Icbook of projects 2010

Interchange Programme

with the support of Filmmaking can be a place where stories still explore Seven years ago the Dubai International Film the infinity of possible worlds and experiences. This Festival was launched with the mission to celebrate exploration takes time and faith that it will not be in excellence in cinema, using it as a medium vain. Phases of solitude, and maybe even loneliness, to promote open dialogue between cultures can alternate with phases of intense collaboration. and nations; to nurture and develop local and We tell ourselves our stories, we share them and international talent; and to accelerate and foster the see them become through this process. Being able growth of the industry. to nurture ideas, in the working together with other filmmakers, story editors, creative producers can The Interchange programme speaks directly to this help to bear the weight of the whole process, and intention. bring it to a gratifying conclusion. In creating Interchange the Festival has developed TorinoFilmLab was born in April 2008 with a relationships with two leading training providers in precise aim: linking training, development and Europe - TorinoFilmLab and EAVE - and with support TorinoFilmLab funding activities. We want to support filmmakers from the MEDIA Mundus has opened up new from all over the world at their first or second opportunities for filmmakers from the Gulf region Interchange feature, following them, as far as possible, from the and selected countries in the Middle East to benefit beginning to the end of their path. This process from this rich source of experience. Programme needs a vision that has to be shared, first of all, with the Institutions that support all activities: Ministero Filmmaking is an international business and per i Beni e le Attività Culturali, Regione Piemonte, filmmakers need to acquire the skills to be able Città di Torino, the EU MEDIA Programme and to interact in this environment to raise finance MEDIA International. We want to thank them for and to reach out to audiences around the world. believing that TorinoFilmLab can, in time, help Interchange provides a forum for filmmakers from develop the Italian and European audiovisual Industry Europe and the Arab region to come together to through a close interaction with the rest of the exchange ideas, experiences and expertise to help world. each other explore new opportunities in these markets under the guidance of highly experienced Interchange is the first Programme that Torinofilmlab teachers and industry professionals. has designed together with the Dubai International Film Festival and EAVE, specifically dedicated to One of the greatest assets the participants will linking the European and the Arab filmmaking take with them after the course is finished is the worlds. We want to thank our partners, because network of international contacts and friends they they have made our working experience not only will establish during the programme - and the open extremely productive, but also gratifying and fun! dialogue that will continue into the future and result in new collaborations.

Savina Neirotti, TorinoFilmLab Director Jane Williams Dubai Film Connection & Film Forum Director Ic Index

8 Tutors Projects 12 Nostalgia - Zaid Abu Hamdan 16 A Personal Obligation - Haifaa Al Mansour 20 Khsara - Suha Araj 24 Heaven Sent - Wissam Charaf 28 Beirut, I Love You - Zena el Khalil & Gigi Roccati 32 Kawthar - Samer Ghorayeb & Firas Khnaisser 36 Smile! You’re in Jeddah - Ahd Kamel 40 Habibi99 - Mousaed Khaled 44 A Gaza Weekend - Basil Khalil 48 A Plane For My Soul - Maythem Ridha 52 This War On Love - Hind Shoufani

56 Staff Tutors Roshanak Jacques Akchoti - France Behesht Nedjad - Germany Antoine Le Bos - France Gino Ventriglia - Italy scriptwriter producer scriptwriter & story editor scriptwriter & story editor

After his studies at NYU Filmschool, Jacques Akchoti Roshanak began working in the film-industry Antoine Le Bos is a French screenwriter and Born in Naples, 1954, he works as a script worked in different areas of film production with as a festival coordinator and production manager. script-consultant, with more than 25 feature scripts consultant for cinema and television production directors such as R. Bresson, JJ. Beineix, L. Von Trier. delivered under contract as a writer or co-writer, companies (Rai Cinema, Lumiere, Studio Canal In 1999 she started her company Flying Moon, and the experience of over a hundred feature Urania, Tao2, Cattleya, Sintra, Eagle Pictures, He then became a screenwriter and script together with Helge Albers and Konstantin projects followed as a consultant. Grundy, Filmmaster, IDF, Istituto Luce, Italian consultant, and headed the development of many Kröning. Since then they have been producing International Films, Bavaria). French and international films for cinema and audience-oriented films (feature films as well as After a first life as a sailor and an interrupted PhD television that obtained selections and awards at documentaries) with an edge and a strong focus in Philosophy at the Sorbonne, he graduated from For cinema, he co-wrote three movies. major film festivals. Most recently, A Screaming Man on international co- productions, with partners the CEEA in Paris (the French Conservatoire for For television, he wrote and developed a number by Haroun Mahamat Saleh, Jury Prize at the 2010 from countries like Ireland, UK, Turkey, Iran and Filmwriting) in 1996. After directing short films and of tv movies, tv series and long series. Cannes Film Festival. many others. on-stage experiments - theater, contemporary opera in Paris and Prague, he co-created the 3D He teaches drama theories (Corso Rai-Script, He directed a feature film for television and has Films by Flying Moon were screened successfully animation series Ratz, shown in more than 20 Scuola Holden, Centro Sperimentale di written several screenplays. His latest script, Don’t at festivals and sold around the world, among them countries, and created the ciné-écritures workshops Cinematografia). Look back, a film by Marina De Van featuring Sophie are award-winning projects like Havanna in Amor - in Paris in 2002. Soon he discovered a deep taste Marceau and Monica Bellucci was part of the German National Film. for dramaturgy. He then worked as a consultant He edited the books Three uses of the knife - Official Selection of the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. for the Moulin d’Andé (CECI, France), tutoring their theoretical writings by David Mamet, Dancer in the 2005, 2006 and 2007 rewriting sessions, as well as Dark by Lars Von Trier, and Alternative Scriptwriting Jacques has been teaching writing and directing at European short Pitch 2007 to 2010 sessions, and by Ken Dancyger and Jeff Rush. Since 1994 he has the Femis (National French Filmschool) since 1988 teaches screenwriting at Brest University. been a member of the editorial staff of the quarterly and has facilitated many international screenwriting He won the Gan Foundation Prize as a writer in magazine Script. and development workshops, among which EAVE, 2005, and works with among others the Afghan Sud Ecriture, DV8 films, Vision Cinema, Ekran, director and Prix Goncourt winner Atiq Rahimi. He got a Fulbright Fellowship and achieved Interchange, etc. a double Master of Fine Arts in Directing and Since 2007, he has been Artistic Director of Le Screenwriting at the USC - University of Southern Groupe Ouest, European center for film creation California in Los Angeles. in Britanny (France), and he recently co-created the Cross Channel Film Lab between France and Great Britain. He’s been a tutor for Script&Pitch Workshops and TorinoFilmLab since 2007, as well as for Interchange in 2009 and 2010.

8 9 Tutors

Sibylle Kurz - Germany pitching expert

With an academic background in media & communication science, psychology, sociology, Sibylle Kurz set up her own consulting company in 1995 as a Pitching & Communication Skills Trainer. Ic Her experience in “The Art of Pitching” results from more than 15 years’ experience in acquisition, distribution and co-production of theatrical, video and TV films for an independent company in the German-speaking market. Interchange

Focus of her work is intensive pitching training, Programme project & personal presentation, proposal development for people working in “arts, media & culture”. The workshops and personal coachings enable creatively working talents to hone and time-tune their projects prior to pitching as well as to gain insight into their own professional practice.

She works all over Europe and further abroad for the following group of clients: Producers, Writers, Filmschools+Institutes, Publishers, Artists, Composers, ...basically all creatively working people with strong ideas to be brought to life! She has published numerous articles and books about her main subject: e.g. Pitch it! Die Kunst Filmprojekte erfolgreich zu verkaufen (2000, 2008); Low-Budget-Filme. Marketing und Vertrieb optimieren (2006) – both UVK Verlag Konstanz. She is a member of EDN-European Documentary Network, DK.

10 11 script & intention

Being a man growing up in the 80s and 90s in the Middle East, one of 4 brothers and having no sisters in my family, I always wondered. What if we were 4 girls living under the same conditions? Would my Ic 3 brothers be as happy as they are? Would my parents still be happy about me being a film director in Hollywood at 28, or is a married daughter with children more appropriate at this age?

“Tradition” & “freedom”, how are these terms defined in the Middle East? Despite all revolutions of the world to overcome tradition, a part of us still wants to stick to tradition; a part of us indeed feels safer with it; while a part of us still yearns for freedom. In general, women Zaid Abu Hamdan in the Arab world have gained more freedom & independence within writer & director their cultures. After the sisters in Nostalgia were no longer under “old- school” domestic authorities, freeing themselves from what tradition Born and raised in Jordan. Actor dictates as “good & bad”, they changed. Yet, how significant was that from age 5 and dazzled by the change? Are traditions completely non-existent in their new lives? magic of storytelling, quote: “Sinbad & Superman are still In Nostalgia, I intend to tell my story using a realistic family, the Middle- my heroes!” Holder of a BA Eastern stubborn and always worried “father of the girls”, including from the Lebanese American the pressure that comes with it and dissolves with age! Through many University/ Beirut, majoring in clashes, the sisters express their strengths, fears, hopes and talk about Film-TV and Theatre (2005), Nostalgia men, sexuality and love, all as products of tradition. I want to explore and an MFA in Filmmaking from Zaid Abu Hamdan how tradition is reflected onto their behaviours and decisions, and the New York Film Academy, thus onto ours, regardless of how “liberal” we might think we are. Hollywood (2010). Jordan / UAE As the plot of the story will be driven by the effect of tradition and culture on shaping the sisters characters’, what this effect made of Zaid travelled internationally them will mainly instigate the comedy of 4 completely opposing and working as an Assistant Director, overcharged Middle-Eastern characters, meeting again at the base of Line producer and TV reporter. synopsis their traditions. He produced International Red Cross campaigns and worked as Hani, a 75-year-old blind widower runs an antique bookshop in old A blind man, four I aim to continue writing a screenplay that is organic and reflects to first Assistant Director/writer for Amman. Years taught him to identify every item in his shop by smell and the West our fun, simple and loving nature as Middle-Eastern people, the Jordanian version of Sesame touch. Out of his 4 daughters, only the eldest and unmarried, Zainab, fanatic daughters, by tackling serious issues in a stylishly comedy context. Yet at the same Street. In 2006, Zaid landed stays behind dedicating her life to him. Zainab is a secret writer awaiting time, a film that will be a mirror for us to take a moment and think… a Continuity Producer/Script a big break to change her life. One day, Zainab is granted a scholarship and a hundred books how did tradition shape my life? How did my tradition affect my sister, copywriter job for MBC Action, in Europe, but before opting to move on, Hani disappears! As her dream daughter or even my neighbour’s life? part of the lead pan-Arab TV vanishes again she calls her sisters in, to find their father, urgently. to unite them... network, Middle-East Broadcast Centre. In 2009-2010, Zaid’s After years, the sisters reunite again, yet only physically. They grew into short film Baram & Hamza won complete opposites, a prefect formula for disaster. Cold Rihab, fiery several awards at international Ruba, stubborn Lama and frantic Zainab are now trying to team up again. film festivals and he is currently Yet, bickering and throwing blame at each other was their only common completing his new short film ground! Love…Older, shot in Los Angeles and Beirut. Also, Zaid’s short film Countless fights pass until they suddenly discover a way to find their Bahiya…& Mahmoud is officially old man, by going back to look at his old books! With their problems selected for the Arab Muhr unresolved, the sisters run after each clue, until they find their old man at competition at DIFF 2010. the same time, on a hilltop, waiting! With no further blame or apologies, Hani tells his daughters a story, making them feel blinder than he is. They In May 2010, Zaid’s first feature reconcile with a smile then rush to catch Zainab’s flight to Europe! Nostalgia was selected for development by TorinoFilmLab, DIFF and EAVE.

