Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival in July - Page 4

lizaj · 07-22-2008, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caroline_afifi

I went to see the film Ein Shams last night then went for dinner with Jack Shaheen.

It was a really nice film. It was a little all over the place at the start but it settled in really well. There was a street wedding scene and it could have actually been a real one.
The dancer I am sure was a real club dancer as she didnt dance (if you know what i mean). The men were building cone like splifs by the dozen and drinking beer.

It was the first time I had seen some of the issues addressed in Egyptian cinema like chilhood cancer and the issue of poisonous pesticides that are currently being sprayed on crops in Egypt (which are cheap and happen to be illeagal in most other countries).

The street scenes were very quiet and Ein Shams looked very pretty in some scenes... I am waiting for the real Egyptian film to come out with the real warts and all but Ein Shams was certainly a step in the right direction and has won many awards in European film festivals.

Heya Fawda (Chaos) is on next Sunday at Fact, Liverpool.
Heya Fawda is about a corrupt Police officer in Cairo and stars my husbands very good pal Khaled Saleh. Another film not to be missed.
This film will probably be Yussef Shaheens last and has cost the festival an absolute fortune!!

Sounded brilliant . The Algerian(?)Paloma film if it is the one I saw on Channel 4 I, I highly recommend it's wondeful but quite a jolt in parts. The acting and settings are wonderful.
I aim to come in with my fellow turq. gal to see the exhibitions tomorrow at the Library and Arts Centre. What I was sorry to miss was the cookery!

deelybopper · 07-22-2008, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caroline_afifi

The reason why it was not a surprise is from experience and talking to Shira and others. We have tried this sort of thing before at the festival and it was the same. Also I have attended and presented seminar in other festivals and it has been the same in the past. However, I did present a seminar at Majma and it was full so that was good.

Shira was telling me about the first conference in canada and how it has taken time to build interest etc. it is now a very successful event.

Hi Caroline - Thanks for explaining. I didn't realise there'd been an attempt to do this at the festival before...(scratches head)...I mustn't have been paying attention! It's interesting that there's been low turnout at other things, and Shira's info about the Canadian conference.

Caroline_afifi · 07-22-2008, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deelybopper

Hi Caroline - Thanks for explaining. I didn't realise there'd been an attempt to do this at the festival before...(scratches head)...I mustn't have been paying attention! It's interesting that there's been low turnout at other things, and Shira's info about the Canadian conference.

It was five years ago but hey ho... we thought perhaps the scene had developed a little more since then... perhaps so much so that less people go to everything! everyone is complaining about the lack of attendance in for just about everything. As far as the festival goes, all the events including the films have been very well attended. I just have not seen many faces from the BD community. Fortunately the festival does not depend on them in the slightest but many other people in belly dance business do.

Caroline_afifi · 07-31-2008, 10:14 AM

Last Sunday was the final event for the Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival.
It was the Screening of the film Heya Fawda (Is it Chaos?).

When I posted before the screening I mentioned that it was the latest and possibly the last film by the brilliant director Yussef Shaheen.

Yussef Shaheen died the day before the film was screened.
There was a very moving presentation before the film, which highlighted his work in cinema over the years. He will be a graet loss to Egyptian cinema, the Arab world and beyond.

I really enjoyed the movie. Although the topic was of a very serious nature, the film itself was very funny in places. Khaled Saleh was excellent as the
corrupt police officer Hatem and Mena Shalaby played an excellent part too. There was also an fabulous and hilarious scene in the police station cells were the women danced for money from the male prisoners.
I thoroughly recommend subtitled egyptain films as a peek into society of the tourist track. Having said this, you have to bare in mind the artisic license and movies are not always exact like with any movie.

The Arabic Arts Festival is over for this year but I will keep you posted of developments for 2009. It is not always possible to know what we have in adavnce as we have to wait to see how much money we get from the Arts Council of England as well as other funding partners like Bafta and the BBC.

Thanks to everyone who supported the festival and it was great to see some familiar faces at the Midnight Club last Friday!

Eshta · 07-31-2008, 10:47 PM

Mabrouk Caroline!

I love Egyptian movies, but can you tell me the best way to get my hands on subtitled ones? I'll be back in Cairo in November, or if you know anyone over here who doesn't charge the earth...!

Caroline_afifi · 08-01-2008, 07:59 AM

Hi Eshta,

In Cairo you would just have to ask around but finding ones with subtitles is rare.
The films we had for the festival were through the Zenith foundation based in the UK, but there are other distributors. Shira (from the US) uses one in the UK but I forgot the name so will have to check with her again.
I am not sure if it is just old movies or new ones too. There are also various websites now who make a small charge for downloading these films with subtitles.

I shall open a 'good movie' thread to talk about good films and where to get them etc. but right now I am off to work!

07-31-2008, 10:47 PM	#35 (permalink)
Eshta Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: London, England Posts: 296	Mabrouk Caroline! I love Egyptian movies, but can you tell me the best way to get my hands on subtitled ones? I'll be back in Cairo in November, or if you know anyone over here who doesn't charge the earth...! __________________ Eshta - South West London Belly Dancer

07-31-2008, 10:14 AM	#34 (permalink)
Caroline_afifi Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Liverpool UK Posts: 866	Last Sunday was the final event for the Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival. It was the Screening of the film Heya Fawda (Is it Chaos?). When I posted before the screening I mentioned that it was the latest and possibly the last film by the brilliant director Yussef Shaheen. Yussef Shaheen died the day before the film was screened. There was a very moving presentation before the film, which highlighted his work in cinema over the years. He will be a graet loss to Egyptian cinema, the Arab world and beyond. I really enjoyed the movie. Although the topic was of a very serious nature, the film itself was very funny in places. Khaled Saleh was excellent as the corrupt police officer Hatem and Mena Shalaby played an excellent part too. There was also an fabulous and hilarious scene in the police station cells were the women danced for money from the male prisoners. I thoroughly recommend subtitled egyptain films as a peek into society of the tourist track. Having said this, you have to bare in mind the artisic license and movies are not always exact like with any movie. The Arabic Arts Festival is over for this year but I will keep you posted of developments for 2009. It is not always possible to know what we have in adavnce as we have to wait to see how much money we get from the Arts Council of England as well as other funding partners like Bafta and the BBC. Thanks to everyone who supported the festival and it was great to see some familiar faces at the Midnight Club last Friday!

08-01-2008, 07:59 AM	#36 (permalink)
Caroline_afifi Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Liverpool UK Posts: 866	Hi Eshta, In Cairo you would just have to ask around but finding ones with subtitles is rare. The films we had for the festival were through the Zenith foundation based in the UK, but there are other distributors. Shira (from the US) uses one in the UK but I forgot the name so will have to check with her again. I am not sure if it is just old movies or new ones too. There are also various websites now who make a small charge for downloading these films with subtitles. I shall open a 'good movie' thread to talk about good films and where to get them etc. but right now I am off to work!