Qumra Projects

Twenty-three feature-length and ten short film projects at various stages of production have been selected to benefit from the experience of the Qumra Masters, as well as bespoke mentorship and business meetings with international experts. The primary motive of this international gathering of creative film professionals is to contribute to the development of emerging voices in cinema, with a special focus on first- and second-time filmmakers. Development Feature Narrative

Bull Shark Death Street Evil Eye The Pearl The Search for the Star Pearl Stolen Skies Till the Swallows Return Development / Feature Narrative

Director / Screenwriter Mohammed Al Ibrahim Bassam Al Ibrahim Director’s Note Mohammed Al Ibrahim Bull Shark Producer Mohammed Al Bassam Al Ibrahim With this film I intend to awaken Mohamed Al Hamadi, ‘Qirsh El Thor’ / Qatar, Bahrain, USA / Arabic, English Ibrahim’s 2010 graduated from audiences to a growing trend of Bassam Al Ibrahim, Khalid Al Jaber Genre: Crime Drama narrative short ‘Land the University of malicious greed that destroys any of Pearls’ screened at Essex with a BSc notion of a just-world hypothesis, a number of events, in Engineering and whether cultural or religious, especially An up-and-coming investment banker makes his mark in including the Gulf Telecommunications. in the Gulf region. Behind a veil of Company Profile the Arab region’s most prominent Islamic investment bank, Film Festival, the Doha Tribeca Film His educational background, project Islamic rhetoric oozed a dark secret Innovation Films is a film and only to find he has been caught in the middle of the costliest Festival and the Abu Dhabi Film Festival. management aptitude and business that represented the region’s worst television production company whose embezzlement scheme in Arab history. He participated in the FEST Training acumen have aided him in his role as nightmare – man’s manipulation of a main vision is to create a solid film Ground in Portugal. In 2013, he wrote Executive Producer and Board Member banking system ordained by God. The industry that exports world-class and directed the short film ‘Bidoon’, at Innovation Films. Over his career, aftermath of this era dismembered filmmaking. Past productions include which was named best short narrative Al Ibrahim has produced a number hundreds of families, sparked an the feature film ‘Lockdown: Red Moon at both the Abu Dhabi and Gulf Film of award-winning films, including attempted revolution, and led to losses Escape’, as well as several successful Festivals. He is currently majoring in ‘Bidoon’ and ‘Qarar’, and has overseen in the billions of dollars. The tone of short films; the company also co- Film and Media at the University of production on many other projects ‘Bull Shark’ will be one of looming produced the American indie title California, Santa Barbara. that have pushed the boundaries of paranoia, akin to classic film noir, with ‘KillCam’. Innovation prides itself on filmmaking in Qatar, tackling the thriller, viewers’ allegiances repeatedly shifting creating and nurturing local talent, both Mohamed Al Hamadi horror and romance genres in films to the character seen in the best light in in front of and behind the camera, and including ‘I’, ‘His Name’ and the feature- any given situation. Finally, the audience most crew members working with Mohammed Al length ‘Lockdown: Red Moon Escape’. wonders whether this is the work of Innovation are local film professionals Hamadi works as Al Ibrahim co-founded ILOVEQATAR. a single powerful man, or that of a or trainees. We actively contribute a Senior Standards net, an online community forum that collective conspiracy gone awry. to local expertise by having interns Engineer at Qatar has developed into one of Qatar’s most shadow industry professionals on set Petroleum. He successful brands, and was appointed and placing trainees on commercials, graduated from a committee member on ict-QATAR’s and short and feature films. Innovation the University of Tulsa with a BSc in youth Internet policies initiative. also conducts scriptwriting, producing Chemical Engineering and is completing and directing classes, and weekly acting ‘Bull Shark’ is inspired by real events that took place during the second wave a degree in Fine Arts from Virginia workshops overseen by Academy Award of economic growth in the GCC, from the late 1990s until 2011. At that time, Commonwealth University in Qatar, Khalid Al Jaber nominee Scandar Copti. a sharia-compliant standard for private-equity investment banking allowed with a double major in Painting & for the development of hedge funds to facilitate the infrastructure of Printmaking and Fashion Design. Al In 2010 Khalid Al Jaber FINANCIAL Hamadi has been heavily involved in the mega-cities and numerous other projects in all GCC countries and around created Innovation INFORMATION arts scene in Doha since 2007 and in the world. When an up-and-coming banker gets hints of foul play from his Films, a subsidiary of Tulsa before that. In 2011, he joined the the Innovation Group. most loyal investors, he is compelled to attempt to topple a regime stifled Total Budget: TBD Innovation Group as CEO of Innovation His aim was to develop by greed, excess and power. Secured Financing: $150,000 Films and has since then produced a cinema and filmmaking number of films, corporate videos, web in the region with the help of his Confirmed Financial Partners: series and music videos. filmmaker partners. Al Jaber produced • Private funding his first feature-length film ‘Lockdown: Red Moon Escape’ in 2012, and is set Looking For: to produce a number of short films and • Co-producer features as part of the company’s long- • Development funding term plan to create more homegrown Contact • Funding content. Innovation Films • Production advice Bassam Al Ibrahim • Script feedback +974 7708 8077 [email protected]

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Director / Screenwriter / Producer Mohanad Hayal Hala Al Salman Director’s Note Mohanad Hayal Death Street Producer Mohanad Hayal Being raised by Iraqi In 2006, Haifa Street in Baghdad was Hala Al Salman ‘Sharia’ Al Maut’ / Iraq, Qatar / Arabic was born in Iraq. After parents between among the roughest streets of the civil Genre: Drama graduating from the multicultural war, which lasted for two years. Haifa Baghdad University’s cities of Dubai and Street went from being home to the Faculty of Fine Arts & Montreal has made most important university professors Company Profile Tariq, the sniper of Haifa Street in Baghdad, kills Ahmed on the day Cinema and attending Hala Al Salman a and intellectuals to a street of death, Dream Group is a production company he intends to propose marriage. While Tariq prevents anyone from several film-directing workshops in the true citizen of the world. For five years, lined with snipers and dead bodies. whose goal is to seek and explore approaching the corpse in the street, an intimate and telling drama USA, he gained considerable experience she produced short socio-political This film is drawn from a 10-minute individual creativity, producing high- unfolds. working as an assistant to directors documentaries from across the Middle experience I had on the street in 2006, impact films with a social conscience. Mohamed Al-Daradji and Oday Rasheed. East for Current TV and the CBC. Her when a stranger walking by my side Dream Group has produced numerous He has made a number of short and background in journalism and never- was shot by a sniper and dropped short films, documentaries and documentary films. His ‘Happy Birthday’ ending fascination with the human dead. A hail of bullets came upon us television programmes and contributed was selected for the 2013 Berlin condition have always informed her from everywhere, and in those strange to the establishment of the Iraqi International Film Festival. He conducts work as a narrative filmmaker. Her most moments, I don’t know how I found Independent Film Centre. filmmaking workshops and is one of the recent film, ‘Bêtes humaines’ (2011) is refuge in a house nearby. I learned that founders of the Iraqi Independent Film a quirky French-language omnibus film the people who sheltered me were Centre. set in the Montreal metro. It premiered the family of the man who had just at the International Newport Beach died beside me, and I witnessed them Film Festival and was nominated for a struggling for three hours, trying to Gemini Award. collect his body without getting killed. Fear prevented me from helping in any way. We were all helpless, as death was the master of the situation. This film wonders what happened to the family? Who was the sniper? What happened to the dead man in the street?

Haifa Street, one of the most dangerous locations during the civil war in Baghdad, in 2006. Tariq, a 23-year-old sniper, kills 45-year-old Ahmed in front of the home of Su’ad when he comes to ask for her hand in marriage. Tariq prevents anyone from reaching Ahmed’s corpse – including Su’ad and her children, Salam and Nadia. As the family faces the arduous task FINANCIAL INFORMATION of recovering Ahmed’s body, the conflicts among Su’ad, Salam – a devout Muslim who rejects the idea of his mother’s remarrying – and Nadia, who Total Budget: $383,500 Looking For: is torn between personal ambitions of liberation from male power and her Secured Financing: $65,000 • Co-producer (Europe) sympathy for her mother. This family drama is set against the question of why Tariq refuses to allow Su’ad to recover the body of her beloved. Confirmed Financial Partners: • Company Dream Group, Iraq • Doha Film Institute, Qatar • Iraqi Independent Film Centre

Contact Dream Group Mohanad Hayal [email protected]

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Director / Screenwriter Sophia Al-Maria Anna Lena Vaney Director’s Note Sophia Al-Maria Evil Eye Producer Sophia Al-Maria is Anna Lena Vaney ‘Evil Eye’ sets out to explore the Anna Lena Vaney ‘Al Ain’ / Morocco, Qatar / Arabic a Qatari-American is a film producer. similarities between religious Genre: Fantasy, Horror writer and artist. Her Milestones of fundamentalism and black magic, and first book, ‘The Girl audiovisual work their effect on young women. I want to Who Fell to Earth’, was produced by Vaney invoke the power young women have Company Profile A North African take on the teen witch film. released in late 2012, include Douglas Gordon onscreen and encourage it in a narrative Founded in 1999, Anna Lena Films is and her art has been shown around the and Philippe Parreno’s film ‘Zidane, a that celebrates friendship, love and a film production company dedicated world, at the New Museum in New York 21st Century Portrait’ (2006), which fearlessness. A country girl and a city to bringing artists’ creative vision into City, the Contemporary Art Museum in premiered in the Official Selection at girl meet and make magic happen – the field of film. Focusing on artistic Kitakishyu, Japan, and the Architectural the Festival de Cannes; Pierre Huyghe but when they do, they are punished. prominence, bold subjects and new Association School of Architecture in and Parreno’s ‘No Ghost Just a Shell’ Knowledge of our power as girls is formats, the projects of Anna Lena London. She made her Biennale debut series; Jean-Stephane Sauvaire’s ‘Punk’ hidden from us, and using that power Films are produced in collaboration with at Gwanju in South Korea with ‘Scout’. (2013); Huyghe’s ‘The Host and the is discouraged as we become women. esteemed international contemporary Currently, she is working on ‘Evil Eye’, Cloud’ (2011) and award-winning short Even today, witch-hunts and exorcisms artists and authors. The company is a feature-length film funded in part film ‘Human Mask’ (2014); and Jesper occur all over the world, especially when run by Anna Lena Vaney and Victorien by the Doha Film Institute. Al-Maria Just’s ‘Servitudes’ (2015), which recently young women display a confidence, Vaney. was a fellow at the Sundance january screened on Times Square in New York rebelliousness or knowledge deemed Screenwriters Lab in 2015, and currently City. Vaney is currently developing “unnatural” to their character or station. writes for film and television in the UK. feature-length films with Just, Sophia The candy-coloured world in which ‘Evil She will present a new 20-minute film Al-Maria, Parreno and Rirkrit Tiravanija. Eye’ occurs is one in which magic is at her first solo show in North America both dangerous and real. at the Whitney Museum in New York in July, 2016.

After inheriting the keys to an apartment in The City, country girl Dihya finds out that The Village she comes from has a reputation for witchcraft. This intrigues her new neighbour, fellow teen Fatima, who befriends Dihya in hopes of getting assistance with a love spell. But when the friends go to visit a sorceress, Dihya discovers a frightening secret about herself – and her love spell for Fatima goes horribly wrong.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Total Budget: $2,000,000 Looking For: Secured Financing: nil • Co-producers (Europe, MENA region) • Film funds • Production advice • Script feedback

Contact Anna Lena Films Anna Lena Vaney +33 6 63 74 10 11 [email protected]

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Director / Screenwriter Noor Al Nasr Director’s Note Noor Al-Nasr The Pearl Noor Al-Nasr is a The story of ‘The Pearl’ is a reflection ‘Al Lualuah’ / Qatar / Arabic, English graphic designer, writer of what is happening today, as youth Genre: Drama and aspiring filmmaker. are becoming more tech-savvy and She has always been more invested in their smartphones Interests: Family, Youth interested in art in all then in their surroundings. Qatar is its forms, especially becoming a global destination, and A tech-obsessed Qatari teen, disconnected from his family, the moving image. Her first short film, with that the identity of its culture is travels back in time to an era before his beloved technology ‘Attack of the Health Invaders’ (2014) being challenged, especially between existed, when the city’s main source of income was pearl was shot as part of a challenge for generations. Before technology took diving. Alone on this journey, he must learn how to survive and Qatar’s Seha health organisation. It over, we lived in simpler times when communicate face-to-face in order to reconnect with his family. made its premiere in the Ajyal Youth the moment was lived and genuine Film Festival and was featured at the relationships between people existed. I Festival de Cannes. believe my generation is considered the last to have lived without technology, using our imagination to occupy our time as children. It saddens me to see the next generation growing up with technology that eliminates human contact. The story was inspired by my grandfather, who was a pearling captain. Unfortunately I never met him because he passed away before I was born. Growing up, I heard many stories about what he was like, and I wondered how it would it have been to have known him during that interesting period of time in our history. In the film, the main character goes on a journey to that time, where he learns how to Fourteen-year-old Khalid takes his family for granted. At the beach, understand and connect with people. absorbed in his mobile screen, Khalid fails to notice his sister drowning. His attempt to rescue her finds him rescued instead – by Qatari pearl divers in colonial Doha. The year is 1930. Without the technological resources he is accustomed to, Khalid must rely on the kindness of others to survive. He strikes up a relationship with a pearling captain, who mentors him in the art FINANCIAL INFORMATION of compassion. Khalid’s appreciation of the captain is put to the test when only he – with his modern knowledge – can help save the captain’s family Total Budget: TBD Looking For: from ruin. Secured Financing: $40,000 • Development funding • Producer Confirmed Financial Partners: • Production advice • Doha Film Institute, Qatar • Script feedback