12 13 budget & financing distribution & sales production notes

Zaha Productions was established in Amman, Arab women have gained independence within production company Jordan in 2009, focusing on fiction projects for film their families and cultures, but what does this Zaha Productions and television. mean? And what is the man’s role in this new and 7275 Franklin Ave, 404 complex world? Hollywood, CA 9USA Zaha Production’s archive contains internationally Nostalgia is a drama told in a comedy context. It T +1-323-600-3524 awarded short films like, Baram & Hamza that is the story of an Arab family, representing typical [email protected] won several awards like World Cinema Directing individuals in the region. Each character of this film, Award: Dramatic - Van Gogh Award - Amsterdam from the old stubborn Middle-Eastern father to co-producer Film Festival. In addition, Baram & Hamza was his daughters, age 29 to 42, will appeal to a large Zaha Productions nominated at several international film festivals and demographic in our audience. I believe that the Abu Dhabi, Mohammed Bin Zayed city is still in circulation around the world. Zaha is in its director’s choosing to use comedy moments will United Arab Emirates Heba Abu Musaed final stages of completing its new short film, Love… extenuate the impact of the film on our audience, T +971506629151 producer Older, which was shot in Los Angeles and Beirut who will be able to relate to the film as it reflects a [email protected] and has won an Award of Merit for its scirpt at the truth in the life of Middle-Easterners: the struggle Heba Abu Musaed is a Los Angeles Cinema Festival of Hollywood. between modernity and tradition. total production budget Palestinian-Jordanian Film/TV We are currently looking Producer and Director, born for associate producers in the in the United Arab Emirates. In Middle East to build a solid budget. 2002, she earned a Bachelors Degree in mass-communication, production status majoring in producing / script development directing for TV and radio, with Nostalgia philosophy. Zaid Abu Hamdan Between 2002 and 2007, Jordan / UAE she worked as an Assistant Producer for the current Affairs department at Al Arabyia News channel. In 2007, she moved to Zaha Productions have so far built very successful We believe that Arab cinema is evolving not only in the Creative Services department relations not only with well-established media the world but also domestically, due to the great at MBC, as an Associate production-service providers but also with interest from companies around the world that Producer for MBC1. In 2009, companies such as Animation Art (Dubai, UAE), are adopting indigenous projects, producing and she was hired as Programme/ Gamma Engineers (Dubai, UAE – Beirut, Lebanon) distributing a variety of films. Our understanding Drama Producer and Director for and Film Equipped (Dubai, UAE). for the world cinema industry ensures that the “Baynounah Media Group”, and elements of our film will attract our audience: the got her diploma in Filmmaking Nostalgia is our first feature film, and we intend to story, film style and most importantly the cast, to from New York Film Academy - produce it with partners from the Middle East and/ find the perfect actors who can improve the appeal Abu Dhabi. She wrote, produced, or Europe or the United States. Our plans are to of our project. and directed her first short film shoot our story in the Middle East. Nafaq. In June, Heba flew to Los In order to determine an effective budget, we Zaid is a promising and awarded director who has Angeles to serve as the Assistant are currently looking for co-producers and proven with his shorts that he is able to tell stories Director on the Baram & Hamza commercial investors in the Middle East. Production that not only relate to a domestic but also an to film and she decided to become logistics such as equipments, crew, film stock, international audience. Due to a growing interest one of the Executive Producers. processing and telecine have been determined in Middle Eastern authentic and social stories, In 2010 Heba produced the and agreements are pending due to the script especially with young and emerging directors, we short Love, Older. development phase. therefore believe that we are able to find a suitable While our company is young, our experience in distributor for our film. Heba is currently working the Arab world’s film industry is extensive, and we closely with Zaid Abu Hamdan can leverage our strong relationship with various as a producer to his first feature production companies for the success of Nostalgia, Nostalgia. by pooling various resources available to us in order to improve the production value of our film.

14 15 script & intention

A Personal Obligation, or Fard Ayan in Arabic, is the story of three idealistic young people who have come together in Afghanistan for very different reasons and motivations. Khalid, a young Saudi Jihadi, Ic has set off in search of a struggle, believing it is a personal obligation of his faith to fight against injustice for those who are able. Mariam, his obedient Saudi wife, has left the comfort of her middle class upbringing to follow her husband and contribute whatever efforts he asks of her. When Khalid is taken captive, she tries to free him by working with Brian, an American CIA agent who sees Afghanistan as the perfect playground for his imperialistic pursuits. Haifaa Al Mansour The film focuses on the many people of my generation who were writer & director enticed to sacrifice their lives to the romance of Jihadi stories in Afghanistan and Chechenya. Some of the volunteers from my Haifaa Al Mansour is the first hometown never came back. Many of them went on to shape the female filmmaker in Saudi twisted ideology of Al Qaeda and form many of the other militant Arabia. She studied comparative groups lead by Arab fighters. However, the vast majority of them literature at the American returned home with broken dreams and nowhere to go, led astray by a University in Cairo and faulty ideology, false hopes and misguided ideals. completed a Master degree in Film Studies from the As Mariam begins to experience life outside of her husband’s realm, University of Sydney under A Personal Obligation she transforms from a devoted, loving wife into an independent the Endeavour Award. Haifaa Al Mansour renegade. Her fears of challenging her ideologies break down as she emerges as a new woman. She has participated in multiple Saudi Arabia exchange programs through Conversely, the film explores the influence of Western adventurism various international institutions, in Afghanistan and the strange bedfellows that resulted from the including the US Department American and Saudi support of the mujahedeen during the Soviet- of State, Georgetown University synopsis Afghan War. The actions, motivations, and aspirations of the central and the Royal Library in characters of the film will serve as a reflection for the larger socio- Copenhagen. She began her film When Khalid, a young Saudi Jihadi is detained in the mountains of In 1980s political actions that lead Afghanistan into the tragic and devastating career with three shorts, Who?, Afghanistan in the 1980s by a tribe hostile to Arabs, his devoted wife, path it is on. Bereavement of the Fledgling, Mariam, vows to free him. She completes his dangerous assignment Afghanistan, and The Only Way Out, of delivering communiqués across Afghanistan to an Arab camp in the However, it is more of a human story than a political one, told in a followed by her award winning North. She hopes that they’ll help her get him back. Instead, they arrange the wife of a large part from the perspective of one of the many Arab women who documentary Women Without to marry her off. At the first opportunity she escapes the camp with Brian, joined their loved ones on their journey to the battlefield. Although the Shadows. a CIA agent training the Mujahideen. young Saudi Jihadi ideologies of their movement prevent them from being central figures is trapped in a in forging their destinies, many of them were fervent believers that Her film endeavours inspired a Her ideology and sense of self is transformed by the independence of they were a part of a larger, greater movement. The sad reality of their new movement of independent the journey across the vast war torn country. She meets Khalid as a new dangerous world broken lives has been swept over in the annals of history, but must be filmmaking in Saudi Arabia. woman and she finds herself disgusted by his radical views that once examined as a counter balance to the fabricated and glorified tales of Whether through her films, her captivated her. She is also angry that he feels dishonoured because she of war and twisted martyrdom that proliferate across the Arab world. talk show Women and More has come to him with a foreign man. Instead of the loving reunion she on LBC, or her weekly column longed for with Khalid, she ends up killing him before he can kill both her ideologies, but for Al Watan Newspaper, Haifaa and Brian in an act of revenge and a crime of honour. is famous for penetrating the decides to escape wall of silence surrounding Devastated and with nothing to look back on or hold on to, she it all. the sequestered lives of Saudi discovers an incredible inner strength. She decides to return home alone women and providing a platform to create a future of her own. for their unheard voices. Her first feature Wajda is currently in pre- production between Germany and Saudi Arabia.

16 17 budget & financing distribution & sales production notes

The budget will be around 2 million USD. I plan on working with a world sales company that original title can offer a minimum guarantee of being part of the Fard Ayan I would like to find a European production financing and taking the project to the international company to work with Middle Eastern financing market. Additionally, I would like to secure a pre- production company partners to create an international co-production. sale of the Middle East rights. The dialogue will also High Look Productions I believe it is important to bring in partners from be multi-language, primarily English and Arabic, P.O. Box 85277, Riyadh outside the region to complete the project. Not giving it additional cross-over potential. 11691, Saudi Arabia only because they bring in a technical and creative T +966 (1) 472 1121 talent, but also because I believe that the themes As stated previously, the spirit of the film focuses F +966 (1) 474 7196 of Western and Eastern influence coming together on diverging perspectives, and I hope that it will www.highlook.com in a foreign landscape are best explored by a team be accessible to audiences around the world. [email protected] Brad Niemann Amr Al Kahtani made up of members from both regions. Without accusation or condemnation, I would like co-writer producer audiences from all walks of life to see in it a chance I believe that both perspectives are important and to explore their own experiences with the tragic total production budget Brad Niemann, originally from Amr Al Kahtani has owned and want to create authentic representations of each. loss of youth to broken ideologies. $ 2,000,000 San Clemente, California, has operated the High Look Group worked in Public Relations and Production Company for over production status Cultural Development projects ten years. The High Look Group currently in development. across the Middle East, including has produced programmes for I would like to structure Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. several well-known international finance as an international clients, including BBC, LBC, MBC co-production between Europe He also worked for several and Al Jazeera Media Group. A Personal Obligation and the Middle East. Non-profit Organizations in the Haifaa Al Mansour Washington DC area, including He has produced over one the Arab American Institute hundred and fifty documentary Saudi Arabia and Council for International films, more than eighty Exchange of Scholars (CIESC). commercials, as well as several public service programs and talk He has a Masters degree in shows. He has also produced My first feature film Wajda, a coming of age story The experience of Mariam as one of countless International Relations from television series in the Saudi of a Saudi girl determined to express and young Saudis who were enticed through their Villanova University and is Kingdom and across the Gulf experience the joys of her childhood, is currently in youthful idealism into a deceitful and exploitive currently finishing a two-year region, including Akhwan wa pre-production. The film has been positioned well revolutionary movement is comparable to any program in Arabic language for Ahkwaty (Brothers and Sisters), in its development internationally. simple and personal loss of faith. work in Public Relations in the Imraah la toshbih Al Kamar Gulf region. (Women don’t look like the It is a co-production between Germany and Saudi It is a story for anyone who set out looking for moon), and Mako Fakah (No Arabia and filming is set to take place in Spring 2011. answers in a religious or political movement and Capitalizing on his knowledge Escape). found only empty platitudes and simplistic beliefs, of the Middle Eastern region, he or hateful rhetoric and angry slogans. But mostly is developing several projects He has been recognized by it is a story for anyone who followed a friend or exploring the theme of ‘clashing Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz for loved one off of the well travelled path looking for civilizations’ with his wife, Haifaa the training and supervision of a less ordinary life, only to find themselves lost and Al Mansour, as a co-writer on recent university graduates, the estranged, longing for the stability and tranquillity of her first feature film Wajda Ministry of Social Affairs for his the provincial lives they left behind. and second film A Personal work on the campaign against Obligation. He is also the artist of poverty, and Prince Sattam bin their graphic novel Marriage of Abdul Aziz for his work on a Civilizations. series focusing on the Quran.

