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Al-Ahram Weekly
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Al-Ahram Weekly
INTERVIEW: The reel Jerusalem - Culture - Al-Ahram Weekly
The fifth Jerusalem Arab Film Festival (JAFF, 9-15 July) closed, steady and determined, despite the many challenges posed by occupation, war, limited resources and the isolation of the city and its people. Building on the success of four previous rounds, this year the annual week-long event— founded and directed by Jerusalem native, Nevin Shaheen — made significant strides in advancing its mission to break the isolation imposed on Palestine. For the first time in five years, the festival held screenings — many at unconventional venues — simultaneously in three Palestinian cities alongside Jerusalem. Also for the first time, it introduced monetary awards for the winning films. 'This round was a great success. I always believed that if we could make it to the fifth year, then we could truly carry on,' Shaheen says. 'We don't have academic programmes focused on festival management here, nor do we have other film festivals to learn from. There are no trained teams specialising in film festival organisation, especially in Jerusalem, where the Jerusalem Arab Film Festival is the only one of its kind. We've been learning through trial and error, and also from our growing network across the Arab world: advisors, friends, and colleagues who've supported us with everything from detailed guidance to small practical tips. Our experience over the past years is what made this fifth round so successful, and I believe it's been our most impactful yet.' According to Shaheen, the way both the founders and the audience view the festival—what they expect it to be —has evolved over time. In the first three years, she says, the main focus was visibility, both locally and across the Arab world. But over the last two years, they have shifted their energy towards making the JAFF truly a festival for the people of this city. 'It had to feel like their festival. That meant putting serious effort into outreach, communication, and organisation, so the festival could reach as many people as possible. And I believe that's exactly what we achieved in this latest edition. What we decided to work on was rebuilding people's trust in cinema, and their love for it. We did that by selecting films that reflect their concerns and speak to their realities.' One of the major turning points in this year's round was the introduction of cash prizes. In the first four rounds, the awards were simply a trophy for best film and a symbolic jury prize. This year the festival offered financial awards across its three main sections: Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary, and Best Short Film. The prize money, USD6,000 in total, was provided by the European Union and distributed among the three categories. 'I believe this is a significant development for the festival,' Shaheen says. 'It shows that support for the festival is growing, and that people are starting to trust in what we're building.' According to Shaheen, this year's theme was the artistic director's idea: 'He felt that, given how difficult things are in the country right now, we should offer families something they could do together: a shared outing, a moment of joy, a change of pace. That's why 95 percent of the films we screened are family-friendly.' It worked. The opening film, Rashid Masharawi's Passing Dreams, a gentle, heartwarming film about a boy searching for his lost dove as it flies across several cities, perfectly captures that spirit. 'The opening night brought together people of all ages. It was really beautiful to see'. What made it even more remarkable is that, for the first time since the festival was established, the opening film was screened simultaneously in four cities: Jerusalem, Haifa, Jaffa, and Nazareth. Since the beginning, a curated selection of the programme has screened in Bethlehem. But now the festival has spread wider. 