Dubai-based Mbc Group’s Shahid VIP streaming service has forged a partnership with Arabic animation studio Barajoun Entertainment to co-produce five local-language animation features over the next three years.
These Arabic animation pics will stream exclusively on Shahid VIP as Shahid originals.
Details on the animation projects in the pipeline are being kept under wraps, but the companies revealed that their first collaboration is based on a science-fiction novel and will feature the voice of an unspecified A-list Arab actor. This initial title in the slate is expected to launch on Shahid VIP in July.
Dubai-based Barajoun Entertainment is headed by banker-turned-producer Ayman Jamal, who set up the company in 2011 as the Mena region’s first bona-fide animation studio. Jamal shepherded the 2015 “Bilal” (pictured) film, inspired by the real-life story of Bilal Ibn Rabah, an African slave who became one of the early followers of the Prophet Muhammad. “Bilal” marks...
These Arabic animation pics will stream exclusively on Shahid VIP as Shahid originals.
Details on the animation projects in the pipeline are being kept under wraps, but the companies revealed that their first collaboration is based on a science-fiction novel and will feature the voice of an unspecified A-list Arab actor. This initial title in the slate is expected to launch on Shahid VIP in July.
Dubai-based Barajoun Entertainment is headed by banker-turned-producer Ayman Jamal, who set up the company in 2011 as the Mena region’s first bona-fide animation studio. Jamal shepherded the 2015 “Bilal” (pictured) film, inspired by the real-life story of Bilal Ibn Rabah, an African slave who became one of the early followers of the Prophet Muhammad. “Bilal” marks...
- 6/6/2022
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
The planned film “They Are Us,” starring Rose Byrne as New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern and centered on the Christchurch mosque shootings that took place in 2019, has been put on hold following unauthorized distribution of the script. Director Andrew Niccol shared a statement with New Zealand outlet Newshub that development would be paused after criticisms that the script, which he also wrote, was insensitive. (Via The Guardian.)
“I am deeply saddened by the pain caused to the families of the victims, due to the wrongful distribution of our draft script for ‘They Are Us.’ The script is far from final, and never intended to be shared with the affected members of the Muslim community at such an early stage,” Niccol said, adding that pre-production wouldn’t continue until there is “full consultation with New Zealand’s Muslim community has taken place.”
“The sole purpose of the script, which was released without permission,...
“I am deeply saddened by the pain caused to the families of the victims, due to the wrongful distribution of our draft script for ‘They Are Us.’ The script is far from final, and never intended to be shared with the affected members of the Muslim community at such an early stage,” Niccol said, adding that pre-production wouldn’t continue until there is “full consultation with New Zealand’s Muslim community has taken place.”
“The sole purpose of the script, which was released without permission,...
- 7/25/2021
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Since the Cannes Market title They Are Us was announced late last week with Rose Byrne poised to play Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, there has been an outcry among many New Zealanders who believe a still-raw tragedy would be exploited by Hollywood storytellers. Criticisms include inferring that the 2019 attack on the Muslim community in Christchurch that cost 51 innocent lives would turn into a “white savior” narrative focusing on Ardern, who banned assault weapons from the country after the tragedy. Tens of thousands have signed petitions, putting on their heels filmmakers who want to tell the story of a country’s reaction to a massacre. Critics also have ignored the fact that the film’s director, Andrew Niccol, is a New Zealand native.
Tonight, a joint statement was issued to New Zealand press by Muslim Association of Canterbury (Al Noor Mosque) and They Are Us producer Ayman Jamal, laying out a...
Tonight, a joint statement was issued to New Zealand press by Muslim Association of Canterbury (Al Noor Mosque) and They Are Us producer Ayman Jamal, laying out a...
- 6/15/2021
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Philippa Campbell, one of the producers on “They Are Us,” a new drama about the aftermath of the Christchurch attacks on New Zealand’s Muslim community, has quit the project after a media backlash.
“I have listened to the concerns raised over recent days and I have heard the strength of people’s views. I now agree that the events of March 15, 2019, are too raw for film at this time and do not wish to be involved with a project that is causing such distress,” Campbell said in a statement.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who will be portrayed by Rose Byrne in the film, has also distanced herself from the effort.
The movie, to be written and directed by Andrew Niccol (“Gattaca”), was unveiled last week by sales company FilmNation Entertainment and CAA Media Finance. They have plans to present the project to international buyers at the upcoming Cannes virtual market.
“I have listened to the concerns raised over recent days and I have heard the strength of people’s views. I now agree that the events of March 15, 2019, are too raw for film at this time and do not wish to be involved with a project that is causing such distress,” Campbell said in a statement.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who will be portrayed by Rose Byrne in the film, has also distanced herself from the effort.
The movie, to be written and directed by Andrew Niccol (“Gattaca”), was unveiled last week by sales company FilmNation Entertainment and CAA Media Finance. They have plans to present the project to international buyers at the upcoming Cannes virtual market.
- 6/14/2021
- by Patrick Frater and Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
A producer on the film “They Are Us,” which is meant to star Rose Byrne as New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern, has pulled out of the project after the film was widely criticized in New Zealand and by Ardern herself.
“They Are Us” is being written and directed by Andrew Niccol and focuses on Ardern in the aftermath of a 2019 terrorist attack on two mosques in the city of Christchurch that left 51 people dead and another 49 injured. The project was announced last week and is meant to be presented to buyers at the Cannes Virtual Film Market.
The film has been widely criticized during the past week, with many people saying the story is coming too soon or assuming that it focuses on the white prime minister instead of the Muslim victims affected. A Change.org petition calling for the film to be shut down has drawn over 63,000 signatures,...
“They Are Us” is being written and directed by Andrew Niccol and focuses on Ardern in the aftermath of a 2019 terrorist attack on two mosques in the city of Christchurch that left 51 people dead and another 49 injured. The project was announced last week and is meant to be presented to buyers at the Cannes Virtual Film Market.
The film has been widely criticized during the past week, with many people saying the story is coming too soon or assuming that it focuses on the white prime minister instead of the Muslim victims affected. A Change.org petition calling for the film to be shut down has drawn over 63,000 signatures,...
- 6/14/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Following a backlash against Cannes virtual market package They Are Us, one of the producers of the project has exited and one of the subjects of the movie, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, has criticized the project.
Since being announced on Thursday, the Rose Byrne-led film about Ardern’s response to the 2019 Christchurch mosques massacre has been widely criticized in New Zealand.
Today, veteran producer Philippa Campbell, a producer on TV hit Top Of The Lake, apologized for her own involvement and said she had not realized the pain the film would cause.
“I have listened to the concerns raised over recent days and I have heard the strength of people’s views,” Campbell said in a statement to New Zealand media.
“I now agree that the events of 15 March 2019 are too raw for film at this time and do not wish to be involved with a project that is causing such distress.
Since being announced on Thursday, the Rose Byrne-led film about Ardern’s response to the 2019 Christchurch mosques massacre has been widely criticized in New Zealand.
Today, veteran producer Philippa Campbell, a producer on TV hit Top Of The Lake, apologized for her own involvement and said she had not realized the pain the film would cause.
“I have listened to the concerns raised over recent days and I have heard the strength of people’s views,” Campbell said in a statement to New Zealand media.
“I now agree that the events of 15 March 2019 are too raw for film at this time and do not wish to be involved with a project that is causing such distress.
- 6/14/2021
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Rose Byrne will star in “They Are Us,” a new drama about the aftermath of the Christchurch attacks on New Zealand’s Muslim community that will be written and directed by Andrew Niccol.
FilmNation Entertainment, the company behind “Late Night” and “Arrival,” will unveil the project to international buyers at the upcoming Cannes Virtual Market with CAA Media Finance submitting it to domestic and worldwide distributors.
