2nd Annual Oran Arab Film Festival, Algeria
A captivated audience enjoys the opening night celebration with festival president Habib Chawki Hamraoui.
Distinguished Festival Jury made up of Jury president Duraid Laham, Algerian Actress Bahia Rachedi, Lebanese Actress Claudia Marachalian, Dubai Film Festival Artistic Director Massaoud Amralla Ali, Iraqi Director Erfan Rachid, Moroccan star Mohamed Miftah.
Last Thursday, July 3rd marked the finale of the the 2nd Annual Oran Arab Film Festival with a closing night ceremony announcing the winners of the competition
The Syrian film Out of Coverage by Abdelatif Abdel Hamid won the Golden “Ahaggar” prize. For Best Director, the Moroccan Ahmed Al Maanouni won with his film Burned Hearts, an intimate look at a young man’s struggle to fit in in his hometown after many years abroad. The Aquarium by the Egyptian filmmaker Yousry Nasrallah received the Best Script award. A special Jury Mention for Cinematography was given to Waiting For Pasolini by Daoud Oulad Sayyed while the official prize was given to the Algerian Ahmed Mossaad for his work in the film Ayrouwen.
In the shorts competition, the Egyptian filmmaker Karim Fannous won with his film Clean Hands, Dirty Soap. The Jury also distinguished the Moroccan film Funerary Song by Mohamed Mouftakar and the Tunisian film Dead Fish by Malik Amara.
The Lebanese actress Nada Abou Ferhat won for her leading role in Under the Bombs by Philippe Aractingi while the Egyptian actor Ahmed Essaqa won for his role in The Island.
This international film event brought together over 250 guests from all over the Arab world, including famous personalities like Doureyd Lehham, the actress Mouna Wassef, the Algerian actress Bahia Rachedi, the legendary director Lakhdar Hamina, the actors Mahmoud Yacine and Mahmoud Abdelaziz and many others.
Beyond the glitter and exclusive parties, the International Film Festival of Oran brought together some promising young filmmakers. Among them the following short film directors whose originality and unique perspectives will hopefully fuel a new generation of Arab films:
Hachimiya Ahamada is a pioneer by directing the first film in the Comoros Islands, Residence Yang Yang. Mahdi Fleifel uses humor in Arafat & I, to explore the quirkiness of a young Palestinian looking for love in London. A bold experimental debut Souss wa Nokta by Lebanese filmmaker Reine Razouk jolted audiences in Oran. Local filmmaker Yanis Koussim depicted a touching story of sisterhood set one night in Algiers, Khti (Sister). Nawaf Al-Janahi dispeled all stereotypes by finding poetry and soul in the modern urban landscape in his film Mirrors Of Silence. Malik Amara‘s Dead Fish brings together an incredible cast of burlesque characters in the first Tunisian zombie movie.
International guests enjoy a concert featuring Algerian music. Tunisian Director Malik Amara, actor/producer Fathi Heddaoui, actress Hind Elfehem and director Hachimia Ahamada.
Directors Malik Amara and Mahdi Fleifel.
(photos Sonia El-Feki)
