ARAB FILM FESTIVAL
Opening Night & Centerpiece Film
A FILM BY LYES SALEM
SAN FRANCISCO
Thursday, October 14th
Castro Theatre, San Francisco
7:30 PM
Tickets: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/125778
LOS ANGELES
Friday, October 22nd
WGA Theater, Los Angeles
6:30 PM
Tickets: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/125784
ABOUT THE FILM: MASQUERADES
In a village in Algeria, Mounir is fed up with the teasing his family receives on account of his narcoleptic sister, Rym, who neighbors declare will never marry. To prove them wrong, Mounir makes up a story about his sister’s engagement to a wealthy European businessman, earning himself the respect and adoration of the villagers, but alienating himself from his sister. All the while, Rym is in love with someone else and fights to marry for love.
REVIEWS
“Lively ethnic laffer deftly tosses matrimony, celebrity and narcolepsy into a potent brew with international appeal. A likable cast, a witty star turn by [director Lyes] Salem, faultless staging and a neatly inflected pace contribute to a modest but sparkling romp…”
- VARIETY
“Undoubtedly, Masquerades marks [director Lyes] Salem out as a talent we’ll certainly be seeing more of; and if his next work is as genial as this, the pleasure will be all ours.”
- SCREEN DAILY
FESTIVALS AND AWARDS
2009
Official Selection, SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL
Official Selection, ARAB FILM FESTIVAL OF ROTTERDAM
Official Selection, MOSCOW INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Official Selection, EDINBRUGH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Official Selection, AFRICAVENIR FILM FESTIVAL
Official Selection, HAÏFA FILM FESTIVAL
Official Selection, BEIRUT INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Official Selection, CAIRO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Official Selection, LIVERPOOL ARABIC ARTS FESTIVAL
Official Selection, ARABIAN NIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL
Official Selection, TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL
Official Selection, IMAGEN DOS POVOS
Best Actor Lyes Salem, FESTIVAL DES PREMIERS ET DEUXIEME FILM L’ILE DE LA
REUNION (REUNION ISLAND)
Algeria’s Official Entry for the 2009 Academy Awards
Lumiere Award for Most Promising Young Actor, LUMIERE AWARDS
2008
Murh Award: Best Feature, DUBAI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
FIPRESCI Prize, DUBAI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Best Arabic Film, CAIRO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Public Prize, BESANÇON FILM FESTIVAL
Masquerades is co-presented by the Global Film Initiative and is part of the Global Lens 2010 film series. For more information, visit www.globalfilm.org