'All of us, as Palestinians, were watching the same film at the same time, united across divisions, borders, and forced isolation. It was powerful. And it's an experience we absolutely plan to repeat in future editions.' The biggest challenge facing the festival over the last two years has been the war. In addition to instability, there is an intense public debate about whether it is appropriate to hold cultural events under the circumstances. But Shaheen is firm in her conviction: 'The occupation doesn't want us to live normal lives. Quite the opposite. It wants us to constantly feel like we're under military rule, that it controls our movements and our rhythms, and that we're trapped in a state of perpetual emergency, with everything around us pushing us to question whether staying is worth it at all. That's why I believe maintaining the festival is an act of resistance.' The screenings, the filmmaker Q & As, the masterclasses, the training workshops all open doors to young people to see cinema as a possibility or a future. That is why audience engagement has always been paramount: 'We constantly ask ourselves: is it really worth continuing? And each time, the answer comes from the public. The festival has become a fixed point on the city's cultural calendar. More and more young people ask to volunteer and join the team and that, to me, is priceless.' The public training workshops are designed not only for sharing knowledge, but to help participants explore their personal relationship with cinema too. 'There are no academic opportunities to study film in Jerusalem. But the city needs crews trained in different aspects of visual storytelling. Through the festival, we try to show young people that building skills in this field could benefit them professionally. At the same time, we're working to open channels with colleges and vocational schools, to encourage them to introduce film education. I dream of seeing a film institute in Jerusalem.' One of the most tangible outcomes of the festival's training efforts is its youth film production initiative. 'Each year, we select five out of 15 short film projects developed in the workshops, and we help produce them with the participation of all the trainees. Some of these films have even gone on to screen at festivals.' Throughout the year, JAFF organises a community-based film club, screening movies for children, youth and families in partnership with local centres in the isolated villages and neighbourhoods surrounding Jerusalem. 'It's deeply moving when people in these areas share memories of visiting cinemas that no longer exist: Cinema Al-Hamra, Cinema Al-Quds, Cinema Al-Zahra on Salah Al-Din Street. They recall how they would save pocket money for the tickets...' Curation is arguably the festival's most crucial challenge, a delicate process that requires deep caution. 'A single film that provokes the wrong reaction could lead to the festival being shut down. We're always thinking about how to avoid giving either the occupation or segments of our own society any excuse to attack or cancel this experience. It is not easy.' Ane yet, over the last two rounds, 'we've seen a real increase in the number of filmmakers and distributors from across the Arab world reaching out to us, asking to screen their films at JAFF.' Another major challenge is funding. In the inaugural year, five years ago, significant support came from the Palestinian private sector, which has since gradually stopped supporting the festival for a range of reasons. But the backing the festival has received from across the Arab world is nothing short of exemplary. 'Everyone wanted to contribute something to Jerusalem. They gave us their films, their advice, their unconditional support.' Shaheen also highlights the importance of local partnerships with Palestinian institutions, particularly the Palestinian National Theatre (Al-Hakawati), which has hosted screenings since the inaugural round. Other key partners include the French Cultural Centre in Jerusalem, which screens selected films in its garden, and the Dar Al-Tifl Al-Arabi Foundation, which hosts screenings and offers guided tours of its museum. In addition, the festival organises screenings in the Old City of Jerusalem, often paired with walking tours that explore the area's historic landmarks. This year, the festival also partnered with a popular youth café in the city, where films were screened as part of the café's weekly cultural events — a great success. JAFF has incorporated guided tours into its programme since the very beginning. These tours are designed for both guests visiting from outside Jerusalem and local residents, offering insight into the city's cultural and historical legacy. Though the festival isn't a large-scale economic force, Shaheen believes it still contributes meaningfully to local life. 'We know it's a modest contribution,' she says, 'but its impact is real. We're helping support hotels, restaurants, and small businesses by welcoming guests from outside the city. And everyone encourages us to keep going. That support means the world to us.' Shaheen says it was always her dream to have the festival screen films in open public spaces across Jerusalem. But under occupation, that's simply impossible. 