Competition ‎
    Director: Benoit De Clerck
    Synopsis: Set in 1963, three boys go out and play in the dunes. Their game is disrupted when one of them makes a discovery that will permanently alter his life and can only be remembered in secrecy.
    Read More

    The Hunger
    Short Fiction Competition
    Director: Benoit De Clerck

    synopsis:
    Set in 1963, three boys go out and play in the dunes. Their game is disrupted when one of them makes a discovery that will permanently alter his life and can only be remembered in secrecy.

    Country of production: Belgium

    Year of Production: 2013

    Duration: 16 minutes

    Production House: Ciné Cri de Coeur

    Contact: loes@cridecoeur.be

    About Benoit De Clerck :





  • Maradona by Kusturica
    Soccer Games Competition ‎
    Director: Emir Kusturica
    Synopsis: A very passionate documentary depicting the controversial life story of the legendary Argentinean soccer star Maradona,
    Read More

    Maradona by Kusturica
    Soccer Games Competition
    Director: Emir Kusturica

    synopsis:
    A very passionate documentary depicting the controversial life story of the legendary Argentinean soccer star Maradona, highlighting the most memorable events for him inside and outside pitches. The film premiered in Cannes Film Festival 2008.

    Country of Production: Spain/ France

    Year of Production: 2008

    House of Production:Pentagrama Films
    Telecinco Cinema
    Wild Bunch
    Fidélité Productions

    About Emir Kusturica:

    Graduated in Film Directing at the Academy of Performing Arts, Kusturica is a remarkable Serbian Filmmaker born in Prague in 1954. He received several awards for his highly appraised works; including Guernica (1978), Arizona Dream (1992), Super 8 Stories (2001), and Zivot Je Cudo (2004).



  • Puskas Hungary
    Soccer Games Competition ‎
    Director: Tamás Almási
    Synopsis: From a humble kid coming from Kispest, to the brightest football star in the world; this documentary traces the terrific journey of the legendary player,
    Read More

    Puskas Hungary
    Soccer Games Competition
    Director: Tamás Almási

    synopsis:
    From a humble kid coming from Kispest, to the brightest football star in the world; this documentary traces the terrific journey of the legendary player, Ferenc Puskás, who, for the Hungarians, is regarded the pride of the nation who brought fame to his little country.

    Country of Production: Hungary

    Year of Production: 2009

    House of Production: Filmplus
    Next Station Productions

    About Tamás Almási:

    Graduated from Academy of Film and Theatre of Budapest in 1979, Tamás Almási is one of the most well known Hungarian documentary filmmakers. He started his career as a feature film director, then he turned to documentaries; receiving several national and international awards.



  • The Two Escobars
    Soccer Games Competition ‎
    Director: Jeff Zimbalist & Michael Zimbalist
    Synopsis: A breathtaking intersection of sports, crime, and politics through the story of Pablo Escobar, who was the most powerful drug kingpin in the world
    Read More

    The Two Escobars
    Soccer Games Competition
    Director: Jeff Zimbalist & Michael Zimbalist

    synopsis:
    A breathtaking intersection of sports, crime, and politics through the story of Pablo Escobar, who was the most powerful drug kingpin in the world; and Andres Escobar who, was the biggest soccer star in Colombia. Both men were not related, but their fates were inextricably - and fatally - intertwined.

    Country of Production: Colombia

    Year of Production: 2010

    House of Production: All Rise Films

    About Jeff Zimbalist

    Born in Massachusetts in 1978, Jeff is a promising American Filmmaker who created several acclaimed feature films; including The Two Escobars (2010), Bollywood: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told (2011), and Favela Rising (2005) for which he won an award at the 2005 Tribeca Film Festival.

    About Michael Zimbalist

    Michael Zimbalist is an American Producer and Director who has several contributions to the filmmaking industry together with his brother Jeff Zimbalist. He is best known for Favela Rising (2005), The Two Escobars (2010) and 30 for 30 (2009).



