25 Aug Amman International Film Festival Announces Winners of its Pitching Platforms
Over the course of six days, the Amman Film Industry Days (AFID), the industrial arm of the Amman International Film Festival – Awal Film (AIFF) held a series of events that included masterclasses, seminars and discussions with directors and film professionals, as well as one-on-one meetings during the Amman Projects Market.
IEFTA’s cash award of €5,000 for “film in development” category, went to”Amara”, directed by Michelle Keserwany (Lebanon). Read full article here.
Michelle Keserwany (Lebanon)
DIRECTOR
Michelle Keserwany is a Lebanese filmmaker, writer, and musician known for her satirical socio-political music videos created with her sister Noel since 2010. In 2014, she co-wrote the film “Capernaum” with director Nadine Labaki before embarking on her own film projects. Michelle’s first short film “Les Chenilles”, written by her and co-directed with her sister, was the first Arab film to receive the Golden Bear for Best Short Film at the 2023 Berlinale. Michelle was awarded the “Author’s Fund” from the CNC France in 2021 for her upcoming live-action feature film “Amara”, a satirical drama that happens in Lebanon.
Amara
Synopsis: Darine, a vibrant woman in her thhirties works at a small radio station in Beirut. She hosts the morning show “Horoscopes with Darine” leading it with expertise given her humorous persona and her talent for creating lies. One day, Darine’s life takes an unexpected turn when her boss asks her to replace the news anchor who was fired due to the country’s economic crisis. Darine, who has always sought refuge in a deliberately fictional universe through horoscopes, should suddenly anounce on air the grim reality of a country on the brink of collapse. A reality she is unprepared to confront.
Amara delves into the quest for happiness in an unstable and gloomy region. In it I explore the emotional and moral tensions experienced by people who are indirectly part of the long complex chain of political corruption in Lebanon, all while keeping a humorous touch. During my two-year research with CNC, I immersed myself in Lebanon's radio stations, forging intimate connections with workers, discovering their lifestyles and social circles. This enabled me to absorb details and build my story using real facts, locations, and potential cast members. Cinematographically Amara is raw and realistic (aesthetic often found in Iranian films).
About The Amman International Film Festival – Awal Film (AIFF)
The 4th Edition of The Amman International Film Festival – Awal Film (AIFF), took place on 15 – 22 August 2023.
Launched in 2020, the festival distinctive edge was its focus on first-time achievements in cinema, and is Jordan’s first international film festival that showcases Arab and international movies. Initially developed with MAD Solutions – the Festival is organised under the umbrella of the Royal Film Commission – Jordan.
The aim, according to its president HRH Princess Rym Ali, is:
“Developing and promoting an Arab cinema that reflects the creativity of the region and tackles the issues that are prevalent today.”