18 19 script & intention

I am inspired by Mira Nair saying, “We must tell our own stories.” Growing up the Arab girl in a small town in Ohio led to many comic misunderstandings, but as I got older I came to appreciate living Ic between two cultures and attempting to do so without going crazy. I am among many who live on the edge of culture. Very few of us had it figured out, but the joy was in the journey to find the balance and where we fit in, or more accurately, did not fit in. Through the universal truths of these experiences I hope people can laugh and quite possibly understand one another. The tone of the film is intimate, colourful, and humorous, weaving the dichotomy of being American from an Arab standpoint and Arab from an American standpoint. This is a Suha Araj timeless story of a woman creating herself, tripping the whole way, but writer & director landing on her feet. Suha is often found overhearing, Khsara is a word in Arabic that simply means “too bad” or “what a watching, or telling a story. shame.” Culturally, it takes on a different meaning when referring to an As an artist and filmmaker unwed woman. Too bad, she is decent looking, educated, professional, she has focused on the from a good family. But if she is not married, she becomes a shame. displacement of immigrant Being an unwed Arab woman of a certain age inevitably leads to many communities. Her short film, questions and concerns. Non-Arab women seem to understand the I am Palestine screened at same phenomenon; women of any race or culture understand that festivals internationally and is Khsara society views them differently if they are single. The key characters in used as an educational tool. Suha Araj the story find modern sensibilities in both Palestine and the U.S. just as She served as a story advisor they find traditional beliefs. Each character experiences what it feels to the Sundance selection, Palestine / USA like to not fit in where she was born; the main character born in the SlingShot HipHop and produced U.S. and her cousin born in Palestine. Both women flounder between the short, Fruition. Installation Arab and American culture and eventually find the place that works (Displacement, Inshallah best for themselves. After numerous mishaps and mismatches, Nisreen Falasteen, Buried in Michigan) synopsis does not find a man, but she finds her own voice, her passion, and a and acting (Chocolate in Heat, new home. The theme is about modernity vs traditionalism not only in Suitcase) have inspired her Nisreen, a blissfully innocent 29-year-old Arab American with modern Nisreen’s struggle Arab countries but also in Arab communities. This universal conflict will storytelling in new mediums. sensibilities, lives with her parents in San Francisco. Straddling an Arab resonate with audiences in every country adhering to the “act locally, and an American world has never been easy; thankfully her boyfriend between two think globally” school of thought. Her latest feature script, Khsara: Nizar, a Palestinian émigré, brings her closer to her culture. But when Expired, explores the humour the couple is poised to marry, Nizar reverts to tradition: He ends the opposing cultures is The only way to please everyone and reconcile two worlds is to create created from the contrast relationship as they have already slept together and he feels obliged to your own. This is a story about an Arab girl who doesn’t get married in of cultural expectations and marry a virgin. Unlike Nisreen, for him love alone is not a reason to marry. the timeless story of time and perhaps never will. has also been supported a woman creating by the Royal Jordanian Nisreen is lost, devastated, and under pressure from her mother to Film Commission’s RAWI freeze her eggs before they expire at the age of 30. Her father confirms herself, tripping screenwriter’s lab with the his unconditional love while her sassy cousin Gina, who recently left Sundance Institute. Palestine for a modern life in the U.S., finds the same old traditions in her the whole way, but new home. Gina initiates the Khsara (expired) club for her unwed cousins For seven years she was part of to bond in their outsider status; believing that there is more to a woman’s landing on her feet. the film selection committee life than her status. Nisreen is not convinced. Only after she seeks what of the Arab Film Festival in San she is missing by dating other men, both American and Arab, does she Francisco and has also served slowly realize the only way to become happy is to find herself. on the LunaFest Board of Advisors. She is a co-founder of DivineCaroline.com, a publishing platform for women.

20 21 budget & financing distribution & sales production notes

Fresh Booza Productions is a New York–based Nisreen, Khsara’s main character, is a 29-year- production company production company focusing on unique stories old woman caught between opposing worlds. Independent Producer from the Arab world. Our goal is to reshape Arab Seemingly she is a liberated Arab-American woman Monique Peterson images in the West and to offer fresh perspectives working as an archaeology professor living at home 527 8th Street, 3D of everyday Arab life and social issues that have with her family. She comes face to face with her Brooklyn, NY 11215 existed for generations. culture as her modern Arab immigrant boyfriend M +0119178366158 diverts back to traditional culture when marriage is [email protected] Khsara: Expired offers audiences a view into the life of on the table. She finds herself stunned that ancient a modern Arab woman being pulled between cultural cultural rituals still apply to her relationship. Fresh Booza Productions LLC roles and her own goals, straddling the traditional Our target audience is a 25-plus woman who can Rumzi Araj culture she was born into and the modern culture identify with the quest and conflict of Nisreen, who 3403 36th St 2nd floor Rumzi Araj Monique Peterson she lives in. Setting the film in San Francisco and also understands or has experienced her own web Astoria, NY 11103 co-producer producer Palestine allows us to speak to the many audiences of opposing cultural expectations. Khsara not only M + 0116462677263 caught between two worlds and opposing traditions, represents a conflict of cultures but also divides [email protected] Rumzi Araj is a producer and Monique’s experience spans both in the old world and the new. within cultures. www.slingshothiphop.com lawyer based in New York. twenty years as a writer and He produced the multi-award producer of film, books, and winning feature documentary new media. Her partnership with total production budget Slingshot Hip Hop, an official Suha Araj began in 2006 when € 1,490,000 selection in the 2008 Sundance they launched DivineCaroline. Film Festival. com, a premiere web 2.0 production status destination for women. After Khsara in development He was also a producer on the hours, they wrote screenplays Suha Araj Sundance short Planet of the and consulted during the Arabs. Outside of film, he has development of Khsara. Palestine / USA worked in event production and with the Tony award winning Monique began her career playwright/actress Sarah Jones as a broadcast journalist in California’s Napa Valley in 1989, Suha has a unique perspective within this Modernism and traditionalism exist in the old world covering the wine industry and experience having lived in both of these worlds and the new world communities. local politics. After graduate and navigated between the different cultural Fresh Booza is encouraged by the success of films study in history at Ohio constraints. It is the writer’s humor and story telling like our own Slingshot Hip Hop as well as Amreeka University she pursued New York abilities that allow this film to have a genuine voice. and Caramel. More broadly, comparable films such publishing in 1994. She has since as the Namesake and My Big Fat Greek Wedding authored titles on film, science, Shooting locations include San Francisco exteriors offer genuine insight into different cultures and a food, sports, and culture for and interiors, and exteriors in the Middle East. It is very real experience. With Khsara, Arab women, The Walt Disney Company, also possible to shoot some of the film in Michigan ethnic women, and all women will be able to National Geographic, Discovery, where there is a tax break for film productions. identify with the film. and Random House. There will be a need for at least two units of crew, one in Palestine and one in the U.S. The production Strategically speaking, we would like to start the Her film-related writing led her budget is 1.49 million Euros. festival journey with the big North American to jobs as script supervisor, independent festivals such as Tribeca, Sundance, producer, and talent. She has We are searching for a co-producer in the U.S. that Telluride, and Toronto. We seek to find a sales agent optioned two TV projects about can help secure equity financing. There are various that would be able to distribute the film in the rest incarcerated pregnant women companies we would like to work with, starting of the world including Europe and the Middle East. and urban bee keeping, and from Drew Barrymore’s Flower Films to Mira Nair’s We strongly believe this film will relate to every produced a pilot for a comedic Mirabai films. The focus of the autumn will be to country where there is still a conflict between a web series about modern find co-producers and a production company that modern world and traditional, Latin America being parenting. She is now developing can take on the film full time. We are also looking a great example of this. Places where social norms films about maternal health and for a co-producer in Europe or the Middle East to are ingrained in the culture and in opposition to urban farming. secure the other 50 percent of financing. them often leads one to be ostracized from the community.

22 23 script & intention

This film is about two brothers who rediscover each other’s identity: Omar and Samir. Omar looks after Samir, who comes back from exile in a state of Ic fragility. Omar becomes aware that his brother is not an extraordinary man. Still, he helps him to get forged identity papers. But Samir is unable to pay back his brother and behaves like a heartless being towards Omar, and sinks into regression. Once confronted with the fact that, whatever good he does for his brother he is not being paid back, and whatever love he tries to give, Rayan is rejecting him, Omar will commit a desperate act. And once confronted with Omar’s act, Samir will finally become Wissam Charaf conscious of his sense of responsibility, help his brother and become writer & director his hero once again. Born in 1973, Wissam CHARAF What becomes of those who have fought in a war? and how do is a Lebanese/French director, you find the roots of your identity again after you have gone through cameraman and editor. In 1998, a civil war? he moved to Paris, France, Those characters live “normal lives”, to all appearances. But beneath the where he began to work with diaphanous shell of their existence lurks a “malformation”. the French/German network It’s ill-being that characterizes and unites these brothers. They both ARTE, as a news cameraman, struggle for their masculinity. Omar represents the fragile side of it, editor and journalist. He has Heaven Sent while Samir represents the violent side. But in fact, everything about since covered major conflict Wissam Charaf them is derision. For them, handling weapons or talking about war is a areas ranging from Lebanon desperate children’s game. With their muscular bodies, they often verge and the Near East to Darfour, French / Lebanese on the burlesque, teetering on a tightrope between comedy and drama. Afghanistan, Haiti or North Korea and worked with programs such They find themselves in a society where singers can become as ARTE Info, ARTE Reportages, politicians by heritage, and where a forged passport can be obtained in Tracks, Metropolis. He has synopsis a few days, even for a killer. Two Arab males in their own country. Two directed 3 short films: Hizz Ya brothers, one snake biting its own tail: Samir is the future so longed for Wizz, A hero never dies, and An Samir and Omar are brothers: Samir is a militiaman who has fled to Brazil How do you find by Omar, who is Samir’s warrior past. army of ants. This film competed after the Lebanese civil war. Omar has stayed in Beirut and become the in the Locarno Film Festival, and bodyguard of Rayan, a punk singer, the daughter of a politician. Her back your identity My story combines a realistic and crude tone with another more obtained the Jury prize in the father’s death has made her inherit his political empire. poetical and burlesque style. The violence is often defused by comical Lunel Film Festival in France. after having elements providing a sense of incongruity: things are never absolutely Wissam CHARAF has also Omar and Samir’s mother dies and Samir heads home for her funeral. dry but presented through deadpan humor. A tone also found in my worked as an assistant director They meet after 15 years. Samir sees his old friends and gets his passport gone through the previous short movies, Hizz ya wizz and An army of ants. In these films, on films with Danielle Arbid as stolen. He is stuck in Beirut, waiting for a new passport. Omar attends to experience of a civil I depicted, respectively, post-war boredom in a young man’s universe, well as on music videos with Rayan. He is in love with her but too shy to tell her. and pre-war emotions slowly invading a person’s existence. In Heaven French director Henri-Jean war? sent, I tried to project those two situations fifteen years later: The Debon for artists such as Noir Omar, who helps Samir with his passport, slowly finds out about the young, bored, love-starved man becomes a bodyguard to feel some Désir, Sinead O’ Connor, Asian bloodstained past of his older brother. And Samir, who had become a action again, while the pre-war kid who discovered weapons is now a Dub Foundation. Today, he is drunkard, is slowly getting back to his dramatic past in Lebanon. war veteran forced into exile. directing Entertaining minds a 52-minute documentary and Rayan rejects Omar’s love, as she is attracted to more “macho” men. writing his first full-length feature She falls for Samir’s profile. Omar discovers their relation, but isn’t able film, Heaven sent. to react. He pretends to kill Rayan while she is addressing supporters in a rally. Omar is shot and ends up in hospital. Samir, regaining his sense of responsibility, kidnaps his brother and flees with him to their old family house. There, they two brothers will face their destiny together.