Byrne will play New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. The film is described as “…an inspirational story about the young leader’s response to the tragic events, and the remarkable achievements of her government and citizens who rallied behind her message of compassion and unity to ban assault rifles in New Zealand.”
The title, “They are Us” comes from a speech Ardern made describing the victims of the attack. The script was developed in consultation with several members of the mosques affected by the tragedy.
FilmNation Entertainment, the company behind “Late Night” and “Arrival,” will unveil the project to international buyers at the upcoming Cannes Virtual Market with CAA Media Finance submitting it to domestic and worldwide distributors.
Byrne will play New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. The film is described as “…an inspirational story about the young leader’s response to the tragic events, and the remarkable achievements of her government and citizens who rallied behind her message of compassion and unity to ban assault rifles in New Zealand.”
The title, “They are Us” comes from a speech Ardern made describing the victims of the attack. The script was developed in consultation with several members of the mosques affected by the tragedy.
- 6/10/2021
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Rose Byrne is set to play New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in upcoming title They Are Us. Andrew Niccol will write and direct the project, which focuses on the week following the 2019 Christchurch attacks on New Zealand’s Muslim community.
Glen Basner’s FilmNation Entertainment is shopping the project to international buyers at the upcoming Cannes Virtual Market, with CAA Media Finance selling to domestic and worldwide distributors.
The project follows Ardern’s response to the tragic events and the remarkable achievements of her government and citizens who rallied behind her message of compassion and unity to ban assault rifles in New Zealand. The title comes from the Pm’s powerful speech describing the 51 victims of the attack, which took place across two mosques in Christchurch during Friday prayer on March 15, 2019. Ardern received worldwide praise for her response to the shootings.
They Are Us is produced by Ayman Jamal,...
Glen Basner’s FilmNation Entertainment is shopping the project to international buyers at the upcoming Cannes Virtual Market, with CAA Media Finance selling to domestic and worldwide distributors.
The project follows Ardern’s response to the tragic events and the remarkable achievements of her government and citizens who rallied behind her message of compassion and unity to ban assault rifles in New Zealand. The title comes from the Pm’s powerful speech describing the 51 victims of the attack, which took place across two mosques in Christchurch during Friday prayer on March 15, 2019. Ardern received worldwide praise for her response to the shootings.
They Are Us is produced by Ayman Jamal,...
- 6/10/2021
- by Diana Lodderhose
- Deadline Film + TV
Rose Byrne is set to star as Jacinda Ardern, the prime minister of New Zealand, in a drama about how Ardern took action to ban assault rifles in the country following a deadly shooting against the Muslim community in 2019.
The film is called “They Are Us,” and it’s set in the week following the terrorist attack on two mosques in the city of Christchurch in which 51 people were killed and another 49 were injured. Ardern’s response to the terrorist attack was praised worldwide, and a photo of her hugging a victim was famously projected on the side of the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. Within a month of the attack, she rallied the New Zealand parliament to pass a ban on most semiautomatic weapons and assault rifles, as well as higher capacity magazines and parts that can convert guns into semiautomatic weapons.
Andrew Niccol (“The Truman Show...
The film is called “They Are Us,” and it’s set in the week following the terrorist attack on two mosques in the city of Christchurch in which 51 people were killed and another 49 were injured. Ardern’s response to the terrorist attack was praised worldwide, and a photo of her hugging a victim was famously projected on the side of the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. Within a month of the attack, she rallied the New Zealand parliament to pass a ban on most semiautomatic weapons and assault rifles, as well as higher capacity magazines and parts that can convert guns into semiautomatic weapons.
Andrew Niccol (“The Truman Show...
- 6/10/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Andrew Niccol to direct in New Zealand.
FilmNation and CAA Media Finance will launch talks at the virtual Cannes market this month on They Are Us directed by Andrew Niccol and starring Rose Byrne as New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern.
The story takes place in the aftermath of the spring 2019 mass shooting at two Christchurch mosques by a sole white supremacist that left 51 people dead.
Ardern rallied the country together, famously saying of the victims “They are us”, and pushed through a ban on most semi-automatic and military-style weapons.
Ayman Jamal, Stewart Till, Niccol, and Philippa Campbell are producing They Are Us,...
FilmNation and CAA Media Finance will launch talks at the virtual Cannes market this month on They Are Us directed by Andrew Niccol and starring Rose Byrne as New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern.
The story takes place in the aftermath of the spring 2019 mass shooting at two Christchurch mosques by a sole white supremacist that left 51 people dead.
Ardern rallied the country together, famously saying of the victims “They are us”, and pushed through a ban on most semi-automatic and military-style weapons.
Ayman Jamal, Stewart Till, Niccol, and Philippa Campbell are producing They Are Us,...
- 6/10/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Emerald Fennell’s Promising Young Woman, which is up for five Oscars this year, will skip cinemas in the UK and debut directly on Sky Cinema. It will be released by the broadcaster on April 16, 10 days before the Oscars. The deal was made by Focus Features and Universal with Sky, all of which are owned by Comcast. The pic premiered at Sundance in 2020 and was released stateside by Focus on December 25, grossing $5.8M to date in the pandemic-hit theatrical market.
HBO Europe has given the green-light to The Informant, an 8 x 40” Hungarian drama written by Bálint Szentgyörgyi, who also directs alongside Áron Mátyássy and Bence Miklauzic. Filming is now underway on the series, which follows 20-year-old Geri (Gergely Váradi) who is starting university in 1980’s Hungary. Unbeknownst to his friends, Geri lives a second life as a government informant. Cast includes Váradi with Márton Patkós, Júlia Szász, Abigél Szőke and Szabolcs Thuróczy.
HBO Europe has given the green-light to The Informant, an 8 x 40” Hungarian drama written by Bálint Szentgyörgyi, who also directs alongside Áron Mátyássy and Bence Miklauzic. Filming is now underway on the series, which follows 20-year-old Geri (Gergely Váradi) who is starting university in 1980’s Hungary. Unbeknownst to his friends, Geri lives a second life as a government informant. Cast includes Váradi with Márton Patkós, Júlia Szász, Abigél Szőke and Szabolcs Thuróczy.
- 3/25/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Eight-month programme culminates with industry pitching event at first edition of Red Sea International Film Festival in November.
Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival has unveiled the 12 projects that will participate in its 2021 Red Sea Lodge project lab, which is organised in collaboration with the TorinoFilmLab.
Six of the projects are Saudi while the other projects hail from Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait and Lebanon.
Half of the projects are directed by women including Saudi director Dalyah Bakheet’s The Photographer Of Madina, based on the true story of a female photographer who opened the first studio for women in Saudia Arabia,...
Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival has unveiled the 12 projects that will participate in its 2021 Red Sea Lodge project lab, which is organised in collaboration with the TorinoFilmLab.
Six of the projects are Saudi while the other projects hail from Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait and Lebanon.
Half of the projects are directed by women including Saudi director Dalyah Bakheet’s The Photographer Of Madina, based on the true story of a female photographer who opened the first studio for women in Saudia Arabia,...
- 3/25/2021
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
The new animated film Bilal: A New Breed of Hero is one of those films that looks terribly unoriginal and predictable at first glance. Especially when one views the film’s trailer, which unfortunately markets it as little more than a Saturday morning animated show that feels destined to bombard you with religious messages, regardless of whether you are amenable to them or not. But, something remarkable happens along the way, the film proves to be rather entertaining and not as “preachy” as the trailers promised. Sure, that element is still present—so, if that kind of thing really bothers you, then this probably isn’t the film for you—but the practice is not nearly as omnipresent as one might expect. In the end, Bilal: A New Breed of Hero turns out to be an entertaining and surprisingly energetic animated adventure.