Contact Noor Al-Nasr +974 5503 6644 [email protected]

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Director / Screenwriter Hafiz Ali Ali Director’s Note Hafiz Ali Ali The Search for the Screenwriter Hafiz Ali Ali is an ‘The Search for the Star Pearl’ is a story David Abramowitz, Tom Abrams established Qatari I am very passionate about telling. The Star Pearl film producer and concept developed a few years ago as director with extensive I was working on ‘Garangao’ (2008), a ‘Al Bahath An Danat Al Najoom’ / Qatar / Arabic, English experience in the children’s film based on traditional and Genre: Animation, Drama arts. He began his cultural events. I wanted to expand creative endeavours in theatre while the seafaring universe and dive into Ali, a 17-year-old pearl diver from Doha, discovers a map to the Star still in school, and has participated in something on a much larger scale and Pearl of Abu Derya, the most valuable gem on Earth, and sets sail numerous local and regional festivals open a new dimension filled with sea with three teenaged friends in search of it. Along the way, they face and appeared in several television creatures and colonies on the edge mythological beasts that challenge their skills and friendship. series. Ali graduated from the California of the world. For the past couple of Institute of the Arts in 1999 with a BFA years I have been living in this world, in Theatre Design and Technology and developing the story with two talented from Chapman University in 2005 with writers from the United States, fleshing an MFA in Film and TV Directing; he out the script and carefully building obtained his Executive MBA degree the visual world and narrative for ‘The from HEC Paris in 2014. Between 2000 Search for the Star Pearl’. The film is a and 2009, he directed several television unique project in that it is not only a shows and documentary films for Qatar one-of-a-kind tale inspired by Arabian TV and Al Jazeera Children’s Channel Gulf folklore, but a dramatic adventure before working for the Qatar Foundation that has yet to be told in full-length as Arts Programme Manager; since 2013, animated form. Ali has been Heritage Houses Manager for Msheireb Museums and recently he was appointed Director of Msheireb Museums. His films, which have been selected for many international film festivals and won several awards, include ‘The Oryx Return’ (2007) and Ali ibn Hamad, a brave, 17-year-old Qatari boy, sails the unknown seas with ‘Scents and Shadows’ (2010). His feature- length screenplay ‘The DNA of Love’ is his friends, the fun-loving Belal and science-minded Rashid, hoping to currently in development. find the Star Pearl of Abu Derya. The legendary pearl is reputed to be the most valuable gem on Earth, but its hiding place is protected by a terrifying demon. Ali’s journey takes him across the Gulf to the shores of India and the South China Sea, where he and his friends battle pirates, an evil wizard FINANCIAL INFORMATION and mythological creatures from antiquity. The adventure challenges their wits, their lives and – most importantly – their hearts when they face the Total Budget: TBD Looking For: Dragon King, the monstrous guardian of the priceless treasure. Secured Financing: $40,000 • Animation producer • Animators Confirmed Financial Partners: • Co-producers • Doha Film Institute, Qatar • Development funding • Distribution advice Contact • Funding Hafiz Ali Ali • Production advice +974 5550 8747 • Script feedback [email protected]

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Director / Screenwriter Laila Hotait Salas Nadia Hotait Director’s Note Laila Hotait Salas Stolen Skies Producer Laila Hotait Salas, Since 2010 Nadia ‘Stolen Skies’ deals with my obsessions: Nadia Hotait ‘Al Samaa’ Al Masroukah’ / Lebanon, Spain, Qatar / Arabic Ph.D, is a Lebanese- Hotait has worked as a love, that brutal emotion that can arise Genre: Drama Spanish filmmaker producer for Laaventura at the most unfortunate moments; and artist. Her first and she has been memories, those dramatic experiences documentary film, Head of Development that stay with us and take us off guard Company Profile When a bomb is detonated in Cairo, one family feels it ricochet ‘Crayons of Askalan’ at Lola New Horizons when they return unexpectedly; and Laaventura is an award-winning through the erased memories of three generations. (2011) has been presented in more than (Lolafilms) since 2014. As a producer, forgiveness, as a tool for liberation. The production platform set up by the 20 film festivals, including Hot Docs, the she is interested in transmedia and films frame of the film is the intimacy of daily Hotait sisters based in Beirut, Madrid Doha Tribeca Film Festival, CPH:DOX with a unique approach. Her work has life in Egypt and Lebanon, two countries and Mexico. We specialise in work and DocsDF. Her sound art works have been broadcast on networks including that have been largely defined by their that focuses on narrative content with been presented at international venues BBC Arabic, Aljazeera and Documania political context, and by their difficult striking visuals, while striving to create such as the Centre Pompidou, the Channel, and the films she has times, when the average citizen has had amusing and thought-provoking stories. Kunst-im-Tunnel Museum Düsseldorf produced have competed at Hot Docs, to struggle to pursue a normal life, if Laaventura manages a wide variety of and several art galleries. Hotait CPH:DOX and DocsDF and screened in such a thing is still possible. Dalal and projects from film and documentary was selected by the CPH:LAB as an numerous other venues. Hotait was a Ali’s love story points to the historical to large format video-installations international emerging film talent in Mohamed S. Farsi Foundation grantee relationship between Egypt and and transmedia projects. Laaventura 2011, and co-directed the film ‘From in the European Master of Audiovisual Lebanon, a powerful and important one has been producing content in Arabic, a Distance’ with Rania M. Tawfik the Management programme. She received that ended abruptly, leading to a dark English and Spanish since 2009. Our same year. Her work has received her BA in Audiovisual Studies from time during which political aspirations work has been broadcast on networks support from institutions including Complutense University, Madrid, and dreams were extinguished. including BBC Arabic, Al Jazeera and the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, and Waseda University, Tokyo, and Documania, and has been presented the Sundance Documentary Fund graduated with a MFA in Film, Video and internationally at more than 50 film Programme, Screen Institute Beirut and New Media from the School of the Art festivals. Laaventura’s video-installation the Doha Film Institute. Institute of Chicago, where she obtained work has been exhibited at galleries the Louise Raymond Fellowship. and museums throughout the world, Cairo, June 2015, 6:00 AM. An explosion shatters a window, knocking Lola, a and the company has received several 40-year old-Egyptian journalist, unconscious. During the subsequent days awards for its artistic production. she spends in hospital, Lola must leave her 12-year-old daughter Natalie with her grandmother, Dalal, with whom Lola does not have a very good relationship. Dalal, a photographer, lives with past trauma and a great sense of guilt. The explosion acts as a big bang in these women’s lives as it exposes what Dalal and her ex-husband had hidden for 40 years: that FINANCIAL INFORMATION both of them were responsible for the death of Dalal's secret lover – Lola's biological father. The definitive confrontation with these suppressed Total Budget: $940,000 Looking For: memories allows Dalal to confront her daughter, ask for her forgiveness and Secured Financing: $10,000 • Co-producers die in peace. • Distributors Confirmed Financial Partners: • Financial advice • Doha Film Institute, Qatar • Production funding • Script feedback

Contact Laaventura Nadia Hotait +34 6 65 82 36 91 [email protected]

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Director / Screenwriter Karim Moussaoui Jaber Debzi Director’s Note Karim Moussaoui Till the Swallows Producer Born in 1975, Karim Jaber Debzi is a The stories of my film are set in the Jaber Debzi Moussaoui is an active producer who lives context of the beginning of the 2000s Return member of Chrysalis, and works in Algiers. in Algeria. These are social stories: they one of Algeria’s most Since 2014, he has involve ordinary people living ordinary ‘En attendant les hirondelles’ / Algeria, France, Qatar / Arabic important independent been Chairperson of lives. The screenplay is based on a Company Profile Runtime: 110 min film associations. Chrysalide, one of the series of portraits of three characters After co-producing ‘The Days Before’ Genre: Drama Moussaoui has worked on a number of most important and active cultural struggling with the daily demands of life (2013), a medium-length narrative plays and films, among them ‘Paloma associations in Algeria. Between 2007 and with Algeria’s recent history. They film by Karim Moussaoui, Jaber This is the story of three characters who are a product of the Delight’ with Nadir Mokneche. In and 2011, he chaired and hosted the are approaching a turning point in their Debzi founded Prolégomènes, an conflicted Algeria of the 2000s. Their ideals shattered and their 2006, he made his first two short films: Film Clubs Association. Since 2010, personal lives; they are being offered Algerian production and distribution moral strength drained, each now faces a difficult life choice. ‘What We Must Do’, based on Charles Debzi has worked as a producer and the choice to take control of their company, in 2015. Its mission is to Bukowsky’s short story ‘The Copulating production manager for numerous destiny. But they all choose the status support bold film projects driven by a Mermaid of Venice’; and ‘Breakfast’. production companies in Algiers. In quo, whether due to lack of courage new generation of Algerian directors, In 2011, his feature film script ‘Till the 2015, he launched Prolégomènes, his or fear of change. In the film, these among them Moussaoui and Djamel Swallows Return’ was selected for the own film company. He is currently life choices are played out by placing Kerkar. The company’s strategy is to Méditalents writing workshop; there producing Karim Moussaoui’s feature- the characters’ ambitions for a better accompany filmmakers throughout he met Virginie Legeay, with whom he length narrative ‘Till the Swallows life alongside the fulfilment (or not) of the life of their films to ensure that co-wrote the screenplay for ‘Les Jours Return’, Djamel Kerkar’s creative those desires. My aim is to bring tragedy the work emerges during a time d’avant’. ‘Till the Swallows Return’ was documentary ‘Spectres’ and ‘The into the banality of daily life, without when Arab cinema remains fragile. developed during the Cinéfondation’s Moped and the Goldfinch’, a short weighing down the story. The spectator Currently, Prolégomènes has two Résidence du Festival de Cannes narrative film by Amir Bensaïfi. is led to conclude that Algeria is trapped feature-length films in production: between October, 2014 and February, in a social deadlock. Moussaoui’s narrative feature ‘Till the 2015. Swallows Return’ and Kerkar’s creative documentary ‘Spectres’, as well as ‘The Moped and the Goldfinch’, a short narrative film by Amir Bensaïfi.

Mourad, a businessman, rose to success in Algeria in the 2000s. Now a new man, he wants to stay away from trouble. When he comes across a fight in which a man’s life is in danger, he decides not to step in or FINANCIAL INFORMATION provide assistance. Aisha is done with the past. About to start a new life as a married woman, she starts on the journey toward her new family, Total Budget: $1,547,187 Looking For: accompanied by her father and Jalil, a neighbour. Dahman is a doctor. He Secured Financing: $172,037 • Co-producer (Norway) too hopes to start over – he wants to marry his cousin, and patiently awaits • Co-production advice the promotion that would confirm his social status. Each of these three Confirmed Financial Partners: • Distribution and sales advice characters will have to face up to the consequences of their choices. • Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, Lebanon • Film funds • Cinemed, France • Financial advice • CNC Prize – Open Doors Locarno, France/ • Legal advice Switzerland • Script feedback Contact • Doha Film Institute, Qatar Prolégomènes • Institut Français d’Alger, France Jaber Debzi +213 55 669 5968 [email protected]

48 49 Development Feature Documentary

Agnus Dei Behind the Doors The Great Family To the Ends of the Earth Development / Feature Documentary

Director Karim Sayad Joëlle Bertossa Director’s Note Karim Sayad Agnus Dei Producer Karim Sayad was Joëlle Bertossa ‘Agnus Dei’ seeks to draw a parallel Joëlle Bertossa Switzerland, Algeria, Qatar / Arabic / 2017 born in Lausanne in graduated from the between the violence present in the Genre: Creative Documentary 1984 to an Algerian Brussels film school relationship of the master to his animal father and a Swiss INSAS in 1999 and and that in the relationship of society mother. After obtaining worked on several to individuals. The aim of the film is Company Profile On the vacant lot where the confrontation takes place, the an MA in International films as a first assistant neither an apology for violence against Close Up Films is an independent tension is at its peak. Foufa and his sheep King are getting ready Relations from the Graduate Institute of director before being hired by Nicolas animals nor an attempt to justify it; production company based in Geneva. for the fight... International and Development Studies Wadimoff at Akka Films in 2003, rather, it wishes to ask what these Not limited by genre, Close Up of Geneva, he decided to become where she produced films including mistreatments might tell us of the undertakes a wide range of fiction and a documentary filmmaker. ‘Babor his ‘Aisheen, Still Alive in Gaza’ (2010). challenges faced by the youth of Algeria documentary projects. Aspiring to reach Casanova’ (2015), his first film, was In 2012, Bertossa founded Geneva- in a country that offers them little a wide audience with projects that are selected for numerous international based Close Up Films. Since then, she hope. The intention is not to judge the demanding in both form and content, film festivals, including the Clermont- has produced several documentaries, violence, but instead to focus on how Close Up produces films from both Ferrand International Short Film Festival, among them João Pedro Plácido’s ‘Volta these men’s exploitation of animals young talents and established auteurs. and won awards from Doclisboa and the à terra’ (2015), which premiered at is an outlet for their frustrations. The Our films strive to question society Festival dei Popoli in Florence. Visions du Réel and was presented in human violence visited on the animals and expand viewpoints on cinema the Acid programme at the Festival de is seen as an unconscious reflection of and the world, and we choose to work Cannes. Her feature-length narratives the violence undergone by citizens in on projects with international appeal, as producer include Philippe Garrel’s ‘In the current political system. collaborating regularly with foreign the Shadow of Women’ (2015), which partners. opened the Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes; and Paule Muret’s ‘For This Is My Body’ (2015), starring Carl Barât and Fanny Ardant.

