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Arab American National Museum Announces 2009 Arab Film Festival
The Arab American National Museum announces the 2009 Arab American Film Festival which will take place on Thursday, December 3 through Saturday, December 5, 2009 at the Arab American National Museum, 13624 Michigan Ave., Dearborn, MI 48126
This popular annual event presents short and feature-length films made by Arab American and Arab World filmmakers, and films focusing on topics of interest to Arab Americans – all of which are accessible to mainstream audiences of all backgrounds. Many of these films are rarely screened in commercially in U.S. theaters; some are in English while others are in Arabic or French with English subtitles. Director Q&A sessions and panel discussions are part of the lineup.
All screenings take place in the intimate 156-seat Auditorium of the Arab American National Museum.
The Thursday, December 3 Opening Night Reception takes place in the AANM Community Courtyard.
Free, lighted parking is available in the municipal lot behind the Museum; enter lot by turning north from Michigan Avenue onto Neckel Street, immediately west of the AANM.
OPENING RECEPTION
Thursday, December 3 Opening Night Reception
Includes strolling halal dinner under the dome in the dramatic AANM Community Courtyard, plus Package A films. Partial proceeds benefit the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute. Sponsored by Haifa Falafel.
Non-member $16
AANM Member $14
PACKAGES
Individual non-member package $8
Individual AANM Member package $6
Select one or more of the following packages:
A – Palestinian short films (package does not include Opening Night Reception)
B – Once Upon a Piano & Paloma Delight
C – High Heels & Salt of This Sea
D – Rise and Shine & Dawn of the World
E – Raised Alone & Garbage Dreams
WEEKEND PASSES
Reserve your seat for ALL festival films by purchasing a Festival Weekend Pass!
Already a Member of the Arab American National Museum? A Festival Member Weekend Pass is just $25.
Not yet a Member? Get your Festival Weekend Pass, plus an individual one-year Museum Membership for just $35!
That’s like getting the entire Arab Film Festival FREE, along with a standard $35 Museum Membership, which includes other ticket discounts and 10% savings on Museum Store purchases, both in store and online.
Please note: Festival Weekend Passes do not include admission to the Opening Night Reception on Thursday, December 3. Pass holders are welcome to purchase a separate ticket for the reception; see prices above.
To become a Member of the Arab American National Museum and take advantage of reduced rates on this and other event tickets, call 313.624.0200 or visit the website above.
Festival schedule is subject to change.
2009 Arab Film Festival
Thursday, December 3
6-7 p.m. Opening Night Reception
Includes strolling halal dinner under the dome in the dramatic Community Courtyard at the Arab American National Museum, plus Package A films. Partial proceeds benefit the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute. Reception sponsored by Haifa Falafel and Masri Sweets. Requires a separate ticket.
PACKAGE A
7 p.m.
Thorns and Silk
Dir: Paulina Tervo
2009/Palestine
30 min.
This short documentary examines the lives of four women in Palestine’s West Bank, each of whom work in a male-dominated field. A wedding filmmaker, a taxi driver, a police trainee and a delivery truck driver all break from tradition to provide for themselves and their families. Arabic with English subtitles.
7:30 p.m. Brief remarks by a survivor of breast cancer
7:40 p.m.
Fatenah
Dir: Ahmad Habash
2009/Palestine
30 min.
Fatenah, a Palestinian woman in the Gaza Strip, wishes only for consolation in her dire living situation. When she discovers a lump near her breast, she begins a journey of torment, loss and pain amid the injustice and cruelty that surround her world. 3-D animation. Arabic with English subtitles.
Jury Special Mention (Middle Eastern Short), Middle East International Film Festival, Abu Dhabi, 2009
Friday, December 4
PACKAGE B
6 p.m.
Once Upon a Piano
Dir: Fadi Haddad
2008/Jordan
18 min.
Throughout his gloomy life, only one thing could pull Salem out of his despair – the beautiful girl playing piano in the next building. When an old friend comes to town with a tempting job offer abroad, Salem feels compelled to find a way to meet the girl. Arabic with English subtitles.
6:20 p.m.
Paloma Delight (Delice Paloma)
Dir: Nadir Mokneche
2008/Algeria
134 min.
When it comes to surviving in today’s Algeria, no scam is too daunting for the woman who has adopted her country’s name – Madame Aldjeria (Algerian TV star Biyouna). If they’re pretty and lacking in principles, her recruits can make a career for themselves. The latest of these, Paloma, is quite a hit, especially with Riyad, Madame Aldjeria’s son. But the purchase of Caracalla Springs, the dream that should allow Aldjeria’s clan to start a new life, proves to be one scam too many. Arabic with English subtitles.
Best French Language Film, Lumiere Awards, France, 2008
PACKAGE C
8:35 p.m.