'Holding public screenings requires permits from the occupying authorities, and that's something we will never be willing to pursue... All of us, as cultural institutions in Jerusalem, share the same anxiety: how to keep going. We need each other. Our survival is interconnected. When one of us continues, we all do.' Shaheen highlights the importance of having an experienced artistic director from outside the country, a decision that has brought both balance and perspective to the festival since its inception. 'In the first and second editions, the role was held by Elias Khlat, who is also the founder and director of the Tripoli Film Festival. In the third edition, Palestinian film critic Ola Al-Sheikh took over as artistic director. And this year it was the Egyptian film critic Mohamed Sayed Abdel Rahim. Having an artistic director with solid experience helps us immensely, especially since we in Palestine can't always travel freely, attend other festivals, or engage with the wider industry the way we'd like to.' Shaheen began her professional journey in cultural management after studying in Beirut, where she lived for eight years. First, she joined the Taawon Welfare Association, an organisation that supports Palestinian cultural initiatives. It was there, she says, that she understood the importance of strong, vibrant cultural institutions for sustaining communities. It was also there that the dream of creating her own initiative in her hometown began to take shape. 'I'm from Jerusalem,' she says, 'and I've always felt that my city is marginalised because of the reality of living under occupation. Since the Oslo Accords, that marginalisation has only deepened because most of the organisations working in Jerusalem moved to the West Bank. Today, there are only a few still active with youth in the city. I constantly worry about Jerusalem. I feel like it's slipping through our fingers. I've always dreamed of doing something for this city to resist its Israelization, to affirm its Arab identity, and to create spaces where people can engage, connect, and feel they deserve to live. The Jerusalem Arab Film Festival is just a small contribution to that goal. It's about breathing cultural life into the city. I'm proud that the festival, especially over the last two rounds, has become one of Jerusalem's most important cultural events.' Looking back on the festival's early days, Shaheen recalls how much effort went into laying its foundation, building networks, learning from experience, and traveling to other festivals. Among the most important stops on that journey was the Cairo International Film Festival. 'Cairo has been a hugely important city for me, and for the Jerusalem Arab Film Festival,' she says. 'There, I connected with so many industry professionals from across the Arab world. Cairo brings everyone together. It really is the launchpad for artists across the region.' Five editions in, Sheheen is proud not just of how far the festival has come but of how many people have helped to bring it there. With each passing year, its network of partners, volunteers, and supporters has grown stronger. 'There's a growing desire to contribute to this space,' she says, 'to be part of something that's making a real difference in and through Jerusalem.' * A version of this article appears in print in the 24 July, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cannes Market Hot List: Will New Films From Seth Rogen, Pamela Anderson, Rachel Zegler and Jeremy Allen White Spark Bidding Wars?
Will some serious star power reinvigorate the Cannes Film Market? That's the big question facing sales agents as studios and streamers hit the Croisette on the prowl for compelling new movies. At Sundance, Berlin and Toronto, the movie business seemed to be in the throes of a massive contraction. Having spent freely while launching their own in-house challengers to Netflix, studios like Warner Bros., Disney and Paramount, along with their indie brethren, were in full-on cost-cutting mode. Complicating matters was the fact that after being burned by overspending for projects and packages at festivals in the past, tech giants like Apple and Amazon have instead concentrated on producing in-house content. That left many filmmakers still searching for distribution long after the crowds dispersed. More from Variety Indonesia's JAFF Market Sets Cannes Agenda With Film Slate, Global Partnerships '[REC]' Producer Filmax Brings to Market 'The Nest,' Drops Promo (EXCLUSIVE) India's Rahul Bhat Brings 'Lost & Found in Kumbh' to Cannes Market After 'Black Warrant' Netflix Success (EXCLUSIVE) But there's something about the sunshine — or maybe the free-flowing rosé — in the South of France that always leads to a bidding war or two. Here's a look at 16 projects that have buyers buzzing and that maybe, just maybe, could have Hollywood spending like it's 2019 again. 