It is late summer, 2016, and in Algiers sheep have invaded the streets. On the balconies, the streets, walked on leashes; they do not suspect the tragic end that awaits them. Eid is approaching, and all will be sacrificed on the occasion of the feast. But not King, the powerful ram from El Harrach, a tough neighbourhood in the suburbs of Algiers. For the past six months, King has been subjected to training worthy of an elite athlete. His master, FINANCIAL INFORMATION 22-year-old Foufa, runs an Internet café and dreams of becoming a sheep trainer recognised throughout the neighbourhood. On the vacant lot where Total Budget: $528,330 Looking For: the confrontation takes place, the tension is at its height. The fight can Secured Financing: $40,948 • Co-producers (Algeria, France, MENA region) begin. • Distribution advice Confirmed Financial Partners: • Distributors • Cinéforom – La Fondation romande pour le cinéma, • Sales agents Switzerland • Script feedback • Doha Film Institute, Qatar

Contact Close Up Films Joëlle Bertossa +41 22 808 0846 / +41 78 665 0512 [email protected]

52 53 Development / Feature Documentary

Director Yakout Elhababi Vincent Melilli Director’s Note Yakout Elhababi Behind the Doors Producer Yakout Elhababi Vincent Melilli is the What fascinated me about this story Vincent Melilli ‘Mor L’bab’ / Morocco, Qatar / Arabic graduated from the Founder and Managing were the secrets, the ambiguity, Genre: Biography, Creative Documentary ESAV Marrakech film Director of the Ecole and the silences around the subject, school in 2010, and Supérieure des Arts and meeting the families involved Interests: Children, Environment, Psychology, Social Issues, Youth INSAS Brussels in 2013, Visuels de Marrakech. is a testament to a monumental Company Profile where she studied Previously, Melilli hypocrisy. Their children are moulded Esav Production was launched in 2015. High in the Rif mountains of Morocco, the people survive by editing. She has worked on several was the French Audiovisual Attaché into the life awaiting them, but when Its mission is to guide students of the growing kif. Beneath the shadow of the ambiguous legality of Moroccan narrative and documentary and Director of the French Institute in it comes to children, we adults are École Supérieure des Arts Visuels de the crop, ‘Behind the Doors’ tells the story of a family through productions, and also works as a London from 2002 to 2004. He held an more understanding of the external Marrakech (ESAV) through the making its children and their mirroring games. freelance editor. Elhababi is currently earlier post in Marrakesh for four years, influences that shape them. Working of their first professional projects, developing ‘Behind the Doors’, her first as Director of the French Institute, under this assumption, I am giving the and to produce a new generation of feature-length documentary, set in her the leading French Institute in Africa. prospect of immunity to these adults filmmakers and cinema professionals home region of northern Morocco. Prior to that, Melilli was Secretary who are considered criminals. The in Morocco and the African continent. General of the Maison de la Culture de greatest challenge from my perspective In 2015, Esav Production developed Bourges, the oldest and largest of its is establishing the means to show five short films, and work is underway kind in France. In the early 1980s, Melilli taboo subjects and concealed images on six shorts and a feature-length co-founded and ran the Escurial and without becoming voyeuristic. As my documentary in 2016. Max Linder theaters, two of the most grandfather is from a nearby village, I prominent art-house cinemas in Paris. know the region from my childhood, Melilli grew up in Morocco, and left after and this gives my camera unique and high school to pursue theatre, literature discreet access today. I will live with the and cinema studies in Paris. families over a period of time, leaving and returning to the rhythm of the seasons.

‘Behind the Doors’ is a portrait of a farming family living in one of the most marginalised regions of northern Morocco. Only one thing grows in their brutal climate: kif. This taboo is seen through the eyes of the children, who learn the gestures of growing the illicit crop before their mother tongue. FINANCIAL INFORMATION This is a film about parents fighting to provide role models against all odds. They inherited the lands, and stand somewhere between the fear of selling Total Budget: $110,950 Looking For: out their roots and the dream of fleeing. Secured Financing: $10,000 • Co-producers (Europe) • Co-writer Confirmed Financial Partners: • Development funding • Doha Film Institute, Qatar • Legal advice • Script feedback • Writing labs

Contact Yakout Elhababi +212 6 8728 5751 [email protected]

54 55 Development / Feature Documentary

Director Eliane Raheb Lara Abou Saifan Director’s Note Eliane Raheb The Great Family Producer Lebanese director Lara Abou Saifan is an My journey in film has been Lara Abou Saifan ‘Al A’ila Al Kubra’ / Lebanon, France, Qatar / Arabic Eliane Raheb has independent producer accompanied by questions about war Genre: Creative Documentary directed several and production and identity. Thus, I often found myself short and medium- manager based in in the position of mediator between length films, which Beirut. She holds a BA characters in complex situations and Company Profile In 1976, at the age of four, Marlene was put up for adoption have won awards in Communication Arts their difficulties with confronting their Beirut DC is a Lebanese cultural in Lebanon and raised in France. In delving into her past, she at various festivals and have been from the Lebanese American University buried or denied memories. The story of association, created in 1999 by a group discovers she is a survivor of the massacre at the Tal Al Zaatar broadcast on ARTE/ZDF, Al Jazeera in Beirut, and has credits on work Marlene is a new chapter vis-à-vis these of filmmakers and arts advocates. Palestinian refugee camp, and a family of survivors grows and NHK. ‘Sleepless Nights’ (2012), for major regional and international questions. Marlene is investigating The association’s main activities are around her. her first feature-length documentary, networks including Al Jazeera, MBC, the the traces of her identity in the ruins producing independent documentaries; screened in more than 40 film festivals BBC and the Sundance Channel. of Tal Al Zaatar, a camp that has been organising capacity-building workshops and was ranked fifth in ‘Sight and wiped out and that is only kept alive with young Arab filmmakers; and Sound’ magazine’s listing of the best through the testimonies of its survivors. staging the biennal Beirut Cinema Days documentaries of 2013. Raheb is a Marlene’s quest triggers revisiting the film festival as well as several Arab film founding member of Beirut DC, where history of Tal Al Zaatar 40 years after its weeks in Europe and in the Arab world. she established the Beirut Cinema fall, portraying Marlene and her large Beirut DC’s latest productions include Days film festival. She has taught family in their new reality, and reflecting ‘Seeing the Self’ (2015), 20 short videos documentary filmmaking at the on how human beings overcome the by Syrian and Lebanese youngsters; and Université Saint-Joseph since 2003 and loss of their loved ones and find new Bassem Fayyad’s ‘Diaries of a Flying is currently a guest of the prestigious meaning for life. Dog’ (2014), Zeina Sfeir’s ‘All About My DAAD arts academy of Berlin. Father’ (2010) and Simon Al Habre’s ‘The One-Man Village’ (2008), three feature-length documentaries. In 2015, the association held the Beirut Cinema Platform, three days of meetings, training and pitching for 15 Arab producers and 25 industry experts.

‘The Great Family’ follows the story of Marlene, a 43-year-old woman who was adopted from Lebanon by the French Gribaudo family in 1976 when she was four years old. As she investigates the traces of her identity, she discovers she is from the Tal Al Zaatar Palestinian refugee camp, which FINANCIAL INFORMATION fell during the Lebanese Civil War. The camp is only kept alive through the testimonies of its survivors, who are scattered in Lebanon, Jordan, Germany, Total Budget: $217,579 Looking For: Norway and Sweden, and, even 40 years later, are unable to ingest the Secured Financing: $31,000 • Archives ugliness of what they lived on 12 August, 1976. As the film progresses, solid • Broadcasters ties are built among Marlene and the survivors of Tal Al Zaatar, and they all Confirmed Financial Partners: • Co-producers (Germany, Norway, Sweden, become one great family. • AlterCine, Canada Switzerland) • Beirut DC, Lebanon • Development funding • Cosmographe Productions, France • Funding • Doha Film Institute, Qatar • Legal advice Contact • Itar Productions, Lebanon Beirut DC Eliane Raheb +961 1 293 212 [email protected]

56 57 Development / Feature Documentary

Director Hamida Issa Justin Kramer Director’s Note Hamida Issa To the Ends of Producer Hamida Issa is a Justin Kramer is an I will never forget praying in the serene Justin Kramer Qatari director, writer American filmmaker silence on the ice in Antarctica. Was I the Earth and producer. She and artist. His career the first person to pray on that piece graduated with a began in New York City, of ice? That fascinating question fills Qatar / Arabic, English / 2017 BA in Politics from where he worked on me with a sense of responsibility to Company Profile Genre: Poetic Documentary University College projects for HBO, MTV, honour that land, our land, my land – The Film House is a Doha-based Interests: Environment London and an MA in Global Cinemas CNN, VH1 and AMC, among others. and to do something beneficial with my film, video, photography and multi- and the Transcultural from the School His work has been seen in numerous experiences. In Islam, human beings are media production company. Its A Qatari woman travels on an environmental expedition to of Oriental and African Studies. Issa award-winning short films, television described as the Khalifas, the caretakers talented team of experienced and Antarctica in search of hope, before returning to the Gulf and worked for the education team at the shows, feature documentaries, music of our world. The way we treat creative storytellers, documentarians, finding unity and inspiration for positive change. Doha Film Institute at its inception and videos and commercials. In 2009, ourselves, the people around us and animators, photographers, and film made her first short film, ‘15 Heartbeats’, Kramer moved to Qatar to join the our Earth is our ultimate test. This film directors cover all aspects of projects, which premiered at the Doha Tribeca Doha Film Institute, where he produced will act as a reminder of that test, and from idea generation through post- Film Festival, in 2011. She is the first several workshops and programmes hopefully inspire action no matter how production. Not a traditional production Qatari woman in history to step foot on that resulted in filmmakers from Qatar small. I want this film to be a vehicle for company, The Film House offers flexible Antarctica and is currently making her gaining international recognition. change, not only within myself, but also production to facilitate a range of first feature-length documentary, ‘To Kramer now heads up The Film House, for my society and the world. requirements. With a wealth of local the Ends of the Earth’, which considers the first production company of its kind knowledge and Qatar’s community her experience and environmental in Qatar. His upcoming documentary in mind, the company is primed to sustainability. ‘Zabaleen’, an intimate look at a family foster local talent and to redefine of Egyptian garbage collectors, is due to visual storytelling in the region. The be released in 2016. Film House is a home for high-calibre international productions that want to come to town and place Qatar in the spotlight.

The story of ‘To the Ends of the Earth’ begins in Argentina and follows an environmental expedition to Antarctica, exploring the hope of individuals to contribute positively to their communities. The journey continues to FINANCIAL INFORMATION the Arabian Gulf, in search of inspiring characters who are working toward environmental change. Antarctica serves as a beautiful reminder of what Total Budget: $500,000 Looking For: we once were, and contrasts with the rich cultural tapestry of the Gulf Secured Financing: $140,000 • Editing advice and those who are united in their dedication to sustainability and hope • Legal advice for our future. At the heart of the film is the juxtaposition of two deserts: Confirmed Financial Partners: • Script feedback Antarctica and Arabia; ice and sand. • Doha Film Institute, Qatar • Private funding

Contact The Film House Justin Kramer +974 5553 5165 [email protected]

58 59 Works-in-Progress Feature Narrative

Ali, the Goat and Ibrahim Dede Poisonous Roses White Sun Work-in-Progress / Feature Narrative

