Updated: July 11, 2009
Cinema From A Marginalized Jordanian Village
In The Spotlight Of The Arab Film Festival Of Oran.
July 10, 2009
(Ghour Mazra'a - Jordan) The Arab Film Festival of Oran has officially selected Winds of Change to its short film competition part of a selection of 15 short films from the Arab world. The festival will be held from July 23-30, 2009, in the picturesque coastal city of Oran, Algeria.
This will be the official world premiere of Winds of Change.
The film cast includes Rasha Nawayshah (23), Khalaf Hueimel (45), Suhayb Ja'araat (13), Abdallah Dghaimaat (21), and Fathi Hueimel (54) all residents of the southern Ghour villages by the Dead Sea. The film was produced by the Amman Filmmakers Cooperative and written/directed by Hazim Bitar.
Winds of Change tells the story of a daughter and her seriously ill father and how they arrive at a tacit but fateful understanding that will set them both free. "I am not trying to pass judgment on people or issues, I am exploring how simple everyday people make complex decisions such as those involving assisted-suicide," commented director Hazim Bitar.
The film is set in the village of Ghour Mazra'a known for its natural beauty, nestled in the Jordan Valley in between the Dead Sea and the western mountain ranges of Jordan. Almost 500 meters below sea level, the Ghour region is known for its small farms and mud houses and mild winter weather.
"I am glad my first film will show rural traditions in my village, and the beauty and kindness of my village people," said lead talent Rasha Nawayshah. Two years ago, Rasha Nawayshah had her first amature acting experience, a demo film titled Rasha, produced during a filmmaking workshop, which scored over 120,000 views on YouTube.com
Production management for Winds of Change was handled by Rabee Zureikat founder of the Zikra Initiative. "This film is the crowning achievement of our cultural projects since 2007 and the film selection to Oran film festival validates our efforts," said Zureikat.
Rasha Nawayshah is a member of a volunteer team that has recently won the national (Ahl El-Hemmeh) award for their efforts in support of children with disabilities. The Ghour region suffers one of the highest poverty and unemployment rates in Jordan along with one of the highest if not the highest rates of birth defect and cancer rates attributed by local activists to unsupervised chemical factories and use of internationally-banned pesticides.
The Arab Film Festival of Oran is one of the Arab world's leading film festivals. In 2009, a budget of 2 million dollars has been allocated to the festival. It's held under the patronage of the Algerian president and managed by the ministry of communication and the ministry of culture.
The Amman Filmmakers Cooperative is non-profit cultural initiative launched in 2002 to promote independent Arab filmmaking with emphasis on disadvantaged communities.
RELATED LINKS
WEBSITE: Winds of Change
http://jordanianfilms.com/windsofchangeWEBSITE: Arab Film Festival of Oran
http://cinearabfestival.org/FIFAO/AR/selection/film.php?voir=48COLUMN: Hardships of Filmmaking 500 Meters Below Sea Level
http://jordanianfilms.com/apr-31-09-toughwinds.htmVIDEO: Rasha
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arCxS3vIWwo
CONTACT
Amman Filmmakers Cooperative
Phone: +962776400434
Email: JordanianFilms@gmail.com
Website: http://JordanianFilms.com
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