'Bunker'Cast: Javier Bardem, Penélope CruzDirector: Florian ZellerAgency: CAA, WME, FilmNation (International)Why Buyers Care: Zeller, the director of the Oscar-winning 'The Father' and an acclaimed playwright, returns to the screen with this thriller about an architect tapped to construct a survivalist bunker for a tech billionaire. It all sounds very on point given how much the wackier branch of the one percent has been in the headlines of late. (We may or may not be referencing a certain godfather of all things DOGE). Throw in real-life married couple Bardem and Cruz, who are usually electrifying when paired on film, and you have all the ingredients for something special. 'Urchin'Cast: Frank Dillane, Megan NorthamDirector: Harris DickinsonAgency: CharadesWhy Buyers Care: Dickinson shows a different side of himself, making his feature directorial debut with this story of a drifter trying to reintegrate into society. This film makes its debut in Cannes' Un Certain Regard section and — sight unseen — the early buzz is strong, with Dickinson apparently delivering a compelling portrait of how the system fails people dealing with mental health issues. 'Untitled Celebrity Pass Comedy'Cast: Zoey Deutch, Jon Hamm, Ben Wang, John SlatteryDirector: David WainAgency: WMEWhy Buyers Care: It's a 'Mad Men' reunion, with Hamm and Slattery sharing the screen alongside Deutch in this story of a woman whose relationship with her fiancé is threatened after he uses his celebrity hall pass. R-rated comedies, once among the most reliably commercial of genres, seem poised for a resurgence and Wain, who has scored with the likes of 'Role Models' and 'Wet Hot American Summer,' knows how to get big laughs. 'Ruin'Cast: Gal Gadot, Matthias SchoenaertsDirector: Niki CaroAgency: UTA, WME, CAA, The Veterans (International)Why Buyers Care: As 'Mulan' proved, Caro can stage a historical set piece with the best of them. And she has an evocative backdrop with 'Ruin,' which takes place in the aftermath of World War II and follows a recently released camp prisoner (Gadot) who teams up with a German soldier (Schoenaerts) to exact revenge on a Nazi SS squad. 'Alma'Cast: Pamela Anderson, Dakota Fanning, Lindsay DuncanDirector: Sally PotterAgency: BanksideWhy Buyers Care: The 'Pamissance' continues. Anderson, fresh off her buzzy turn in 'The Last Showgirl,' leads an ensemble that includes Fanning and Duncan in this story of a family who reunite to scatter the ashes of their mother. Instead of a nice send off and a few shared remembrances, they are left to deal with her continued haunting presence. Potter, who made arthouse classics like 'Orlando,' has a particular knack for spinning these kind of offbeat yarns. 'The Invite'Cast: Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, Edward NortonDirector: Olivia WildeAgency: FilmNation, UTA Why Buyers Care: Wilde has an enviable track record behind the camera, having directed the critically adored 'Booksmart' and the commercially successful head-spinner 'Don't Worry Darling.' This relationship comedy sounds like an envelope pusher (in a good way), telling the story of a couple whose 'get to know you' with the neighbors also unearths some deeply repressed feelings and unexplored sexuality. It will be interesting how a comic genius like Rogen plays off Norton and Cruz, who, though award-winning thespians, have shown they know how to deliver a punch line in films like 'Birdman' and 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona.' 'The Six Billion Dollar Man'Director: Eugene JareckiAgency: WMEWhy Buyers Care: Jarecki is no stranger to hot-button issues and controversial figures, having previously tackled everything from the War on Drugs to the military industrial complex to Henry Kissinger. With his latest documentary, 'The Six Billion Dollar Man,' Jarecki examines Julian Assange and the debate around press freedom that the Wikileaks founder kicked off. The film, which should spark fierce debate when it screens at Cannes, boasts never before-seen archival footage. It debuts roughly a year after Assange reached a plea deal and was released from prison in the U.K. 