Latest news with #BestDirectorAward
Egypt Today
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Egypt Today
Cannes winner ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA set for release across France
Fresh off winning the Best Director Award at Cannes, Tarzan and Arab Nasser's comedy-drama ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA is set to release in theaters across France this month, offering audiences a unique gripping narrative from the heart of Gaza. The screenings, which will be held in the presence of one-half of the director duo Arab Nasser, will be held on the following dates: Thursday, June 19th – Premiere in Marseille at Les Variétés Friday, June 20th – Premiere in Toulouse at American Cosmo Sunday, June 22nd– Premiere in Saint-Ouen-l'Aumône at Utopia Stella Monday, June 23rd – Premiere in Paris at mk2 Gambetta Tuesday, June 24th – Premiere in Orléans Wednesday, June 25th – Premiere in Paris at Majestic Bastille Thursday, June 26th – Premiere in Saint-Denis at L'Ecra ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA explores the gripping story of Yahya, a young student who forges a friendship with Osama, a charismatic restaurant owner with a big heart. Together, they begin peddling drugs while delivering falafel sandwiches, but they are soon forced to grapple with a corrupt cop and his oversized ego. An international co-production between France, Palestine, Germany, and Portugal with Qatar and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the film boasts a stellar cast that includes Nader Abd Alhay, who is known for his role as Sami in FARAH, which is streaming now on Netflix; Ramzi Maqdisi (GHOST HUNTING, awarded Best Documentary at the Berlinale), Majd Eid (Cannes Winning title HOLY SPIDER); DOP Christophe Graillot (RIDE ABOVE) and editor Sophie Reine, who won the Best Editing Award at the César Awards for her work in THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. Directed by the Nasser Brothers from a screenplay co-written with Amer Nasser and Marie Legrand, ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA is produced by Rani Massalha and Marie Legrand from Les Films du Tambour and Muriel Merlin of Lyly Productions. Additionally, the film was co-produced with Rise Studios (Amanda Turnbull and Ziad Srouji), Made in Palestine Project (Rashid Abdelhamid), Red Balloon Film (Dorothe Benemeier), Riva Filmproduktion (Mickael Eckelt and Lena Zimmerhackel), Ukbar Filmes (Pandora Da Cunha Telles and Pablo Iraola), and executive produced by Jordan Pioneers Multi Media & Slate Films Services (Khaled Haddad) in association with A. A. Films (Ahmed Amer), Cocoon Films (Sawsan Asfari), Radio e Televisao De Portugal, and Kometa (Edyta Janczak-Hiriart). Twin brothers Tarzan and Arab Nasser were born in Gaza in 1988. In 2013, their short film CONDOM LEAD was selected for the Main Competition at Cannes. Their first feature film, DÉGRADÉ, also premiered as part of Cannes' Critics' Week. Their second feature, GAZA MON AMOUR, premiered in the Horizons Program of the Venice International Film Festival and was Palestine's submission to the 2021 Academy Awards.
Egypt Today
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Egypt Today
Egyptian short ABU JUDY wins Best Director at Cairo's Zawya Short Film Festival
Following its successful world premiere at the Cairo International Film Festival, the gripping Egyptian short drama film ABU JUDY, by Adel Ahmed Yehia, has won the Best Director Award, which comes with a cash prize of EGP 25,000, at the ninth Zawya Short Film Festival in Cairo, highlighting the film's poignant storytelling and impressive filmmaking. With a jury consisting of film critic Essam Zakaria, screenwriter Heba Yousry, and director Bassam Mortada, the film competed against 26 other short films. ABU JUDY tells the touching story of a 10-year-old girl who regularly accompanies her father to work. However, their relationship is put to the test when an unexpected event unfolds, challenging the dynamics between them. The film explores the complexities of the father-daughter relationship while delving into the theme of childhood, navigating the delicate balance between retaining innocence and confronting premature adulthood. Commenting on the film, director Adel Ahmed Yehia expressed that ABU JUDY is an exploration of the contrast within the father-daughter dynamic, emphasizing the weight of circumstances and the resilience of childhood. He questions whether the child in ABU JUDY has managed to hold onto her innocence or if her father has placed such a heavy burden on her that she feels compelled to save him by becoming part of his world. This tension — between protection and survival, innocence and awareness — is what he aimed to capture. Yehia further noted that with ABU JUDY, he does not seek to provide answers but rather to raise questions about the unseen emotional and moral complexities that exist in relationships, particularly in the margins of society. He also reflects that sometimes, a child remains a child, and at other times, they grow up too soon Written and directed by Adel Ahmed Yehia, the film features a talented cast, including Emad Ghoneim, Janna Farouk, and Nesma Bahy, with Disha Hesham as a DOP and Mohamed Mamdouh as an editor. Notably, Emad Ghoneim and editor Mohamed Mamdouh are recognized for their work on AISHA CAN'T FLY AWAY, which made history as the first Egyptian film to win the Venice Film Festival's Jury Prize for Best Film in Post-Production at the Final Cut in Venice. Producers Baho Bakhsh and Safi Eldin Mahmoud of Red Star Films, alongside Moataz Abdel Wahab of Hawadeet Films, have brought this compelling story to life along with MAD World that handles worldwide sales and MAD Distribution that manages the film's distribution across the Arab World.
Broadcast Pro
19-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Egyptian film ‘Abu Judy' wins award at Zawya Short Film Festival
MAD World oversees global sales, while MAD Distribution manages the film's distribution in the Arab world. Egyptian short drama Abu Judy, directed by Adel Ahmed Yehia, has secured the Best Director Award at the ninth Zawya Short Film Festival in Cairo, following its world premiere at the Cairo International Film Festival. The accolade, which includes a cash prize of EGP 25,000, recognises the film's storytelling and cinematic execution. Competing against 26 other short films, Abu Judy was judged by an esteemed panel comprising film critic Essam Zakaria, screenwriter Heba Yousry and director Bassam Mortada. The film narrates the heartfelt story of a 10-year-old girl who frequently accompanies her father to work. Their bond is put to the test when an unforeseen incident unfolds, challenging their relationship and exploring themes of childhood, innocence and premature adulthood. Director Adel Ahmed Yehia described Abu Judy as an exploration of the complexities within the father-daughter relationship, highlighting the weight of circumstances and the resilience of childhood. He reflected on the tension between protection and survival, innocence and awareness, questioning whether the young girl retains her innocence or is forced to mature too soon due to her father's burdens. Rather than providing definitive answers, Yehia aims to provoke thought about the unseen emotional and moral struggles that exist within relationships, particularly in marginalised communities. He noted that some children remain just that, while others are compelled to grow up too soon. The film features Emad Ghoneim, Janna Farouk and Nesma Bahy, with cinematography by Disha Hesham and editing by Mohamed Mamdouh. Produced by Baho Bakhsh and Safi Eldin Mahmoud of Red Star Films, alongside Moataz Abdel Wahab of Hawadeet Films, Abu Judy is supported by MAD World, handling global sales, and MAD Distribution, overseeing its release across the Arab world.