Director Sherif Elbendary Hossam Elouan Sherif Elbendary Ali, the Goat Screenwriter Egyptian filmmaker In 2008, Hossam he was the only Arab to be selected Ibrahim El Batout, Ahmed Amer Sherif Elbendary lives Elouan received his MA by 'Screen International' as one of the and Ibrahim world's most influential filmmakers. Producer and works in Cairo. in Cinema Studies from He graduated from San Francisco State In 2005, he founded Film Clinic, a Hossam Elouan, Mohamed Hefzy ‘Ali Mea’za’ / Egypt, France, Qatar / Arabic / 2016 the High Institute of University. He received development and production company, Co-producer Runtime: 110 min Cinema in Cairo in 2007. a post-graduate and in 10 years, he has produced or Guillaume De Seille Genre: Dark Comedy, Drama His short films, ‘Rise & Shine, (2006) diploma in International Co-production co-produced 19 feature films in Egypt, Interests: Middle East, Youth and ‘At Day's End’ (2008), appeared in from EAVE in 2011, and trained in the United States, the UK and the Arab numerous film festivals and won many post-production at the EP2C Workshop world. Company Profile Ali and Ibrahim are two lonely and weird characters who are awards. Sherif’s ‘Curfew was part of the in 2012. Elouan founded Transit Films Film Clinic was founded in 2006 and rejected by their society. Ali loves a goat called Nada, and omnibus film ‘18 Days’, which screened in 2013 to produce Arab films that Director’s Note is managed by renowned producer Ibrahim is a sound engineer who is disturbed by strange voices at the Festival de Cannes in 2011, and represent new Arab realities, and his ‘Dry Hot Summers’ won the Robert promote Arab presence in international and scriptwriter Mohamed Hefzy. The that he alone can hear. When their paths cross, this odd pair Very few are the films that give us Bosch Film Prize in 2014, and was in film culture. His interests include issues company is now considered one of embarks on a journey that will change their lives. enough space to express all the competition at the Clermont-Ferrand of representation and misconceptions the leading production houses in the conflicting emotions we have toward International Short Film Festival in 2016. of otherness in global societies. MENA region; it not only creates unique the city of Cairo; the love, oppression, ‘Ali, the Goat and Ibrahim’ is Elbendary’s feature films, but also empowers talent belonging, anger, frustration and even feature-length debut. He is currently Mohamed Hefzy to do so. We are passionate about hate. Ali and Ibrahim are the natural preparing his second feature, ‘2 Rooms the filmmaking industry, as we enjoy by-product of Cairo. They are estranged and a Parlor’. operating in all its diverse fields on both Mohamed Hefzy and lonely; suffocating as a result of national and international platforms. studied Metallurgical the city and its absurdity. ‘Ali, the Goat Our philosophy is to blend the creative, Engineering in London and Ibrahim’ is a magical story that vibrant ideas of the younger generation and works in his field extracts these characters from their with the expertise of the best in cinema, of study overseesing lonely existence in this city to take them in order to present powerful films to his family business. on a journey of true and unexpected audiences who have exquisite taste and Over the last 10 years, he has managed friendship that helps them go back admiration for the beloved silver screen. to establish himself as one of the most home stronger and better able to prominent young scriptwriters and connect with their world. Transit Films is a Cairo-based producers in the Arab world. In 2013, production company initiated by producer and EAVE 2011 fellow Hossam Elouan. Transit Films produces FINANCIAL INFORMATION independent cinema that can reach art- Ali loves a goat called Nada. Ibrahim, a depressed sound engineer who house cinemas around the world. hears voices he cannot decipher. Ali’s mother drags him to a healer, who Total Budget: $870,500 • Global Film Initiative, USA gives Ali stones to throw into the water so that he will be healed. At the Secured Financing: $819,476 • Knightworks, France healer’s place, Ali meets Ibrahim, who has been given similar stones. In • Région Languedoc Roussillon, France order to throw the stones into the sea, Ali, his beloved goat and Ibrahim Confirmed Financial Partners: • SANAD, UAE embark on a journey along the shores of Egypt, and it turns into a voyage of • Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, Lebanon • Titra Paris, France friendship and self-discovery. • Arizona Productions, France • Venice Film Festival, Italy • ARTE France Cinéma Award, France • Cinemed Awards, France Looking For: Contact • CNC, France • Distributors Transit Films • Doha Film Institute, Qatar • Production funding Hossam Elouan • Enjaaz, UAE • Sales agents +20 160 528 732 • EZEF, Germany [email protected] • Fortress Film Clinic, UAE

62 63 Work-in-Progress / Feature Narrative

Director / Screenwriter Mariam Khatchvani Vladimer Katcharava Director’s Note Mariam Khatchvani Dede Producer Writer-director Producer Vladimer The story of ‘Dede’ is based upon my Vladimer Katcharava Georgia, Qatar / Georgian / 2016 Mariam Khatchvani Katcharava graduated grandmother’s real-life experience. As Runtime: 90 min was born in Ushguli, in 2001 from Tbilisi such, it was important to me to retain Svaneti, and studied State Theatre and Film a palpable sense of authenticity, and Genre: Drama film directing at the University. Between to show a way of life that has not been Company Profile Interests: Children, Family, Women’s Issues Shota Rustaveli State 2009 and 2011, he was seen on film before. By working in my 20 Steps Productions was founded Film University. She has directed several the managing director of the Tbilisi- birthplace with indigenous people from in 2010 in Tbilisi with the goal of As Georgia fights for its independence after the collapse of the documentaries, including ‘Verdzoba’ based studio IFP, serving as production the region, my filmmaking experience contributing to the development of Soviet Union, a young woman struggles to make a life in the (2006), ‘Beyond the Window’ (2007) manager on Levan Koguashvili’s was greatly enriched and I was able to the film industry in Georgia. It focuses remote, isolated villages high in the Caucasus Mountains, where and ‘Lichanishi and Kvirikoba’ (2009). In ‘Street Days’ (2010). He was executive make the film I wanted to make. The on development and co-production of ancient patriarchal laws threaten to separate her from her 2013, she made the short film ‘Dinola’, producer for Aleko Tsabadze’s ‘Renee Georgian mountains are something independent narrative, documentary daughter. which won 18 awards at European Goes to Hollywood’ (2010), Rusudan of a paradise, which is why the locals and animated films that will appeal film festivals and was selected for La Chkonia’s ‘Keep Smiling’ (2012) and Rezo don’t leave, even though life can be to both domestic and international Fabrique des Cinémas du Monde at Gigineishvili’s ‘Love with an Accent’ difficult. This is certainly the case for audiences. Among the company’s the Festival de Cannes. Funded by the (2012). In 2011, Katcharava founded Dina – a woman who finds her choices recent productions are: Mohsen Georgian National Film Centre, it was the production company 20 Steps dictated by the weight of tradition, but Makhmalbaf’s ‘The President’ (2014) hugely successful and screened at more Productions and produced Sandro who is nonetheless deeply rooted in her which opened the Orizzonti section than 30 film festivals and was one of Katamashvili’s award-winning animated community. of the Venice Film Festival; Ben five nominees for Best Short Film at the short ‘Granny’ (2013), and co-produced Hopkins’s ‘Lost to Karastan’ (2014), European Film Awards in 2014. After Ben Hopkins’s feature-length ‘Lost in which was selected for competition in seeing ‘Dinola’, the Sundance Institute Karastan’ (2014) as well as Mohsen the Montreal World Film Festival; and invited Khatchvani and writer-producer Makmalbaf’s ‘The President’ (2014), Mariam Khatchvani’s ‘Dinola’ (2014), Vladimer Katcharava to attend the which opened the Venice Film Festival. a nominee for the European Film 2015 Screenwriters’ Lab. With lots of Currently, he is producing two feature- Academy’s European Short Film Award. help and inspiration from renowned length films: Mariam Khatchvani’s filmmakers including Tobias Lindholm ‘Dede’ and Gigineishvili’s ‘Hostages’. and Catherine Hardwicke, they expanded ‘Dinola’ into the full-length screenplay for ‘Dede’.

Dina lives in a remote village high in the Georgian mountains, where traditions have remained the same for centuries. Her marriage has been FINANCIAL INFORMATION arranged, but when handsome Gegi returns from war, she falls in love with him and they elope. Estranged from her family, Dina has a child and is Total Budget: $500,000 Looking For: widowed. In traditional Svaneti culture, a widow must marry the first man Secured Financing: $470,000 • Festival strategy who asks for her hand, so when Levan proposes, Dina is forced to leave her • Sales agents old life behind, never to see her child again. When the child falls deathly ill, Confirmed Financial Partners: Dina and Levan unite against the traditional village elders to save her. • Caucasian Film Service, Georgia Available Territories: • Directors Across Borders, Armenia • All territories except Georgia and • Doha Film Institute, QatarwW former Yugoslavia • Film and Music Entertainment, UK Contact • Georgian National Film Centre 20 Steps Productions • JaJa Film Productions, The Netherlands Vladimer Katcharava • MP Film Production, Croatia +995 32 2520945 • Sofia Meetings, Bulgaria [email protected] • Sundance Institute, USA

64 65 Work-in-Progress / Feature Narrative

Director / Screenwriter Fawzi Saleh Karim Aitouna Director’s Note Fawzi Saleh Poisonous Roses Producer Born in Port Saïd, Karim Aitouna is a The environment where I have lived, Karim Aitouna, Eman Hemeda ‘Ward Masmoom’ / Egypt, Qatar / Arabic / 2016 Egypt, in 1981, Fawzi Moroccan producer. which is not very different from that Runtime: 70 min Saleh is a screenwriter, Together with of the tanneries, is one drenched in filmmaker and Thomas Micoulet, he mythology and that poses questions Genre: Drama human-rights activist. launched hautlesmains about one’s psyche and the very Company Profile Interests: Social Issues, Women’s Issues He holds a degree Productions. Their complicated reality in which one lives. Egyptian actor Mahmoud Hemeida in screenwriting from the Cairo Film first feature documentaries are Anna As I desire to avoid the stereotypical founded Albatrik Art Productions The world has left nothing to Taheya apart from her brother Saqr. Institute, and has contributed to Roussillon’s award-winning ‘Je suis le approach to social issues taken by in 1995. The company’s main goal When he disappears, Taheya pursues him in desperation. numerous documentary films as a peuple’ (2015), which was featured in most Egyptian films, I seek to make a is to support Arab filmmakers and researcher and co-writer. In 2006, he the Acid Programme at the Festival film that engages in a dialogue with to contribute to the growth and directed the experimental short film de Cannes, and David Yon’s ‘La Nuit the audience; one that makes them development of filmmaking in Egypt. In ‘Mocha’, which attracted attention to et l’enfant’ (2015), which screened question their established ideas and 2002, in collaboration with the German his talent. A turning point in his career in the Forum section of the Berlin put their conceptions of this world in institution C.T.Z., Albatrik contributed came in 2008 when he worked as an International Film Festival. Aitouna is perspective. I am also working against to a project for youth that resulted in assistant director for Rashid Masharawi, member of EAVE and EURODOC. the one-dimensional portrayals of the the production of a stage play. The when the director encouraged him to marginalised and the impoverished company has also produced musical start shooting his first documentary in most Egyptian films, in which they events at the Cairo Opera House and feature, ‘Living Skin’, which he are seen as murderers, thieves and at Egyptian universities for acclaimed completed in 2010. prostitutes who create havoc in society. violinist Abdu Dagher. Albatrik assisted in the formation of the Actors’ Studio, which supports young talent by providing acting workshops conducted by professional filmmakers.

hautlesmains is a production company based in Lyon. The company aims to produce director-driven films Twenty-eight-year-old Taheya works as a washroom cleaner, and lives with with captivating stories that focus on her 22-year-old brother Saqr in a tannery neighbourhood. While Saqr has social and multicultural matters. plans to find a life outside his hellish job in one of the tanneries, Taheya hopes to keep him near her. Despite his love for his sister, Saqr does not bow to the pressure she puts on him and begins a relationship with Nahed, FINANCIAL INFORMATION a young medical student. Despondent at the new distance between herself and her brother, Taheya turns to magic to bring Saqr back and threatens to Total Budget: $772,065 Looking For: kill Nahed. When Saqr returns, Taheya seems happy despite the coldness Secured Financing: $451,000 • Distribution strategy between them – but she cannot escape the idea that her brother still wants • Distributors to abandon her. Confirmed Financial Partners: • Post-production advice • Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, Lebanon • Post-production funding • Beirut Cinema Platform, Lebanon • Rough-cut feedback • Doha Film Institute, Qatar • Sales agents • Egyptian Ministry of Culture Contact • Al Mawred Althaqafy, Egypt Available Territories: hautlesmains • Red Star Productions, Egypt • All territories Karim Aitouna • SANAD, UAE +33 6 68 17 51 87 [email protected]