  • Arej – Scent of a Revolution
    Panorama Of The Egyptian Documentary Film ‎
    Director: Viola Shafik
    Synopsis: Four unconnected strands of four young men recount their experiences in Egpyt. Two of them try to reconstruct the story of their hometown, Luxor
    Read More

    Arej – Scent of a Revolution
    Panorama Of The Egyptian Documentary Film ‎
    Director: Viola Shafik

    synopsis:
    Four unconnected strands of four young men recount their experiences in Egpyt. Two of them try to reconstruct the story of their hometown, Luxor; another is comparing the 1952 Revolution with the January Revolution, past and present, while the last of them has successfully constructed a space of virtual Tahrir Square where she invites a Salafi woman to visit it.

    Country of production: Egypt

    Year of Production: 2013

    Duration: 70 minutes

    Production House: Viola Shafik Production

    Co-produced by: Ihab Ayoub

    About Viola Shafik:

    Viola Shafik is an independent Egyptian-German filmmaker, Film Scholar and Film Curator based in Cairo and Berlin. She is the author of Arab Cinema: History and Cultural Identity and director of several documentaries. Currently, she is the Head of Studies of the Documentary Campus MENA Program.



  • Crop
    Panorama Of The Egyptian Documentary Film ‎
    Director: Johanna Domke & Marouan Omara
    Synopsis: The film analyzes the role of images in the Egyptian Revolution by putting images of Egypt’s political leaders into historical perspective
    Read More

    Crop
    Panorama Of The Egyptian Documentary Film ‎
    Director: Johanna Domke & Marouan Omara

    synopsis:
    The film analyzes the role of images in the Egyptian Revolution by putting images of Egypt’s political leaders into historical perspective. The film reveals how the notion of image ‘framing’ has been utilized by state-controlled media up until the present day.

    Country of production: Egypt

    Year of Production: 2012/2013

    Duration: 47 minutes

    Production House: Johanna Domke

    About Johanna Domke:

    Born in Germany, Johanna Domke is a Visual Artist and Filmmaker who studied Fine Arts in Denmark and also in Sweden. Johanna’s work is a cross-over between art and cinema. She received much attention in international exhibitions and film festivals.



    About Marouan Omara:

    Born in Egypt, Marouan Omara is a Director who is engaged in film, video and photography. His films have been shown in major international film festivals. He holds a BA from the Faculty of Applied Arts.



  • The Square
    Panorama Of The Egyptian Documentary Film ‎
    Director: Jehane Noujaim
    Synopsis: The film narrates the continuous struggle of the Egyptian revolution, starting from Tahrir sit-ins leading to the ouster of Hosni Mubarak
    Read More

    The Square
    Panorama Of The Egyptian Documentary Film ‎
    Director: Jehane Noujaim

    synopsis:
    The film narrates the continuous struggle of the Egyptian revolution, starting from Tahrir sit-ins leading to the ouster of Hosni Mubarak, to people’s struggle against the SCAF rule which was much stronger and more violent than the deposed president, Morsi’s rule.

    Country of Production: Egypt/ USA

    Production year: 2013

    Duration: 95 minutes

    House of Production: Karim Amer

    Contact: info@noujaimfilms.com

    About Jehane Noujaim:

    Born in Washington in 1974, Jehane Noujaim is an American-Egyptian Director, who was raised in Egypt and Kuwait, then she moved to Boston in 1990. She studied in Milton Academy and graduated from Harvard University. Besides working as a photographer in various documentaries, Noujaim directed her own documentary films including; Control Room and The Square which won numerous awards in international film festivals, beside an Academy nomination for Best Documentary film Award.



