2nd Luxor African Film Festival to run next March

[Winged Isis]

Now don't go shooting them down! Give them a chance to improve first, people! I will actually be there, for once. Woo hoo!


2nd Luxor African Film Festival to run next March
The second edition of Egypt's Luxor African Film Festival, slated to run from 15 to 24 March, will feature over 70 films from 34 African nations
Ahram Online, Tuesday 15 Jan 2013

The Luxor African Film Festival (LAFF) announced at a Monday press conference in Cairo that its second edition would take place from 15 to 24 March and feature over 70 films from 34 African nations.
LAFF President Sayed Fouad said that 18 films from 15 countries would feature in the competition's feature films and long documentaries category, including the Egypt's Khoroug lel Nahar ('Out til Sunlight') by director Hala Lutfi and Morocco's Kheil Al-Rab ('God's Horses') by Nabil Ayouch.

The short film competition will include 30 films from 15 countries, Fouad explained, including four Egyptian films. The festival will also include a special section for 16 films produced by African filmmakers living outside Africa.

Furthermore, this year, the LAFF has decided to launch a special screening programme entitled "Revolutions and Films of Freedom," featuring nine films competing for Best Picture. This new addition to the competition will be dedicated to late Egyptian journalist El-Husseiny Abu Deif, who died during last December's clashes outside the Presidential Palace in Cairo.

LAFF 2013 will also honour Egyptian actress Yosra, animation director Showikar Khalifa, film critic Samir Farid, director Solomon Cisse and Nigerian animation director Mustafa Hassan.


http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent ... March.aspx

[Horus]

Hopefully you will enjoy the event

[LovelyLadyLux]

Hope the films will be interesting. Please post any good titles, good producers, good directers etc for us to watch out for in future.

[Scottishtourist]

Sorry to be so cynical...but it will be another non-event!
A couple of painted advertisements on a few non descript walls will advertise it!
Most people in Luxor won't even know about it...and even if they do,how many will attend?
They'll have more to bother them...like feeding their families..rather than going to movies!!!
It may appeal to the more "cultured"visitors who are looking to appreciate the finer things going on in Luxor,i.e the "intrepids!",but can't see it appealing to many more!
Why are non nationals so interested in promoting these ventures....when the people there have so much more to concern themselves with?
The place is falling apart...so I hardly see that putting on a couple of movies will enduce the "feel good"factor.
I've texted friends in Luxor about this...their attitude?So what?We don't have the money to spend on this!

[Horus]

I suppose as it is billed as an African Film Festival then it's up to them if they wish to stage one, but the reality is that very few others will be going there specifically to partake in the event, if at all. To be successful these events need to be large a spectacular affairs that attract worldwide attention and press coverage, also they have to have some good content. I suppose a few people on holiday may take in a visit if the venue is well publicised, but to be honest I cannot see most tourists attending other than out of curiosity. At times it does appear as though these things are driven and promoted by other groups that would seem to have little in common with the ethnic population, maybe out of a desire to improve their own cultural and leisure activities rather than for the benefit of locals. No doubt some local people do attend but I am sure their priorities lie more with putting food on the table and achieving a better standard of living, after all culture in whatever form when used as entertainment is usually the preserve of wealthier societies. They would have been better off spending money on making the place look a bit more tidy and to display what they already have in a decent manner, look at the state of most of the latest improvements they are usually falling apart within a couple of years. I have just updated Google Earth and had a look at the area between Luxor temple and Karnak temple and to be honest it looks like an image taken of a new motorway being prepared just after they have sent in the machines to scrape the dirt off the intended route, there is nothing attractive about it at all. Other than it being the ancient route connecting two temples it has nothing else going for it, I would have loved to say I had walked the old processional route, but this has nothing at all to attract a visitor. There are hardly any new sphinxes that have been uncovered as most have been hacked to bits as Luxor was built, so no views looking down an avenue of statues, to me this is no real improvement on what you could already see at the moment at either end of the route, so a waste of time effort and money.

[Grandad]

I stay away from crowds and gatherings when in Luxor, Cairo or anywhere else in Egypt.

[Winged Isis]

A dead horse is being flogged here. These points were well and truly thrashed out last time the festival ran. Who the festival is supposedly for is irrelevant whether they are locals or visitors. As long as movie-loving people attend, that is the important thing, no matter where they are from. The point is that it is another attraction for Luxor that expands its profile from ancient monuments and sunshine, one that hopefully will grow and attract the rest of the film-going world from near and far. From small acorns big trees grow. Give them a chance. Give then your support if you are in town and love movies.

[Horus]

Where exactly are all these movie loving people coming from? if you cant make Luxor attractive with all the splendid monuments they already have available then this is hardly going to improve things. I agree about flogging a dead horse and that particular dead horse is this festival, is anyone seriously saying that people will flock to see a film in an exotic location such as Luxor, but can't be bothered to come because of all the antiquities? I can see some logic in having it as an additional attraction, but tourists will not be flocking in just to see a few films regardless of how high brow they are presented, there are far better more established venues available. Like I said, fix what they have first and make what they have a better experience for visitors before embarking on some other venture that only runs a short time. I have yet to hear a simple sound system in Egypt that is audible and not an assault on the ears so sitting through a movie would be my idea of hell unless it was held in a purpose built auditorium with air conditioning. Or are all these movie moguls expected to sit out in the open air and watch images projected onto a white sheet and a few speakers propped up against a temple wall?

[Grandad]

Horus I think you are coming down a bit too strong on this event. Whist I agree to a large extent with what you have said, I do agree with WI that it should be given a chance. A chance that is to develop and improve over the years.

There are many now major sporting and entertainment events that have grown from very small beginnings. I know it will not appeal to the vast majority of local people who, as has been said, will not even know about it. I expect that those with the necessary funds will patronise the event, and although most have more pressing needs for their available funds, like food; most have a TV and are quite well informed about the world of movies.

I wish the event well and hope that it will bring some money from home and abroad into the Luxor economy.

[Winged Isis]

Thanks Grandad.

Horus, I don't think it matters at whom this festival is aimed. Like Trekkies and trainspotters (think of all the extremes they get up to! ), many movie lovers, actors and creators will go to the ends of the earth for their particular love. It doesn't always matter to them about the location and what it is famous for, only what will happen at the event they are attending. If some come to Luxor, and even if only a few go home with, insha' allah, good news of it, Luxor and Egypt, then that is great for the future festivals planned. If you know anything of Egypt, it will be how difficult it is to do anything there, let alone something as complicated as this, and especially post-revolution and all the attendant bad publicity. Anything new that will bring tourists and hopefully establish businesses is what Luxor and Egypt need. If it helps that way, then more locals will be able to afford to attend in the future. Egyptians love movies and have a thriving industry with a world reputation.

From small acorns big trees grow. A perfect example, as I have mentioned during the original festival discussion, is our Tropfest. http://tropfest.com/au/history-of-tropfest/ It started in a small cafe! It now has spread to 9 major international cities! I have attended since early on up to the present. The conditions were and are not always perfect, but the films, atmosphere and crowds are always special. They have led to major films and careers locally and internationally.

Similarly our Arab Film Festival: http://sydneyarabfilmfestival.com/saff3/about-us/

I am attending the inaugural Arab Music Festival here, with Amr Diab headlining (what a coup!) on February 2nd. Who knows what it will be like? I can only "suck it and see" in the hope of great things.

I repeat my original statement: Now don't go shooting them down! Give them a chance to improve first, people!

[Horus]

If there is anything in this world that irritates me it is when people defend their position by using phrases as "shooting people down" “giving it a chance” or "your argument is flogging a dead horse”. All these phrases can be interpreted as “do not express your own opinion because I have already decided that I like it so your view does not count” very much in the ilk of another person who usually resorts to phrases like “little Englander” “racist” colonialist” to support their own particular view of the world and politics in general when they attempt to stifle any debate if it happens to disagrees with their own. I happen to hold the opinion that it is just a waste of time and that there are better things they could do with what they already have and see this as just another half arsed project that will have little benefit for the local population in these hard times and it is just that, my opinion. Whether or not I like the idea or whether or not I attend one of them will neither shoot them down or affect them in any other way whatsoever, so I do not need to "give them a chance" as I have no interest in it to start with so my contribution or support will have zero impact either way.

The following is a list of the current film festivals available for those of you who may be interested in attending one of them. I have only listed the African based ones here, but there are another 66 in Asia alone which for geographical purposes includes Haifa and Abu Dhabi and some other Arab countries, so still in the Arab world. Then we have Africa in Motion the biggest African film festival held in the UK, next comes all the truly international film festivals including the one at Cannes, take a look at this list it is huge:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_film_festivals

Colours of the Nile International Film Festival established 2012 Addis Ababa Ethiopia International event. A new East African International Film Festival that will become a platform to celebrate and promote Cinema from the entire continent.

Cape Winelands Film Festival established 2007 Cape Town South Africa International event.
The CWFF is a competitive festival that accepts features, documentaries and short films. The festival highlights both the emerging and professional filmmaker, and serves as a catalyst for bringing writers & filmmakers together to collaborate on future productions.

International Arab Film Festival established 1976 Wahran Algeria International event

Cairo International Film Festival established 1976 Cairo Egypt International event.
The first film festival in the Middle East

Carthage Film Festival established 1966 Carthage Tunisia Regional event.
In order to be eligible for competition, films in the festival must have a director of African or Middle Eastern nationality.

Dockanema established 2006 Maputo Mozambique Special interest
First documentary film festival in the region.

Durban International Film Festival established 1979 Durban South Africa International event
Oldest and largest film festival in Southern Africa. Most of the screenings are African premieres. A co-production forum Durban FilmMart was added in 2010, and Talent Campus Durban was added in 2008.

International Film Festival of Marrakech established 2001 Marrakech Morocco International event

Jozi Film Festival established 2012 Johannesburg South Africa International event.
The Jozi Film Festival showcases the latest films made by Johannesburg and Gauteng film-makers as well as provides a space for film-makers, local or international, to tell stories about Jozi and her inhabitants.

Out In Africa South African Gay and Lesbian Film Festival established 1994 Cape Town and Johannesburg South Africa International event Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.

Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou established 1969 Ouagadougou Burkina Faso International The largest African film festival

Rwanda Film Festival established 2005 Kigali Rwanda International event.

Sahara International Film Festival established 2003 Sahrawi refugee camps Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic Algeria International event. The only film festival in the world celebrated in a refugee camp

Zanzibar International Film Festival established 1997 Zanzibar City Tanzania International event.
ZIFF is East Africa’s largest film, music and arts festival.

Zimbabwe International Film Festival established 1997 Harare Zimbabwe International

And having lived or visited quite a few of these African venues I can honestly say I have never been tempted to visit a single festival, why? Because in the main they are far too parochial for most peoples tastes, for example I have absolutely no interest in watching films in a refugee camp as in the case of the Sahara International Film Festival. I have never visited Cannes, although it is reputed to be the place that attract the movie moguls, so why would I or they decide from this enormous list of festivals and venues that Luxor is the place to be seen? So I reiterate what I said previously, it will benefit very few, it will have a small following and make little or no impact on Egypt’s economy and is just another example of a pie in the sky project that will ultimately wither on the vine.

So I will bow out of this particular conversation and leave you to talk amongst yourselves, but …………. at least I put forward my side of the argument with facts and reasoning and without having to recourse to using stock phrases to counter those that others have put forward.

[Grandad]

I am no film buff and, although I shall be in Luxor at the time of this event, I shall not be attending any of the showings.

We did go to 'the flicks' though on Tuesday. First time for decades, I think the last time was 'The Cruel Sea', remember that. (And that is not too far from the truth )

Having seen 'Les Mis' a couple of times in London we had to see the film version of this favourite show. Of course it is a totally different experience and at 2 hours and 35 minutes, much longer than the stage show. Happy to say we were not disappointed. There are some vast scenes and some moving close ups, all held together by the wonderful music. Virtually no dialogue, just actors singing whereas in the stage show you have singers acting.

It would help if you know the story but I would recommend it to anyone, film buff or not.

[LovelyLadyLux]

I'm definitely not a film go-er and personally can't think of anything more boring that to go to a film festival and I say this because "sitting" and then "sitting" again and then "sitting" again passively watching what flicks before my eyes rapidly becomes very boring to me. I'm sometimes hard pressed, unless it is a really good presentation, to get through one film. I'd rather know which one got excellent raves and reviews and then I'll go to that one!

I'd also think that those who are promoting the African Film Festival could be looking for a place to host where they can get cheap and reasonable accomodation for anybody who might be coming. Am sure the hotels would be more than happy to accomodate BUT, being hotels, will also try and provide their guests with anything and everything which doesn't necessarily spready any $$ to the lesser business persons of Luxor.

I think this venue is being 'touted' strongly as Luxor is scrambling to present itself as having events, being normal, doing things and on and on. Therefore I think any festivals or happenings are being strongly pushed by business people who do stand to profit from anybody coming. Highly doubt locals have that much of an interest - some might go, most likely won't. If I was a business person in Luxor I'd be out there shouting about anything that might bring me business.

And - as for the comments re: flogging dead horses I do agree with H in that "I" am entitled to my opinion. When I write a comment on here it is off the cuff in that I really do not stop to think of ALL the persons who might read this, I do not consider ALL their life circumstances and events, do not try to PC so that I offend nobody at all ever never......just my opinion as it enters my brain and comes out on the keyboard through my fingers. Heck - I even make TYPOS! but I do have an expectation that I will not be cut off at the knees with universal proclamations made by another that my opinion doesn't count or matter as only theirs is important. Don't mind differing opinions in the least and don't mind a good old argument any day......

[Winged Isis]

Woah! Horus! Mate! Chill! What the heck happened there?! You have taken my reply personnaly and totally incorrectly. I was not having ago at you personally or your rights, believe me! I respect your opinion very much. Where did I try to stifle you? I have not decided "I have already decided that I like it so your view does not count”! I may have used some cliches, who doesn't, but they in no way were as critical as you have perceived them. I made those comments because when the first festival was announced and then happened, there was a torrent of criticism (some justified, some not) even before it happened and few on the forums even went. I was just getting in first, knowing what was posted last time. I was just trying to reason with you as to the positive points this festival will hopefully have. Sorry if I put it badly.

"...at least I put forward my side of the argument with facts and reasoning..." I thought I had too! that's why I mentioned other events, to try to show how dismal beginnings can lead to better things. They have to start somewhere, to use another dreaded cliche.

"And having lived or visited quite a few of these African venues I can honestly say I have never been tempted to visit a single festival, why? Because in the main they are far too parochial for most peoples tastes, for example I have absolutely no interest in watching films in a refugee camp as in the case of the Sahara International Film Festival. " That's what my point about Trekkies and trainspotters was about! Fans of even sometimes narrow interests can be quite big groups willing to travel far and wide (as I said) and to spend. Ask any convention venue. I once saw at Abydos a small group (about 20) people in strange identical clothes. My guide told me they were sun-worshippers from USA who travel there annually and all over Egypt and the world to sites of ancient devotion, like the ones who frequent Stonehenge et al.

"...so why would I or they decide from this enormous list of festivals and venues that Luxor is the place to be seen?" I have no idea if they would think it is necessarily the "place to be seen", I would have thought they mainly go there because that's where the films are! I have been to various cities for archaeology conventions for example, because of that reason only. Other attractions are a bonus and encourage you to spend more. Surely some of the attendees to this will shop and eat outside their hotel even if only at the film venues, use transport and sight-see? Not necessarily major money, but no less than the average tourist, and all adding to "the pot". Just their arrival alone adds via Egypt Air/train/car fares plus taxes, visas etc. and adds to keeping the airline in business.

"I happen to hold the opinion that it is just a waste of time and that there are better things they could do with what they already have and see this as just another half arsed project that will have little benefit for the local population in these hard times and it is just that, my opinion. Whether or not I like the idea or whether or not I attend one of them will neither shoot them down or affect them in any other way whatsoever, so I do not need to "give them a chance" as I have no interest in it to start with so my contribution or support will have zero impact either way." And that is a valid opinion, and I am entitled to disagree, and am glad you responded at all as all debate is healthy. As I said, I don't know and it doesn't matter at whom this is aimed, just so long as they come and spend and spread the word. If they go home with positive comments and great photos/souvenirs, maybe others will come, either for the next festival or just for a holiday. Free publicity is all good. I personally don't expect many if any locals will attend for the same reasons, but I believe any income, no matter how small, helps. The organisers are paying taxes, accommodation, screening venues, transport/fuel, tradesmen such as electricians, media, photographers and who knows how many others for services. If those services are locals or from elsewhere in Egypt or even overseas, they will all contribute to and benefit from the business and all add to the economy.

Egypt's film industry, the Bollywood of the arab world, is suffering like the rest of the country, including from the worry of religioun-based censorship (see Adel Iman and others), and no doubt productions have moved elsewhere to (perceived) "safer" places.

@ LLL:
"I'd also think that those who are promoting the African Film Festival could be looking for a place to host where they can get cheap and reasonable accomodation for anybody who might be coming." Possibly, but also "big names" would probably be put in top hotels.

"Am sure the hotels would be more than happy to accomodate BUT, being hotels, will also try and provide their guests with anything and everything which doesn't necessarily spready any $$ to the lesser business persons of Luxor." Not directly perhaps, but it keeps the hotels open which helps Egypt's economy, plus keeps locals in work and thus they have disposable income to spend locally. Also the business that supply the hotels and venues are benefitting. Proposed venues last time were to include an outdoor one on WB, which would probably brought some non first-time visitors there for the first time, other than to monuments and factories. But I think didn't happen due to lack of funds and official support.

"I think this venue is being 'touted' strongly as Luxor is scrambling to present itself as having events, being normal, doing things and on and on. Therefore I think any festivals or happenings are being strongly pushed by business people who do stand to profit from anybody coming. " Sorry, but what is wrong with both of those? Surely profit is what business is about. Hasn't Egypt had enough bad press? Haven't you/we on these forums and elsewhere all wished it a better brighter future, especially through tourism? Haven't many complained Egyptians are not doing enough to make this happen? That's why I am surprised by all the criticism of those who are trying to get this up and running despite the lack of government support or other action. Life in Luxor is still "normal" in many ways i that it goes on despite increasing hardships and lack of hope, but as we know tourism isn't back to "normal". It has been said more than once Luxor needs something other than just ancient monuments and sunshine, including me and Horus above ("Where exactly are all these movie loving people coming from? if you cant make Luxor attractive with all the splendid monuments they already have available then this is hardly going to improve things.") Well here is one possible option. Aim at a different target group to history buffs and sun/water seekers. The film-goers may be interested in those too, and vice versa. I'm sure we've all tried something new when on holiday, like hot-air ballooning etc. Here's yet another cliche for you, H, "Travel broadens the mind"! Don't encourage me, "I've got a million of 'em!"



Please be sure, I was only trying to help Luxor in my own small way by bringing this event to the notice of those who might be interested, and hoping it might be given a chance to improve before being criticised. I was just hoping for once for some positivity, sadly lacking in Egypt. If the organisers deserve criticism after the event, then so be it; hopefully they will have learned from their first two attempts and will try again ("That which does not kill me, makes me stronger") Bad luck, I've "Got the bit between my teeth" now, H!

I wish them luck and a long and bright future.

[Winged Isis]

@ Grandad, I saw Les Mis last week and loved it. I have read the book more than once, and seen the stage productions here and in London. I was crying within minutes! Off to see Hitchcock today.

[Winged Isis]

Have pm-ed you H.

Grandad, loved Hitchcock.