- Title: SYRIA: Prizes for Syrian movies at Damascus film festival
- Date: 9th November 2009
- Summary: AUDIENCE APPLAUDING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MUSTAFA AL-KHANI, SYRIAN ACTOR, SAYING: "Over the past two years there have been serious attempts to promote Syrian cinema. There have been attempts to get the private sector to enter the film-making industry but so far they have not yet delivered the results they should have and their contribution is still low. There are statemen
- Embargoed: 24th November 2009 12:00
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- Reuters ID: LVA6OT64S9VCP93QNAIQ02OBU7N2
- Story Text: Film stars and film-makers had their efforts recognised at a glittering award ceremony in Damascus on Saturday night (November 7) at the end of a week-long movie festival.
Syrian cinema-lovers had been treated to more than 250 films from all over the world, over the course of the eight-day event.
At the climax on Saturday, prizes were awarded in three main categories: best Arabic film, best short film, and best long film.
The Korean film "A Mountain Without Trees" won a gold award for best long film while the German film "WAGAH" won in the 'best short film' category.
Egyptian actress Somaya Elkhashab, who was on the jury panel, said she had been impressed by the standard of work.
"The standard of the acting is high and I am proud because there is such a thing as 'Arab art'. I say 'Arab' because I definitely saw more than one Arabic film. I felt proud because our standard is not so low and we can enter international festivals," she told Reuters Television.
Two Syrian films, produced by a public sector foundation, the Syrian General Institute of Film-Making, won three prizes between them: "Silent Thoughts" won the bronze prize in the 'best short film' category, while "Once Again" , a love story that portrays the Syrian-Lebanese relationship, won a prize for the 'best Arabic film' and a special prize in the 'best long film' category.
Director Joud Saeed said the idea for the film had come to him two years ago, but the movie had to be made on a budget of less than 500,000 USD, because of the limited funds available for Syrian film-making.
"We have a lack of productions. The more we produce, the more important Syrian films become," he told Reuters Television.
Although two Syrian films won awards, some say there is a real lack of home-grown productions and are calling for more funds to remedy this.
"Over the past two years there have been serious attempts to promote Syrian cinema. There have been attempts to get the private sector to enter the film-making industry but so far they have not yet delivered the results they should have and their contribution is still low. There are statements and there is interest by officials but on the practical side, Syrian cinema has not yet reached the level we would wish it to," said actor Mustafa al-Khani.
The Damascus film festival first took place in 1979 and used to be held once every few years. However, due to an increased interest in cinema over the years, the festival has now become an annual event. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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