The story of Bilal: A New Breed of Hero...
The story of Bilal: A New Breed of Hero...
- 2/3/2018
- by Mike Tyrkus
- CinemaNerdz
Khurram H. Alavi and Ayman Jamal’s 3D-animated historical adventure tale “Bilal: A New Breed of Hero” seems like a compromise between telling an interesting story and staying true to the history. Where “Bilal” exceeds in animation and direction, it lacks in entertaining, cohesive story, possibly owing to either the directors’ desire to remain accurate to Muslim texts or the huge span of time the directors are trying to cover in a single movie. As a child, Bilal (voiced by Andre Robinson, “Doc McStuffins”) dreams of becoming a warrior. Alavi and Jamal depict his fantasies in bright, vivid colors with dynamic...
- 2/1/2018
- by April Wolfe
- The Wrap
Bilal: A New Breed of Hero Review Bilal: A New Breed of Hero (2018) Video Movie Review, a Barajoun Entertainment movie directed by Khurram H. Alavi and Ayman Jamal and starring Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Ian McShane, China Anne McClain, Jacob Latimore, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Fred Tatasciore, Cynthia McWilliams, Jon Curry, Dave B. Mitchell and Michael Gross. In [...]
Continue reading: Video Movie Review: Bilal: A New Breed Of Hero (2018): Saudi Arabia’s First Animated Film Is A Good Start...
Continue reading: Video Movie Review: Bilal: A New Breed Of Hero (2018): Saudi Arabia’s First Animated Film Is A Good Start...
- 2/1/2018
- by Mathieu Brunet
- Film-Book
Enter here for your chance to win a pair of passes to an advance screening of the new animated film, Bilal: A New Breed Of Hero.
For your chance to receive a pair of complimentary passes to see the new film Bilal: A New Breed Of Hero at the AMC Forum 30 on Tuesday, January 30th at 7:00Pm, just look for the “Enter the Contest” box further down on this page. But hurry because there are a limited number of passes available and when they’re gone, they’re gone!
About The Film
Bilal: A New Breed Of Hero: Fourteen hundred years ago, Bilal, a seven-year-old boy, with a dream of becoming a great warrior, is abducted into slavery with his sister and taken to a land far away from his home and thrown into a world where corruption and injustice rule all. Throughout his life he undergoes many hardships,...
For your chance to receive a pair of complimentary passes to see the new film Bilal: A New Breed Of Hero at the AMC Forum 30 on Tuesday, January 30th at 7:00Pm, just look for the “Enter the Contest” box further down on this page. But hurry because there are a limited number of passes available and when they’re gone, they’re gone!
About The Film
Bilal: A New Breed Of Hero: Fourteen hundred years ago, Bilal, a seven-year-old boy, with a dream of becoming a great warrior, is abducted into slavery with his sister and taken to a land far away from his home and thrown into a world where corruption and injustice rule all. Throughout his life he undergoes many hardships,...
- 1/17/2018
- by Administrator
- CinemaNerdz
We don’t hear about too many films made outside of the West, but maybe we should change that. Bilal: A New Breed of Hero debuted all the way back in 2015 at the Dubai Film Festival and was then screened in 2016 at the Annecy Film Festival. Until now though, we haven’t been able to see it in the United States. That will change this February as Bilal will be in select theaters starting February 2, 2018. This animated film comes from Barajoun Entertainment and it looks really good.
.A thousand years ago, one boy with a dream of becoming a great warrior is abducted with his sister and taken to a land far away from home. Thrown into a world where greed and injustice rule all, Bilal finds the courage to raise his voice and make a change. Inspired by true events, this is a story of a real hero who...
.A thousand years ago, one boy with a dream of becoming a great warrior is abducted with his sister and taken to a land far away from home. Thrown into a world where greed and injustice rule all, Bilal finds the courage to raise his voice and make a change. Inspired by true events, this is a story of a real hero who...
- 1/10/2018
- by Tommy Wiliams
- GeekTyrant
Vertical Entertainment has picked up distribution rights to animated feature Bilal: A New Breed of Hero, featuring the voices of Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Ian McShane, China Anne McClain, Jacob Latimore, Michael Gross, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Mark Rolston, Cynthia Kaye McWilliams, and Fred Tatasciore. Barajoun Entertainment and Mav12 produced the pic, which Vertical will release theatrically in February. The pic from directors Ayman Jamal and Khurram H. Alavi, is based on…...
- 12/1/2017
- Deadline
Festival to open with Michaël Dudok de Wit’s The Red Turtle [pictured]; Guillermo del Toro and Aardman to give masterclasses.
Annecy International Animation Film Festival, running June 13-18 this year, has unveiled its line-up.
New Zealand director Leanne Pooley’s documentary 25 April, about the Battle of Gallipoli; Canadian film-makers Jean-François Pouliot and François Brisson’s 3D hit Snowtime! (La Guerre des Tuques 3D); Claude Barras’s Cannes-screener My Life As A Courgette, and Sundance discovery Nuts! are among the titles in the feature-length competition.
The festival will open with Michaël Dudok de Wit’s The Red Turtle, which will premiere first in Official Selection at Cannes.
Other highlights include a preview screening of Chris Renaud and Yarrow Cheney’s The Secret Life Of Pets, in the presence of the directors. Andrew Stanton will also attend the festival, accompanying Finding Dory.
First images of Ron Clements and John Musker’s upcoming film Moana and Michael Thurmeier’s [link...
Annecy International Animation Film Festival, running June 13-18 this year, has unveiled its line-up.
New Zealand director Leanne Pooley’s documentary 25 April, about the Battle of Gallipoli; Canadian film-makers Jean-François Pouliot and François Brisson’s 3D hit Snowtime! (La Guerre des Tuques 3D); Claude Barras’s Cannes-screener My Life As A Courgette, and Sundance discovery Nuts! are among the titles in the feature-length competition.
The festival will open with Michaël Dudok de Wit’s The Red Turtle, which will premiere first in Official Selection at Cannes.
Other highlights include a preview screening of Chris Renaud and Yarrow Cheney’s The Secret Life Of Pets, in the presence of the directors. Andrew Stanton will also attend the festival, accompanying Finding Dory.
First images of Ron Clements and John Musker’s upcoming film Moana and Michael Thurmeier’s [link...
- 4/28/2016
- ScreenDaily
Ambi Distribution commences talks at Efm this week on the animation Bilal from Barajoun Entertainment, the Dubai-based animation and effects house with whom Ambi Group has unveiled a five-film partnership.
The deal between Ambi Group co-founders Andrea Iervolino and Monika Bacardi and Barajoun Entertainment owner Ayman Jamal will see the parties co-finance and co-produce family-centric CGI animated films budgeted in the $50m range.
Barajoun’s studios and Ambi’s Aic Studios in Toronto will co-develop and produce the content, and will additionally explore live-action features based on popular IP. Ambi Distribution will oversee worldwide distribution on the slate.
Bilal, which is not part of the upcoming five films, is inspired by a true story of an African Hero who braved oppression and ultimately became a leader of his time. Ayman Jamal and Khurram H. Alavi directed and the voice cast includes Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and Ian McShane.
Ambi has scaled up its animation operations over the last year...
The deal between Ambi Group co-founders Andrea Iervolino and Monika Bacardi and Barajoun Entertainment owner Ayman Jamal will see the parties co-finance and co-produce family-centric CGI animated films budgeted in the $50m range.
Barajoun’s studios and Ambi’s Aic Studios in Toronto will co-develop and produce the content, and will additionally explore live-action features based on popular IP. Ambi Distribution will oversee worldwide distribution on the slate.