24 25 budget & financing distribution & sales production notes

Aurora Films is an independent Paris based The script is currently being rewritten and will be original title company established in 2002 by Charlotte Vincent completed by the end of 2010. Casting should Tombé du ciel producing long-feature films as well as short- begin at that time and our goal is to approach films and documentaries. We’ve completed two distributors and sales representatives with a production company long-feature films, The Wound and Domain that complete screenplay, the main cast and foreign Aurora Films were selected in Cannes and Venice, as well as co-producer/s already in place. Charlotte Vincent numerous award winning short films and theatrical 16 rue Bleue documentaries. Following two brothers who rediscover each other’s 75009 Paris identity and brotherhood, the film is a portrait of T +33 (0)1 47 70 43 01 The project Heavent sent is in the development contemporary youth in Lebanon, and how they F +33 (0)1 47 70 43 91 phase. It’s the first long feature film by a Lebanese learn to live again with the consequences of the [email protected] Charlotte Vincent director, Wissam Charaf, whose previous three civil war. Wissam, through his previous short films, producer short-films we produced. All the shooting will take has developed a specific tone, that is sometimes co-producer place in Lebanon, being managed by the company crude but with poetical style, bordering on the ..né.à Beyrouth Charlotte Vincent, after ..né.à Beyrouth with whom we already have burlesque. Pierre Sarraf graduating at HEC, founded Rue Chucri Assli Aurora Films in 2002. Since Immeuble Boustanim 4e étage then, she has produced short, Achrafieh, Beyrouth documentaries and feature films. T/F +961 1 203485 [email protected] The company made its debut with the short film Hizz ya Wizz Heaven Sent total production budget (2003), by director Wissam Wissam Charaf € 1,000,000 Charaf. The company’s first feature film production was French / Lebanese current financial need La blessure (2004) by Nicolas € 850,000 Klotz, which was selected for the Director’s Fortnight at the production status 2004 Cannes Film Festival successfully cooperated on Wissam’s short The drama and violence is often defused by development and received the Grand Prix at films and we both wish to continue this fruitful comical elements providing a looming sense of Cinessonne Film Festival. Pork collaboration. incongruity, which means that things are never and Milk (2004), a documentary The film will be a co-production between France, absolutely dry and serious but presented through directed by Valérie Mréjen, Lebanon and a possible third country, which could the bias of deadpan humour. received the International Prize be Germany or Belgium. for Best Documentary and RAI The total production budget is estimated around The film’s structure and aspect are unconventional Sat Premium Prize in 2005. one million Euros. Our financing strategy in France and very creative. Given the financial structure, is to target funds (Fonds Sud, Fondation Gan, we’ll need to find a distributor in each of the co- In 2008, Charlotte Vincent Francophonie), broadcasters (Arte France, Canal +, producing countries and a sales agent who has produced, among others, Orange) and theatrical distributors. experience in dealing with art-house features. Valvert, a new documentary by ..né.à Beyrouth will apply to the Dubai Film Based on the treatment, we already had interest Valérie Mréjen and Domaine, the Competition, Gothenburg Film Fund, the Global from different companies. first long-feature film by Patric Film Initiative, and look for funds and investors in Chiha which was selected at the the Middle-East. Previous short-films by Wissam having been Venice Film Festival. This year, Production is set to start in autumn 2011. selected in prestigious festivals (Locarno, Aurora Films is currently finishing Rotterdam, Cork, Clermont-Ferrand, Belfort, etc.), two first long-features: In town we hope to have a major international festival for by Valérie Mréjen and On the Heaven sent, which would give the film a label for plank by Leila Kilani (a French/ the media and the market. Morocco co-production). Charlotte Vincent is member of the ACE network.

26 27 script & intention

GGR: When I first read Zena’s memoir, I thought it was the best portrayal of my generation I had ever come across. Global, uncompromising, compassionate, brave and urgent. While reading, Ic I was imagining the film. A metaphorical bridge between East and West on the line of prominent conflicts, in the dusk of the second millennium. Between tradition and rebellious growth, between classical beauty and pop culture. The style of the film matches the point of view of the character. We see the world through the eyes of Zena, a Lebanese artist whose journey is marked by a city in conflict, a clash between two worlds, a need to understand her identity, and a quest to save her best friend. Gigi Roccati director Zena: It’s also a story that comes from love; the love for my best friend and for Beirut. Although the later is more of a love-hate relationship! Gigi Roccati, director, holds Within a few years I experienced the 9-11 attacks in NYC, the Israeli degrees from the London invasion of Lebanon, and the loss of my best friend to cancer. I almost Film School and the London died with Maya, but, I chose to live. More specifically, to write. What Metropolitan University. His people liked about my blog was its honesty and poetry; I explained graduation short, Chloe Travels everything the way I was seeing it- I would like to continue this with Time, won him an internship the film. Witnessing is a strong form of resistance. at Universal Studios in LA, and his short films have shown Beirut, I Love You G: The film, like the book, has a key that becomes a stylistic approach at the Venice and Rome Film Zena el Khalil & Gigi Roccati to the visuals; “There is a thin line between reality and dreams.” Festivals. Roccati has worked on The idea of the film is to combine fiction and documentary, actors documentaries taking him from Lebanon and real people, narrative storytelling and art, to achieve a sort of Afghanistan and Russia to Cuba magic realism. The use of original home movies from Zena’s family and Lebanon. In 2007, he wrote and archives from the Lebanese civil war is combined with the script, and directed Road to Kabul for staged by the actors. Also, Beirut becomes a character of its own, RAI. His first photojournalistic synopsis breathing the life of its faces and broken buildings. Against the ever- book was recently published by present threat of war, are Beirut, Zena and Maya. Contrasto. Beirut, May 2000 – Hezbollah officers are interrogating 2 young women: If war were a Zena, an artist overly dependent on her inhaler, and Maya her best friend, Z: I am Druze, and we believe in reincarnation. I feel a strong gracefully wearing a wedding dress. Suddenly they are set free – the disease, it would be connection to Asmahan, a Diva from the 40’s. In the script, Asmahan Zena el Khalil Israelis have withdrawn from the south of Lebanon. In the chaos of plays an important role in helping Zena embrace her culture, finding writer post-war Beirut, the girls live like there’s no tomorrow. On a visit to Zena’s cancer. If love were strength in where she comes from. She relates to Asmahan; both are family home used by the Israeli army as a prison, the two friends are artists with a strong need to express themselves, both come from Zena el Khalil, born year of the overwhelmed by the destruction and Maya unexpectedly collapses. a person, her name conservative backgrounds, both live through a global meltdown. A Dragon, has lived in Lagos, would be Maya. decade ago, no one cared about Arabs and we were always portrayed London, NYC and Beirut. A visual They move to NYC to pursue better lives away from war, only to be as aggressive and dim-witted. Today the world is listening, so it’s artist, holding a MFA from the confronted by the 9-11 attacks. In a time of pain and suspicion, Maya When my soul found important, now more than ever, to take the responsibility to tell our School of Visual Arts in NYC, discovers her cancer and Zena has to overcome her fears to keep her beautiful stories. el Khalil exhibits internationally alive. She begins to have visions of her ancestor Asmahan, the great diva a home, it was in exploring issues of violence as murdered in WW2. Nostalgia takes over; choosing risk over fear, the girls The script is currently in development. well as gender. During the 2006 return to Beirut. Beirut. Israeli invasion of Lebanon, she kept a blog that was highly However, under the bombs of the 2006 war, Maya loses her battle to publicized on news portals cancer and Zena is left alone with her demons, struggling with her sanity. such as CNN, the BBC, and Reality slips into dream. Beirut is drowning, doomed like Asmahan to an The Guardian. In 2008, she endless cycle of violent rebirths. But Zena’s destiny is to write her own was invited by the Nobel Peace story. “A woman never dies in a wedding dress.” Centre to present a lecture and soon after, she completed her memoir, Beirut, I Love You.

28 29 budget & financing distribution & sales production notes

Having a strong background in art-house Thanks to the great interest the story of Zena el production company documentaries, in the past couple of years, Vivo Khalil has raised all over the world, we nourish a Vivo film film has expanded its targets to the production deep trust concerning the potential of a film based Via Alamanno Morelli 18 of challenging feature films that explore new on her memoirs. This tale of war, love, despair 00197 Rome, Italy territories. We are particularly interested in that and hope has the strongest international appeal; it T +39 06 8078002 strange gap between narrative and reality, between touches directly on some of the hottest conflicts F +39 06 80693483 fiction and life, a place we love, a place where contemporary society is facing nowadays, as it deals [email protected] maybe only a movie can bring you. with the nearness and distance between East and www.vivofilm.it Beirut, I Love You will take you to this space: when West, with the unsolved contradictions both of the we met the explosive creative energy of this couple West and the Arab world. From quite an early phase, co-producer of talents, we had no doubt to start our adventure we would like to build a marketing oriented project. Les Films des Tournelles, France Marta Donzelli with them! We will focus on Zena’s and Gigi’s versatility as artist producer The project is at a mid-development stage and and filmmaker, working on events connected to the total production budget we’re starting to put together concrete elements of book and on a series of art installations that could € 1,800,000 max Marta Donzelli was born in its feasibility. precede or go with the film’s release. Turin in 1975. She lives in Rome, current financial need where she is currently head 90% of the editorial secretariat at Donzelli Editore. production status mid-development In 2004, together with Gregorio Paonessa, she established Vivo Beirut, I Love You film, an independent production Zena el Khalil & Gigi Roccati company for documentaries and art-house films. Lebanon Vivo film’s productions include works by Guido Chiesa, Jean- Louis Comolli, Michelangelo Frammartino, Chiara Malta, First target now is to come to an outstanding script, We also intend to produce a presentation booklet Pippo Mezzapesa, Susanna able to exploit the great potential of the story and a trailer, which we plan to show to selected Nicchiarelli, Nelo Risi, Corso at best. Writing is also being creatively oriented multipliers of the film industry. It’s essential to Salani, Daniele Vicari. to the budget issue. We are working on a max. convey to our possible partners the idea of a film 1.800.000 € film. The idea is of integrating a richer that is meant to speak to wide audiences, involving In 2007 Il mio paese by D. cinematographic syntax with a lighter asset, meant their sensitivity and memories. Vicari won a David di Donatello to explore the chances opened when you deal with as Best Documentary and in reality. In Italy - as far as distribution is concerned - we Locarno, Imatra by C. Salani was are in touch with Cinecitta’ Luce, who have awarded the Special Jury Prize We have started the productive design granting already shown a strong interest in the project. at the Filmmakers of the Present the project an international co-production. Anne- M.me Toussaint, as a co-producer, will take care Competition. Le quattro volte Dominique Toussaint (who has produced, among of providing a good French distributor for the by M. Frammartino, awarded others, international successes such as Caramel film. Once the script’s final draft is ready, our main by TorinoFilmLab in 2008, was by the Lebanese Nadine Labaki) has confirmed she target will be to grant the project a great sales premiered in Cannes 2010 within will to be on board. Next step will be to possibly agent. We expect Beirut, I Love You to be a visually the Director’s Fortnight, winning enlarge the team of producers with partners from outstanding and strongly emotional film able to the European Cinema Award. the Middle East and / or UK or US. target urban art house audiences all over the world; Since then, it has been sold in On the Italian side, talks are underway with RAI in this perspective the sales agent is a key role and more than 40 countries, and is CINEMA. Moreover we foresee to apply to the from the Dubai meeting onwards, the hunt is open! travelling around all the most MIBAC for first works in 2011. Last but not least, a prestigious international festivals, share up to 15% of the budget might be granted receiving countless awards. by the regulations concerning tax credit, if Italian Government is going to confirm them. We plan to fund 55 % of the budget in Italy and the rest abroad.