High Heels (Kaab Aali)
Dir: Fadi Haddad
2009/Jordan
20 min.
Nawal, a recently widowed social snob, discovers that her husband left her nothing but an empty bank account and a bad reputation. She is convinced that his affair with his young mistress led them to bankruptcy, but she cannot prove it to her daughter. As the gossip spreads, the mistress shows up at the funeral and invites more scandal. Arabic with English subtitles.
First Prize, Jordanian Short Competition, Franco-Arab Film Festival, 2009
8:55 p.m.
Salt of This Sea (Milh Hadha Al-Bahr)
Dir: Annemarie Jacir
2008/Palestine
109 min.
Soraya (Suheir Hammad), born in Brooklyn in a working class community of Palestinian refugees, discovers that her grandfather’s savings were frozen in a bank account in Jaffa when he was exiled in 1948. Stubborn, passionate and determined to reclaim what is hers, she fulfills her lifelong dream of returning to Palestine. Feature-film directorial debut of Annemarie Jacir. In English and Arabic with English subtitles.
FESTIVAL DE CANNES – OFFICIAL SELECTION, Un Certain Regard, 2008
PALESTINE’S OFFICIAL ENTRY FOR BEST FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM, 2 008 ACADEMY AWARDS
Multiple honors on the international film festival circuit, including: FIPRESCI Prize, International Federation of Film Critics, 2008; Special Jury Prize, Oran International Festival of Arab Cinema, 2009; Randa Chalal Prize, Journées cinématographiques de Carthage, 2008; Best Screenplay, Dubai International Film Festival, 2008; Audience Choice Award, Houston Palestine Film Festival, 2009; Audience Choice Award – Best Feature, Chicago Palestine Film Festival, 2009; Best Film, Cairo Refugee Film Festival, 2009.
Saturday, December 5
PACKAGE D
6 p.m.
Rise and Shine
Dir: Sherif El Bendary
2006/Egypt
9 min.
As she frantically searches for the key to her apartment to start a busy day, a young wife and mother (Tunisian actress Hend Sabri) expresses her feelings of entrapment in her domestic life and social role. Arabic with English subtitles.
Jury Prize, National Film Festival, Egypt, 2006
The Golden Hawk – Best Short Film, Arab Film Festival Rotterdam, 2006
Jury Prize, 10th Ismailia International Documentary & Short Film Festival, Egypt, 2006
Mohamed Shebl Award for Filmmaking – Best Short Film, Egypt, 2006
6:10 p.m.
Dawn of the World (L’aube du monde)
Dir: Abbas Fahdel
2009/Iraq/Germany
95 min.
Mastour and Zahra, two young Marsh Arabs, have grown up at the delta of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers in southern Iraq. Shortly after their marriage, Mastour and Zahra are forced to separate when the Gulf War breaks out. On the battlefield, Mastour befriends Riad, a young soldier from Baghdad. Mortally wounded, Mastour makes Riad promise to protect Zahra when the war is over. Riad must then do the impossible make his way in a hostile new environment. Co-starring Hiam Abbass (The Lemon Tree; The Visitor). Arabic with English subtitles
PACKAGE E
7:35 p.m.
Raised Alone
Dir: Sam Kadi
2009/USA
30 min.
Murad Bandley prioritizes financial security over raising his son Adam. Now a gifted violinist, Adam Bandley performs his world-renowned solo, bestowing a glimpse of his childhood attempt at reconciliation. English.
Best Short Film Award, Ferndale Film Festival, 2009
Best Michigan Short, Detroit-Windsor International Film Festival, 2009
8:05 p.m. Discussion led by director Sam Kadi
8:25 p.m.
Garbage Dreams
Dir: Mai Iskander
2009/Egypt
82 min.
Adham, Osama and Nabil are three teenaged boys born into the trash trade in the world’s largest garbage village. Located on the outskirts of Cairo, the Mokattam village is home to 60,000 Zaballeen, Egypt’s “garbage people.” When their community is suddenly faced with the globalization of their trade, each boy is forced to make choices that will impact his life and the future of his community. Directorial debut of Mai Iskander, who also wrote and produced. Arabic with English subtitles.
Al Gore REEL Current Award, Nashville Film Festival, 2009 World Cinema Best Director and World Cinema Audience awards, Phoenix Film Festival, 2009
Best Documentary, Bermuda International and Vail film festivals, 2009
Already a Member of the Arab American National Museum? A Festival Member Weekend Pass is just $25. Not yet a Member? Get your Festival Weekend Pass, plus an individual one-year Museum Membership for just $35
Contact:
E-Mail: aanmfilmfest@accesscommunity.org
Website: www.arabamericanmuseum.org