FI
Blogs
THE
BLACK PEARL SHINES:
A Recap of the
MIDDLE-EASTERN FILM FESTIVAL 2008
by
Anand Devan
The
films, the stars, the venue and the Black Pearl – the
Middle East International Film Festival 2008 stood out to its
true potential. Held at the prestigious Emirates Palace Hotel
in Abu Dhabi and hosted by the Authority for Culture and Heritage,
the 10-day festival was more than just a visual treat. Over
70 movies, including short films, feature films and documentaries
were in the competition for the esteemed Black Pearl award.
OPENING
GALA
The
festival kicked off featuring a star-studded parade with Antonio
Banderas, his actress wife Melanie Griffith, Meg Ryan, Adrien
Broody, director Riah Johnson with other Arab stars including
Abeer, Rashid Assaf and Indian actress Priyanka Chopra walking
the red carpet. The opening night gala ceremony of the second
Middle East Film Festival opened with the screening of The Brothers
Bloom directed by Rian Johnson and starring Academy Award Winner
Adrien Brody.
SPECIAL
SCREENINGS
Notable
celebrities and stars attended the festival including Sir Ben
Kingsley who attended the special screening of Ghandi. Ghandi,
a film directed by Sir Richard Attenborough had won eight Academy
Awards - Best Picture, Best Leading Actor and Best Director.
JANE FONDA HONORED WITH LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
AWARD
MEIFF
and Cinema Verite organized a ceremony that was specifically
dedicated to intercultural understanding. At the ceremony, MEIFF
and Cinema Verite honored the renowned Hollywood actress and
Academy Award Winner Jane Fonda with a Lifetime Achievement
award.
SPOTLIGHT
ON WOMEN
Academy
Award Winner Susan Sarandon attended the screening of Shape
of Water followed by an interesting debate on Reel Women Power.
Reel Women Power is a documentary directed by debutant filmmaker
Kum-Kum Bhavnani, in which Susan Sarandon narrates an inspiring
tale of women living in third world countries and the challenges
they face.
Over
130 films screened at the festival. The gala screenings featured:
• The Brother’s Bloom
• Body of Lies
Films
included:
• A Christmas Tale starring Catherine Deneuve and Jean-Paul
Roussillon
• The Wackness starring Ben Kingsley
• Middle of Nowhere starring Anton Yelchin
• Maradona
• Miracle at St Anna
• Easy Virtue starring Jessica Biel
• Vicky Cristina Barcelona
MEIFF
2008 BLACK PEARL AWARD WINNERS:
The
Black Pearl for Best Narrative Film - $200,000
Disgrace
Director: Steve Jacobs. Producers: Anna Maria Monticelli, Emile
Sherman, Steve Jacobs
The Black Pearl for Best Documentary – $150,000
Stranded
Director: Gonzalo Arijon. Producer: Marc Silvera
The Black Pearl Special Jury Prize- $125,000
Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love
Director and Producer: Elisabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
The Black Pearl for Best Actress - $75,000
Fawzia: A Special Blend
Actress: Ilham Shaheen
The Black Pearl for Best Actor - $75,000
Wild Blood
Actor: Luca Zingaretti
The Black Pearl for Best Artistic Contribution - $75,000
Laila’s Birthday
Screenwriter: Rashid Masharawi
The Black Pearl Audience Choice Award
Saving Luna
Co-Directors: Suzanne Chisholm & Michael Parfit. Producer:
Suzanne Chisholm
The Black Pearl for Best Narrative - Short Film- $75.000
The View
Co-Directors: Hazim Bitar & Rifqi Assaf. Producer: Amman
Filmmaker Cooperative
The Black Pearl for Best Documentary – Short Film- 75.000$
Breadmakers
Director: Yasmin Fedda. Producers: Jim Hickey & Robin Mitchell
The Black Pearl for Best Animation- Shot Film- 75.000$
Jacinta
Director: Karla Casteneda. Producer: Luis Tellez
Best Advertisement – Cultural Category - 25.000$
Anti Slavery
Director: Eric Lynne. Producer: Partizan Films – Midi
Minuit
Best Advertisement – Consumer Category - 25.000$
Battle
Director: Traktor. Producer: Partizan Films – Midi Minuit
Best Advertisement – Artistic Contribution - 25.000$
Great Pretender
Director: Patrick Bergh. Producer: Partizan Films – Midi
Minuit
The Black Pearl for Best Narrative – Student Films –
25.000$
Illusion
Director: Burhan Qurbani. Producer: Fabian Gasmia
The Black Pearl for Best Emerging Filmmaker – Student
Films- 25.000$
Lullaby
Director: Serena Abi Aad. Producer: IESAV
The Black Pearl for Best Animation – Student Films –
25.000$
Adherent
Director: Julian Nazario Vargas. Producer: Rube Baggerud
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