30 31 script & intention

I have fond childhood memories of having a maid around the house. The foreign maids that have lived with us in Lebanon were usually very caring and loved me like I was their own son. I always grew attached Ic to them, and when they left I would be completely devastated…until the next maid came along.

Reflecting on the subject of maids, I couldn’t help but notice the many roles they played in our family home. Some would act motherly, some sisterly and others would get carried away and act like the lady of the house. I always wondered how they felt after they left, when they were faced with their new reality, often as foreigners in a strange land. I later Samer Ghorayeb learned that the most excruciating realisation maids make when they Firas Khnaisser leave a family in Lebanon is that they also leave their identities behind. writer & director

Being Lebanese, I know for a fact that in order to be accepted in Firas and Samer have society I need be associated with a group of people. This could be collaborated together for the a familial, territorial, religious, social or political group, but I must past 12 years on various multi- absolutely be seen as being part of one. Why? Because everyone else media and short film projects. is. In Lebanon, we identify ourselves by our groups and our affiliations, This duo is especially known before we identify ourselves with our flag. The reasons for this? for its original visual style and I believe it is because we have no consensus on national identity and its fearless approach in tackling Kawthar because groups offer the support and protection that the country’s delicate social issues in the Samer Ghorayeb & Firas Khnaisser institutions fail to provide. Consider: when a maid belongs to a family Middle East. she falls under their protection. While she is with them, they offer her Lebanon / Georgia security and stability, but when she leaves she loses their sponsorship Samer worked in and with it she loses all the privileges she earns from being part of the communication before fully family group. She becomes an outcast. devoting himself to film. In 2008, he wrote and directed synopsis I empathise with the maid. I too am shut out from society but for the short film, Le Petit Cahier different reasons. I choose not to identify with a particular group, Noir, which earned him wide Kawthar, a Syrian maid of a bourgeois Christian family in Beirut, is now You can take but like the maid I too want to belong: she to a family, and me to my acclaim in local and international 33. She was 16 when she became the mistress of the manipulative nation. Her goal is tangible, whereas my struggle is with something film festivals. Samer has built a patriarch Pierre, in his fifties. She now governs the house and the family a maid out of more abstract. I have to figure out how to belong to a nation. that name for himself in the area of as if they are her own. She’s like a mother to his children, both in their suffers from a multiple identity disorder. The maid’s issue is resolved documentary production; he twenties, but she yearns to have kids of her own. the family but can when she finds a new job, whereas my search has just begun… is commissioned by prominent NGOs. He is currently working Her world crumbles when Pierre’s wife Nawal, newly recovered from you take a family on a film about the demolition of a long bout of depression, exposes Kawthar and Pierre’s affair to the out of the maid? Beirut’s architectural heritage. children, by playing them a steamy conversation of the two she’d recorded. Devastated, Kawthar has no choice but to leave yet she’s Firas Khnaisser was born in 1979. stunned when Pierre offers her a flat and promises to marry her. He is currently an MA student of screenwriting at Edinburgh She loves her new flat but she starts feeling lonely as Pierre’s visits Napier University. He wrote and become scarcer. She misses the children. She desperately tries to reach directed Swansong, a short on them but they reject her. She seeks the help of family friends but they the violence of nature, in April refuse to assist her. She feels abandoned. When she realises that Pierre’s 2010 and is currently developing reason for giving her the flat is to maintain a sexual relationship, she feels a short about abandoned railway used and betrayed. Ashamed of who she has become and determined stations in Lebanon, scheduled to let go of her miserable past, she leaves the flat, never to return. for production in early 2011.

32 33 budget & financing distribution & sales production notes

Gemini Producing Centre is based in Georgia and I understand the difficulties of marketing a director’s production company is mostly involved in international co-productions. first feature film, but I am sure that both Khnaisser Producing Center Gemini Looking at opening a branch in Beirut, Lebanon, and Ghorayeb’s outstanding visual style and their Tinatin Kajrishvili dedicated to the project Kawthar which is set to passion towards their homeland will allow us to 7 Svanidze str. Tbilisi be a Georgian-Middle Eastern-European co- create a moving experience for worldwide audiences. 0179, Georgia production. T +995 97 20 25 50 The main character is Kawthar, in her early 30s, [email protected] The budget of the film is 600,000 Euro. The project she’s a maid in a Lebanese family. She shares the is in the early development stage and is scheduled fate of other maids, staying unnoticeable during her total production budget for release in 2012. We plan to find support from job, but one occasion changes her life and the life € 600,000 International funds: Fonds Sud Cinema, Visions Est of the family, which leads her to be finally alone. Tinatin Kajrishvili Sud, Hubert Bals, World Cinema Fund, Goteborg As our film will be executed on a low budget, we production status producer Film Festival fund and also from local private can’t really count on a stellar cast, our main selling in development investors. point is the story, its genre and the country, which Tinatin Kajrishvili was born in will charm audiences with its unique atmosphere. 1978 in Tbilisi, Georgia. She attended the State Theatre and Film University and attained her qualification as a film director. After graduating, she shot several short films and a feature. She also studied scriptwriting Kawthar in Morley College, London, Samer Ghorayeb & Firas Khnaisser 2002-04. In 2006, Tinatin established Lebanon / Georgia “Gemini Producing Centre”, through which she has produced two short films and three documentaries. We hope to start fundraising in 2011. Assuming that I believe that this film will join the rank of a handful it will take one year to get the budget together, this of Lebanese films that do not discuss the Lebanese She also developed several means we could start preproduction in early 2012. civil war but rather focus on the inner conflicts of feature film and documentary We are applying to different co-production markets its people. The so called “conflict zones” have given projects, which were selected in Europe and Asia to find co-producers and refine us some of the best stories, filled with inner tension, at international festivals, namely the project together with international experts, passion and a struggle for existence. Cannes Producer’s Network in which we hope will help to develop our project 2010, B2B, Connecting Cottbus, and market the film. Bringing together Georgia and Lebanon, two Sofia meetings and Molodist. countries with many conflicts, and making them Her contribution at B2B earned The main part of the shoot will take place in do a film together is the most charming part of this her the best project award. Beirut (all exteriors), but interiors can be shot project which will prove to be even more attractive Tinatin has taken part in several in other countries. We will work together with as we get closer to the release. workshop programmes. an international crew and cast, who have been involved in some of our outstanding low budget Based on past experience, I always try to have In 2007 she took part in a film productions. a sales agent involved at a very early stage of workshop for project and script development. Their advice, while working on script, development organised by helps us in marketing the film at a later stage. IFASC (Independent Filmmakers We are currently looking for co-producers, sales Association in South Caucasus), agents and TV pre-sales worldwide. as a producer. Then in 2009, she participated in EAVE’s workshop for script and project development, also as a producer.

34 35 script & intention

SAUDI ARABIA: BEYOND THE VEIL

When people hear that I am a Saudi woman, stirring images of Ic oppression and the black veil come to mind. The oppression I face in my society is very real but it is only part of the story. Of course there have been moments when I have had to fight for my choices but equally opportunities and support have come to me from my traditional community. Saudi women of my generation do have a choice and know how to stand up for themselves to overcome monumental challenges. Smile! You’re in Jeddah will reveal a richer and more nuanced Saudi society. It’s a story about three women’s Ahd Kamel choices, regardless of what they are, and the price and responsibility writer, director & Producer they bear with them in this traditional world. A native of Saudi Arabia, Ahd “Jeddah is different” is this Saudi cosmopolitan city’s current motto Kamel is an award-winning and home of the prominent and traditional “Al Hejazi” family. Salma filmmaker and actress based in Al Hejazi is a resigned typical teenager, who witnesses her aunt, New York City. The Shoemaker, Ruba, boldly defying the family and deciding to marry her American her short film won 1st prize at boyfriend and the opposition she faces from her grandmother, Ammra, Beirut International Film Festival the matriarch of the family. As the story unfolds, we discover three and 2nd prize at the Gulf Film rich and complex characters from different generations struggling to Festival and competed at over a Smile! You’re in Jeddah find harmony between their society’s traditions and the modern world dozen international film festivals Ahd Kamel and how the family dynamic plays a huge part in making their choices. such as Clermont-Ferrand Short How will the traditional family survive the challenges brought about Film Festival. In her acting debut Saudi Arabia / USA by the needs and aspirations of its young women? How will the men Razan, she won the Golden handle it? Does family transcend tradition? Gate Award for Best Actress at the San Francisco International Being Saudi, having lived in New York City for the past 12 years and Film Festival. Alla Fein, Kamel’s synopsis briefly marrying an American, I can draw from my own personal production debut also competed experience to bring this story to life. By peeling away the layers of at several international film Salma Al-Hejazi is a Saudi teenager, resigned and cynical with a rebellious Jeddah the audience’s preconceived notions about Saudi society, I will reveal festival including Rotterdam streak. She is unmotivated in spite of her intelligence and potential. The the humanity, strength and power of these women and their families. and Slamdance. only thing that’s on her mind these days is Hattan, her first love. Salma is different My approach is to address the topic in a subtle yet powerful and witnesses in shock as her aunt and sister figure, Ruba, the rebel, is humorous manner and in turn appeal to a broad audience worldwide Working in Hollywood and grounded in Saudi because the family wouldn’t grant her permission to and so are with the message that sometimes, even against the odds, if one alongside Peter Berg on The leave for New York, her home for the past 7 years. follows one’s heart one can successfully embrace both tradition and Kingdom, Ahd’s roles included its women! modernity. For a price of course! set assistant and technical Although unhappy for her aunt, Salma takes advantage of the lack of advisor. In 2008, Ahd received supervision in the house and goes on a secret date with Hattan. Ruba the Cloeween Connection cuts a deal with the family and temporarily returns to New York to pack award from the ADACH for up and return to Jeddah for good. Salma enjoys being in love and the an emerging Middle Eastern thrill of dating secretly. She shares her experience with Ruba, who is now filmmaker presented by Spike boldly demanding to marry her American boyfriend. Lee. Ahd studied acting under the tutelage of William Esper at Salma is terrified when she is caught dating Hattan. She is forbidden to the Esper Studio and received leave the house. Inspired by Ruba she considers marrying Hattan to hold her directing degree from the on to their relationship. The trials and tribulations that follow define these New York Film Academy. women’s roles and test the resilience of the family. Ruba gets what she wants and marries her boyfriend while Salma is jilted and tends her first She has a BFA in Animation & broken heart. Communication Design from Parsons School of Design.

36 37 budget & financing distribution & sales production notes

Based in New York City Odd Camel Films is a Worldwide, there is a lack of films that deal with original title production company committed to making stories from the Arabian Gulf region and hardly any Abtasim Anta fe Jeddah socially conscious themed films. We produced films about women and their lives. Smile addresses and sold Ahd Kamel’s award winning short film that demand using a family story that mixes drama production company The Shoemaker which competed at over a dozen and comedy to invite the audience into Odd Camel Films festivals all around the world including Clermont the sheltered world of women in Saudi Arabia. 15 West 20 Street, #4B Ferrand, Brussels, Beirut and Dubai International As there are no movie theatres in Saudi we will New York, NY 10011 Film Festivals and won 1st prize at Beirut devise a viral marketing strategy to tap into the T +19176400847 International Film Festival and 2nd prize at Gulf Film market to distribute and promote the film. [email protected] Festival. With ties all around the globe in Egypt, www.ahdkamel.com Saudi Arabia and Europe we bring a unique and We aim to secure famed actors from the Middle global flavor to our films. East to even further its appeal in the region: so far total production budget Amr Waked has been attached to this project along $ 1,2000,000 Smile! You’re in Jeddah is Ahd Kamel’s first feature with an up and coming Saudi actress to play the length film. It is currently in development and set to role of Salma. Internationally, production status in development

Smile! You’re in Jeddah Ahd Kamel Saudi Arabia / USA

shoot in the Middle East and Europe with a budget Smile stands as a unique story with the potential of estimated at $1.2M. To obtain financing for Smile, appealing to educated people with a keen interest Odd Camel films will use a number of potential in current affairs. From all over the world, movies options: approximately 25-35% will be financed like Monsoon wedding (India, USA), Caramel through private equity. Odd Camel has very storng (Lebanon, France), Amreeka (Kuwait, USA, Canada) ties with private individuals comfortable with film have made a profit and have had significant market investing. 25% through development grants and impact. The main characters of the story are female funds such as: (Sanad, UAE/ Women in Film, USA/ figures of varying ages who deal with universal Hubart Ball, Netherlands/ Adrienne Shelly, USA). We issues that reflect on women globally all over the are also seeking to collaborate with an established world. This will attract female audiences too as they European or American co-producer to secure the will recognize part of their lives reflected in these remaining funds. Finally we aim to secure a sales characters. agent in Middle East and Worldwide to help sell the rights for the film.

