Zenith is collaborating with the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) on its global event of the year BAFTA Goes to the Arab World taking place at BAFTA, 195 Picadilly from 11 to 14 July 2008.


The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) in association with the Dubai Film Festival is to celebrate Arab cinema with BAFTA goes to the Arab World , a 4 day event in recognition of Arab cinema's contribution to the global film industry and World Cinema.

This prestigious event will herald some of the best recent releases from filmmakers who defy simple categorisation - most of them UK Premiers, including the award-winning Captain Abu Raed (Audience Award at Sundance Film Festival, Best Actor Award at the Muhr Awards- Dubai International Film Festival), Under the Bombs (EIUC Award at Venice Film Festival, Winner of the Golden Muhr Award - Dubai International Film Festival) Paloma Delight (Lumiere Awards, France), and two new short film documentaries from emerging Iraqi filmmakers. 

The Weekend shines the spotlight on a new trend of auteur film making from Egypt through Eye of the Sun , as well as on the well-established and distinctive Syrian auteur cinema, which deserves greater recognition outside of its boundaries, with the screening of Out of Coverage and A Plate of Sardines . It also introduces for the first time to UK audiences an Emirati short that highlights the Gulf as a new destination for cultural creativity.

The selection of feature films at BAFTA includes themes that range from love, war and friendship to the underworld of crime and sado-masochism. The short films give a unique perspective on current hot issues in the region as well as an insight into a wide range of filmmaking approaches. Films from Algeria, Tunisia, Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt, Iraq,Syria, and the Emirates will enable audiences to enjoy a carefully crafted programme with Q&As and a talk charting the 100 years history of Arab cinema.

In recognition of this year's European and Arab cultural capitals, Liverpool and Damascus, BAFTA Goes to the Arab World features Syrian films by two of Syria's most eminent directors, and will go on tour to Liverpool as part of the Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival.

For bookings and programme schedule please go to www.bafta.org

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BAFTA goes to the Arab World highlights will include:

Special film screenings

Recent feature films + Q&As with the directors

Philippe Aractingi's Under the Bombs (Lebanon)

Borhane Alaouie's Khalass (Lebanon) (tbc)
(best screenplay & editor at the Muhr Awards - Dubai International Film Festival)

Abdellatif Abdelhamaid's Out of Coverage (Syria) 

Ibrahim El Batout's Eye of the Sun (Egypt)

Amin Matalqa's Captain Abu Raed (Jordan) 

Nadir Moknèche's Paloma Delight (Algeria)

Elyes Baccar's She and He (Tunisia)

Short films + Q&As with directors Maysoon Pachachi, Katia Saleh and Walid Al Shehhi

A Stranger in his own Country (Iraq)

A Candle for the Shabandar Cafe (Iraq)

The Singing Barber of Mosul (Lebanon)

Ashura: Blood and Beauty (Lebanon)

And to the Arabs of Haifa a Special Message (Palestine)

A World Apart Within 15 Minutes (Palestine)

A Plate of Sardines (Syria)

The Water Guard (Emirates)

History of Arab Cinema - A lively discussion on Arab cinema hosted by Walter Armbrust, chairman and director of the Middle East Centre at Saint Anthony's College, Oxford, Albert Hourani Fellow, and university lecturer in Modern Middle East Studies at Oxford University.   This talk explores the history of Arab Cinema across its different countries since the days of silent movies to this day.

Filming in the Arab World - A focus on filming in the Arab region with contributions from major filmmakers from the UK, US and Europe and Q&As with key industry names.   This event will bring together industry professionals to highlight the benefits of filming in the Arab Region, in particular in Tunisia, Jordan, the Emirates and Morocco.   Films that have famously shot in this region include Indiana Jones, Star Wars, The English Patient, Gladiator and Syriana.

Industry Network Event (Private Event) - A filmmakers and distributors networking lunch hosted by BAFTA. BAFTA wishes to repeat its success from previous global events in bringing together filmmakers and distributors with a view to exploring possible production and distribution partnerships between the Arab World and the UK. The prospects are promising as the trend increases for a penetration of Arab films into mainstream cinemas. This includes Caramel , Days of Glory , Paradise Now , Divine Intervention and West Beirut .

Opening and Closing Night Receptions hosted by BAFTA, these events will be a chance for a cultural crossover of filmmaking discussions and networking.