Bilal, which is not part of the upcoming five films, is inspired by a true story of an African Hero who braved oppression and ultimately became a leader of his time. Ayman Jamal and Khurram H. Alavi directed and the voice cast includes Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and Ian McShane.
Ambi has scaled up its animation operations over the last year...
- 2/11/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The World Premiere of “Bilal” (UAE; 2015) took place at Doha's Ajyal Youth Film Festival. This new animated feature film, directed by Ayman Jamal and Khurram Alav, is for families and the rating is expected to be PG-13.
Families in Qatar enjoy going out together as is obvious as one walks around looking at the people: fathers pushing strollers, mothers with the little brothers and sisters, all enjoying the many types events at the youth festival, stopping by stands for ice cream or pizza, going to museums, the peaceful enjoyment of weekends.
The press screening was itself very interesting, attended mostly by Arab men of the press from all over the Middle East; and I could see they were very engrossed in this film … as was I who watched it with a very critical mind. The role of the mother and sister satisfied my need for inclusion. The mother enchanted me with her love, beauty and wisdom. I do wish the sister had more chance to show her depth of mind because it is obvious how important she is to the story and she played an important role throughout the story.
The story opens new vistas into the world and is universal at the same time. Its exoticism makes it special in the way of Aladdin or 1,001 Nights, or Sinbad, stories we all grew up with. While American audiences are used to exotic settings, especially in cartoons, one is reminded that this one is historically based. It is a great way to introduce the Middle East to children, as its story is a heroic battle of good against evil.
We spoke with co-directors Ayman Jamal and Khurram H. Alavi, the two young American actors Andre Robinson (“Despicable Me 2”) and Jacob Latimore (“The Maze Runner”) and the Finnish composer of the impressive score, Atil Örvarsson.
Featuring Adewale Akinnouye-Agbanje ("Game of Thrones"), this heroic epic animated film took four years to produce. It was financed via individual investors from Saudi Arabia, Dubai and with the support of the Doha Film Institute.
SydneysBuzz: How did you begin to make this large-scale movie?
Ayman Jamal: We wanted to make the historical epic uniquely telling the life story of Bilal from the age of 6 years old to 60 years old.
There was no animation or CGI studio in the Mena region so we had to start the studio ourselves and that’s how we established Dubai-based Barajoun Studios.
To begin the project, a research team, including a number of forensic scientists, worked for almost two years looking back into the past to provide critical information to help structure the characters featured in “Bilal” and to recreate and bring to life their tribal nature, their physical being, their behavior and attitudes and their appearance.
The film’s director Khurram H. Alavi from Pakistan combined his scriptwriting and directing abilities and his background as a digital sculptor and character artist to create the unique nature of the characters in the film which were created from scratch with conceptual designs as the first step.
Khurram H. Alavi: The style of the characters is very different from other animated movies. We didn’t want the characters to be cartoonish but also not too realistic either. It involved creative talents from 22 countries working in Dubai.
The beautifully rendered animation is uniquely suited to telling this story of an African boy who, 1,400 years ago, dreams of becoming a great warrior. His dream becomes a nightmare when men on horseback invade his village, kill his mother and abduct him and his sister and sell them into slavery in a land far away from home. Thrown into a world where greed and injustice rule all, Bilal finds the courage to raise his voice and make a change.
Inspired by true events, this is a story of a real hero’s journey toward self-discovery from age 6 to 60, one who has earned his place in time and history. Its archetypical story is much like that of Joseph and his brothers who sold him into slavery but who, with his innate intelligence, rose to the top of the master’s household -- along with a touch of Abraham who broke the idols of his time as the concept of One God broke into his consciousness of the world around him.
Bilal’s next adventure is finding its international legs. With proper strategic marketing, sales and distribution, (and perhaps a little trimming as 105 minutes feels a little long) this film should be lucrative. The film deserves be seen and acclaimed by worldwide audiences including in the U.S. I myself would have enjoyed seeing this film with my father, mother and sister when we went to movies together, one of the happiest memories of my childhood.
Its appeal to all families, including, but by no means limited, to African-American families who lacking an onscreen hero at this point in time, should also be key to its success. We all know their per capita moviegoing habits are high which makes them one of the best markets to target whenever possible.
Ayman Jamal and Khurram Alavi were encouraged by Will Smith whose interest in universal storytelling as it relates to the African diaspora is very strong.
SydneysBuzz: Tell me more about the participation of Will Smith.
Ayman Jamal: Two years ago, Will Smith visited us in Dubai and we talked about casting for “Bilal”, and he was a great help in giving us direction. We were looking for someone who had an African-American accent, and who could give an authentic feel.
Khurram H. Alavi: We had hundreds of people audition, but we were really lucky to get these outstanding actors.
SydneysBuzz: Were the looks of the characters based on the actors?
Jacob Latimore: You know what? When I saw the pictures, I thought: “Are you picking me because I look like him?” And when I posted the pictures to Instagram, all my fans were like: “You’re a cartoon character!” But it wasn’t intentional – just movie magic!
Jamal: The character of Bilal is based on a real historical figure, and we had a whole team researching what he looked and sounded like. It was done in a very scientific way.
SydneysBuzz : Atil, how did you go about composing the score?
Atil Ö rvarsson: Geography played a big part in creating the music for the film.
The music needed to get into the characteristics of the region and had to combine the archaelogical, historical nature of the story and make it accessible for an international audience. We used old instruments from the region and combined it with modern electronically synthesized music.
SydneysBuzz: Does each character have a theme?
We created themes for some of the characters and created a unique, other worldly sound for the witch doctor.
SydneysBuzz: What’s it like to premiere your film at a film festival for young people?
Latimore: It’s so unique that the youth judge and pick the winners here. It’s so important that they have a platform and a voice – they’re the future tastemakers. And anything they like, the world likes. It’s also my first time out of the U.S., so I’m super excited.
Jamal: It’s the best celebration for us. It’s a big thing for the region – a full-length feature film that was produced here and will be distributed worldwide. This has never been done before.
After playing Dubai, it will go to the Berlin Film Festival where we hope to be able to announce some territorial distribution deals.
For more information on this film you can follow the team on social media:
http://www.bilalmovie.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bilalmovie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bilal_movie
Instagram: @bilalmovie
#Doha #ajyal15 #animation .
Families in Qatar enjoy going out together as is obvious as one walks around looking at the people: fathers pushing strollers, mothers with the little brothers and sisters, all enjoying the many types events at the youth festival, stopping by stands for ice cream or pizza, going to museums, the peaceful enjoyment of weekends.
The press screening was itself very interesting, attended mostly by Arab men of the press from all over the Middle East; and I could see they were very engrossed in this film … as was I who watched it with a very critical mind. The role of the mother and sister satisfied my need for inclusion. The mother enchanted me with her love, beauty and wisdom. I do wish the sister had more chance to show her depth of mind because it is obvious how important she is to the story and she played an important role throughout the story.
The story opens new vistas into the world and is universal at the same time. Its exoticism makes it special in the way of Aladdin or 1,001 Nights, or Sinbad, stories we all grew up with. While American audiences are used to exotic settings, especially in cartoons, one is reminded that this one is historically based. It is a great way to introduce the Middle East to children, as its story is a heroic battle of good against evil.
We spoke with co-directors Ayman Jamal and Khurram H. Alavi, the two young American actors Andre Robinson (“Despicable Me 2”) and Jacob Latimore (“The Maze Runner”) and the Finnish composer of the impressive score, Atil Örvarsson.
Featuring Adewale Akinnouye-Agbanje ("Game of Thrones"), this heroic epic animated film took four years to produce. It was financed via individual investors from Saudi Arabia, Dubai and with the support of the Doha Film Institute.