Smile, has proudly been supported and selected by the Dubai film Connection 2009, TorinoFilmLab Interchange program 2010.

38 39 script & intention

I have always been amazed by the methods young male adults use to engage romantically with their female counterparts in Kuwait (not to mention elsewhere in the Arabian Gulf region): from tracking groups of Ic girls in shopping malls while “peacocking” to showering mobile phones on female drivers stopping at traffic lights, young men go to ridiculous lengths to grab and hold the attentions of potential girlfriends-to-be.

Surprisingly, some of these unabashed attempts to connect with the opposite sex lead to the beginning of so-called “relationships”; whereby a “couple” will end up spending close to 95% of their time with one another in conversation on the telephone (talking, texting, Mousaed Khaled BBM-ing – sometimes when even in the same restaurant or room) or writer else chatting and interacting online using fake identities or avatars. The other 5% of the time might find them actually talking face-to-face – but Writer and filmmaker Mousaed most likely in the back corner of some café, out of sight from nosey Khaled holds a BA in English passers-by. Literature and Language from Kuwait University and is a Though it is actually taboo for a guy to admit he has a “girlfriend” member of the Kuwait-based amongst family, the opposite holds true where his male peers are independent filmmaking concerned. In fact, when a guy is out with his buddies, claiming to group AKS. have a girlfriend dramatically increases his social standing within Habibi99 the group. And the more girlfriends a guy appears to have the more Parallel to writing his own blog, Mousaed Khaled respect he gets. It is real-life phenomena such as this that provided Mousaed has been regularly me the premise for habibi99 - a story written with a light and involved in local film and video Kuwait humorous touch about dating culture in a society where segregation is productions as a production commonplace. manager of TV commercials, an actor or producer on more than As with young males everywhere, habibi99 recognizes that this Middle 15 short films and as Assistant synopsis Eastern demographic has the need to “fit-in”, to “be cool” and to Director for the 3rd season of acquire the latest gadgets and games, cars and clothes. Appearing The Abu Qutada and Abu Nabeel 26-year old Aziz is the business brains behind habibi99 – a social When digital dating to have a girlfriend then becomes the cherry on the consumerist Show – a highly popular 3D networking service in Kuwait that provides romantically challenged males cake. As the usage of social media, mobile technologies and AR animated TV show in the Arabian with digitally customized “VRPs” (Virtual Relationship Packages). When is taken to its (Augmented Reality) play an increasingly intrinsic role in the lives of its Gulf region. As a performer, Aziz and his pals decide to create a premium “fake girlfriend” subscription, subscribers, habibi99 taps into and exploits this fascination with social Mousaed has studied acting, auditions are held to find the perfect voice for the service’s pre-recorded absurd extreme, all’s media technologies to create an interactive experience for them that mime and musical theatre. audio messages. As a cover, they pretend to represent ‘Words of the fantastically feeds their needs. He has had two of his short World’ – with unsuspecting applicants being told that their voices will be well that ends...real. stories published in Kuwaiti utilized for a Kuwaiti dialect dictionary-App. Stylistically, documentary and mockumentary elements will be newspapers and has directed the incorporated - such as character interviews and ‘man on the street’ vox short film Tired and co-directed The job goes to wannabe pop singer Nada: mid-twenties, attractive and pops - plus special FX that simulate on-screen Instant Messaging and Mousaed In Screen: Three Shots in need of cash to produce a demo reel. Soon after Aziz finds himself real-time vlogs. Animated avatars will speak to the characters during and a Half – both of which enchanted by Nada and imagining her as a potential ‘real girlfriend’. But the film – like thought bubbles – and urge the characters to make screened at the Gulf Film as the two become better acquainted, Aziz becomes anxious about decisions that they may both benefit from or…regret! Festival in 2008. Mousaed his deception and - unable to confess - he tries to ignore his better Khaled was a board member of conscience. When Nada accidentally uncovers the real nature of Aziz’s the Kuwait Cinema Club from business he is forced to decide between holding onto everything he has 2007 until 2009. built up against the feelings he has for her. In the end, Aziz pulls the plug on habibi99 and – begging Nada’s forgiveness – finds that she still has a place for him in her heart.

40 41 budget & financing distribution & sales production notes

Linked Productions is the production label of The GCC has one of the fastest growing production company Kuwaiti producer Talal Al-Muhanna. Working closely populations in the world – a majority of which Linked Productions with filmmakers and storytellers of Middle Eastern are under 25 and carrying new social attitudes as c/o Section 3, Avenue 311, Villa 3 and Arab descent, Al-Muhanna seeks to bring bold, the result of increased access to education, the Hateen District - Kuwait imaginative and fresh projects to the international international media and new technologies. In spite T +965 2522 0651 (Kuwait) marketplace through the development of original of this, there is a lack of “Khaleeji” (local-language) M +965 5501 7200 (Kuwait) works of fiction and documentaries of exceptional content that is appealing and relevant to their daily M +49 176 63 65 67 68 (Germany) artistic quality. As an Arab producer based between lives. In film and on TV, narratives rarely reflect their [email protected] the GCC and Germany, Al-Muhanna also seeks to interests, concerns or experiences. www.linkedproductons.com introduce select Arab talents to the European film www.talmuhanna.com scene and to bring projects from the MENA region With the proliferation of smartphones, the iPad Talal Al-Muhanna into European co-production focus. and other new media-compatible devices, regional total production budget producer Finance for habibi99 will initially be sought by youth are now able to interact with devices and $ 350,000 submitting the project for development support at content that challenge and defy traditional methods Talal Al-Muhanna is a Kuwaiti regional film festivals in the MENA region. of access and consumption. production status producer with over 10 years script, finance experience curating, managing and producing a wide variety The light-hearted comedy habibi99 is intended to be shot as a low- of media and cultural projects budget HD production in Kuwait and the UAE. For investors and internationally (incl. in Germany, businesses willing to invest in a project with the possibility of promising Ireland, Finland, France, Holland, returns on investment if exhibited on digital screens in the GCC, we China, India, Kuwait, the U.K. and Habibi99 aim to deliver an innovatively-shot, entertaining and youth-oriented United States). Mousaed Khaled film with strong cross-media potential. Current projects include the Kuwait The casting of an Egyptian film star – to widen box office appeal in creative documentary Beit other Arab territories – is also being considered as a route to increasing Sha’ar/Nomad’s Home by investor appeal and Arab viewership outside the GCC. Egyptian filmmaker Iman Kamel (World Premiere at DIFF 2010) Negotiations to secure pre-sales from regional By developing the script as part of an overall As part of the marketing of the film, a habibi99.com website will be set and acting as a line producer distributors will be matched with strategic pitching strategy to create a cross-media project, Linked up. Potential film viewers can join the site in order to create their own in the GCC for the upcoming to potential media and telecommunication Productions seeks to tap into this new media profiles/identities; to purchase non-recoupable shares towards the music documentary series sponsors in Kuwait and elsewhere in the GCC. ‘zeitgeist’ by creating a socially relevant and making of the film; and for possible casting and documentary archival Next Music Station (dir. Fermin As part of a cross-media project intended primarily culturally authentic film that comes alive across purposes. Opportunities for commercial advertisers to place ads on Muguruza, for Al Jazeera for local/regional audiences, the prospects for multiple platforms. Consequently, the revenue the website will also be available. Documentary Channel). securing sponsorship via product placement are streams generated by cinema-going, gaming, extremely good. interactive entertainment, mobile/online retail In addition to film and cultural shopping and social networking will form part of production, Talal has also In Abu Dhabi, the script will be submitted for the a 360° approach to promoting the film. While our been an editorial contributing $100,000 Shasha Grant and the project will be target audience are Arab males and females aged writer for Dubai-based Media proposed as a co-production with an Arab TV. 15-35, we anticipate a broader viewership where the Production magazine - for Some European co-finance may also be sought actual film itself is concerned. which he has interviewed Arab to fill any gap. Kuwait leads the GCC region in digitalization with screenwriters and directors and 10 screens. Overall admissions in Kuwait run at covered regional film events in With a film production budget of between 2.2 million annually and box office prospects for Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Dubai. $250,000 to $350,000, we are confident that this a project like ours are strong. Potential sources project can be developed as a highly innovative of pre-sales might include Kuwait National He holds a BA and MA in Film & project with strong box office potential and little Cinema Company (also a provider of content to Moving Image Production from downside for investors. Orbit Showtime Network) and Front Row Filmed Leeds Metropolitan University Entertainment (UAE). In active talks with NY based in the U.K. and a Certificate in outfit, BoomGen Studios - a potential partner in Fundraising from New York developing and implementing the cross media University. strategy around the project.

42 43 script & intention

Being half Palestinian, half British and brought up in Israel I was always able to look at the Israeli-Arab issues with different eyes. I was able to experience both sides of the argument and learned to respect both Ic people as human beings and for who they are. From what I see, that mutual respect is what both sides lack, these days. Seeing the other side as an equal human being isn’t popular anymore.