66 67 Work-in-Progress / Feature Narrative

Director / Screenwriter Deepak Rauniyar Joslyn Barnes Director’s Note Deepak Rauniyar White Sun Producer Deepak Rauniyar Joslyn Barnes is an ‘White Sun’ is a story about the weight Tsering Rhitar Sherpa ‘Seto Surya’ / Nepal, Qatar, The Netherlands / Nepali / 2016 is a Berlinale Talent independent film of the past on Nepali present, and Co-producer Runtime: 100 min Campus and TIFF Talent producer. Among the a reflection of my own experiences Lab alumnus. His films she has been in past years during a decade-long Joslyn Barnes Genre: Drama feature length debut, involved in producing war and the ongoing peace process. Interests: Politics, War, Women’s Issues, Youth ‘Highway’ (2012) had since co-founding These characters I have seen. I have its premiere at the Berlin International Louverture Films together with actor met them. I have lived with them. In Company Profile A drama about life in a Nepali mountain village in the wake of Film Festival, and was the first film from Danny Glover, are: ‘Bamako’ (2006), the bitter, war-torn present, ‘White Co-founded by writer-director Deepak the decade-long armed conflict. Nepal to screen at a major international ‘Trouble the Water’ (2008), ‘The Black Sun’ looks for signs of life and new Rauniyar and actor-casting director festival. Currently in progress, ‘White Power Mixtape 1967–1975’ (2011), ‘The beginnings. We have taken the form of Asha Magrati, Aadi Productions is Sun’, his second feature, was selected House I Live In’ (2012), ‘Concerning a drama to represent both the struggle a team of experienced and dedicated for L’ Atelier at the Festival de Cannes Violence’ (2014) and ‘The Narrow and the hope of the Nepali people as film and video professionals based in and Boost! in Rotterdam, and awarded Frame of Midnight’ (2014). She was they begin to find their way out of this Kathmandu. Aadi’s first short film was funding from the Hubert Bals Fund. an associate producer on ‘The Time place. I believe in the power of film as ‘Threshold’; it screened internationally, That Remains’ (2009) and the Palme an art form to help people understand winning awards at the Kathmandu d’Or-winning ‘Uncle Boonmee Who each other’s predicaments, and our International Mountain Film Festival in Can Recall His Past Lives’ (2010). shared experiences of life and death. 2008 and the Ahmedabad International Recently, she co-produced Apichatpong My goal with ‘White Sun’ is to create a Film Festival in 2009. Aadi’s debut Weerasethakul’s ‘Cemetery of film that communicates the realities of feature ‘Highway’ (2012), which Splendour’ (2015) and produced Avi contemporary Nepali life to the world, premiered at the Berlinale, was the first Lewis and Naomi Klein’s ‘This Changes and cultivates those better elements of Nepali film ever to screen at a major Everything’ (2015). Currently, she is the human spirit that speak to everyone. international film festival. The company finishing ‘Shadow World’ for Johan is currently completing its second Grimonprez, producing Yance Ford’s feature, ‘White Sun’, which it hopes to ‘Strong Island’, executive-producing launch and release in 2016. James Longley’s ‘Angels Are Made of Light’, and co-producing Lucrecia Young Pooja lives with her mother and her beloved grandfather. Her father, Martel’s ‘Zama’, Deepak Rauniyar’s Agni joined the Maoist guerrillas and left their village to fight against the ‘White Sun’ and Victor Kossakovsky’s regime years ago. The death of Pooja’s grandfather brings Agni back to ‘Aquarela’. the village for the burial rites. Thrilled at the prospect of seeing her father, whom she has never met, Pooja looks on with dismay as he struggles to cope with her mother’s independence, and fights with her family’s closest FINANCIAL INFORMATION friend. Agni alienates everyone around him, and cannot find enough men to carry his father’s body to the river for the cremation. As Agni looks for help Total Budget: $370,431 • Tribeca Film Institute, USA among police, rebel guerrillas and neighbouring villagers, a portrait of post- Secured Financing: $303,593 • Waterland Films, The Netherlands conflict Nepal emerges. • Worley Works, USA Confirmed Financial Partners: • Asian Cultural Council, USA Looking For: • Bertha Foundation, Switzerland • Co-producers • Doha Film Institute, Qatar • Distributors Contact • Mita Hosali, Nepal • Film funds Aadi Productions • Hubert Bals Fund, The Netherlands • Sales agents Deepak Rauyinar • Jerome Foundation, USA +977 98 4133 5577 • Louverture Films, USA Available Territories: [email protected] • Jaime Mateus-Tique, USA • All territories except Nepal • Netherlands Film Fund

68 69 Works-in-Progress Feature Documentary

Ghost Hunting My Uncle the "Terrorist" The Silk Railroad Tondo Work-in-Progress / Feature Documentary

Director / Producer Raed Andoni Palmyre Badinier Director’s Note Raed Andoni Ghost Hunting Producer Born in Palestine in Palmyre Badinier In Palestine, more than four in ten Saed Andoni, Palmyre Badinier ‘Estayad Ashbah’ Palestine, France, Qatar, Switzerland / Arabic / 2016 1967, Raed Andoni studied Arabic men are either arrested or interrogated Runtime: 90 min started his career Literature and in Israeli prisons at some point in in cinema as an International Relations their lives – most often during early Genre: Creative Documentary independent producer at the Sorbonne and adulthood. This common experience Company Profile Interests: Psychology, Social Issues in 1998. He cofounded has worked in the serves both as a form of initiation Les Films de Zayna was established Dar Films, a leading production fields of journalism, diplomacy and and as exposure to physical and in Paris in 2008 by Palestinian director Director Raed Andoni assembles an eclectic group of Palestinians company, and produced and secured international artistic exchanges. She has psychological trauma. First and and producer Raed Andoni and to rebuild the Israeli investigation centre in which they were international distribution for a number managed the Paris-based production foremost, however, this experience is Palmyre Badinier in order to build imprisoned – a place they never actually saw because they were of Palestinian films. ‘Improvisation’ company Les Films de Zayna since 2008. a lesson in dominance – domination close collaborations among writers, always blindfolded. (2005), Andoni’s first medium-length In parallel, Badinier has worked as an by the other, of the other and of the technicians and other talents, mainly documentary as a director, was associate producer for the Palestinian self; the relationships built on the from the Arab world and Europe. produced in association with ARTE and production company Dar Films, and binary values of dominant/subordinate, Beyond geography, its source of saw great success at festivals. His first provides legal consultancy for foreign once experienced, repeat themselves inspiration is openness to the world feature-length film, ‘Fix Me’ (2009), was companies and authors who wish to endlessly, even among Palestinians. and diversity of sensitivities. Zayna’s screened at the Sundance Film Festival work with French partners. Badinier is a Through this project I propose a documentary filmography includes and the Festival de Cannes, released member of EAVE. framework in which ex-prisoners are Nassim Amaouche’s short film ‘En in European cinemas, and won several free to relive their experiences, as long terrain connu’ (2013), which premiered prizes, including the SCAM award for as they participate: by building the jail, at the Clermont-Ferrand International Best Documentary of the Year and the playing the role of someone else, or Short Film Festival; the collective Tanit d’Or for Best Documentary at sharing the memories that haunt them. project ‘Family Albums’ (Sameh Zoabi, Carthage Film Festival in 2010. This project is about addressing the Erige Sehiri, Mais Darwazeh, Nassim traumatic experience of torture and Amaouche; 2012) which had its changing perspectives on it, in order to premiere and won a special mention free, or at least discover, another part of award at Cinemed; and Raed Andoni’s oneself. ‘Fix Me’ (2009), which won awards including a Golden Tanit in Carthage and the BAFICI Human Rights Award, and was named Best Documentary of the Year by SCAM in 2011. Zayna is As a result of being jailed in the Shin Bet’s Al-Moskobiya investigation FINANCIAL INFORMATION currently producing Erige Sehiri’s ‘The centre at the age of 18, director Raed Andoni has fragments of memories Normal Way’ and Andoni’s ‘Ghost he cannot determine as real or imagined. In order to confront the ghosts Total Budget: $852,847 Looking For: Hunting’. Zayna has recently teamed up that haunt him, Andoni decides to try to rebuild that mysterious place. Secured Financing: $640,600 • Broadcasters with Palestinian producers to develop Responding to a job announcement seeking ex-inmates of Al-Moskobiya • Crowdfunding Future Logic, a new platform for who have experience in construction, architecture, painting, carpentry and Confirmed Financial Partners: • Distributors Palestinian cinema. acting, a large group gathers in an empty yard near Ramallah. Together, • Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, Lebanon • Marketing advice they start a journey in which they rediscover the shape of their old prison, • ARTE, France • Sales agents try to face the consequences of being under absolute control, and attempt • Cinéforom, Switzerland • Sales and distribution strategy to re-enact a story that took place inside the centre’s walls. • CNC, France • Doha Film Institute, Qatar Available Territories: • OFC, Switzerland • All territories except France and Switzerland Contact • La Procirep–Angoa, France Les Films de Zayna • Région Centre, France Palmyre Badinier • SANAD, Abu Dhabi +33 6 89 27 79 74 • The Swiss National Fund [email protected] • TSR, Switzerland

72 73 Work-in-Progress / Feature Documentary

Director Elias Moubarak Aya Al Blouchi Director’s Note Elias Moubarak My Uncle the Producer Born in 1985, Elias After freelancing in I have always believed my uncle’s Aya Al Blouchi Moubarak is a Doha for production story is worth telling, regardless of my “Terrorist” Lebanese filmmaker and publishing houses, feelings about him. While contacting and professional Aya Al Blouchi people to make this film, it is fair to ‘Khali “El Irhabi”’ / Lebanon, Qatar / Arabic, English, French / 2016 photographer. He assumed the role say that often their first thought was Company Profile Runtime: 90 min graduated from of Young Audience to wonder about my opinion of my Founded by Qatari producer Aya Al Genre: Biography the Lebanese American University, Coordinator in Beirut at the Metropolis uncle. Do I think he is a terrorist? What Blouchi, Seat 26 Productions is a Interests: History, Politics, Social Issues, Violence where he majored in Communication Art Cinema Association. Simultaneously, would I try to tell them about him? Lebanese production company that Arts, specialising in radio, film and she worked with TEDxBeirut as Logistics By raising legitimate and reasonable aims to support young filmmakers A film director seeks to uncover a 40-year-old family taboo: the television. He has directed several short and Volunteer Coordinator for the questions in the film – to which I may achieve their dream projects. The controversial life of his Uncle Fouad, a poet and an engineer of films, including ‘Baghdad 64’ (2008) 2011 and 2012 editions. In 2013, Al not find the right answers, or may company invests in student films and the Munich massacre. which was selected for a number of Blouchi joined the Doha Film Institute find no answers at all – my goal is to produces short and feature-length film festivals. He has worked as a in Qatar as Youth Programmes Senior encourage the audience to reflect on fiction and documentary films by director of photography and editor; Coordinator. Driven by a passion to the subject matter. What I have found first- and second-time filmmakers. since 2009, his photography has been contribute to a sustainable film industry in my research to discover who my Seat 26 also aims to diversify into published in numerous books and ecosystem in the region, she started uncle was would, I believe, inspire local, regional and international co- magazines, and has been exhibited on to invest in and produce various shorts conflict, confusion and ambiguity in production projects. The company’s several occasions, including in a solo and feature-length films with students most people. I hope this shows in my mandate is to spread film within the photography exhibition entitled ‘Rust and established filmmakers. film. Today, I would say my uncle was community by using it as a craft and Never Sleeps’. a terrorist, a martyr, a poet, a son, a medium for storytelling. From a cultural brother, a lover, a friend... He was all and educational perspective, Seat 26 these things, but it is crucial to put conducts industry-related workshops, his life into the context of the 1960s with a focus on script writing and and 70s. What was he fighting for, and editing. As an investor, Al Blouchi was why? Was his approach reasonable an executive producer on several short or noble? Only then can we question films, including Bachir Abou Zeid’s things, separate opinion from fact, ‘Soldier 888’; Hala Matar’s ‘Desire’; and construct our own vision of a man and Amir Fakih’s ‘Batikh ya Watan’. greater than a mere “terrorist”. It’s not Her feature filmography includes a black or white world. I invite you to co-production of Elie Khalife’s ‘Single, judge for yourself if it is. Married, Divorced’, and executive When I was a child, there was a portrait of a man in our house. I never knew producer and producer credits on Abou who he was; nobody in my family spoke much about him. As time passed, I Zeid’s ‘Mafkoud’. discovered he was my Uncle Fouad, and he was a poet. Later, I discovered he was one of the founders of the Black September Organisation, and one FINANCIAL INFORMATION of the engineers of the 1972 Munich massacre. This film seeks to break the silence and to discover the uncle I have never known, to question whether Total Budget: $120,600 Looking For: the end justifies the means, and to reveal the effects of having someone Secured Financing: $48,000 • Distributors with this reputation in one’s family. • Festival strategy Confirmed Financial Partners: • Film funds • Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, Lebanon • Legal advice • Ashkal Alwan, Lebanon • Post-production advice Contact • Doha Film Institute, Qatar • Sales agents Seat 26 Productions • Goethe-Institut, Lebanon Elias Moubarak Available Territories: +961 3 611 483 • All territories [email protected]

74 75 Work-in-Progress / Feature Documentary

Director Martin DiCicco Kakha Macharashvili Director’s Note Martin DiCicco The Silk Railroad Producer Martin DiCicco is Kakha Macharashvili I was drawn to how the media and Kakha Macharashvili USA, Georgia, Qatar / Armenian, Azerbaijani, Georgian, Russian, Turkish / 2016 a cinematographer is the General politicians hail the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Runtime: 80 min whose documentary Director of Sakdoc, railway as a “new Silk Road” to Europe. work has been a documentary This conjures ideas of prosperity, Genre: Creative Documentary broadcast on NHK, production company borderless travel and global importance. Company Profile ESPN, and the based in Tbilisi. The same rhetoric propelled the Sakdoc is a documentary production Wealth, opportunity, and discord collide along the route of a History Channel in the United States. Macharashvili’s producing credits Transcontinental Railroad in the United company based in Tbilisi. The new railroad bridging Europe and Asia. Commercially, he has shot campaign include Tinatin Gurchiani’s feature- States and the Trans-Siberian Railway company’s productions to date spots for Google and Red Bull. He shot length documentary ‘The Machine in Russia. Railroads historically have include Salomé Jashi’s ‘Bakhmaro’ and directed episodes of the series, Which Makes Everything Disappear’ reputations as the backbones of nations (2011), which was named Best Central/ ‘UnDrafted’, which was nominated (2012), which won the World Cinema on the verge of greatness, but if simply Eastern European Film at the Jihlava for a 2015 Emmy Award for Best Documentary Directing Award at conjuring nostalgia can cast a railroad International Documentary Film Documentary Series. His feature- Sundance 2013; and Nana Ekvtimishvili’s as a nation-builder, are railroads a Festival, and Ugis Olte’s ‘Double Aliens’, length documentary filmography narrative feature ‘In Bloom’ (2013), means to connect population, or are a Latvian-Georgian co-production as cinematographer includes Nick which won the FIPRESCI Prize at the they relics of the past that simply which was selected for the IDFA Mid- Sherman’s ‘Soundtracker’ (2010), which Hong Kong International Film Festival, transport goods and energy? Length Documentary Competition in was selected for Hot Docs, and Joshua and was named Best Film at the 2015. Sakdoc is currently in production Tickell and Rebecca Harrell Tickell’s Sarajevo Film Festival. with Jashi’s ‘The Dazzling Light of ‘Pump’ (2014), which screened at the Sunset’, a co-production with MDR/ Zurich Film Festival. ‘The Silk Railroad’ ARTE and YLE. is his feature directorial debut.

