The 2015 Arab Film Festival in San Diego is coming to the Museum of Photographic Arts on November 20-22. The film line up includes 6 feature length films and 5 shorts.
The Festival will open with The Wanted 18, a documentary from Palestine about 18 cows that the Israeli military considered to be a threat to Israeli security.
The Festival will also screen the U.S. Premier of Queens of Syria which tells the story of Syrian women refugees in Jordan who put on a production of the classic Greek Play The Trojan Women about the effects of war on women.
Other feature films include Diaries of a Flying Dog from Lebanon, From A to B fom UAE, Jordan and Lebanon, Silence of the Shepherd from Iraq and Villa Touma from Palestine. Several of the films have won awards at film festivals around the world.
Today's screenings:
2:05 PM
Silence of the Shepherd, Directed by Raad Mushatat
Thirteen year old Zahra lives in a village on the edge of the desert in the south of Iraq. She leaves home to fetch some water from the small river nearby. She never comes back. With no trace of Zahra, the collective imagination of the village community creates its own tale of the disappearance of Zahra; a tale that belongs to the world of the forbidden. The disappearance of Zahra abruptly and dramatically shakes the moral order of the village. The social fabric and traditions of the society becomes at conflict with itself and its destiny, breeding more and greater disappearances effecting everybody?s life.
Helwan Moi, Directed by Mohammed Adel
Director Mohammed Adel says of his film, ?It?s about Helwan, one of the greatest and famous Egyptian cities. It?s about my relationship with the city, and about its changes and transforming and for people there, too, as Helwan was a city for Bashas and high class people, but it?s now for sellers, microbus? drivers, and local people. My story about Helwan since childhood mixes with my own story about my family, and my family?s perspective about the city. For sure, Helwan has a lot of stories inside, but that?s my story, my own story about Helwan.?
4:45 PM
Villa Touma, Directed by Suha Arraf
Award-winning screenwriter Suha Arraf (The Syrian Bride, Lemon Tree) makes her feature directorial debut with this story of three unmarried aristocratic Christian sisters from Ramallah who have been unable to come to terms with the new reality of occupation and the mass migration of Palestine?s aristocracy. In order to survive, they lock themselves away in their villa, clinging desperately to the nostalgia of their former glory. One day, their orphan niece Badia, walks into their lives and turns their world upside down. To preserve the family?s name, the three sisters try to marry her off to an eligible aristocratic Christian man. Will dragging Badia to every funeral, wedding, and church mass result in finding a good husband for her?
Pere, Directed by Lotfi Achour
Hedi is a taxi driver in Tunis. One evening he drives to the hospital a pregnant young woman who is going into labor. This brief encounter will bring a series of random, tragic and unexpected events, leading to a life-changing experience for both of them.
Admission/Cost: $10, all festival pass $50
Location:
Museum of Photographic Arts
1649 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
Sunday, November 22 - Films at 2:05 PM and 4:45 PM
For more information, please visit: www.karamanow.org
The Festival will open with The Wanted 18, a documentary from Palestine about 18 cows that the Israeli military considered to be a threat to Israeli security.
The Festival will also screen the U.S. Premier of Queens of Syria which tells the story of Syrian women refugees in Jordan who put on a production of the classic Greek Play The Trojan Women about the effects of war on women.
Other feature films include Diaries of a Flying Dog from Lebanon, From A to B fom UAE, Jordan and Lebanon, Silence of the Shepherd from Iraq and Villa Touma from Palestine. Several of the films have won awards at film festivals around the world.
Today's screenings:
2:05 PM
Silence of the Shepherd, Directed by Raad Mushatat
Thirteen year old Zahra lives in a village on the edge of the desert in the south of Iraq. She leaves home to fetch some water from the small river nearby. She never comes back. With no trace of Zahra, the collective imagination of the village community creates its own tale of the disappearance of Zahra; a tale that belongs to the world of the forbidden. The disappearance of Zahra abruptly and dramatically shakes the moral order of the village. The social fabric and traditions of the society becomes at conflict with itself and its destiny, breeding more and greater disappearances effecting everybody?s life.
Helwan Moi, Directed by Mohammed Adel
Director Mohammed Adel says of his film, ?It?s about Helwan, one of the greatest and famous Egyptian cities. It?s about my relationship with the city, and about its changes and transforming and for people there, too, as Helwan was a city for Bashas and high class people, but it?s now for sellers, microbus? drivers, and local people. My story about Helwan since childhood mixes with my own story about my family, and my family?s perspective about the city. For sure, Helwan has a lot of stories inside, but that?s my story, my own story about Helwan.?
4:45 PM
Villa Touma, Directed by Suha Arraf
Award-winning screenwriter Suha Arraf (The Syrian Bride, Lemon Tree) makes her feature directorial debut with this story of three unmarried aristocratic Christian sisters from Ramallah who have been unable to come to terms with the new reality of occupation and the mass migration of Palestine?s aristocracy. In order to survive, they lock themselves away in their villa, clinging desperately to the nostalgia of their former glory. One day, their orphan niece Badia, walks into their lives and turns their world upside down. To preserve the family?s name, the three sisters try to marry her off to an eligible aristocratic Christian man. Will dragging Badia to every funeral, wedding, and church mass result in finding a good husband for her?
Pere, Directed by Lotfi Achour
Hedi is a taxi driver in Tunis. One evening he drives to the hospital a pregnant young woman who is going into labor. This brief encounter will bring a series of random, tragic and unexpected events, leading to a life-changing experience for both of them.
Admission/Cost: $10, all festival pass $50
Location:
Museum of Photographic Arts
1649 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
Sunday, November 22 - Films at 2:05 PM and 4:45 PM
For more information, please visit: www.karamanow.org