A Gaza Weekend is an action comedy film set in the non-specific near future. It embodies a sense of humour the people of that region have honed, similar to that of the ghetto humour of the 1940s. In my opinion, it is about time the world saw a wider range of films from Basil Khalil the Middle East, and this is the perfect opportunity to break out with writer & director something new and refreshing, a comedy with a heart. I want this film to be snappy, engaging, thrilling and most of all I want this film to Basil was born and raised in display that the idea of opening doors of understanding will lead to a Nazareth, to a Palestinian father better future and will work for everyone. and an English-Irish mother. He studied in Edinburgh, at This won’t be an observational report on the suffering of the people in Screen Academy Scotland, Gaza, nor will it pull cheap punches at the awful situation they live in. obtaining an MA in Producing This is Waleed’s story, and the little problem he is facing when he gets & Script Development, stuck with a bunch of Israelis in his basement. It just happens to be set and in 2006 Basil directed his A Gaza Weekend against the backdrop of Gaza’s isolation, and Israel’s sudden fall under debut feature documentaries Basil Khalil a fast-spreading mutant infection that is causing hysteria around the Replay Revenge which toured country. international film festivals and UK / Palestine Game of Death & Survival for I am a strong believer in thought-provoking and entertaining films. I AlJazeera English. could not think of a better combination to bring out in this story, A He also produced and Gaza Weekend, which blends humanity and comedy together. I enjoy directed a number of fiction synopsis the challenge of pushing the boundaries of storytelling, and in this and documentary short films film I plan to deliver a story where the characters’ human side shines including the award-winning A new epidemic of a mutant virus breaks out in Israel, and the country Israel’s borders are in the absurd world they live in. In times of hardship and despair, there film Shooter. is cut off from the rest of the world by land, air and sea. As a result will always be people who will put their differences and personal gain Israel is in a state of chaos, and the people stranded there are willing sealed off due to a aside to help their fellow human beings, and learn that they’re not all Basil is currently living in to do anything in order to get out. The Gaza strip however, is the only that different after all. London where he works as a uninfected place due to the separation wall. new epidemic virus freelance assistant producer on international television Waleed, an unsuccessful Palestinian shoe salesman from Gaza, accepts a and the only way productions with known artists small fast-cash job smuggling some rich Israeli Jews into Gaza, through out means spending such as Jamie Oliver and Ricky the same tunnels that are used to smuggle weapons. The cunning plan Gervais and has also co-written is to then put them onto an aid boat leaving from Gaza’s port. This small a weekend in Gaza. a 25-episode kids TV series for job turns into a small disaster when the boat is delayed and he is stuck AlJazeera Children’s Channel. with three Israelis in his basement. A Gaza Weekend took part in the Waleed is somehow expected to come up with an epic escape plan to 2010 RAWI screenwriters’ lab in smuggle these Israelis (whom he has learned to love… almost) over the consultation with Sundance and 100 metres from his house to the port in time to catch the next aid boat will be Basil’s first feature project. out of Gaza, but it isn’t long before the gossip of hidden Israelis gets out Basil has three other screenplays onto the street. Eventually Waleed plucks the courage to become the in development, one of which as hero of the family by getting the Israelis out but not without dragging his a producer. depressed wife and bossy mother, two sworn enemies, into a series of bizarre close-calls with the militants.

44 45 budget & financing distribution & sales production notes

The budget is $ 1.5 million USD. This has been put A Gaza Weekend has the potential to appeal to production company together by our Palestinian partner, Ehab Assal of festival as well as indie-cinema audiences due to its S Films Ltd Yellowdawn, who will be also be the line producer. original, humorous and ironic take on the region. 3rd Floor He is currently line producing Gerafada and was With all the bad and quite often patronizing press 101 Wardour Street production manager on Elia Suleiman’s The Time that we are bombarded with from Israel and Gaza, London W1F 0UG That Remains so he is very well connected in the the last thing people expect is to see a comedy Tel +44 207 494 4049 region. action film that sensitively balances on the edge Fax +44 207 494 4056 of pathos and humour without overtly delving into We have potentially secured approximately 30% the politics. This will be the unique selling point co-producers equity through a UK EIS fund. We are looking for of the film and as such it should generate quite a Yellowdawn Productions European and Arab co-producing financing partners lot of interest. Casting could also escalate interest (Palestine) Maha Assal Christopher Simon to help complete the budget. We anticipate in the film as there are particularly strong roles co-writer producer approaching British and European broadcasters and for two leading actors - an American Israeli and a total production budget distributors in due course. Palestinian Arab. Also there are some wonderful $ 1,500,000 Maha graduated from the Based in London under the supporting roles for female cast from the region. Hebrew University in Jerusalem banner of S Films, Chris has current financial need with a double MA in Arabic and worked over the years alongside we expect to have 30% English literature. Maha has British producers such as Simon of the financing from the UK successfully completed writing a Channing Williams, Sarah feature length screenplay for the Radclyffe, Simon Relph and for production status post-apocalyptic film Existence the last five years, Cat Villiers and financing that is to shoot in Palestine, and Andy Paterson. He is now also a A Gaza Weekend also directed a number of shorts producing partner at Embargo Basil Khalil including the documentary Films. Christopher has most Within These Walls and the recently produced Boogie Woogie UK / Palestine award winning short Oranges. starring Charlotte Rampling, Gillian Anderson, Heather Graham, Maha has also lectured at Christopher Lee, Amanda Seyfried, screenwriting workshops and Stellan Skarsgård, Danny Huston Once we find our European and Arab partners we We have been in contact with a powerful casting worked as a script editor for a and Alan Cumming. He is in will strategise as to which routes of financing work agent and will be soon approaching star actors. number of writer/directors such post-production on political war best for the film. Some possible European funds like This may well lead to us securing MG’s in certain as Mai Masri. drama Kingdom of Dust set in a Fonds Sud, Fondation Gan and broadcasters like territories. A sales agent will be attached before hostage cell in Iraq. Other notable Arte France or ZDF, Canal+, Orange, Cinecinema we go into production and a very careful festival, Maha’s many other creative skills titles he has produced include could be potentially applied for, as well as the Arab then theatrical, release strategy will be aligned. also got her involved in other The Proposition for director John Fund for Culture & Art. A platform release in the Middle East should be feature productions such as set Hillcoat, written by Nick Cave and followed by a European/US release to maximize on decorator on Elia Suleiman’s starring Guy Pearce, Danny Huston, Additionally, regional funds could be explored in the publicity buzz. Sales to English speaking regions The Time That Remains and Ray Winstone, Emily Watson and more depth, particularly in France and Germany will be helped by the fact that the film is mainly in as casting director in Jerafada John Hurt, and Après L’Océan and also local tax credit breaks in the appropriate English, as this is the common language between which is to shoot in Palestine starring Marie-Josée Croze. region or indeed from the UK. the two worlds. To keep the film authentic, Arabic March 2011. Christopher has also produced and Hebrew are also spoken. This also increases the micro-budget films such asThe comedic situations. The film should be marketed in Maha lives in Nazareth with her Trouble with Men and Women the Middle Eastern region as a glossy commercial/ two children and husband, a for the IFC, starring Kate Ashfield, action/comedy/caper and as such should appeal cinematographer and producer. picked up by The Weinstein to a youthful Arab audience who would normally Company, and Photo Finish, be attracted to much larger budget Western films. which stars Aidan Gillen and In Europe and the West the film would be seen James Purefoy. He has produced as a refreshing alternative to the majority of films a multitude of short films including coming out of this part of the world. It will probably The End, directed by Joe Wright appeal to a more mature ‘arthouse’ audience and and written by Kathy Burke, and thus it should be marketed and distributed as such. Love Story, written & directed by Nick Love. He has also been an actor and a film production accountant. 46 47 script & intention

As I watched the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003 and the chaos of the most recent war, people constantly asked me about my thoughts on Iraq and if I was pro or anti war. These felt like simplistic questions Ic that I was not able to give a simple answer to. As an exiled Iraqi my emotions were always mixed; on the one hand Saddam had imprisoned and killed many members of my family and forced me and my parents into exile like many other Iraqis yet on the other hand, no one wants see their country being destroyed. This film is an attempt to answer that question on how I feel about the country I grew up in and love. For me the heart of the question cannot be approached from the perspective of international politics but lies in the effects of war and Maythem Ridha tyranny on the ordinary Iraqi, which is often forgotten. writer & director

I want to present an Iraq never seen before, an Iraq of my childhood Iraqi filmmaker Maythem Ridha at the end of its “Golden Age” before the wars. I feel a need to portray spent his formative years in my experience of the country and its people; their love of culture, Baghdad before fleeing into ideas, books and poetry, all of which shaped me and my generation. exile. He works between Through this film I want to show how the rise of Saddam affected Europe and the Middle East our ordinary lives and relationships and irreversibly changed our making award-winning drama destiny. How as children we lost our childhood and became political and documentary projects. His weapons. How we were used by the regime and sometimes coaxed lyrical style is inspired by Eastern A Plane For My Soul into informing on our parents, this became known as the “stealing of cinema and poetry. Maythem Ridha tongues”. It turned the natural order of things around where adults became scared of their own children. Maythem wrote Iraqi Tales, Iraq / UK a body of stories for film, at As an exile I watch what is happening to my country. This film is my the National Film & Television way of addressing the wounds of ‘exile guilt’ felt by all Iraqis outside School (UK) before being Iraq. My hope is to inspire people to re-question their perspective selected for the European synopsis on Iraq by taking them on a journey through the soul of the country Regards Croises programme. and telling a story about childhood friendships, love and loyalty that Drifting On The Wind (ArRuh It’s Baghdad 1979. On his rooftop 9-year-old Ali flies kites competing Welcome to a land resonates through all cultures and time. The story is based in an area Ala ArRih) was chosen by over with his best friend Khalid and cheered on by Selma, his childhood of Baghdad where I grew up. The characters are based on individuals 20 international film festivals, sweetheart. Ali doesn’t understand the fuss the adults make of the events where a child’s in a warm and tight knit community who inspired and intrigued me as winning the Director’s Award on TV; a young and ambitious Saddam Hussein seizes control of Iraq. a child. A Plane For My Soul is a way to honour my childhood in Iraq at Hearts & Minds. Al-Baghdadi innocent words can by remembering the loved ones I left behind. won the Gold Prize for Best Soon Ali notices subtle changes; his family starts behaving secretively Foreign Language Film at around him especially when Khalid joins the Saddam Youths. Ali condemn his parents the International Filmmaker witnesses Khalid telling his class that Selma’s father spits at Saddam Festival. A Plane For My Soul whenever he appears on TV. It’s when Selma’s father disappears, that was selected by Breakout Ali realises something more serious is happening. Ali and Selma suspect (UKFC), Berlinale Co-Production Khalid is responsible. Market and featured in Variety magazine. When Selma vanishes too, Ali is furious and confronts Khalid. During their fight Ali sees Khalid’s remorse and reluctantly accepts his help in finding Winner of Al Hambra Award Selma. Journeying through Baghdad, Ali discovers a harsher, more (UK) and a Takreem Prize (Iraq), politically paranoid city that Khalid seems to know well. Maythem was chosen for the British Film Institute’s TSD Ali is overjoyed to find Selma but this is short-lived as he discovers that programme and Dubai Film his family needs to flee. He finally awakens to the threat of the new Connection. He also works as regime. As Ali escapes he realises that he is leaving both his country and a consultant on film, television his childhood behind. He sees children flying kites and remembers the and media projects for several plane he made for his soul. international clients.