Touted as a “new Silk Road”, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad brings dramatic change and opportunity to those along its route: pride to the young men staking claim to a new dream of wealth; employment, at the cost of destroying a village; foreign “enemies” to a sleepy town where ethnic tensions run deep; and the isolation of man still waiting for a phone call due 20 years ago. ‘The Silk Railroad’ is a portrait of the unity and animosity of FINANCIAL INFORMATION transportation in Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia. Total Budget: $200,000 Looking For: Secured Financing: $120,000 • Broadcasters • Distributors Confirmed Financial Partners: • Festival strategy • Cinereach, USA • Legal advice • Doha Film Institute, Qatar • Post-production advice • Sales agents

Contact Available Territories: Sakdoc • All territories Kakha Macharashvili +995 599 626 200 [email protected]

76 77 Work-in-Progress / Feature Documentary

Director Jewel Maranan Ingmar Trost Director’s Note Jewel Maranan Tondo Producer Jewel Maranan After graduating with Arriving in Manila for my university Ingmar Trost The Philippines, Germany, Qatar / Filipino / 2016 is an independent a BA (Hons) in Film studies, I was one of the many Runtime: 90 min documentary filmmaker and Spanish and Latin thousands who pass through Tondo’s from the Philippines. American Studies, passenger ports. How did this great Genre: Creative Documentary She began working Ingmar Trost took place, once the womb of struggle for Company Profile Interests: Politics, Social Issues on independent an MA course in Filipino nationhood, become the locus Sutor Kolonko was founded in 2010 documentaries in 2008, tackling Documentary Directing at Goldsmiths of settlement for the country’s poorest? producing challenging feature-length ‘Tondo’ is a film about four people in different stages of life - conflict situations in Metro Manila. College in London. He founded Sutor I became interested in the contrasts films driven by strong stories told birth, youth, adulthood and death - who are caught in the path Over the years, she has developed Kolonko in 2010 to produce challenging and ironies of Tondo’s miserable with distinctive style. The company of expansion of Manila’s busiest international port. a deep interest in the ways in which feature-length documentary and living conditions compared with its strives to be a point of departure and history inches through ordinary life. narrative films. Ingmar is an alumni triumphant history of revolution. In a harbour, especially for young writers Maranan is also an active participant of EAVE, Documentary Campus 2010, a privatisation deal and a blueprint and directors. Recent credits include in efforts to help develop Southeast and EURODOC, and was Germany’s for the port’s expansion were signed. Felipe Guerrero’s ‘Oscuro Animal’ Asian documentary work through Producer on the Move at the Festival de Tens of thousands will be displaced. In (2016), which was in competition at the SEA DocNet, a project-based network Cannes in 2015. the beginning, I was drawn by Tondo’s International Film Festival Rotterdam; organized by the Goethe Institute in past. Now I’m drawn by its present Isabelle Stever’s ‘The Weather Inside’ Southeast Asia. She currently manages and future, and the question of what it (2015); Ingo Haeb’s ‘The Chambermaid Cinema Is Incomplete, a cinematheque, represents for the “developing world” Lynn’ (2014), which won the FIPRESCI film-distribution centre and production in the face of an established order of Prize and the Award for Best Artistic company, which she launched in 2011. supremacy that is as certain as it is Contribution at the Montreal World Film volatile. Festival; Juris Kursietis’s ‘Modris’ (2014), which received a Special Mention in the New Directors section of the San Sebastian Film Festival; and Ilian Metev’s ‘Sofia’s Last Ambulance’ (2012), which won the Visionary Award in the Critic’s Week at the Festival de Cannes. Sutor Kolonko’s development slate ‘Tondo’ is a film about four people living in the most densely populated currently includes Metev’s ‘Mimu Pepo Tati’ and Tom Schreiber’s ‘Beautiful community in the Philippines, surrounded by the country’s busiest Souls’, among others. international port. The film follows them in different stages of life: a newborn in the first few days of her life; a child worker learning how to read FINANCIAL INFORMATION and write; a father working at the pier; and an old widow watching over the funeral of her late husband. They witness the wealth of different nations Total Budget: $180,000 Looking For: packed as cargo, passing them by, entering and leaving Manila. As we Secured Financing: $84,500 • Distribution advice follow the cycle of their lives, we follow the cycle of the international port. • Legal advice And soon, driven by the increasing traffic of global trade, the port will be Confirmed Financial Partners: • Post-production support expanded, demolishing the spaces where they now live. • Asian Network of Documentary, South Korea • Doha Film Institute , Qatar Available Territories: • Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, Germany • All territories

Contact Sutor Kolonko Ingmar Trost +49 221 789 448 40 [email protected]

78 79 Picture Lock Feature Narrative

Bastard The Mimosas

Feature Documentary

Beirut Rooster Those from the Shore

Twenty-minute excerpts of Picture Lock features will be presented to selected festival programmers, sales agents and distributors during Qumra sessions. Picture Lock / Feature Narrative

Director / Screenwriter Uda Benyamina Marc-Benoît Créancier Director’s Note Uda Benyamina Bastard Producer Uda Benyamina is After dance and With ‘Bastard’, I “return” to the inner Marc-Benoît Créancier ‘Bâtarde’ / France, Morocco, Qatar / French / 2016 a French-Moroccan theatre training and a city to follow a delinquent girl who Runtime: 120 min director, screenwriter Master’s degree in Film dreams of a Tony Montana-like destiny and actor. A graduate Studies, and several – but her emotions recapture her. Genre: Drama of the École Régionale internships, Marc- ‘Bastard’ is a story of an education Company Profile Interests: Social Issues, Women’s Issues, Youth d’Acteurs de Cannes, Benoît Créancier – hard, violent, without compromise Easy Tiger was founded in 2010 by she trained at the Academy of Minsk, finally determined his vocation: he and yet universal, since everyone has young producers Jessica Rosselet and Fifteen-year-old Dounia lives with her mother in a rough the Ontological Theatre and the Actors’ would become a producer. During his wondered in their own way how much Marc-Benoît Créancier. The company’s Parisian suburb, where she has been saddled with the nickname Studio. She has performed in short and studies at La Fémis, his productions they were willing to sacrifice in order to work is based on the search for talented “bastard”. feature-length films and numerous included Vincent Cardona’s ‘Coucou become an adult. authors and directors with varying plays, collaborating with Jean-Pierre les nuages’ (2010), which took second backgrounds. We are convinced that Vincent and Youri Pobgrenichko, among prize from the Cannes Cinéfondation, the strength of producers lies above others. She has directed nine short films and Simon Buisson’s web documentary all in the talent of the filmmakers they that have been shown in many festivals ‘Les Communes de Paris (2010), which can discover and provide with their and broadcast on French television. was selected for the International utmost support. With this in mind, Easy Among them, ‘The Road to Paradise’ Documentary Festival Amsterdam. In Tiger has resolved focus on producing (2011), was awarded several prizes parallel, he produced Claire Burger and short films. In our view, the short form at festivals and ‘My Big Fat Garbage’ Marie Amachoukeli’s César Award- remains complex, is the best school (2008) was selected for national and winning short ‘C’est gratuit pour les for gaining filmmaking experience, and international film festivals. Benyamina filles’ and worked in development at can be a productive springboard for the is a recipient of the Emergence 2 Prize. Son et Lumière. In 2010, he launched transition to feature filmmaking. the production company Easy Tiger with Jessica Rosselet. He has since produced 20 short films. Créancier is currently in development with four feature-length projects. ‘Bastard’ is his first feature film.

In a ghetto where trafficking and religion run side by side, Dounia is eager for power and success. Supported by Maimouna, her best friend, she decides to follow in the footsteps of Rebecca, a respected dealer. But when Dounia meets Djigui, a young sensuous dancer, her daily life is disrupted. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Total Budget: $2,684,074 Looking For: Secured Financing: $2,584,074 • Co-producers (MENA region) • Post-production funding Confirmed Financial Partners: • CNC, France Available Territories: • Cofinova, France • All territories except France • Doha Film Institute, Qatar • Fondation Gan, France Contact • France 2 Cinéma Easy Tiger • Groupe Ouest, France Marc-Benoît Créancier • La Procirep – Angoa, France Région Île-de-France +33 1 53 27 37 35 • Région Centre, France [email protected]

82 83 Picture Lock / Feature Narrative

Director / Screenwriter Oliver Laxe Felipe Lage Coro Director’s Note Oliver Laxe The Mimosas Screenwriter Oliver Laxe lives and Felipe Lage Coro has Faith was my main subject in this film. Santiago Fillol ‘Las Mimosas’ / Spain, Morocco, France, Qatar / Arabic / 2016 works in Morocco. His been the managing Although it has already been addressed Producer Runtime: 90 min first feature-length film, director of Zeitun Films by some of the most important ‘You All Are Captains’ since 2009. He has filmmakers ever (Bresson, Tarkovsky Felipe Lage Coro, Lamia Chraibi, Genre: Drama, Road Trip (2010) was premiered at been involved in the and Dreyer, among others), nowadays it Nadia Turincev Interests: Identity the Directors’ Fortnight production of Oliver does not seem such an easy task. This at the Festival de Cannes, where he Laxe’s ‘You Are All Captains’ (2010), is in part due to contemporary cynicism In the Atlas Mountains in the past, a caravan searches for the received the FIPRESCI Prize. He is one Eloy Enciso’s ‘Arraianos’ (2012), Alberto and inane esotericism. That is why I use Company Profile path to take a Sufi master home to die. Among the party is of the founders of Zeitun Films. He is Gracia’s ‘The Fifth Gospel of Kaspar the character of Shakib, who, thanks to Zeitun Films was created in 2009 Ahmed, a rascal who eventually becomes inspired to lead the currently working on a new feature, Hauser’ (2013), Lois Patiño’s ‘Coast his ‘insane’ status, is entitled to speak under the management of Felipe caravan to its destination. Along the way, Ahmed is assisted by ‘Yihad’. of Death’ (2013) and Enrique Rivero’s openly about faith. For me, he is a kind Lage Coro. Since its launch, Zeitun Shakib, a man sent from contemporary Morocco to guide him on ‘Pozoamargo’ (2015), all of which won of Don Quixote or Nassrudin Hodja, awards at some of the world’s most lucid in his craziness. ‘You have to be has taken on an important role in the his journey. production of art-house films in Spain. prestigious film festivals, among them faithful’, he says to Ahmed when their The company’s first film, Oliver Laxe’s the Festival de Cannes, the Festival del caravan crosses the gorges of the Atlas multiple-award-winning ‘You All Are Film Locarno, the International Film mountains looking for a passageway. Captains’ (2010) was the first-ever Festival Rotterdam and the Jeonju ‘If mules can’t make it through the Galician film selected for the Festival de International Film Festival. Lage’s path, then they will fly...’. Do Shakib’s Cannes. It was followed by Eloy Enciso’s current ongoing projects are Laxe’s ‘The words show what the idea of faith is? ‘Arraianos’ (2012), which screened at Mimosas’ and Patiño’s ‘Tempo Vertical’. Perhaps. But I think it is primarily his the Festival del Film Locarno; Alberto determination, grace and innocence Gracia’s ‘The Fifth Gospel of Kaspar that really demonstrate the notion. Hauser’ (2013), which received the FIPRESCI Prize at the International Film Festival Rotterdam; Lois Patiño’s ‘Coast of Death’ (2013), which took the Best Emerging Director Award at Locarno; and Enrique Rivero’s ‘Pozoamargo’ (2015). With its commitment to the world of cinema, Zeitun Films seeks to engage the creativity, talent and passion of young filmmakers. In the High Atlas Mountains at an indeterminate time in the past, a caravan FINANCIAL INFORMATION of travellers searches for a pass that will allow them to return an ailing elderly Sufi master to his home to die. Among the party is Ahmed, a rascal Total Budget: $788,842 Looking For: and a survivor, who is willing to do whatever it takes to rise up from his Secured Financing: $788,842 • Distributors miserable condition. Ahmed is particularly inspired by the Sufi master and • Festivals his wife and, upon the old man’s death, he becomes aware of his own Confirmed Financial Partners: • Legal advice innate abilities and takes up the leadership of the caravan. On his journey, • AGADIC, Spain • Sales agents he receives the assistance of Shakib, a young man sent on a mission from a • CCM, Morocco special place in contemporary Morocco. • Doha Film Institute, Qatar Available Territories: • ICAA, Spain • All territories Contact • MEDIA Programme, EU Zeitun Films • TVG, Spain Felipe Lage Coro +34 662 046 454 [email protected]

