Category: Entertainment

Dr. Ramzan bin Abdulla Al Noaimi, Minister of Information, has stated that the cinema is one of the promising sectors of the creative economy, which requires providing it with knowledge and empowering distinguished talented Bahrainis in all areas of the film industry to promote local production that reflects the Kingdom’s culture, identity and historical heritage.

The minister was speaking while opening the third edition of the Bahrain Film Festival, themed “Celebrating the Art of Film-making”, in the presence of a number of senior officials, media personnel, artists and a group of cinema stars from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Arab countries.

The Minister of Information said that the Bahrain Film Festival 2023 is held 100 years after the introduction of cinema into the kingdom, which indicates Bahrain’s clear leadership in this field, noting that its accumulated experiences are the source of inspiration for today’s generation of creative artists.

Dr. Al Noaimi added that this year’s edition aims to place the kingdom on the map of film festivals in the region, preserve the role of cinema in spreading national values and heritage, as well as convey Bahrain’s message and culture to all countries of the world.

The minister stated that the kingdom has the potential for success in the film industry, as it has been an incubator for film production for major international production companies since the 1970s.

He underlined the Information Ministry’s keenness to create the economic and creative atmosphere necessary for the success of qualitative investment projects in this field, and to support the private sector and foreign investments to develop the creative sector in the kingdom, paying tribute to Beyon company and NBB for supporting the festival and national efforts across many fields.

Osama Al Saif, Board of Directors Chairman of the Bahrain Cinema Club, the Festival Chairman, addressed the opening ceremony. He expressed thanks and appreciation to the Information Minister for patronising and supporting the Bahrain Film Festival, which will ensure its success.

He also praised the minister’s care for the cinema sector and youth filmmakers in the kingdom, which, he said, paves the way for more creativity in a cinema industry worthy of Bahrain’s cultural component.

Al Saif welcomed the festival’s guests and participants, affirming that the festival provides an opportunity for Bahraini youth artists to be informed about distinguished cinematic regional and international experiences.

The Information Minister then honoured a number of Bahraini and Arab artists and filmmakers, including Bahraini director Bassam Al Thawadi, for his landmark contributions to the cinema industry, Bahraini actress Shafeeka Yousif, for her continuous participation in Bahraini films, especially those produced by youth, and Egyptian star, Hala Sedki, for her 40-year career in the theatre, television and cinema.

The opening ceremony also featured the screening of a number of films that reflect aspects of partnership with film production institutions.

A total of 117 Arab short films are participating in the festival’s four categories, namely the Bahraini Film Competition, in which 19 films compete, short narrative films, in which 76 films compete, documentary films, in which 15 films compete, and the Animation Film Competition, in which 6 films compete.

Organised by the Bahrain Cinema Club from October 5 to 9, the Bahrain Film Festival 2023 is sponsored by Beyon and the National Bank of Bahrain (NBB), the festival’s strategic partners.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

The 28th edition of the European Film Festival in Lebanon closed on Wednesday 4th of October 2023 at Galaxy Grand Cinemas with the short film competition award ceremony, followed by the Avant-premiere of Lebanese feature film ‘Riverbed’.
Ambassador of the European Union to Lebanon, Ms. Sandra De Waele, awarded the Best Short Film Prize equally to three short films selected by an international jury, in the presence of Ambassador of Poland, Mr. Przemyslaw Niesiolowski, Director of Goethe-Institut Libanon, Ms. Anne Eberhard, and Cinema project manager at Institut français du Liban, Ms. Leïlah Gruas-Girling:
Crow Man, directed by Yohann Abdelnour, won the Institut français du Liban Award, for succeeding in tackling a universal topic in a masterful and well-executed animation, editing and sound design.
Talk to Me, directed by Ribal Chedid, won the award offered by the Embassy of Poland in Lebanon. The engaging story, set in a ‘huis-clos’, tackles multiple subjects in a consistent narrative, carried by a strong performance by the lead cast.
2019, directed by Aya Debs, Shahnaz Amro, Hasan Ali, Nidal Alkadi and Yousef Tellayh, won the Award by Goethe-Institut Libanon. This collective work by five students enrolled in Marsam Al Hakaya, an independent educational initiative in the art of animation, was found to be an original representation of Lebanese struggles through the imagination of a child.
The newly-introduced Audience Award was given to Crow Man, by Yohann Abdelnour.
The jury was composed of: Mrs. Vesna Chamoun (Cultural Program Coordinator at Goethe-Institut Libanon), Ms. Leïlah Gruas-Girling (Cinema project manager at Institut français du Liban), Ms. Adriana Lada-Lis (Cultural Officer at the Embassy of Poland in Lebanon), Mr. Jim Quilty (Film and Arts Writer) and Ms. Laure Stemmann from the Metropolis Cinema Association.
The European Union through the awards supports the talent of emerging filmmakers from Lebanon. This year’s winners will have the opportunity to attend an international film festival in France thanks to l’Institut français du Liban, a study visit on the occasion of a film festival in Poland through support by the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Lebanon, and an international film festival in Germany in partnership with the Goethe-Institut Libanon.
The awards ceremony was followed by the Avant-premiere of Lebanese feature film ‘Riverbed’ in the presence of the film’s team including director Bassem Breche, producer Jana Wehbe, and main cast Carol Abboud and Omaya Malaeb. ‘Riverbed’ won multiple awards in its international festival run, such as Best Performance Award, Special Mention Best Arab Film Award and Special Jury Award at the Cairo International Film Festival 2022, and the Special Jury Award at Festival du Cinéma Méditerranéen de Tétouan 2023. The film will be released in Lebanese cinemas starting October 5.
The Festival continues its regional run throughout the month of October and will have multiple film screenings in Hermel (6 October), Jounieh (11-13 October), Saida (12-14 October), Zahle (13 October), Tripoli (14 October) and Bekaa (15 October). All regional screenings are by free entrance.

