VARIOUS: Argentina lifts the curtain on its first Arab film festival, showing a host of movies, shorts and documentaries from across the Middle East

Record ID: 446751

  • Title: VARIOUS: Argentina lifts the curtain on its first Arab film festival, showing a host of movies, shorts and documentaries from across the Middle East
  • Date: 5th December 2011
  • Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (DECEMBER 1, 2011) (REUTERS) AUDIENCE IN SCREENING ROOM FESTIVAL DIRECTOR EDGARDO BECHARA EL KHOURY OPENING EVENT VARIOUS OF AUDIENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FESTIVAL DIRECTOR, EDGARDO BECHARA EL KHOURY, SAYING "What we are looking for is that the directors and cinematographers of the Arab world can find vehicles for the dissemination of their culture and films here in Latin America. And that the cinemas can open their doors to new productions. In that sense we are also strengthening and generating a public that are predisposed and open to receiving a cinema that has a wealth of importance and a level of production comparable to any production in Europe or in any other part of the world, but that, at the same time comes from countries that have been strongly stereotyped by Hollywood. On top of these prejudices a certain commercial industry has been created. Also we want to advance the festival, to unite people through cinema to the same cause, which is the cause of humanity, of being human."
  • Embargoed: 20th December 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Reuters ID: LVA5P5KGZYTJJCJDLFB9O3P7JNYO
  • Story Text: Thirty films were shown at Argentina's first Arab film festival in Buenos Aires on Thursday (December 1), spanning feature films, documentaries and shorts from across the Middle East.
    Moroccan filmmaker Hisham Lasri travelled to Argentina for the event and showcased his film, "The End", which previously won an award at the Tangier Film Festival.
    Lasri said although the film was deeply routed in his personal experiences of Morocco, it had aspects which any viewer could relate to.
    "My film is more an artistic expression and almost furiously passionate for me as I express a moment that I lived," said Lasri.
    "It is a rock film, but at the same time comes from Morocco."
    The black-and-white film leads viewers through a near-empty Casablanca and, at times, verges on the surreal.
    Festival director Edgardo Bechara El Khoury said his aim was to bring Arabic films to a wider audience and knock down Hollywood stereotypes of the Middle East.
    "We are also strengthening and generating a public that are predisposed and open to receiving a cinema that has a wealth of importance and a level of production comparable to any production in Europe or in any other part of the world, but that, at the same time comes from countries that have been strongly stereotyped by Hollywood," said El Khoury.
    An actress from one of the billed films "Buried Secrets" -- directed by Raja Ammari and co-produced by Tunisia, France and Switzerland -- said she hoped the showing of the film would highlight the transformation Tunisian film is undergoing.
    "I would like that through the film de Raja (the director) provides a vision of what Tunisian cinema is today, because Tunisian cinema is undergoing a big transformation," said Sondos Belhassen.
    Films from Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt and the Palestinian territories are slated for the film festival, which is running until December 7.
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