SydneysBuzz: How did you begin to make this large-scale movie?
Ayman Jamal: We wanted to make the historical epic uniquely telling the life story of Bilal from the age of 6 years old to 60 years old.
There was no animation or CGI studio in the Mena region so we had to start the studio ourselves and that’s how we established Dubai-based Barajoun Studios.
To begin the project, a research team, including a number of forensic scientists, worked for almost two years looking back into the past to provide critical information to help structure the characters featured in “Bilal” and to recreate and bring to life their tribal nature, their physical being, their behavior and attitudes and their appearance.
The film’s director Khurram H. Alavi from Pakistan combined his scriptwriting and directing abilities and his background as a digital sculptor and character artist to create the unique nature of the characters in the film which were created from scratch with conceptual designs as the first step.
Khurram H. Alavi: The style of the characters is very different from other animated movies. We didn’t want the characters to be cartoonish but also not too realistic either. It involved creative talents from 22 countries working in Dubai.
The beautifully rendered animation is uniquely suited to telling this story of an African boy who, 1,400 years ago, dreams of becoming a great warrior. His dream becomes a nightmare when men on horseback invade his village, kill his mother and abduct him and his sister and sell them into slavery in a land far away from home. Thrown into a world where greed and injustice rule all, Bilal finds the courage to raise his voice and make a change.
Inspired by true events, this is a story of a real hero’s journey toward self-discovery from age 6 to 60, one who has earned his place in time and history. Its archetypical story is much like that of Joseph and his brothers who sold him into slavery but who, with his innate intelligence, rose to the top of the master’s household -- along with a touch of Abraham who broke the idols of his time as the concept of One God broke into his consciousness of the world around him.
Bilal’s next adventure is finding its international legs. With proper strategic marketing, sales and distribution, (and perhaps a little trimming as 105 minutes feels a little long) this film should be lucrative. The film deserves be seen and acclaimed by worldwide audiences including in the U.S. I myself would have enjoyed seeing this film with my father, mother and sister when we went to movies together, one of the happiest memories of my childhood.
Its appeal to all families, including, but by no means limited, to African-American families who lacking an onscreen hero at this point in time, should also be key to its success. We all know their per capita moviegoing habits are high which makes them one of the best markets to target whenever possible.
Ayman Jamal and Khurram Alavi were encouraged by Will Smith whose interest in universal storytelling as it relates to the African diaspora is very strong.
SydneysBuzz: Tell me more about the participation of Will Smith.
Ayman Jamal: Two years ago, Will Smith visited us in Dubai and we talked about casting for “Bilal”, and he was a great help in giving us direction. We were looking for someone who had an African-American accent, and who could give an authentic feel.
Khurram H. Alavi: We had hundreds of people audition, but we were really lucky to get these outstanding actors.
SydneysBuzz: Were the looks of the characters based on the actors?
Jacob Latimore: You know what? When I saw the pictures, I thought: “Are you picking me because I look like him?” And when I posted the pictures to Instagram, all my fans were like: “You’re a cartoon character!” But it wasn’t intentional – just movie magic!
Jamal: The character of Bilal is based on a real historical figure, and we had a whole team researching what he looked and sounded like. It was done in a very scientific way.
SydneysBuzz : Atil, how did you go about composing the score?
Atil Ö rvarsson: Geography played a big part in creating the music for the film.
The music needed to get into the characteristics of the region and had to combine the archaelogical, historical nature of the story and make it accessible for an international audience. We used old instruments from the region and combined it with modern electronically synthesized music.
SydneysBuzz: Does each character have a theme?
We created themes for some of the characters and created a unique, other worldly sound for the witch doctor.
SydneysBuzz: What’s it like to premiere your film at a film festival for young people?
Latimore: It’s so unique that the youth judge and pick the winners here. It’s so important that they have a platform and a voice – they’re the future tastemakers. And anything they like, the world likes. It’s also my first time out of the U.S., so I’m super excited.
Jamal: It’s the best celebration for us. It’s a big thing for the region – a full-length feature film that was produced here and will be distributed worldwide. This has never been done before.
After playing Dubai, it will go to the Berlin Film Festival where we hope to be able to announce some territorial distribution deals.
For more information on this film you can follow the team on social media:
http://www.bilalmovie.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bilalmovie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bilal_movie
Instagram: @bilalmovie
#Doha #ajyal15 #animation .
- 12/15/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Dubai-based Barajoun Entertainment, the studio behind the UAE’s first feature-length animation Bilal, which premieres at Diff today (Dec 10), has revealed details of its next project.
Based on an original idea by Barajoun co-founder and Bilal co-director Ayman Jamal, the new production will revolve around a musician, who was active during the Islamic era in Spain around 700Ad and continues to influence classical music to this day.
“Like Bilal, it is based on a true story and a forgotten hero. This is an approach we like to take at Barajoun,” said Jamal, who declined to reveal the exact identity of the protagonist.
Us screenwriter Will Csaklos, whose story consultant credits include Finding Nemo and The Princess And The Frog, has just delivered the screenplay.
“He was a guru musician who still influences music to this day. I also love the story because it’s set at a time when Spain was a centre for the arts,” Jamal...
Based on an original idea by Barajoun co-founder and Bilal co-director Ayman Jamal, the new production will revolve around a musician, who was active during the Islamic era in Spain around 700Ad and continues to influence classical music to this day.
“Like Bilal, it is based on a true story and a forgotten hero. This is an approach we like to take at Barajoun,” said Jamal, who declined to reveal the exact identity of the protagonist.
Us screenwriter Will Csaklos, whose story consultant credits include Finding Nemo and The Princess And The Frog, has just delivered the screenplay.
“He was a guru musician who still influences music to this day. I also love the story because it’s set at a time when Spain was a centre for the arts,” Jamal...
- 12/10/2015
- ScreenDaily
The third annual Ajyal Youth Film Festival presented by the Doha Film Institute (November 29 to December 5) showcases feature films from 20 countries and a series of short film programs in Katara, Qatar.
Fatma Al Remaihi, Festival Director and CEO of the Doha Film Institute, says: “By providing young people with access to international cinema, filmmakers from around the world, and the space to discuss their ideas and develop critical thinking, Ajyal empowers the youngest members of our community and develops their understanding of the world around them.”
Academy Award nominated director, Hany Abu-Assad and Arab Idol champion Mohammed Assaf, whose life story "The Idol" is based on, will attend the Opening Night and will participate in a special ‘In Conversation’ session about bringing Assaf’s life story to the big screen and highlight the power of combining music and cinema and the challenges facing Arab artists today.
Read more about "The Idol" and an interview with Hany Abu-Assad at its debut at Tiff 2015.
Aside from the daily public screenings of local and international films other events are the popular "Made in Qatar"; Sony Cinema Under the Stars; Family Weekend; the Doha Giffoni Youth Media Summit ; special events and exhibitions; the Sandbox interactive digital playground; school screenings; and the Ajyal Competition, where hundreds of young jurors between the ages of 8 and 21 will watch and discuss shorts and features and decide on the winning films. competition line-up.
The popular "Made in Qatar" section features 17 films -- nine narrative shorts and eight documentaries by local talent.
More than 500 young people from the ages of 8 to 21 make up the Ajyal Competition Jury which will watch and analyze a dynamic program of films in three competitive sections followed by discussions and events including panels, workshops and Q&A sessions with filmmakers.
Each of the three Ajyal Juries are made of 24 international jurors from 12 countries including Australia, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq, Italy, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Serbia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. The jury awards a Best Film prize to their favorite short and feature-length film, for a total of six awards. The directors of the winning films are awarded funding toward their next film, so jurors are empowered to support and promote future content that is relevant and important to them in a proactive way.