84 85 Picture Lock / Feature Documentary

Director / Co-producer Ziad Kalthoum Tobias N. Siebert Director’s Note Ziad Kalthoum Beirut Rooster Producer Ziad Kalthoum was Tobias N. Siebert Twenty years after the end of the Ansgar Frerich, Tobias N. Siebert, ‘Deek Beirut’ / Syria, Lebanon, Germany, Qatar / Arabic / 2016 born in Homs in 1981 was born in Munich. Lebanese Civil War, I have come to Eva Kemme Runtime: 65 min and graduated after In 2004, he graduated settle in Beirut, fleeing Syria, my home studies in film. He has with honours from the country, which has declared war against Genre: Creative Documentary worked as an assistant Munich State Academy itself. In this city, with its sky full of Company Profile director on several for Film and Television cranes, I feel as though I am living in a Created in 2013, Bidayyat for While Syrian workers rebuild Lebanon, a country ruined by a films, series and television programmes, with a BA in Production and Media giant cement mixer. In the morning, I Audiovisual Arts specialises in lengthy civil war, their hometowns in Syria are destroyed during the including Mohammad Malas’s ‘Ladder Economics. He began his career as an am awakened by the din of banging and producing short and feature-length brutal conflict there. Who will rebuild their houses? to Damascus’ (2013). In 2011, he editor for television channels including digging on construction sites where documentaries by emerging filmmakers directed his first short documentary, MTV, ARD and NHL, and also acted as Syrian workers rebuild a city and a from the Arab world who wish to ‘Oh, My Heart’ (2011), which was a technical supervisor for large public society that is hostile toward them. The question and reflect on the reality they selected for the Carthage Film Festival. events. He is a partner and General Syrian worker – Beirut’s rooster – lives bear witness to in their own distinctive Kalthoum’s first feature-length Manager of Basis Berlin Postproduktion beneath the construction sites, only way. Bidayyat aims to contribute to documentary ‘The Immortal Sergeant’ and Basis Berlin Filmproduktion. His rising above the city to build its towers. the re-emergence of a documentary (2013), deals with the schizophrenic filmography includes documentary After a long day of hard work, he is cinema in the Middle East that relates daily life and encounters he experiences and arthouse narrative films, as well forced to return to his subterranean to, and interacts with, its societies. between his mandatory military service as numerous television programmes. room, forbidden to roam the streets in the Syrian Army and his role as He produced Byambasuren Davaa and of a city that still carries the scars of BASIS BERLIN was founded in assistant director during the shooting Luigi Falorni’s ‘The Story of the Weeping its recent wars. Telling this story of the 2006 as a post-production house of ‘Ladder to Damascus’. ‘The Immortal Camel’ (2004), for which he was Syrian worker who rebuilds this nation, for art-house films and premium Sergeant’ was screened at the Locarno nominated for the Academy Award for which has but a fragile peace, while his television projects. With its partners’ Film Festival in 2014 and the Fribourg Best Documentary. The film was sold own country is engulfed in a war with strong film-production background, International Film Festival in 2015. in 60 countries. Siebert is a member of no end in sight, reflects the paradox he BASIS BERLIN began to co-produce the EAVE Producers Network and the and I are living in at the moment – a projects and increase developing its German Producers’ Alliance. paradox that might see the Syrian war own content. In 2010, the partners reach Beirut and destroy everything founded BASIS BERLIN Filmproduktion Syrian workers have built. to streamline this process. BASIS Each morning at sunrise, Syrian workers in Lebanon climb construction BERLIN Filmproduktion focuses on sites, their hammer strokes waking the country – a country they only know international art-house cinema with from distance, as they are banned from moving through it, or swimming crossover potential, and high-quality in its sea. While these Beirut Roosters rebuild Lebanese houses, the war in television programming, which gives Syria destroys their own homes. That war brought together director Ziad FINANCIAL INFORMATION the company the financial freedom to invest in proper development. BASIS Kalthoum, who left the Syrian Army to find refuge in Lebanon, and his BERLIN is well established in the fellow compatriots who work in Beirut. In this city, they share feelings of Total Budget: $200,000 Looking For: German market and has started to being alienated, unwanted and negated by Lebanese society. At night, they Secured Financing: $136,000 • Additional financing grow into the European market. BASIS move into a hole underneath the construction site: their new home. Down • Distributors BERLIN was always meant to be a basis here, the memories of home, war and what they have left behind plague Confirmed Financial Partners: • Sales agents for making films, founded on a great them. Together, they share the pain and fear of losing their home country • Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, Lebanon working environment for filmmakers while finding themselves unable to construct a life for themselves. • Doha Film Institute, Qatar Available Territories: and a company they can trust. • Enjaaz, UAE • All territories • Screen Institute Beirut, Lebanon Contact BASIS BERLIN Filmproduktion Tobias N. Siebert +49 30 5884 3990 [email protected]

86 87 Picture Lock / Feature Documentary

Director / Producer Tamara Stepanyan Nathalie Combe Director’s Note Tamara Stepanyan Those from the Shore Producer Tamara Stepanyan After obtaining a Ph.D This project was born one day when Nathalie Combe ‘Ceux du rivage’ / Lebanon, Armenia, France, Qatar / Armenian / 2016 was born in Armenia in Modern Literature, I was leaving a train station in Lyon. I Runtime: 84 min and moved with her Nathalie Combe heard a familiar language and followed parents to Lebanon in worked as a writer and the voice I heard. I discovered dozens Genre: Creative Documentary 1994. After studying translator for several of Armenian asylum seekers, living Company Profile and working there, she French publishers in hundreds of tents crammed into Cosmographe Productions is Marseille, 2014. Dozens of Armenian asylum seekers are trying moved to France, where she is currently from 1995 to 1997. In 1998, she created an enclosed garden. I was shocked. a production company based in to survive while waiting for their applications to be considered. developing her first narrative feature. an alternative production company What were they doing there, so many Montpellier. Created by Nathalie Combe They live in an indeterminate space, wandering in limbo. Stepanyan has participated in film to produce experimental film and people in this space outside the in 2007, it operates independently, with workshops in South Korea, at the Asian essays. In 2006, she launched her own world, in this limbo? For it is in limbo an editorial policy focused on creative Film Academy as part of the Busan independent company, Cosmographe that asylum seekers live, a limbo that documentaries and fiction films that International Film Festival in 2007; and Productions, to develop creative makes indistinct both its origin and its have been broadcast on European in Denmark, in an exchange programme documentaries. In 2012, she began destination. They are gone and they do television. Cosmographe productions at Den Danske Filmskole, in 2012. She to produce at the international level, not know what they can expect or what have been screened and won awards has won several international awards focusing on the Mediterranean region, kind of life they should expect. They prizes in numerous festivals worldwide. for her films. Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Her wait in the pain of exile, fearful of not Selected filmography includes Hazen films have received award from many being accepted, carrying in them both Alhamwi’s ‘From My Syrian Room’, international festivals and have been the places they have left and where they Christophe Farnarier’s ‘El Perdido, Elvira broadcast on ARTE, France TV, RTBF, hope to settle. Diaz’s ‘El Patio’ and Tamara Stepanyan’s WDR, 2M, and Al Jazeera Documentary. ‘Those from the Shore’. She is a member of Eurodoc, Unifrance and EDN. Founded by renowned theatre director and actor Vigen Stepanyan, Visan is a small Armenian production company that produces creative documentaries, short films and plays for theatre. Visan has produced a number of Stepanyan’s plays, and two Marseille, 2014. Dozens of Armenian asylum seekers try to survive while films by Tamara Stepanyan: ‘February waiting for their applications to be considered. They left behind them 19’ (2011), which won the “Hayak” a country whose people have settled around the world for more than a Armenian National Award for Best century... A country all describe as a desert, abandoned by its inhabitants, Short Fiction Film and the Best Fiction emptied of its life. Forced stillness, impotence; they live in an in-between FINANCIAL INFORMATION Film Award at the Lebanese Film space: between two countries, between two lives. They exist in an abstract Festival, and ‘Embers’ (2012), which time and space, made of nothing, where their life escapes them completely. Total Budget: $ 164,125 Looking For: was named Best Documentary at the By the shore, they float in limbo. Secured Financing: $142,082 • Broadcasters Busan International Film Festival and the Golden Apricot International Film • Co-producers (MENA region) Festival. Confirmed Financial Partners: • Distributors • Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, Lebanon • Sales agents • Coface, France • Doha Film Institute, Qatar Available Territories: • La Procirep – Angoa, France • All territories Contact • Région Languedoc-Roussillon, France Visan • Région Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France Tamara Stepanyan • Screen Institute Beirut, Lebanon +33 7 62 70 28 29 [email protected]

88 89 Development Short Narrative

I Want to Feel What I Feel When I Am Asleep Kashta Qafas A Ranged Marriage The World Is Blue Development / Short Narrative

Director / Screenwriter Abdullah Al-Mulla Director’s Note Abdullah Al-Mulla I Want to Feel What Abdullah Al-Mulla ‘I Want to Feel What I Feel When I Am grew up in Qatar until Asleep’ intends to pose questions about I Feel When I Am moving abroad to the perception of reality, suggesting pursue his university that one person’s reality is another’s Asleep studies. He first fantasy, and perhaps vice versa. It became involved in film considers that greatest of dilemmas: through the Doha Film Institute, and What is the truth of what is around us? ‘Oridou An Achour Bima Achour Bihi Wa Ana Na’em’ / Qatar / Arabic / 2016 has worked on 10 short films to date. This will be my fresh attempt at a genre Genre: Drama, Science Fiction He is currently working on his next film, seen through the lens of a modern screenplay and researching a larger fantasy world that allows me to delve A man wearing a gas mask is on a journey to fulfil a selfless work. into eternal considerations about truth. purpose. Among the people of a drugged and mesmerised society, he cleans up a ruined city in order to cover up the destruction that has taken place.

ONGOING REQUIREMENTS In a post-apocalyptic world, in a ruined city, little of humanity remains. The residue of a poison has become a drug, which creates the illusion that life is Looking For: still beautiful, and that everything is as it was before. The survivors wander • Festivals and labs through the rubble as though nothing had ever happened – except Khalid. • Mentorship Unaffected by the poison, he sees the horrors around him. Now, he cleans • Shorts experts the streets and the buildings in the hope of recreating the reality that existed before the catastrophe.

Contact Abdullah Al-Mulla +974 5589 8761 [email protected]

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Director / Screenwriter AJ Al-Thani Jaime Siordia Director’s Note AJ Al-Thani Kashta Producer AJ Al-Thani is a Born and raised in Los This project is a film I’ve been wanting Jaime Siordia Qatar / Arabic / 2016 Qatar-born filmmaker. Angeles, Jaime Siordia to make for a long time and I am very Genre: Action, Drama Her love for movies studied photography happy and lucky to finally be doing it. I and moviemaking and cinema before think we can all be tough on our siblings began at the age of six beginning his film from time to time, and to see how Company Profile Some accidents can’t be fixed. when she saw ‘Star career. Spending putting aside differences by working The Film House is a Doha-based Wars’ (1977) in the cinema in 1999. She several years on numerous sets, he together to solve a problem, and film, video, photography and multi- began to pursue her dream of being a quickly began writing and producing exploring the different layers of these media production company. Its filmmaker with the launch of the Doha television pilots and independent films characters to make them be compelling talented team of experienced and Film Institute. Al-Thani’s relationship throughout the United States. After and work together was the most fun I’ve creative storytellers, documentarians, with the Institute began in 2010 when spending a year as an event producer had working on any project to date. animators, photographers, and film she participated in one of its first film with Film Independent, he began directors cover all aspects of projects, workshops, which opened the door for working for film festivals including the from idea generation through post- many local filmmakers to pursue their Los Angeles Film Festival, Sundance production. Not a traditional production passion. For almost six years Al-Thani and Tribeca, landing in New York where company, The Film House offers flexible has been developing her skills with the he returned to filmmaking. Now based production to facilitate a range of help of the Institute. She is now working in Doha, Siordia has produced films requirements. With a wealth of local on her first professional short film for clients including Qatar Airways, knowledge and Qatar’s community through a grant from the Institute. Vodafone, Barwa Bank and Al Jazeera. in mind, the company is primed to foster local talent and to redefine visual storytelling in the region. The Film House is a home for high-calibre international productions that want to come to town and place Qatar in the A father takes his two sons out on a trip to the desert to go hunting, but the spotlight. results are not quite what he was expecting.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Total Budget: $150,000 Looking For: Secured Financing: $75,000 • Distributors • Festivals and labs Confirmed Financial Partners: • Film funds • Doha Film Institute, Qatar • Mentorship • The Film House, Qatar • Script consultants • Short film experts

Contact The Film House Jaime Siordia +974 7791 0849 [email protected]

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Director / Screenwriter Mayar Hamdan Director’s Note Mayar Hamdan Qafas Mayar Hamdan is ‘Qafas’ is a story about finding a way Qatar / Arabic, English / 2016 a recent graduate to cope with what you have, no matter Genre: Animation, Drama of Northwestern how bad it is – in short, “if you don’t University in Qatar, like what you’re looking at, change the Interests: Identity where she studied way you’re looking at it.” The film is Media Industries and about taking control of your current A young man tries everything to escape the cage he is chained in. Technology, with a concentration in situation and reacting to it in a positive Only when he realises that the true obstacle to his release is not Animation and Post-Production. and creative way. Many of us, like the chains, but rather his outlook on his situation, does he finally the man in this story, want to live a become free. problem-free life. I have come to realise that the happiest people are those who embrace their problems, allowing them to produce something positive, and who find a way to laugh along with their demons.