Source: National News Agency-Lebanon

Under the auspices of Dr. Ramzan bin Abdulla Al Noaimi, Minister of Information, the third edition of the Bahrain Cinema Festiva will kick off on Thursday, October 5, and run until October 9.

Organised by the Bahrain Cinema Club under the theme “Celebrating the Art of Film-making”, the Bahrain Cinema Festival 2023 is sponsored by Beyon and the National Bank of Bahrain (NBB), the festival’s strategic partners.

Commenting, the Minister of Information stated that the third edition of the festival aims to present an exceptional cinematographic event that celebrates young Bahraini talent and places the Kingdom on the map of film festivals in the region.

Dr. Al Noaimi stressed the important role of such festivals in preserving cinemas as a cultural tributary, and promoting artistic exchange and understanding among different countries and cultures, paying tribute to Beyon company and NBB for supporting the festival and national efforts across many fields.

He indicated that the Kingdom of Bahrain is a leader in this field, as it organised the first film festival in the Arabian Gulf region in 2000, which was the “Arab Film Festival,” paving the way for holding similar festivals in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

The Minister of Information also affirmed that the kingdom boasts all the requirements necessary for the success of the film industry, which is one of the most important and promising sectors of the creative economy, in line with Bahrain Economic Vision 2030.

This requires providing this sector with knowledge, empowering the distinguished Bahraini talent in all fields related to the film industry to enhance local production that reflects the Kingdom’s culture, identity and historical heritage, as well as enhancing openness to pioneering cinematic experiences in the region, he said, highlighting, at the same time, the importance of the role played by the private sector to achieve the goals of developing this promising sector.

The Bahrain Film Festival 2023 will feature a number of specialised workshops and seminars in the field of filmmaking, in cooperation with leading regional and international entities, in addition to film screenings and accompanying events in the presence of an elite group of films stars from the GCC countries and the Arab world.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Events of Amman Summer Festival on Friday evening kicked off in Al Hussein Gardens, by a concert performed by the Jordanian singer, Nida’a Sharara, in presence of Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) Mayor, Yousef Shawarbeh. The festival’s launching ceremony was attended by a large number of citizens and senior public officials. Meanwhile, Saturday will see a slew of artistic and entertainment activities and a show performed by Ma’an folkloric band, according to a GAM statement. The GAM-organized festival will continue until Sunday, August 20, and the municipality secured free transportation from the outdoor parking lots to activities held inside Al Hussein Gardens venues. The festival, which is being held for the 15th consecutive year, attracts a group of Jordanian artistic singers, folkloric performances representing Jordanian heritage, and theatrical shows, while providing an area of child entertainment, the statement said.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The Abdali Boulevard is hosting the fourth edition of the Amman International Film Festival 2023 – The First Film dubbed “Starts and Stories” between August 15 and August 22. According to an Abdali Boulevard management statement, the Festival organisers would screen films and present activities dedicated to local and international film professionals. The Abdali Boulevard management stated that it would be supporting the festival activities for the fourth consecutive year due to its “great importance as one of the important international art forums and for its objectives to promote and highlight the local artistic movement.”

Source: Jordan News Agency

Mohammed Ali Qambar, Bahrain Mixed Martial Arts Federation (BMMAF) President, Asian MMA Federation President, has commended the distinguished efforts exerted by His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, General Sports Authority Chairman and Bahrain Olympic Committee President, to support and promote the mixed martial arts sport to strengthen Bahrain’s position on the global sports map.

Qambar made the statement upon the departure of the Bahraini delegation participating in the organisation of the 2023 International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) Youth MMA World Championships, set to be held in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on August 1-5.

The championship will be organised by the UAE Mixed Martial Arts Federation, under IMMAF’s direct supervision, with the participation of more than 600 athletes from all over the world.

BMMAF President asserted that in line with HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad’s directives to develop the MMA in Bahrain and across the region, BMMAF is keen to cooperate with IMMAF and various combat sports federations to promote Bahrain’s experience and MMA culture at the continental and global levels.

He indicated that members of the Bahraini team are fully ready to ensure the successful organisation of the championships, praising the confidence of IMMAF and the UAE Mixed Martial Arts Federation in the competence of Bahraini cadres, who have proved their distinguished abilities in organising such international sporting events.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Minister of Culture Haifaa Najjar said, “We have a lot of vocabulary and heritage elements in the Arab world, which are among the richest elements in the world, and we must protect this heritage and its privacy by empowering people.”

In a symposium as part of the Jerash Festival for Culture and Arts in 37, Najjar discussed looking at culture as one of the “most important” inputs of economic development.

In the symposium, held in Amman and moderated by the CEO of the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation, Valentina Kassisieh, Najjar expressed hope to see an Arab solidarity project adopting cultural commonalities to present them to international organisations.

Egyptian Minister of Culture Nevin Kilani lauded the choice of Egypt to be the guest of honour at the Jerash Festival for Culture and Arts, describing the festival as “one of the most important international festivals that deals with local and Arab heritage in general.”

Kilani said that the Arab identity has a “very great specificity in terms of heritage,” noting that heritage in the Egyptian Ministry of Culture has a great priority.

Source: Jordan News Agency