Mohaq means ‘New Moon’ in Arabic, and these are Ajyal’s youngest jurors, aged 8 to 12. These jurors will watch one program of short films and four feature-length films, marking the first year that competitive feature films are included in this category. They are: "Celestial Camel" (Russia) by Yury Feting about a young sheepherder living in the desolate Kalmyk Steppe, who sets off on an epic journey after his father is forced to sell the family’s beloved camel calf; "The Greatest House in the World" (Guatemala, Mexico) by Ana V. Bojórquez and Lucía Carreras - a film about the never-ending circle of life told through the story of a young girl in the isolated highlands of Guatemala; "Paper Planes"(Australia) by Robert Connolly - a tale of friendship, creativity and the bonds of family which centers around an 11-year-old boy with an exceptional talent for creating paper airplanes; and "Phantom Boy" by Jean-Loup Felicioli, Alain Gagnol (France, Belgium) an animated film about an 11-year-old boy whose illness allows him to have out-of-body experiences and mysterious powers.
Ajyal’s jurors aged 13 to 17 are the Hilal jury – the term means ‘Crescent Moon’ in Arabic. Five feature films and a program of shorts make up this jury’s film selection. The feature films competing in this section are: "Lamb" (France, Ethiopia, Germany, Norway, Qatar) by Yared Zeleke, a portrait of a young Ethiopian boy trying to find his way in the world; "Landfill Harmonic" (U.S.) directed by Brad Allgood and Graham Townsley and recent audience award winning documentary at Napa Valley Film Festival, that tracks the astounding rise of a Paraguayan youth orchestra whose members live next to one of South America's largest landfills and make their instruments from recycled materials; "Mina Walking" (Canada, Afghanistan), a multiple award winning documentary by Yosef Baraki, a powerful tale of a 12-year-old girl in war-torn Afghanistan struggling to make ends meet for her family; "Scarecrow " (The Philippines) by Zig Madamba Dulay which explores the complicated relationship of social injustice and familial expectations through the story of a young mother in a rural town; and " Wolf Totem" (China, France) by Jean-Jacques Annaud. Set against the backdrop of the Chinese Cultural Revolution 1967, it is the story of a two young Chinese students who are sent on a research assignment with the nomadic herdsmen of Inner Mongolia and become fascinated by the wolves that roam the plains.
The most mature of Ajyal’s juries, Bader (Arabic for ‘Full Moon’) jurors are aged 18 to 21 and will select their favorite films from five features and two programs of short films. The feature films vying for top honors in this section are: "An" (Japan, France, Germany) by Naomi Kawase is a drama about a lonely baker whose life is reinvigorated when he hires an elderly woman with a special culinary skill; "The Second Mother " (Brazil's submission for Oscar nomination) by Anna Muylaert which is an exploration of the bond between mothers and their children told through the story of a housekeeper in Sao Paulo (Read review and interview with director Anna Muylaert here); "Taxi" (Iran), winner of Fipresci and Golden Bear Awards in Berlin 2015, by Jafar Panahi in which the celebrated Iranian director places himself in the driver’s seat of a cab, taking fares to their destinations in a wonderful portrait of contemporary Iran; "Very Big Shot" (Lebanon, Qatar), a bold and insightful dark comedy by Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya that skewers political corruption and the media circus that goes with it; and "Walls" (Spain) - a documentary by Pablo Iraburu and Migueltxo Molina that follows several subjects on both sides of three contemporary international borders, demonstrating that the people on each side of the barriers are not as different as they may believe.
In addition to the three competitive sections, the Festival’s youngest audiences under the age of 8 years will also vote for their favorite film with the help of their parents who will determine the Parents’ Choice Award in the Bariq program. Bariq films are selected to satisfy the excitement and curiosity of young children and are suitable for the whole family. This year’s program features a collection of eight short films and will also include a special outdoor cine-concert on the Katara esplanade by the Festival Tout-Petits Cinéma from Paris, with four films accompanied by live music by pianist Anthony Boulc’h and saxophonist Fanch Minous.
A senior jury of three eminent figures from the local and regional industry will determine the winners of the competitive section comprising feature films from 20 countries and a series of short film program with two awards being presented for Best Short Narrative Film and Best Short Documentary Film. The 2015 jury members are film producer Bassam Al Ibrahim (Qatar), who is the CEO of Innovation Films and co-founder of ILoveQatar.net; film actress, director and producer, Ahd (Saudi Arabia), internationally renowned for her performance in Haifaa al-Mansour’s " Wadjda;" and respected veteran journalist and media personality, Marcel Ghanem (Lebanon).
Fatma Al Remaihi said: “It has been another productive and inspiring year for filmmaking in Qatar and this year’s Made in Qatar selection indicates the rapid growth and diversity that we are witnessing in the Qatari film industry."
The films in the 2015 Ajyal Youth Film Festival Made in Qatar section are:
Made in Qatar Program 1, Wednesday 2nd December
"To My Mother" by Amina Al Bloshi
"Light Sounds" by Karem Kamel
"Her Majlis" by Najla Al Khulaifi, Dana Al Mesnad and Nayla Al Thani
"The Palm Tree" by Jassim Al-Rumaihi
"Yellow Nights" by Abdulla al Mulla
"If They Only Knew" by Sana Al-Ansari
"Heart of the House" by Gabrielle Sol
"The Notebook" by Amna Albinali
Made in Qatar Program 2, Friday 4th December
"Charlie" by Ali Ali
"Immortalizing Memories" by Mostafa Sheshtawy
"Asfoora" by Mayar Hamdan
"Good as New" by Jaser Alagha
"I Choose Islam" by Noor Al-Tamimi, Silma Suba and Zac J. Hollo
"Mariam" by Zainab Ayon
"Time" by Yassine Ouahrani
"Man of the House" by Khalifa AlMarri
"Veganize It!" by Khalid Salim
Closing night will be the world premiere of animated feature film "Bilal" (UAE/2015), a new animated feature film made with funding from the Doha Film Institute and produced by Dubai-based Barajoun Studios. Involving creative talents from 22 countries, "Bilal " by Directors Ayman Jamal and Khurram Alavi is an inspiring adventure story of faith, hope and self-discovery. Inspired by the real-life story of Bilal Bin Rabah, the film's cutting edge animation technology, impeccable research and high production values will resonate with audiences across generations. The cast and crew of the film will be in attendance for the premiere including the directors of the film and cast members Andre Robinson ("Despicable Me 2") and Adewale Akinnuoye Agbaje ("Lost", "The Bourne Identity", "Game of Thrones") who voice the young and adult Bilal respectively.
The Ajyal Family Weekend will feature the regional premiere of Marking the Un International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Ajyal 2015 will present in a regional first, an inclusive cinema experience specially ‘transadapted’ to suit audiences with different abilities, a special screening of Al Rayyan Productions animated short "Hero and the Message" (Qatar/2012). Guests will be able to view the film through sound alone, with special subtitles for people who have difficulty understanding speech. This inclusive version of the film has been developed with the support of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and is the result of a collaboration between the Doha Film Institute and the Translation and Interpreting Institute at Hamad Bin Khalifa University who are spearheading the development of transadapted content in the Gulf region.
Fatma Al Remaihi, “Since our first edition, animated films have formed a core part of the Ajyal program and I am delighted that this year, we will premiere three incredibly diverse examples of the artform... from three corners of the globe.”
