Post-Apartheid movie scoops festival top prize

BEST PICTURE: Australian director Steve Jacobs and producer Anna Maria Monticelli pose for pictures after winning the Black Pearl awards for Best Film and Best Director for their film Disgrace. (AFP)

Disgrace, a searing drama set in post-apartheid South Africa, scooped the Black Pearl award for best picture at the climax of the Middle East International Film Festival in Abu Dhabi on Sunday night.

The movie, based on a novel of the same name by Nobel laureate JM Coetzee and starring US actor John Malkovich, was directed by Steve Jacobs. It was awarded the first prize of $200,000.

A total of 76 feature films and 34 shorts were submitted from filmamkers in 34 countries for the festival, which began on October 10, according to organisers.

Main awards:

Best film - "Disgrace" by Steve Jacobs ($200,000).

Best documentary - "Stranded" by Gonzalo Arijon ($150,000).

Special jury prize - "Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love" documentary by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi ($125,000).

Best actress - Ilham Shaheen for her role in "Fawzia: A Special Blend" ($75,000).

Best Actor - Luca Zingaretti for his role in "Wild Blood" ($75,000).

Best artistic contribution - Rashid Masharawi, scene writer for "Laila's Birthday" ($75,000).

Best short film - "The View" by Hazim Bitar and Rifqi Assaf ($75,000).

Print | Email | Discuss this article

| Share |

READERS' COMMENTS

Click here to post a comment

Add your Comment All posts are sent to the administrator for review and are published only after approval. ArabianBusiness.com reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic. Arabian Business would like to point out that only comments relevant to the story will be published. Any containing personal insults or inappropriate language will not be approved.
Name *
Remember me on this computer
Email *	(Your email address will not be published)
City
Country
Subject *
Comment *
Notify me of further comments
Enter the words above *
Please click post only once - your comment will not be published immediately.

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM