Mirage City Cinema, 2013

Apichatpong Weerasethakul and Ole Scheeren
Mirage City Cinema, 2013
Cinema-architecture space
Commissioned by Sharjah Art Foundation

Overview

Sharjah Art Foundation (SAF) announces a Panel Discussion in Arabic, on the importance of short films organised as part of Sharjah Biennial 11 Film Programme on Friday, 3 May, 2013 at 8:45 pm. The panel discussion will take place at Mirage City Cinema, and will be moderated by Assistant Professor of Film and Literature Dr. Nezar Ajaj Anadry, with poet and film director Nujoom Al Ghanem, freelance director Nizar Sfair, and filmmaker Amal Al Agroobi. Following the panel discussion are film screenings programmed by Jean Pierre-Rehm and Tilda Swinton.

The topic of the panel discussion is the short film genre, which is as old as the art of cinematography, yet for many it is considered as a vital training ground for budding filmmakers and often attracts a young and enthusiastic audience. From documentary to animation, narrative to experimental, the abbreviated form is no longer just for the novice; the repertoire of professional filmmakers often includes short films.

Why make short films? Why are they an important part of cinema, storytelling, and culture? What is the relationship between short films and reality and how do they affect the viewer? These are some of the questions and issues that will be addressed by the speakers at this event.

Curated by Thai filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul, the Sharjah Biennial 11 Film Programme features programming by leading figures in the film industry, including Steve Anker, Dean of the School of Film/Video at California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), Los Angeles; Khavn De La Cruz, poet, pianist, filmmaker, Mondomanila, the Philippines; Ali Jaafar, Executive Director, Independent Film Division, Quinta Communications, London; Mehelli Modi, Founder of Second Run DVD, London; Alcino Leite Neto, editor, Sao Paulo; Jean-Pierre Rehm, theorist, Festival Director, FIDMarseille, Paris; Tilda Swinton, Scotland; and Apichatpong Weerasethakul, film director/ producer, Chiang Mai, Thailand. The programme includes evening screenings every weekend in an outdoor cinema in SAFʼs new art spaces of commissioned films, existing productions, and curated film programmes.

  • Biographies
    Dr. Nezar Ajaj Anadry

    Dr. Nezar Ajaj Anadry is Assistant Professor of Film and Literature at Zayed University, College of Humanities and Sustainability Sciences, Abu Dhabi. Dr. Anadry earned his Ph.D in Comparative Literature from UCLA, with a focus on the representation of Arab history in contemporary world film and literature. He previously worked in
    theatre and film productions and curated several film festivals and series. Most recently, Anadry produced and acted in the short film Mirage, directed by Yann Baptist Seweryn.

  • Nujoom Al Ghanem
    Nujoom Al Ghanem

    Nujoom Al Ghanem is both a poet and film director. She has published eight poetry collections the first of which was Paradise Evening. She has also produced and directed six films, including the award winning documentary Al Mureed, which was exhibited at the Fifth Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF). Al Ghanem has also directed three short films: her most recent Salmaʼs Dinner (2011) was screened at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival (ADFF).

  • Nizar Sfair
    Nizar Sfair

    Nizar Sfair is a freelance director in Dubai. Nizar's short films have been honoured at numerous festivals. His debut short, NTSC (2001), received a special jury prize at the European Film Festival in Beirut. Tooth of Hope won Abu Dhabi Film Commissionʼs script competition. He is currently working on his feature film The Occurrences (Al Hawadeth). Nizar Sfairʼs short film The Memorious is currently on view as part of Sharjah Biennial 11 Film Programme.

  • Amal Al Agroobi
    Amal Al Agroobi

    Amal Al Agroobi spent years living in different countries around the world before returning to the UAE in 2013 when she set up ALAGROOBI Production and won the award for 'Best Up and Coming Filmmaker of 2013' at the Digital Studio Awards in Dubai. After the success of her film Half Emirati, Amal is already in production with her feature documentary The Brain That Sings.