"Bilal" (UAE/2015) In a dreamlike vision, mysterious dark riders mounted on demonic black horses bear down upon a village. Nearby, little Bilal dreams of being a great warrior as he gallops along on his hobbyhorse. The riders come closer – are they real? Or are they just a figment of the youngster’s extraordinary imagination? Suddenly, Bilal’s dream becomes a nightmare. The men on horseback kill his mother and take him captive along with Ghufaira, his sister, and they are soon sold as slaves to Umayya, the wealthiest merchant in all of Arabia. Bilal never forgets this terrible day, which haunts his sleep for years to come. But the echoes of his mother’s gentle voice stay with him, a constant reminder that to break free of the chains that enslave him, he must forge his own destiny.
"The Good Dinosaur" (USA/2015), the latest feature from the award-winning Pixar Animation Studios and the team behind beloved Pixar classics "Finding Nemo" and "Inside Out" and will feature a special ‘kids red carpet’ for all families and young people from the community to participate and to be transported to a world where dinosaurs walk the Earth. Directed by Peter Sohn, the film screens on December 4th and presents an alternate history where the asteroids that wiped out these ancient reptiles never hit our planet.
"Hero and the Message" (Qatar/2012) tells the fantastic tale of a Qatari brother and sister who travel back in time to witness the founding events of the State of Qatar. Produced by Al Rayyan Productions, the top-notch animated short directed by Pawel Borowski was created to celebrate Qatar’s National Day in 2012, and screens on December 3rd.
"When Marnie Was There" (Japan/2014), screening on December 4 is one of the final anime sensations from Ghibli Studios and is based on the novel When Marnie Was There by Joan G. Robinson. Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, the film is about a young girl Anna who explores a long- abandoned villa and meets a mysterious blonde girl only she can see.
Fatma Al Remaihi, Festival Director and CEO of the Doha Film Institute, says: “By providing young people with access to international cinema, filmmakers from around the world, and the space to discuss their ideas and develop critical thinking, Ajyal empowers the youngest members of our community and develops their understanding of the world around them.”
Academy Award nominated director, Hany Abu-Assad and Arab Idol champion Mohammed Assaf, whose life story "The Idol" is based on, will attend the Opening Night and will participate in a special ‘In Conversation’ session about bringing Assaf’s life story to the big screen and highlight the power of combining music and cinema and the challenges facing Arab artists today.
Read more about "The Idol" and an interview with Hany Abu-Assad at its debut at Tiff 2015.
Aside from the daily public screenings of local and international films other events are the popular "Made in Qatar"; Sony Cinema Under the Stars; Family Weekend; the Doha Giffoni Youth Media Summit ; special events and exhibitions; the Sandbox interactive digital playground; school screenings; and the Ajyal Competition, where hundreds of young jurors between the ages of 8 and 21 will watch and discuss shorts and features and decide on the winning films. competition line-up.
The popular "Made in Qatar" section features 17 films -- nine narrative shorts and eight documentaries by local talent.
More than 500 young people from the ages of 8 to 21 make up the Ajyal Competition Jury which will watch and analyze a dynamic program of films in three competitive sections followed by discussions and events including panels, workshops and Q&A sessions with filmmakers.
Each of the three Ajyal Juries are made of 24 international jurors from 12 countries including Australia, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq, Italy, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Serbia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. The jury awards a Best Film prize to their favorite short and feature-length film, for a total of six awards. The directors of the winning films are awarded funding toward their next film, so jurors are empowered to support and promote future content that is relevant and important to them in a proactive way.
Mohaq means ‘New Moon’ in Arabic, and these are Ajyal’s youngest jurors, aged 8 to 12. These jurors will watch one program of short films and four feature-length films, marking the first year that competitive feature films are included in this category. They are: "Celestial Camel" (Russia) by Yury Feting about a young sheepherder living in the desolate Kalmyk Steppe, who sets off on an epic journey after his father is forced to sell the family’s beloved camel calf; "The Greatest House in the World" (Guatemala, Mexico) by Ana V. Bojórquez and Lucía Carreras - a film about the never-ending circle of life told through the story of a young girl in the isolated highlands of Guatemala; "Paper Planes"(Australia) by Robert Connolly - a tale of friendship, creativity and the bonds of family which centers around an 11-year-old boy with an exceptional talent for creating paper airplanes; and "Phantom Boy" by Jean-Loup Felicioli, Alain Gagnol (France, Belgium) an animated film about an 11-year-old boy whose illness allows him to have out-of-body experiences and mysterious powers.
Ajyal’s jurors aged 13 to 17 are the Hilal jury – the term means ‘Crescent Moon’ in Arabic. Five feature films and a program of shorts make up this jury’s film selection. The feature films competing in this section are: "Lamb" (France, Ethiopia, Germany, Norway, Qatar) by Yared Zeleke, a portrait of a young Ethiopian boy trying to find his way in the world; "Landfill Harmonic" (U.S.) directed by Brad Allgood and Graham Townsley and recent audience award winning documentary at Napa Valley Film Festival, that tracks the astounding rise of a Paraguayan youth orchestra whose members live next to one of South America's largest landfills and make their instruments from recycled materials; "Mina Walking" (Canada, Afghanistan), a multiple award winning documentary by Yosef Baraki, a powerful tale of a 12-year-old girl in war-torn Afghanistan struggling to make ends meet for her family; "Scarecrow " (The Philippines) by Zig Madamba Dulay which explores the complicated relationship of social injustice and familial expectations through the story of a young mother in a rural town; and " Wolf Totem" (China, France) by Jean-Jacques Annaud. Set against the backdrop of the Chinese Cultural Revolution 1967, it is the story of a two young Chinese students who are sent on a research assignment with the nomadic herdsmen of Inner Mongolia and become fascinated by the wolves that roam the plains.
The most mature of Ajyal’s juries, Bader (Arabic for ‘Full Moon’) jurors are aged 18 to 21 and will select their favorite films from five features and two programs of short films. The feature films vying for top honors in this section are: "An" (Japan, France, Germany) by Naomi Kawase is a drama about a lonely baker whose life is reinvigorated when he hires an elderly woman with a special culinary skill; "The Second Mother " (Brazil's submission for Oscar nomination) by Anna Muylaert which is an exploration of the bond between mothers and their children told through the story of a housekeeper in Sao Paulo (Read review and interview with director Anna Muylaert here); "Taxi" (Iran), winner of Fipresci and Golden Bear Awards in Berlin 2015, by Jafar Panahi in which the celebrated Iranian director places himself in the driver’s seat of a cab, taking fares to their destinations in a wonderful portrait of contemporary Iran; "Very Big Shot" (Lebanon, Qatar), a bold and insightful dark comedy by Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya that skewers political corruption and the media circus that goes with it; and "Walls" (Spain) - a documentary by Pablo Iraburu and Migueltxo Molina that follows several subjects on both sides of three contemporary international borders, demonstrating that the people on each side of the barriers are not as different as they may believe.
In addition to the three competitive sections, the Festival’s youngest audiences under the age of 8 years will also vote for their favorite film with the help of their parents who will determine the Parents’ Choice Award in the Bariq program. Bariq films are selected to satisfy the excitement and curiosity of young children and are suitable for the whole family. This year’s program features a collection of eight short films and will also include a special outdoor cine-concert on the Katara esplanade by the Festival Tout-Petits Cinéma from Paris, with four films accompanied by live music by pianist Anthony Boulc’h and saxophonist Fanch Minous.
A senior jury of three eminent figures from the local and regional industry will determine the winners of the competitive section comprising feature films from 20 countries and a series of short film program with two awards being presented for Best Short Narrative Film and Best Short Documentary Film. The 2015 jury members are film producer Bassam Al Ibrahim (Qatar), who is the CEO of Innovation Films and co-founder of ILoveQatar.net; film actress, director and producer, Ahd (Saudi Arabia), internationally renowned for her performance in Haifaa al-Mansour’s " Wadjda;" and respected veteran journalist and media personality, Marcel Ghanem (Lebanon).