'Strange Arrivals'Cast: Colman Domingo, Demi MooreDirector: Roger Ross WilliamsAgency: WME, CAA, Rocket Science (International)Why Buyers Care: Oscar-winning director Williams teams up with Moore and Domingo, who were fellow Academy Award nominees this year for their work in 'The Substance' and 'Sing Sing,' to tell the true story of Betty and Barney Hill, an interracial couple who, in 1961, became the first reported case of an alien abduction. It's based on a podcast of the same name by Toby Ball and boasts a script by Jane Anderson, best known for adapting 'Olive Kitteridge' into an Emmy-winning HBO miniseries. 'The Accompanist'Director: Zach WoodsCast: Susan Sarandon, Everly Carganilla, Aubrey PlazaAgency: CAA, Gersh, Mister Smith (International)Why Buyers Care: Woods, best known for his comedic work on 'Silicon Valley' and 'The Office,' makes his feature directorial debut with the story of a 9-year-old (Carganilla) who gets placed with a funny and unpredictable foster parent (Sarandon) is dealing with ghosts from her past. The unusual premise — who doesn't love some magical realism — and top-shelf cast should perk interest. 'Séance on a Wet Afternoon 'Cast: Rachel WeiszDirector: Tomas Alfredson Agency: UTA, CAA, FilmNation (International)Why Buyers Care: Alfredson, who flexed his talent for spinning atmospheric tension with 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy,' remakes this 1964 British crime thriller about a medium, who dupes her husband into kidnapping the son of a wealthy family so she help the police 'find' the kid and prove her psychic abilities are the real McCoy. Weisz has the showy lead role (Kim Stanley, who played the same part decades ago, got an Oscar nomination for her efforts). 'She Gets It From Me'Cast: Rachel Zegler, Marisa TomeiDirector: Julia von HeinzAgency: CAA, Embankment (International)Why Buyers Care: Zegler, of 'West Side Story' and 'Snow White' fame, and Tomei, the Oscar-winning star of 'My Cousin Vinny' and 'Spider-Man: No Way Home,' will share the screen in this unconventional family story about a woman whose engagement celebration kicks off a search to find her pill-popping, ex-punk rocker birth mother. It sounds like a heartwarming, potentially hilarious and female-forward take on 'Flirting With Disaster.' 'Photograph 51'Cast: Natalie PortmanDirector: Tom HooperAgency: CAA, FilmNation (International)Why Buyers Care: Hooper, the Oscar-winning director of 'The King's Speech,' will try to regain his footing after 'Cats' with this true story of Rosalind Franklin, a brilliant scientist whose work in x-ray crystallography gave Watson and Crick a leg up by capturing an image that revealed DNA's double-helix structure. It sounds like a meaty role for Portman, as well as the kind of CGI-feline-free project that can remind audiences of Hooper's undeniable talent for telling more grounded stories. 'Nouvelle Vague'Cast: Guillaume Marbeck, Zoey Deutch, Aubry DullinDirector: Richard LinklaterAgency: GoodfellasWhy Buyers Care: The story behind the story that transformed cinema. Linklater, an icon of indies, pulls back the curtain on Jean-Luc Godard, one of progenitors of the French New Wave, and the making of 'Breathless.' It sounds like catnip for movie lovers. Deutch is supposed to burn up the screen as Jean Seberg, the American film star whose fascinating off-screen life (she was a target of J. Edgar Hoover's COINTELPRO and a passionate supporter of the Black Panther Party) probably deserves a mini-series of its own. 'Anxious People'Cast: Angelina JolieDirector: Marc ForsterAgency: WME, Black Bear (International)Why Buyers Care: Forster, who recently helmed the surprise box office hit 'A Man Called Otto,' returns with this story of an investment banker who finds herself taken hostage with a reluctant bank robber during an open house. Jolie earned some of the best reviews of her career playing Maria Callas in last year's 'Maria,' reminding viewers what they'd been missing after her self-imposed break from films. 'The Painted Bride'Cast: Jeremy Allen White, Isabella Rossellini, Mandy PatinkinDirector: Jeremiah ZagarAgency: WME, Charades/New Europe (International)Why Buyers Care: White, soon to star as Bruce Springsteen in the biopic 'Deliver Me From Nowhere,' is trying to leverage his breakout role as a stressed out chef in 'The Bear' into movie stardom. Freed from the kitchen, 'The Painted Bride' finds White playing a man obsessing over a new project dedicated to his young son and dying father. Zagar won raves for 'We Are Animals,' a coming-of-age drama that was a favorite at the 2018 edition of Sundance, and also oversaw the Adam Sandler film, 'Hustle.' 