A young man is chained in a cage. Audiences approach the bars, laughing and pointing at him. He uses every ounce of his physical strength to break free, but fails miserably. He begins to imagine a life in the world outside the cage. In his imagination, he travels to many cities. Years pass and the chains ONGOING REQUIREMENTS no longer hold him back. He still sits in the cage, but now he laughs along with his audience. Looking For: • Animation experts • Festivals and labs • Film funds • Mentorship • Script feedback

Contact Mayar Hamdan +974 3333 4869 [email protected]

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Director / Screenwriter Nora Al Subai Director’s Note Nora Al Subai A Ranged Marriage Nora Al-Subai is I have always been intrigued by the Qatar / Arabic a Qatari writer and concept of arranged marriages, and Genre: Dark Comedy director, born and people agreeing to live the rest of raised in France. She their lives with another person simply graduated from because they are “good people” or After being stuck in an arranged married for a year, a desperate Carnegie Mellon with a come from a good family. I wanted wife discovers the perfect gift for their anniversary: a romantic degree in Computer Science. Her short to explore the comical concept of an dinner that will kill her husband. film, ‘My Hero’ (2013), premiered in arranged marriage in which one partner the Ajyal Youth Film Festival, where it decides that the best anniversary gift of was named Best Short Film. The film all would be the death of their spouse. also made its way into the Festival Since she is in an arranged marriage, de Cannes, the Clemont-Ferrand however, Sarah finds it difficult to kill International Short Film Festival, the her husband when she realises she Children’s Film Festival Seattle, and the doesn’t know anything about him. Latin Arab Festival in Buenos Aires.

Sarah and Hamad are about to celebrate their first wedding anniversary – a date Sarah never imagined the arranged marriage would reach. While planning an anniversary present for her husband, Sarah discovers the perfect gift: a romantic dinner that will kill her husband. Things don’t exactly go to plan, however, when her mate comes home with an unexpected agenda. ONGOING REQUIREMENTS

Looking For: • Festivals and labs • Film funds • Mentorship • Script feedback

Contact Nora Al Subai +974 5509 1929 [email protected]

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Director / Screenwriter Amna Al Binali Director’s Note Amna Al Binali The World Is Blue Amna Al-Binali I wanted to explore a person’s internal ‘Al A’alam Azraq’ / Qatar / Arabic / 2016 graduated from journey as they go through the changes Genre: Drama Qatar University that are accruing in their life; how they with a degree in can understand their emotions and Interests: Social Issues English Literature the choices they have. Using black- and Linguistics. She and-white film allows me to reflect the During her sister’s engagement party, Hend comes to terms with directed her first short film, ‘Doctor’s internal world of Hend, who through the contradiction between how she wants her life to unfold and Office’, at the La Fémis Gulf Summer her sister’s engagement observes her the inevitability of how it has been drawn for her. School in 2015.’The Notebook’, her potential future and how she might second short film, had its premiere at want her own life to unfold. Hend tries the Ajyal Youth Film Festival in 2015. to understand what it means for her sister – and if it means she will end up the same herself.

At her sister’s engagement party, Hend finds herself in a state of shock as she tries to come to terms with her eldest sister – her role model – getting married and leaving home. Walking among the guests, trying to play the role of the happy sister, Hend silently observes her relatives. Via text messages with her friends, she tries to understand why her sister now feels ONGOING REQUIREMENTS out of reach, and how her own future might unfold. Looking For: • Festivals • Mentorship • Script experts • Short film experts

Contact Amna Al Binali +974 5551 4998 [email protected]

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Amer: The Arabian Legend Buqsha The Innocent Prisoner Love in the Middle East Development / Short Documentary

Director Jassim Al-Rumaihi Director’s Note Jassim Al-Rumaihi Amer: The Arabian Jassim Al-Rumaihi I wanted to make a documentary that works as a reporter captures the story of this magnificent Legend at Al-Jazeera News creature and the values his story Channel, covering represents. Being a desert horse at a ‘Amer: Estorat Al Khail Al Arabia’ / Qatar / Arabic, English / 2016 news from Tunisia to time when Arabian horse-racing was Genre: Documentary Nepal. While studying dominated by well-bred European Interests: Sports at Northwestern University in Qatar, he Arabians meant he faced a significant took several classes in film production. challenge. This film takes a look at Sent as a gift to the late Emir of Qatar in the 1980s, Amer Since then, he has worked on a two the people who believed in Amer and seemed like an average purebred Arabian. After he was taken short films, and he is currently working provided him with the opportunities he to the tracks of Umm Qarn to train other horses, however, he on his third with the support of the deserved. showed his class, changing the face of Arabian horseracing Doha Film Institute. forever.

Besides being a champion horse – he won nine of his thirteen starts – FINANCIAL INFORMATION Amer is the most influential stallion in Arabian horseracing history. With a current stud fee of USD60,000, the grey horse from the deserts of Arabia Total Budget: $50,000 Looking For: has sired more than 130 champions. Yet Amer’s extraordinary story is Secured Financing: $50,000 • Broadcasters almost unbelievable for many, who speculate as to the legitimacy of his • Distributors legacy. Amer was not registered with the World Arabian Horse Organisation Confirmed Financial Partners: • Documentary experts when he arrived in Qatar, and some speak of illicit “connections” behind • Doha Film Institute, Qatar • Festivals and labs his registration. Others believe he is not purebred, and that his hybrid • Mentorship status gave him and his progeny their superiority. In his defence, however, supporters of Amer say that while he was a great racehorse, his greater success and reputation came when he became a stallion and was mated Contact with Arabian horses from a different line. Jassim Al-Rumaihi +974 5501 1011 [email protected]

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Director Fahad Al Obaidly Salwa Al Khalifa Director's Note Fahad Al Obaidly Buqsha Producer Fahad Al Obaidly Salwa Al Khalifa is a These days, boundaries are fading, Salwa Al Khalifa Qatar / Arabic / 2016 is a researcher who Sudanese filmmaker cultures are intertwining and intangible Genre: Documentary works for the National She Studied Mass borders are slowly disappearing. While Museum of Qatar. Also Communication at globalisation presents undeniable Interests: Culture, Journey a curator and fashion Qatar University, and opportunities, the preservation and designer, he introduced obtained a diploma protection of culture, art and tradition ‘Buqsha’ strives to encourage people to go beyond their his brand Fahad Al-Obaidly in 2014. He in Documentary Filmmaking. She is more important than ever. It is very preconceptions and venture into the past to look to the future completed his course in fashion design, has directed a few short films, and interesting that we have disconnected Throughout our journey, we demonstrate the importance specialising in casual menswear, at the has worked as an assistant director from our heritage, seeking a modern of learning from traditional culture while preserving our Institute Marangoni. Being an Arab with and script supervisor in a number of lifestyle at the expense of losing who we own, and that the balance between artistic heritage and the a European vision of style in fashion independent short films in Qatar. are. As a tradition costumes researcher contemporary arts nurtures creativity. greatly contributes to the philosophy and film director, I felt the need to behind his work. Al Obaidly has directed revisit our heritage and try to find two short fashion films, and directed commonalities between the past and one short documentary. the future. I wanted to learn from older women about the historic background of “sedu” weaving in Qatar, and to try to understand where it came from. Did it arise in Qatar or somewhere else? How did we share this heritage; what was its route? I want to share what I discover and to learn with young students, researchers, designers and filmmakers, to open their eyes to things they might create if they look toward history and tradition.

Fahad and Sara Al Obaidly journey around Qatar, capturing the beauty of the Doha landscapes while exploring the rich diversity of arts and ancestral ONGOING REQUIREMENTS traditions, as well as the impact contemporary and traditional culture have on each other. During their travels, they focus on “sedu” weaving, one of Looking For: the most important of Qatari traditional textile crafts. They meet with and • Broadcasters interview an expert to discover and learn the historical background of “sedu” • Documentary experts in Qatar. Along the way they visit artisans and cultural experts, and explore • Festivals and labs their roles in preserving and promoting the cultural and ethnic heritage of • Film funds Qatar. • Mentorship • Pitching experts

Contact Fahad Al Obaidly +974 6688 6323 [email protected]

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Director Amina Ahmed Al-Boluchi Director’s Note Amina Ahmed Al-Boluchi The Innocent Prisoner Amina Ahmed Al- I believe that everyone deserves a ‘El Sajeen Al Baree’ / Qatar / Arabic / 2016 Boluchi graduated second chance. As such, society should Genre: Documentary from Qatar University support those of its members who need with a BA in Mass its understanding. It is the responsibility Interests: Social Issues Communication. She of every individual to help those with has directed ‘The whom they share their community, The story of a man trying to wash away his history of being a Pearl of Qatar’s Concert: Abdulrahman and take into consideration that there prisoner, determining his destiny by becoming a better person, Almanai’ (2013) and her graduation will be always exceptional cases and and finding himself a place in his own society. project, ‘Made in Qatar’ (2015). Most irregular circumstances. With that in recently, working with the Doha Film mind, I think people who experience Institute, she made ‘To My Mother’ being imprisoned deserve special (2015). treatment after finishing their years of punishment. They ought to be treated fairly and should have the rights of getting married and starting a new life, just like anyone else. I want this film to help those who have lost their chance to participate fully in their society because of their background.

‘The Innocent Prisoner’ reveals stories of people who were jailed not because they committed a crime or broke the law, but rather because they were irresponsible or ignorant. When Yassir kindly took on a business loan taken out by his close friend Fadhil, all seemed well until his lost his job and was no longer able to make the necessary payments. Now he faces prison ONGOING REQUIREMENTS time for helping out his friend. This film asks why Yassir should face a future of unemployment after his release, and why society would punish him a Looking For: second time by not accepting him. • Documentary experts • Festivals and labs • Mentorship • Scriptwriting advice • Short film experts

Contact Amina Ahmed Al-Boluchi [email protected]

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Director Mostafa Sheshtawy Director’s Note Mostafa Sheshtawy Love in the Filmmaker and Love has always been an interesting photographer Mostafa subject for me. It’s something that Middle East Sheshtawy was born everyone has something to say about in Egypt and raised or has had experience with, whether ‘Al Hob Fi Sharq Al Awsat’ / Qatar / Arabic / 2016 in Qatar. He began good, bad or both. I would like to Genre: Creative Documentary his film career by explore that side of people here in the Interests: Social Issues documenting the Egyptian revolution Middle East, since our history shows it in 2011. Since then, he has worked as one of most talked-about topics in Romantic love is very common, yet it can mean something on various productions in Egypt and the early days of Arab culture, but that completely different from one person to the next. Through a Qatar with the Doha Film Institute, is not the case any more. In this case, young man’s journey, this film looks at what it means to fall in primarily in the camera department. documentary has an edge over narrative love in the Middle East. His directorial debut was the short – since love is so often used to sell documentary ‘Immortalizing Memories’, fiction, I feel that taking a documentary which screened in the Ajyal Youth Film approach is the right thing to do. I hope Festival in 2015. Sheshtawy’s first short to discover something profound about narrative film is the romantic comedy love through the people I will meet. ‘Love Blood Test’ (2015).

To some people, love is the pursuit of happiness. Throughout the history of the Arab world, love has always been one of the most popular subjects of ONGOING REQUIREMENTS discussion, as we can see from poetry, literature and folktales. In a series of interviews and stories, the director, a 28-year-old Arab, explores what Looking For: love means in the Middle East – how it is affected by culture and tradition, • Development advice how much it is influenced by religion, and how it is perceived by different • Documentary experts generations. • Festivals and labs • Film funds • Mentorship

Contact Mostafa Sheshtawy +974 3309 8545 [email protected]

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More Than Two Days

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Director / Screenwriter Ahmed Abdelnaser Director’s Note Ahmed Abdelnaser More Than Two Days Ahmed Abdelnaser The cinema allows me to say what ‘Aktar Men Yomein’ / Qatar / Arabic / 2016 was born in Doha. A I want and what I feel. I believe it’s Runtime: 10 min filmmaker and an necessary to deliver our stories to editor, he became audiences throughout this screen. But Genre: Drama passionate about for me, what is more important than cinema at an early storytelling is making the audience Over the course of two days, two brothers go through critical age. After winning two awards for best feel the spirit of the film, its situations, moments that may change their lives. ‘More Than Two Days’ editing, he became a montage trainer sensations, and the moments examines their relationship and how each of them is trying to with Avid. As a lecturer, he taught the experienced by the characters. face up to the new situation in their lives. art of film editing at the Aljazeera Media Training Centre. His first film, ‘Children of the Earthquake’ (2007) was shot in Pakistan with the support of Reach Out to Asia. His recent short film ‘I Exist’ (2014), filmed on the borders of Turkey, won five international awards for Best Short Film, and participated in more than 30 film festivals. ‘More Than Two Days’ (2015) was supported by the Film Training and Development Department of the Doha Film Institute.

Something has occurred that has cast a shadow on two brothers who are in the prime of their lives. Between silence, admonition, and a desire to reveal, the film dives into the implications of what has happened – a conflict that reflects on their lives, their relationship, and how each of them tries to deal ONGOING REQUIREMENTS with his new life. Over two days, the story focuses on the eruption of the conflict they face, and its weighty influence on the future of each of the Looking For: brothers. • Distributors • Festivals and labs • Film funds • Mentorship

Contact Ahmed Abdelnaser +974 7717 7193 [email protected]

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