48 49 budget & financing distribution & sales production notes

7th Heaven Films is a UK based production Iraq’s exposure on our screens over the past production company company. We have completed numerous award- decade has been one of war and turmoil and the 7th HEAVEN FILMS winning documentary and drama projects for film soul of the country and its people has been lost in Seventh Heaven Productions Ltd, and television for a broad range of broadcasters our minds. A Plane For My Soul brings audiences 14 Annandale Road, Chiswick, including BBC, Al-Jazeera and ART. Our projects back to the human side of this country and takes London W4 2HH have attracted national funding from UK Film them to an Iraq that is not often seen. UNITED KINGDOM Council and from regional agencies such as Screen T +44 (0) 208 816 7878 East. They have succeeded in festivals such as Telling the story through a child’s perspective F +44 (0) 208 560 4039 Cannes, Berlin, Sao Paulo and Tehran and have been presents the audience with an innocent and M +44 (0) 7956 559 126 distributed theatrically by Cineworld. A Plane For My non-judgemental view of how ordinary lives were [email protected] Soul is the first feature length film from “Iraqi Tales”, affected by the rise of Saddam. www.7thHeavenFilms.com Manda Popat Jehan Yehia a successful series of stories written and directed by associate producer associate producer the Iraqi director Maythem Ridha. The two previous By capturing the world through the child’s eye the producers shorts were Al-Baghdadi and Drifting On The Wind audience are taken back to their own childhood Maythem Ridha Manda began working with 7th Jehan was born in Cairo and (ArRuh Ala ArRih) both of which were award winners. emotions, through a universal story of friendship, Head of Seventh Heaven Heaven Films in 1997 within moved to the UK at the age Productions Ltd the team responsible for the of 12. She gained her Master’s financial management of our degree in Sports Medicine and Manda Popat award-winning productions and was involved in managing large Associate Producer (UK) our slate of projects currently in teams, including leading the for Seventh development. Sports Medicine Team for the Heaven Productions Ltd. Great Britain Kayak squad to the A Plane For My Soul Manda is a tax specialist. She Beijing Olympics. Her passion Maythem Ridha Jehan Yehia was a tax partner in Halpern & for cinema has driven her into Associate Producer Woolf that merged with Casson transferring these management Iraq / UK (International) for Seventh Beckman and Baker Tilly and skills to production. Heaven Productions Ltd. was responsible for Asian clients, entertainment industry and Since joining 7th Heaven, Jehan co-producers specialist projects. has been working on both A Plane For My Soul is provisionally structured as a loss of innocence and loyalty against the backdrop co-producer for Europe creative and logistic aspects European and Middle Eastern co-production. Shot of a historically accurate account of this important (currently seeking) She has acted as a financial of our productions including with an international cast, in the Middle East and period in Iraq’s history. advisor and consultant on funding, casting and marketing Europe, the budget is estimated at $ 1.5 Million US co-producer for Middle East Hollywood and Bollywood film on a diverse range of film and dollars. Maythem’s ability to tell a simple human tale can (currently seeking) productions such as JungleBook television projects in the UK, be observed with his previous work. Through the (live action filmed in India), In Europe and the Middle East. The project is in the development phase. subtle treatment of characters we are able to relate total production budget the shadows of Kilimanjaro, 7th Heaven Films expects to secure 35% of the to their experiences through universal themes that $ 1,500,000 True Vengeance, Sinbad (filmed Growing up in both East and finance from the UK through available national and cross all boundaries. The international audience in Jordan), The Good Life, West and having travelled regional funding, tax incentives and post-production will see a new world that they know little about current financial need Bloodsport series, Sambar salsa, extensively, Jehan has a global finance. The remaining finance will come from a and the more familiar Middle Eastern audiences we currently expect 35% Distant Mirage. She was UK perspective on life and an second European country and the Middle East. will appreciate an authentic depiction of their own ($ 525,000) finance from UK financial consultant on Rajiv Rai’s innate awareness of cultural We seek an established European and a Middle collective memory and experience. Strategically Pyaay Ishq Aur Mohabbat. diversity. Her understanding of Eastern co-producer to secure the remaining this will maximise the film’s domestic and we need the remaining the Middle Eastern mindset and 65% financing as well as arrange for sales and international audience potential in both art house 65% ($ 975,000) from Europe Manda has also been involved the importance of storytelling to distribution specific to their regions. and mainstream. & Middle East in a number of cross-border the culture has enabled her to transactions in Denmark, contribute significantly towards Following on from the success of the project at The film will have an international cast and we production status Sweden and Japan. She has making A Plane For My Soul and Berlinale Co-production Market, Breakout (UK Film expect it to premiere at a major international in development successfully raised funds other stories within “Iraqi Tales” Council) and the London International Film Festival, festival. We believe in the great distribution under EIS and the Collective appeal to both Middle Eastern we are now pleased to be working with Torino Film potential of this picture and seek to build long-term Investment Scheme. and International audiences. Lab and the Dubai Film Connection in order to relationships for this as well as other projects from attract partners and close financing in 2011. “Iraqi Tales”.

50 51 script & intention

In 2006, I left NYC for Amman/Beirut. The Levant had shifted to more conservative religious social structures, affecting women, which disturbed me. Then the ‘06 Israeli war on Lebanon shocked us, ruining Ic families. I heard of several tragic Arab interfaith love stories from friends. It felt, all around, that alongside the global War on Terror, there had been an undeclared War on Love launched in my home. It was time to write a film.

Crushed between overbearing family, different Gods, and the loss of a homeland, how can a concept as fragile as love, survive? Or bloom? As a secular refugee from a Christian Palestinian family, it is Hind Shoufani important for me to shed critical light on minority rights, gender roles writer & director and disillusioned revolutionaries. I found that a love story that’s subtly humorous in its exploration of two contradictory Arab families is a Hind Shoufani, a Palestinian good vehicle for interpreting those themes. filmmaker/writer, born a refugee The subtext is unique to the region. It delves into backdrops of in ‘78, has lived in many Arab patriarchal systems, censorship, interfaith marriage taboos, second- cities. She was awarded a class refugee citizens, Israel, and religious hypocrisy causing constant Fulbright scholarship to NYU’s wars. But also, despite dead ends, many young people remain activists MFA program in Filmmaking. for humane ideals. She directed several shorts and one feature-length NYU thesis This War On Love English comprises 60% of the film, and Arabic 40%, with traces of titled Carencia and is the author Hind Shoufani French. The film will be shot in a gritty, visceral manner where NYC, of More Light than Death Could Beirut, and Amman are treated with different cinematic looks, as Bear and Inkstains on the Edge Palestine evidenced in films like Traffic. Amman is a washed out grey, ominous, of Light. stagnant camera and mood. Beirut has vintage classy, vibrant, intimate deep colors of old postcards, a beautiful sea. NYC is flashy pop For the past 14 years, Hind colours, travelling shots, laughter and sex, a whirlwind of emotion, un- worked as a freelance writer, synopsis rooted. The war footage is to be sourced from real events in 2006. producer, director, editor and on-screen reporter. She also Yasmine and Ahmed, Palestinian refugees in NYC, are in love. She’s an Two Palestinian I hope to create a dramatic film with a strong independent Palestinian taught filmmaking at LAU atheist from a Christian family, he a believer from a conservative Muslim female lead, one that deals with arranged marriages in a unique for 2 years. She founded the merchant family in Brooklyn. He‘s moody, while she’s impulsive and lovers battle refugee context and a courageous manner. There is a generational conflict Poeticians, a free space where emotional, both struggling with careers. He proposes but she’s unsure, between youth raised on American individualism mixed with Arab poets perform in Beirut/Dubai. which hurts him. They fight. pasts, erratic heritage, and the older generation who resist this global cultural Suddenly, her father, a leftist PLO leader, dies and she returns to Beirut. takeover. This dichotomy is clearly manifested in wedding issues. So- Hind is currently directing Ahmed, missing her, follows. Love reignites in her wild and upper-class cosmopolitan lives, called liberal people show prejudice where religion, race, and family the first art house personal Beirut world. But Ahmed is shocked. He‘s insecure, surprised by the liberal diverging families, a name become of utmost importance. The film is also a self-directed documentary on the radical scene and now sees Yasmine differently. He leaves to Amman, where his critique of the Arab world relapsing into religious fundamentalism leftist factions of the Palestine brother is meeting a traditional bride. There, Ahmed breaks it off. brutal Israeli war after the secular swinging ‘Seventies died, killing any noble aspirations Liberation Organization in the the PLO had. It also exposes the current complex lives of Palestinian 70s and her politician/writer Miserable, she follows, only to find his family pressuring him to marry and personal demons refugees- and lovers- in various racist Arab cities. father, to be released in spring a Muslim. The Israeli war of ‘06 starts and Yasmine is stuck, a refugee. 2011. Interested in films that Ahmed declares he will marry her, in NYC, if she converts. Yasmine to stay together. change her environment, a free considers it, now desperate. But they find themselves alienated, and secular Palestine, regional constantly fighting, in opposing worlds in Amman. In the end, Ahmed Can love survive? female liberties, bonding with marries a stranger. Yasmine, mourning, flees Amman to a desert. Back in like-minded artists, she also NYC, Ahmed is resigned to a cold marriage and a merchant life he didn’t loves dancing, Leonard Cohen want. Yasmine finally writes her book, commemorating her father’s work, and shiny Indian bindis for her in hope of resistance for a homeland. forehead.

52 53 budget & financing distribution & sales production notes

We want to produce This War On Love with a Hind Shoufani just completed a powerful 3rd draft production company modest budget of about $ 600,000. of This War On Love. We expect the final draft to Desert Door Productions This is a realistic amount which we believe we can be ready in January 2011. From then on, we can Dubai Media City raise in the near future, from a variety of sources actively look for suitable distributors in the Middle Thuraya Tower 2 interested in our unconventional topic matter. East, Europe and an international sales agent. 8th floor, Office 40 This War On Love is set in three diverse and visually PO Box 500 717 captivating cities, Beirut, Amman & New York. Hind’s current film, A Journey in Exile, an art Dubai, Uae Therefore, we are looking for co-productions in house PLO documentary about her father, will www.ddprods.com each of these cities. be distributed in 2011 by the US based company [email protected] ArabFilm, who are considering the same for her We expect to get the basic financing ($ 200,000) in debut narrative feature. co-producers Dima Alansari the Middle East from mainly private equity investors. The taboo-breaking courage of the story, combined Palestine / Lebanon / Jordan / US / Kuwait producer We also aim to get $ 100,000 from Arab/American with the universal themes of lost love, religious private equity investors in NYC. For the remaining hypocrisy and war torn cities, encourage us to total production budget Dima Alansari was born in 1977, $ 300,000, we will try to raise that from European believe that This War On Love will appeal to a $ 600,000 in Beirut, Lebanon. She is a Palestinian/Kuwaiti Filmmaker production status and currently lives and works in looking for co-producers, Vancouver, Canada. third draft of script completed, In 2004, Dima completed a casting process started. Diploma from the New York Film Academy from King’s College This War On Love London and continued with a Hind Shoufani Chevening Scholarship from the British Embassy in Kuwait to Palestine obtain an MA in Feature Film from Goldsmith College, University of London. Dima has produced numerous shorts, documentaries film funds and hope to secure the input of broad international audience, not exposed to and TV projects, amongst them, distributors in the Middle East, Europe and possibly such straightforward portrayals of the Middle the documentary Storm from the an international sales agent. East. The film deals with real people, real life South, which provides an intimate challenges and problems, including sub-plots such glimpse at the six critical days Our goal is to finish financing and start pre- as homosexuality, belonging, activism and sexism, before the first Kuwait elections production the the autumn of 2011, and to start which are all universal issues attracting a wide range where women were allowed principal photography in the spring of 2012. of viewers. We understand that a big name actor/ to participate and run for office actress makes it easier to secure the budget, but for the first time in their history. we believe that the main role of Yasmine requires a The film was nominated for the brave trilingual Arab/American fresh-faced actress. Al Muhr Award for Excellence We want to cast bigger names of Arab actors for in Arab Cinema at the Dubai the secondary roles. We realize that it will not be International Film Festival, 2006. easy to find a strong sales agent for a feature debut Her latest work includes the by a young filmmaker, and actor/actress; but we internationally acclaimed Journey believe the budget to be small enough to make the to Mecca a 2D IMAX® feature- film, hoping to impress distributors at festivals and length docu-drama, distributed by after the first cut of the film. The National Geographic, filmed in Saudi Arabia and Morocco. The film will mainly be 60% in English with 40% in The film tells the story of Ibn Arabic, which will help distribution. Battuta, the legendary 14th We hope to approach distributors at Berlin Film century traveller, explorer and Festival & Cannes Film Market in 2011 and then writer, and paints an unforgettable again in 2012 after principal photography is done. picture of Islamic civilization, culminating in his first Hajj.

54 55 Ic

Savina Neirotti Project Director

Jane Williams Director of Dubai Film Connection & Film Forum

Alan Fountain Head of Studies

Staff Mercedes Fernandez Alonso & Laura Marcellino Project Coordinators

Sandra Pappas Assistant Manager, Dubai Film Connection & Film Forum

Trupti Ashar Coordinator, Dubai Film Connection & Film Forum

design: Flarvet

56 57 Ic