'Shutout'Cast: Robert De Niro, Jenna OrtegaDirector: David O. RussellAgency: CAA, Black Bear (International)Why Buyers Care: Russell's last outing didn't go so well — that would be 2022's high-profile flop, 'Amsterdam.' But most of the director's previous collaborations with De Niro, such as 'Silver Linings Playbook' and 'Joy,' have been winners. It also helps that Ortega, who has built an impressive fanbase thanks to her work on Netflix's 'Wednesday,' is a legitimate draw. Here's hoping the two actors can help Russell recapture his touch with this story of a pool hustler and his prodigy. At the very least, 'Shutout' will be interesting. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Indonesia's JAFF Market Sets Cannes Agenda With Film Slate, Global Partnerships
The Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival (JAFF) delegation has arrived at the Cannes Film Festival with plans to showcase Indonesia's burgeoning creative industries on the global stage. As JAFF prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary, its industry platform JAFF Market is leveraging the festival to highlight multiple Indonesian projects and forge international partnerships. More from Variety '[REC]' Producer Filmax Brings to Market 'The Nest,' Drops Promo (EXCLUSIVE) India's Rahul Bhat Brings 'Lost & Found in Kumbh' to Cannes Market After 'Black Warrant' Netflix Success (EXCLUSIVE) The Mediapro Studio to Adapt 'Beauty and the Beast' Writer Evan Spiliotopoulos' First Novel (EXCLUSIVE) Leading the Indonesian contingent is 'Pangku,' the directorial debut from celebrated actor Reza Rahadian. The coming-of-age drama, set against Indonesia's 1998 economic crisis, was first unveiled at JAFF Future Project 2024 where it secured the White Light Post-Production Award. The film will screen in the 'HAF Goes to Cannes' program at Marché du Film. Three original IP projects showcased at JAFF Content Market 2024 will be featured at Marché du Film's Spotlight Asia – Asian IP Adaptation program. These include 'Locust' from indie publisher Kosmik (founded by Marvel and DC comics artist Sunny Gho), 'Bandits of Batavia' by internationally recognized artist Bryan Valenza and his studio Beyondtopia, and 'Jitu' from Caravan Studio, led by illustrator Chris Lie, whose team has worked with entertainment giants like Sony, Konami and Marvel Comics. 'Cannes offers us an opportunity to share the energy and opportunities of the Indonesian film industry's growth unfolding in Indonesia. It's especially meaningful to see several of our JAFF Market-selected films and IP projects, including 'Pangku,' 'Locust,' 'Bandits of Batavia,' and 'Jitu,' now stepping onto the global stage at Cannes,' said Ifa Isfansyah, festival director of JAFF and president commissioner of JAFF Market. JAFF Market is also cementing international relationships through key partnership events. A matchmaking reception with the Netherlands Film Fund will take place May 16 at the SEE NL pavilion, building on the co-production treaty signed between Indonesia and the Netherlands last year. Adelaide Film Festival will host an exchange session with Australian filmmakers on May 18, and JAFF Market is partnering with Indonesian powerhouses Visinema and Jagartha for networking events connecting them with international industry figures. 'The upcoming 2025 JAFF Market is a major milestone — not only does JAFF celebrate two decades of championing Asian cinema, but JAFF Market is back with even more ambition, activating the entire ecosystem and building a collaborative platform where local and international filmmakers, producers, and industry players can meet and set the foundation for future co-productions and partnerships,' said Linda Gozali, JAFF market director. Indonesia's film sector has demonstrated impressive growth, achieving over 80 million admissions and maintaining 65% local box office market share in 2024 alone. As JAFF celebrates its 20th anniversary, the second edition of JAFF Market will take place from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1, with the full JAFF festival running from Nov. 29 to Dec. 6, in Yogyakarta, aiming to foster global collaboration and promote Southeast Asia's next generation of storytellers. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