  • The Eight Wonder
    Special screenings Competition
    Director: John Feeney
    Synopsis: Among the unique works of documentation in the history of Egyptian fine arts, is the set of paintings done by Bicar for "The Eighth Wonder", a documentary narrating the tale of the Ramses II
    Read More

    The Eight Wonder
    Special screenings Competition
    Director: John Feeney

    synopsis:
    Among the unique works of documentation in the history of Egyptian fine arts, is the set of paintings done by Bicar for "The Eighth Wonder", a documentary narrating the tale of the Ramses II temple in Abu Simbel in southern Egypt. Following the construction of the high damn, it was discovered that Nubia and its antiquities were facing the threat of flooding. Dr. Tharwat Okasha the then Egyptian culture minister, spearheaded a worldwide campaign to rescue the Nubia antiquites to which the UNESCO responded positively. Among the salvaged antiquities were the Ramses II Temple in Abu Simbel which was moved to a mountain beyond water level.

    Cutting the monument into slabs, to be raised by giant cranes and transported by huge tractors to the new site, was an unprecedented architectural process. Canadian director john Patrick feeney shot the stages of the temple relocation. But he discovered that his documentary was lacking information and illustrations on the history of building the monument. There was need for information covering 3500 years since Ramses II commissioned the construction of the temple to immortalize his era and deeds.

    Bicar drew illustrations depending on historical and geometrical information provided on this grand architectural structure. It took him more than two years to complete those works during which he visisted Nubia and Thebes. He moved between the two towns on a Nile boat.

    Abu Simbel is the only Egyptian temple hewn out of mountain rocks. Like wise, the sphinx is the only statue carved from a solid rock. So the Ramses II temple in Nubia is more akin to the hewn statue that to architecture. This makes it of an artistic and historical value far higher than the rest of the ancient Egyptian antiquities.

    The film sequence provides an impressive picture of civilization which is a source of pride for Egypt. Depending on drawings on papyri, the first steps of design were initiated, through which we got a glimpse of architects and scientists, their costumes and workplaces. Inside the palace hall, we see the king, his wife Nefertari and entourage celebrate the start of work, dancers sway to music. The scene is then shifted to the mountain whose rocks will be immortalized. We see the dawn and the sun rises to symbolize the beginning of work on the pristine rocks, workers engrave the façade of the temple and make it a smooth surface on which the camera takes the viewer to follow four statues of Ramses II in black, later colored in red to conform with the artistic rules followed by pharaohs in stone engravings. The film traces the temple being hewn out of the rocks and artists' paintings on its walls; it reaches the climax at the inauguration ceremony where tunes of tambourines and drums fill the air. The sun rises and the magnificent king basks in the sacred moment for which he has built the temple. The holy of holies is bathed in the light of the rising sun. The screen is overwhelmed in sunshine for the first time and we see in the clear lights the beauty of colors and the brightness as though the smell of their paint is still wafting around.

    Then we are taken to see the temple with its yellow rocky colors covered in waves of sand as some European tourists look at the great monument in awe.

    Bicar's works, commissioned for the documentary demonstrate mastery of his art and craft. Like the ancient Egyptian architect, Bicar shows brilliance and precision. It is a great work of creativity. By drawing on imagination and consulting books of history. He has breathed life back into a full era of ancient history. Thus, the era appears vibrant with hundreds of fine details. Reference: "BIKAR." A book by Sobhy EL Sharouny (2002). BIKAR. Dar el Shorouk.

    Dr. Tharwt Okasha, ex minister for culture and founder of the Academy of Arts, commented on the loss of the Eighth Wonder 2002:

    " ... I never forget the day I assigned to Canadian filmmaker John Feeney the task of a documentary film to be called " The Eighth Wonder ". It took Feeney, four years of preparation. He painstakingly researched every detail of the historical building of the temples of Abu Simbel. The acclaimed Hussein Bicar, one of Egypt's foremost painters painted the plates for the film having been entrusted with recording the stages of construction of the original temples, which remain the pride of human civilization, together they brought to life the daily labor of bringing to life this monument of ancient architectural genius. This film has disappeared from the face of the earth in a mysterious way and no trace of it is found , but Bicar's paintings remain as an immortal artistic record of the saving of the temples of Abu Semble , as Michelangelo's creation epic on the roof of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican

    The film was produced under the supervision of the Director of the Egyptian Center for Documentary Film, Hassan Fouad. And the historical material was prepared by Dr. Shehata Adam

    The film script was a collaborative effort between Bicar and John feeney. The music score was composed by an Italian musician, inspired by Pharoanic tunes which Bicar performed on the Mandolin. The commentary of the film was in English and Arabic and was produced in cinema laboratories in Rome for showing in movie theaters in Egypt and in Egyptian cultural centers abroad. It was shown in the Berlin festival for documentary films in 1973. A copy of the film was dedicated by directorJohn Feeney to The New Zealand Film Archive before passing away in 2006.

    The Eight Wonder

    Director: John Feeney

    Country of Production: Egypt

    Year of production:

    Duration: 13 minutes



  • About The Resistance (Work In Progress)
    Special screenings Competition
    Director: El Tornillo de Klaus (Alicia V Palacios Thomas and Pablo Cristóbal)
    Synopsis: A group of young people called the “Guarimberos” devote themselves to the rehabilitation of the only movie theater in Amantea, a small town in southern Italy.
    Read More

    About The Resistance (Work In Progress)
    Special screenings Competition
    Director: El Tornillo de Klaus (Alicia V Palacios Thomas and Pablo Cristóbal)

    synopsis:
    A group of young people called the “Guarimberos” devote themselves to the rehabilitation of the only movie theater in Amantea, a small town in southern Italy.

    Duration: 50 minutes

    Year of Production:

    Country of Production: Italy

    About the director (s):

    El Tornillo de Klaus is Spanish filmmaking duo of Alicia V Palacios Thomas and Pablo Cristóbal. They are specialized in short fictions, documentaries, and literacy in Spanish cinema. Since 2013, they have been working as programmers at La Guarimba International Film Festival held in Southern Italy.

    About the Producer:

    Born in Italy and Raised in Venezuela, Giulio Vita is now the Artistic Director of La Guarimba International Film Festival.



  • The Place I call Home
    Special screenings Competition
    Director: Tamer Ezzat
    Synopsis: The film tells the story of 4 Egyptians dreaming of immigration. Mariam wishes to immigrate to Canada; Hams is looking for a place where she can find her true self
    Read More

    The Place I call Home
    Special screenings Competition
    Director: Tamer Ezzat
    Script writer: Nadine Shams

    synopsis:
    The film tells the story of 4 Egyptians dreaming of immigration. Mariam wishes to immigrate to Canada; Hams is looking for a place where she can find her true self; Moataz complains about not having the most basic needs of life; and Sebai strongly believes that he can never be a successful singer in Egypt.

    Country of Production: Egypt

    Year of production: 2006

    Duration: 61 minutes

    About Nadine Shams

    Born in 1972, Nadine Shams is a Scriptwriter and Author who graduated from the High Cinema Institute. She wrote various novels and short stories, but she is best known for “Eldakhel wal Khareg”. In 2009, she scripted several feature films and TV series including “Qanon El Maraghi” (2009) and “Ehna Etkabelna Abl Kida” (2008). She also co-wrote the highly successful TV series “Moga Harra” aired in 2013. After surgical complications, Nadine passed away on March 22nd, 2014, at the age of 41.

    About the Tamer Ezzat:

    Ezzat is an Egyptian Filmmaker who studied Directing in New York Academy of Arts and also Digital Visual Effects. He worked as a Film Editor in “The City” (1999) and “The Traveler” (2010). He directed the documentary “Everything Will Be Alright” and “The place I call Home” (2006). He also co-directed “Tahrir 2011: The Good, the Bad, and the Politician”.



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