As a seasoned movie critic with over three decades of experience under my belt, I have to say that this year’s Atlas Workshops during the Marrakech Film Festival has truly been a revelation. The raw talent and unique stories on display are a testament to the power of cinema as a universal language.
At this year’s Atlas Workshops during the Marrakech Film Festival (Dec 1 – 5), the works “Aisha Can’t Fly Away”, “Chronicles From the Siege”, and “It’s a Sad and Beautiful World” each received post-production awards, forming a trio of recognized pieces.
The film titled “Aisha Can’t Fly Away,” which won the highest honor, secured a €25,000 ($26,409) grant for post-production. Directed by Morad Mostafa, this movie portrays the life of a 26-year-old Sudanese woman living in the Cairo neighborhood of Ain Shams, known for its large African migrant community. The story unfolds amidst government apathy, racial prejudice, and urban violence, culminating in a dramatic twist when a gang proposes to protect Aisha, but only if she’s willing to perform a favor in return.
The movie, scheduled for release next year, was generating a lot of excitement among festival scouts even prior to any awards being given out.
In conversation with EbMaster from Marrakech, a renowned festival director highly commended the movie for its exceptionally powerful female protagonists. What intrigued him was how effortlessly the movie transitioned from depicting social reality to a genre resembling horror.
They commented that it leans towards a genre, showcasing an exceptional eye for composition and narrative flow,” they noted, pointing out that the production shares cinematographer Mostafa El Kashef with one of last year’s Atlas award winners, “The Village Next to Paradise.” They commended the cinematographer’s work in both projects.
The festival director commented, ‘There’s definitely a strong bond present,’ implying a genuine resurgence for Egyptian cinema. And let’s not forget, it’s the work of director Morad Mostafa that’s driving this renaissance.
The panel of post-production judges, consisting of Grégoire Melin from Kinology, Giona Nazzaro from the Locarno Film Festival, and Malika Rabahallah from Filmfest Hamburg, bestowed a prize of €20,000 (approximately $21,159) to director Abdallah Al Khatib for his film titled “Chronicles From the Siege.
The movie, directed by the Yearly Peacemaker award recipient from Palestine-Syria (honored by German Greenpeace), chronicles the struggles of people living in a conflict area as they merely strive to endure. The narrative unfolds through five interconnected tales, delving into themes of human resilience and dark comedy along the way.
In the wrap-up of post-production awards, Cyril Aris’ film “It’s a Sad and Beautiful World” and Tala Hadid’s work titled “Bardi” each received grants worth $10,579 and $5,279 respectively, to assist with their post-production costs. The former, directed by Aris, is a supernatural romance set in Beirut that tells the story of a couple who are bound together and separated by mysterious cosmic forces. Meanwhile, Hadid’s film forms part of a trilogy, titled “A Brotherhood of Horsemen,” which documents a group of horsemen journeying across Morocco.
In terms of development, Fabien Dao’s “Princesse Téné,” a film set in Ouagadougou with western-like elements, received the highest accolades. This intriguing story follows a character who transitions from horse trainer to a powerful figure in the underworld.
A graduate from the renowned French film school La Fémis, Dao previously directed a trilogy of short films centered around his father, who was a Burkinabe movie director. Moustapha Sawadogo of Future Films is the producer of Dao’s first full-length feature film, which has already gained backing at Montreal’s Nouveau Marché. The project received development funding amounting to $31,739.
31,739 dollars were distributed among additional winners of development awards: “Ici Repose” directed by Moly Kane and produced by Lionel Massol, Pauline Seigland, and Ngagne Sankhe; “Samir, the Accidental Spy,” directed by Charlotte Rabate and produced by Coralie Dias; and “Lucky Girl,” directed by Linda Lô and produced by Didar Domehri.
In the realm of cinematic achievements, I am thrilled to announce that my personal pick, “Alicante,” a breathtaking work by first-time filmmaker Lina Soualem, has earned the prestigious Artekino International prize worth a substantial $6,500. This recognition is truly well-deserved for this captivating piece of artistry.
2021 marked a prosperous year of expansion for the workshops, as they extended by approximately double their duration. A four-day online segment was added in November, followed by an additional day dedicated to intimate creative workshops on location in Marrakech. This seventh edition additionally attracted prominent figures such as Alfonso Cuarón and esteemed mentors like Jeff Nichols.
At the conclusion of the event, Nichols remarked that our lives are filled with many activities. It’s simple to focus on our tasks or the small part of the world we inhabit. However, this week, I have experienced an enlightening expansion of my vision and heart, allowing me to perceive a much larger portion of the world.
He went on expressing his gratitude for creating movies, recognizing it’s not an opportunity everyone has. He was immensely proud of the films he encountered here, knowing they would shape people’s lives and experiences, potentially transforming the world. It’s achievable, and you all are making that happen. So thank you for allowing me to contribute a little to this incredible endeavor.
Starting from 2018, these workshops have aided 152 different projects, including 60 Moroccan films. Last year, two of those projects received top awards at the broader Marrakech Film Festival, with “The Mother of All Lies” by Asmae el Medour becoming the first local film to claim the grand prize. Inspired by this achievement, the festival organizers have recently launched the Atlas Station program to assist 10 up-and-coming Moroccan filmmakers.
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2024-12-05 22:17