For the fifth consecutive day, the screenings and events of the Malmö Arab Film Festival continue, featuring school screenings, feature films, the third collection of short films, and two Arabian Nights screenings, the first in the Danish capital Copenhagen and the second in Malmö.
The tenth edition of the Malmö Film Industry Days concluded with the announcement of awards.
The Industry Days concluded with individual meetings between filmmakers and project owners competing with industry experts at the Scandic Hotel, anticipating the closing ceremony and the announcement of the winning projects at Cinema Panora. The event marked a special celebration commemorating the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Malmö Film Industry Days.
The closing ceremony began with a welcoming speech by MAFF Industry Days Director Batoul Ardat, who introduced the judging panels and supporting entities. Mouhamad Keblawi, Founder – Management and Artistic Consultant of Malmö Arab Film Festival, was invited to speak about the significance of the tenth edition of the Industry Days and the companies resulting from previous editions, mentioning this year’s festival opener “Goodbye Julia,” which received the MAFF Industry Days Development Award in 2021 and went on to the Cannes Film Festival. He thanked all the supporting entities that provided awards in this and previous editions.
The development projects jury included programmer and journalist Eduardo Guillot from Spain, producer Marie Balducchi from France, and producer Bassam Alasaad from Jordan. Batoul Ardat announced the names of the film projects that won development awards in both the feature and short film categories.
Awards for the development of feature films:
The Swedish Film Institute Award worth 150,000 Swedish Krona went to the project “Running with Monsters” directed by Leila Bassma. Producer: Natalie Bavlov, Swedish producer Siri Yorton Wagner. The project is from Lebanon, Sweden, and the Czech Republic.
The Royal Film Commission of Jordan Award for a feature film in the development stage worth $5,000 USD went to the project “Speak” directed by Najib Khateri. Producers: Ian Henry, Afaf Ben Mahmoud, Swedish producer Sean Whelan. The project is from the United Kingdom, Tunisia, and Sweden.
Development Feature
$5,000 cash grant from the Royal Film Commission to “Tkallem” by Nejib Kthiri. Producer Ian Henry. Swedish Coproducer: Sean Wheelan
$5,000 worth of script development by Mariam Naoum from Sard to “Behind Closed Doors” by Hend Fakhroo, Producer: Cindy Le Templier. Swedish Co-producer Linda Mutawi
150,000 SEK from the Swedish Film Institute to “Running with Beasts” by Leila Basma, Producer Natalia Pavlove. Swedish Co-Producer Siri Hjorton Wagner
Development Short
30,000 SEK cash grant from Film i Skåne to “Elsewhere” by Issraa El Kogali Häggström. Producer: Lars Lovén
30,000 SEK cash and 20,000 SEK worth consultancy grant from Kinana Films to “Elsewhere” by Issraa El Kogali Häggström, Producer: Lars Lovén.
Post-production Platform
MAD Solutions A worldwide distribution award starting at $30,000 as MG to “Wear and bTear” by Sarra Abidi. Producer: ibtissem Labidi. Tunisia
Ambient Light post-production facilities award to worth $10,000 to “She was not Alone” by Hussein Alasadi. Producer:l Huma Gupta. Iraq
Ambient Light post-production facilities award to worth $10,000 to “I am a Script Girl” by Mina Nabil, producer Fady Atallah. Egypt.
Color grading services worth $20,000 from Rum Pictures to “Wear and bTear” by Sarra Abidi. Producer: ibtissem Labidi. Tunisia.
Sound mixing and design worth $15,000 from Unison Studio AB to “Wear and bTear” by Sarra Abidi. Producer: ibtissem Labidi. Tunisia.
5000$ cash award from The Imaginarium Films to “Wear and bTear” by Sarra Abidi. Producer: ibtissem Labidi. Tunisia
Festival screenings:
The festival featured a morning screening of the film “The Guest Aleppo Istanbul” as part of school screenings. In the evening, Panora Cinema hosted screenings of feature and short films, including “The Burdened” directed by Amr Gamal (Yemen, Sudan, Saudi Arabia), attended by the film’s editor Heba Otman, who met with the audience. Also screened were “A Nose and Three Eyes” by Egyptian director Amir Ramses, attended by the director himself, actor Dhafer L’Abidine, and producer Shahinaz el Akkad, who met with the audience. The film “Bye Bye Tiberias” directed by Lina Soualem was also screened. The third short films package was also showcased, including “Saleeg” attended by Saudi director Afnan Bawyan, “I Promise You Paradise” directed by Morad Mostafa (Egypt), “Ladies Coffee” attended by Emirati actress Amal Al-Agroobi, “The Post Reader” by Iraqi director Thualfiqar Al Muttairi, attended by the screenwriter Khudhair Alromethe, and “I Come From The Sea” directed by Feyrouz Serhal (Lebanon).
Arabian Nights screenings included the film “The Last Postmen” by Iraqi director Saad Alessamy in Malmö.
The conclusion of the Arabian Nights tour featured the film “Yesterday After Tomorrow” directed by Abdulghani Alsaigh, screened in Copenhagen, organized with the support of the Saudi Film Commission and in collaboration with Thank You Close Up North.
Tomorrow marks the closing ceremony of the fourteenth edition of the Malmö Arab Film Festival and the announcement of the awards. Additionally, there will be a workshop for children at the Malmö City Library and a screening of the short film “Saleeg.”
