Dubai film fest honours top Arab talent

The Dubai Film Festival (DIFF) handed out gongs yesterday for films on subjects including a lonely nightwatchman in love with his neighbour, honour killing in Palestine and a Frenchman searching for his Egyptian roots.

The annual Muhr Awards for Excellence in Cinema were expanded this year to include films from across the region.

The Gold Muhr was won by Taht el Qasef (Under the Bombs), which explores interfaith love in Southern Lebanon between a Shi'a woman and a Christian man. Filmmaker Phillippe Aractingi reacted to the 2006 war by commencing filming in July, in the heat of the bombings. Under the Bombs also won a Best Actress Muhr for Nada Abou Fahat, who played Zeina, the Lebanese Shi'a woman who rushes into the war zone to save her son.

Masoud Amralla Al-Ali, artistic director of DIFF described the standard of entries as ‘superlative’ in terms of story and production values, saying “We intend for the Muhr Awards to instigate the production of more Arab films in the region. The Middle East is full of creativity, and our roster of winners proves that unequivocally.”

Prizewinning short films included Sarah by Belgian director, Khdija Leclere (gold), Haresat Al Ma’a (The Water Guard), from the Emirati Waleed Al-Shehhi (silver), and El Ezz (Garbage), by Tunisian director Lotfi Achour.

The Bronze Muhr for Documentary went to journalist, writer and filmmaker Nassri Hajjaj's Nassri Hajjaj's Dhil al Gheyab (Shadow of Absence), about Palestinian anxiety about what Hajjaj calls 'the site of burial.' Silver went to Palestinian director Buthina Canaan Khoury for Magharat Maria (Maria's Grotto), which explores honour killing in Palestine. The Gold Muhr went to Karim Goury's stylistically unusual Soneaa fi Masr (Made in Egypt), which follows a Frenchman as he searches for his Egyptian roots.

Winning feature films covered a swathe of the Middle East: Bronze feature La Graine et le Mulet (The Secret of the Grain) was directed by Abdellatif Kechiche, a Tunisian actor and set in France. The comedic Akher Film (Making Of), in which Tunisian director (who has directed Abdellatif Kechiche in previous films) Nouri Bouzid plays himself in a film depicting a film shoot in danger of being interrupted by the American invasion of Iraq, won Silver. The film also took away the Best Composer award for Nejib Charradi.

Best Actor went to UK-based Jordanian actor Nadim Sawalha for his role in Captain Abu Raed, where he plays an airport janitor who befriends a group of children in his poor neighbourhood.

Lebanese filmmaker Borhane Alaouie's Khalass took away two awards: the Best Screenplay award for Alaouie himself, and Best Editor Award for France Duez. Best Cinematographer went to Pierre Boffety for his photography of Burnt Hearts

In the section of the Muhr Awards that recognizes Emirati talent, three awards were presented. The prize for Best Emirati Talent went to Mohammed Saeed Harib, creator of the Freej series. Best Emirati Female Filmmaker was presented to Nayla Al Khaja, and Best Emirati Filmmaker went to Ali Mostafa.

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READERS' COMMENTS

Dubai Film Festival Gives Silver to Honour Killing Film
Posted by KarenTintori, West Bloomfield, USA on Sunday 16 December 2007 at 08:39 UAE time

It is heartening that Khoury has received the recognition for her film examining Palestinian "honour" killings. Bravo to her work and the judges who deemed it worthy of this prize.

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