Fatma Al Remaihi said: “It has been another productive and inspiring year for filmmaking in Qatar and this year’s Made in Qatar selection indicates the rapid growth and diversity that we are witnessing in the Qatari film industry."
The films in the 2015 Ajyal Youth Film Festival Made in Qatar section are:
Made in Qatar Program 1, Wednesday 2nd December
"To My Mother" by Amina Al Bloshi
"Light Sounds" by Karem Kamel
"Her Majlis" by Najla Al Khulaifi, Dana Al Mesnad and Nayla Al Thani
"The Palm Tree" by Jassim Al-Rumaihi
"Yellow Nights" by Abdulla al Mulla
"If They Only Knew" by Sana Al-Ansari
"Heart of the House" by Gabrielle Sol
"The Notebook" by Amna Albinali
Made in Qatar Program 2, Friday 4th December
"Charlie" by Ali Ali
"Immortalizing Memories" by Mostafa Sheshtawy
"Asfoora" by Mayar Hamdan
"Good as New" by Jaser Alagha
"I Choose Islam" by Noor Al-Tamimi, Silma Suba and Zac J. Hollo
"Mariam" by Zainab Ayon
"Time" by Yassine Ouahrani
"Man of the House" by Khalifa AlMarri
"Veganize It!" by Khalid Salim
Closing night will be the world premiere of animated feature film "Bilal" (UAE/2015), a new animated feature film made with funding from the Doha Film Institute and produced by Dubai-based Barajoun Studios. Involving creative talents from 22 countries, "Bilal " by Directors Ayman Jamal and Khurram Alavi is an inspiring adventure story of faith, hope and self-discovery. Inspired by the real-life story of Bilal Bin Rabah, the film's cutting edge animation technology, impeccable research and high production values will resonate with audiences across generations. The cast and crew of the film will be in attendance for the premiere including the directors of the film and cast members Andre Robinson ("Despicable Me 2") and Adewale Akinnuoye Agbaje ("Lost", "The Bourne Identity", "Game of Thrones") who voice the young and adult Bilal respectively.
The Ajyal Family Weekend will feature the regional premiere of Marking the Un International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Ajyal 2015 will present in a regional first, an inclusive cinema experience specially ‘transadapted’ to suit audiences with different abilities, a special screening of Al Rayyan Productions animated short "Hero and the Message" (Qatar/2012). Guests will be able to view the film through sound alone, with special subtitles for people who have difficulty understanding speech. This inclusive version of the film has been developed with the support of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and is the result of a collaboration between the Doha Film Institute and the Translation and Interpreting Institute at Hamad Bin Khalifa University who are spearheading the development of transadapted content in the Gulf region.
Fatma Al Remaihi, “Since our first edition, animated films have formed a core part of the Ajyal program and I am delighted that this year, we will premiere three incredibly diverse examples of the artform... from three corners of the globe.”
"Bilal" (UAE/2015) In a dreamlike vision, mysterious dark riders mounted on demonic black horses bear down upon a village. Nearby, little Bilal dreams of being a great warrior as he gallops along on his hobbyhorse. The riders come closer – are they real? Or are they just a figment of the youngster’s extraordinary imagination? Suddenly, Bilal’s dream becomes a nightmare. The men on horseback kill his mother and take him captive along with Ghufaira, his sister, and they are soon sold as slaves to Umayya, the wealthiest merchant in all of Arabia. Bilal never forgets this terrible day, which haunts his sleep for years to come. But the echoes of his mother’s gentle voice stay with him, a constant reminder that to break free of the chains that enslave him, he must forge his own destiny.
"The Good Dinosaur" (USA/2015), the latest feature from the award-winning Pixar Animation Studios and the team behind beloved Pixar classics "Finding Nemo" and "Inside Out" and will feature a special ‘kids red carpet’ for all families and young people from the community to participate and to be transported to a world where dinosaurs walk the Earth. Directed by Peter Sohn, the film screens on December 4th and presents an alternate history where the asteroids that wiped out these ancient reptiles never hit our planet.
"Hero and the Message" (Qatar/2012) tells the fantastic tale of a Qatari brother and sister who travel back in time to witness the founding events of the State of Qatar. Produced by Al Rayyan Productions, the top-notch animated short directed by Pawel Borowski was created to celebrate Qatar’s National Day in 2012, and screens on December 3rd.
"When Marnie Was There" (Japan/2014), screening on December 4 is one of the final anime sensations from Ghibli Studios and is based on the novel When Marnie Was There by Joan G. Robinson. Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, the film is about a young girl Anna who explores a long- abandoned villa and meets a mysterious blonde girl only she can see.
- 11/21/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Titles in competition include animation Phantom Boy [pictured], Ethiopian drama Lamb, Brazilian Oscar submission The Second Mother and Jafar Panahi’s Berlinale winner Taxi Tehran.
The Doha Film Institute has announced the competition line-up for the third edition of the Ajyal Youth Film Festival (Nov 29 - Dec 5), comprising feature films from 20 countries as well as a series of short film programmes.
The jury will be made up of more than 500 young people, aged 8-21, who will watch a programme of films under three competitive sections - Mohaq, Hilal, and Bader - followed by discussions and events including panels, workshops and Q&A sessions with filmmakers.
Each of the three Ajyal Juries will award a Best Film prize to their favourite short and feature-length films, for a total of six awards. The directors of the winning films are awarded funding toward their next film.
The jury includes 24 international jurors who will travel to Doha for the event from 12 countries...
The Doha Film Institute has announced the competition line-up for the third edition of the Ajyal Youth Film Festival (Nov 29 - Dec 5), comprising feature films from 20 countries as well as a series of short film programmes.
The jury will be made up of more than 500 young people, aged 8-21, who will watch a programme of films under three competitive sections - Mohaq, Hilal, and Bader - followed by discussions and events including panels, workshops and Q&A sessions with filmmakers.
Each of the three Ajyal Juries will award a Best Film prize to their favourite short and feature-length films, for a total of six awards. The directors of the winning films are awarded funding toward their next film.
The jury includes 24 international jurors who will travel to Doha for the event from 12 countries...
- 11/9/2015
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Nigerian-uk actor Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje is set to voice the protagonist of an ambitious Emirati feature-length animation inspired by a figure in Arabic folklore.
The as-yet-untitled picture is inspired by the folkloric figure of Bilal, a black African slave who overcame adversity to become a heroic figure in Arabic culture.
It is the first major production by Dubai-based animation studio Barajoun Entertainment and the most ambitious animated work to come out of the UAE to date.
“He’s a real hero who lived 1,000 years ago,” Barajoun’s founding managing partner Ayman Jamal told a news conference on the fringes of the Dubai International Film Festival.
“We like Marvel movies but feel there is a gap in showing real-life super-heroes and that was the point of starting this movie. Our hero is not a super-hero but a real-life hero,” he added.
Akinnuoye-Agbaje, best known for his roles in Lost and Thor and soon to be seen in Annie and Game Of Thrones...
The as-yet-untitled picture is inspired by the folkloric figure of Bilal, a black African slave who overcame adversity to become a heroic figure in Arabic culture.
It is the first major production by Dubai-based animation studio Barajoun Entertainment and the most ambitious animated work to come out of the UAE to date.
“He’s a real hero who lived 1,000 years ago,” Barajoun’s founding managing partner Ayman Jamal told a news conference on the fringes of the Dubai International Film Festival.
“We like Marvel movies but feel there is a gap in showing real-life super-heroes and that was the point of starting this movie. Our hero is not a super-hero but a real-life hero,” he added.
Akinnuoye-Agbaje, best known for his roles in Lost and Thor and soon to be seen in Annie and Game Of Thrones...
- 12/11/2014
- ScreenDaily
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