CINEMA ODEON – PIAZZA STROZZI
H 11.00 am
DEBATE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Afghanistan Inside/Out. Culture and civil society in the contemporary Afghanistan
with Mohammad Hossein Mohammadi (writer, author of the book I fichi rossi di Mazar-e Sharif – Edizioni Ponte33), Felicetta Ferraro (iranist, Ponte33), Emanuele Giordana (journalist) Giuliano Battiston (journalist, resercher freelance), Principessa Soray Malek (member of the network Afgana) David Gill (photoreporter, Kabul at Work) and the participation of the directors present at the festival.
H 3.00 pm
MAKE ART NOT WAR by ICY and SOT – short
(Iran, 2012, 4’) without dialogues
A cardboard city and a tank that shoots beautiful graffiti on the walls. The title says it all: Make art, not war! Italian premiere
TO FOLLOW
NESSA by Loghman Khaledi – documentary
(Iran, 2012, 52’) vo. persian, subtitles: italian, english
Like many young women around the world, Nessa dreams of becoming a famous actress and choosing her own destiny. After years of puppetry and minor parts, she finally lands a major role, but in the conservative Kurdish city of Kermanshah, Iran, Nessa’s independence means shame for her family. While her father reluctantly admires her self-sufficiency, her brother’s macho pride incites him to violence when attempts to control his sister fail. Italian premiere, introduce the film Kamin Mohammadi, journalist and writer
H. 4.00 pm
SYRIA NOW
a conversation with the directors moderated by Viviana Mazza, journalist of Corriere della Sera
AL INTITHAR (Waiting) by Mario Rizzi – short doc
The Syrian refugee camp Zaatari lies seven kilometres to the south of the Syrian border in the Jordanian desert. The nearest town is 13 kilometres away. There are already 45,000 refugees living here, and still more people arrive: 10,000 additional refugees every week. The capacity of the camp is 70.000 people. Many Syrians would like to go home: living conditions in the camp are by no means easy and they are often far away from their husbands and sons, many of whom have stayed behind to fight.
Italian premiere at the presence of the director, screening in cooperation with Villa Romana.
TO FOLLOW
ROUND TRIP by Mayar Al Roumi – feature film
(Syria, France, 2012, 73’) vo. arabic, subtitles: italian, english
For Walid, a taxi driver in Damascus, the only place he can steal a private kiss with his love, Suhair, is in his car. When Suhair is invited by her friend to visit Tehran, she and Walid together board a train from the Syrian capital to Tehran. As they follow the stunning scenery captured beautifully on film, Walid and Suhair finally have an opportunity to get to know each other outside of his taxi… Italian premiere in the presence of the director
Q&A with the directors Mario Rizzi and Meyar Al-Roumi
H. 6.15 pm
Cinema Jenin by Marcus Vetter – feature film
(Palestine, Germany, 2012, 95’) vo. arabic, subtitles: italian, english
When director Marcus Vetter goes to Jenin in the Palestinian territories for a story about Ismael, whose son was shot by an Israeli sniper, he discovers that the city once boasted a cinema where people lined up to watch local and international films. Palestine used to have a well-developed film industry, but it collapsed with the First Intifada in 1987. Vetter, Ismaël, and a few locals come up with the idea of renovating and breathing new life into the old cinema and creating a social and cultural meeting place. Italian premiere in the presence of the director
H. 8.30 pm
THIS IS LONDON by Mohammed Rashed BuAli – short
(Bahrein, UAE, 2012, 17’) vo. arabic, subtitles: italian, english
A couple’s mission to send a photograph to their son in London should be an easy task, but when the wife refuses to go to the studio, the photographer has to think of innovative ways to capture the perfect shot. Italian premiere
TO FOLLOW
MY AFGHANISTAN. LIFE IN THE FORBIDDEN ZONE by Nagieb Khaja – documentary(Denmark, Afghanistan, 2012, 87’) vo. dari, pashto, subtitles: italian, english
Danish/Afghan filmmaker Nagieb Khaja travels to Kabul with a sports bag full of video cameras on a mission, which at first sight looks as easy as it soon turns out to be difficult. Nagieb wants to document the ‘real’ Afghanistan. And who can do this any better than the Afghans themselves? With great difficulty, he manages to smuggle the camera’s out of the protected district, where the international journalists live shielded from the civilian population, and to the villages, where the inhabitants begin filming themselves and each other. Italian premiere in the presence of the director
H. 10.30 pm
THE LAST STEP by Ali Mosaffa – feature film
(Iran, 2012, 88′) vo. persiano, subtitles: italian, english
This ironic tale is narrated from beyond the grave by Khosro (Ali Mosaffa), who dies in a ridiculous accident, but lingers round his film star wife, Leila (Leila Hatami), reviewing their complicated but loving marriage. He hangs round the set where she is trying to finish shooting the film begun before he died. Previously unexplained truths dawn on him but Leila, who manages to insert her perspective into the story, still has some secrets. Introduce the film Bianca Maria Filippini, expert of Iranian cinema
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CINEMA STENSEN – VIALE DON MINZONI 25C
AN ITALIAN EYE ON THE MIDDLE EAST
New at this edition of Middle East Now, a selection of documentaries by Italian filmmakers that tell stories of this area of the world.
H 3.30 – STENSEN
MONEY MARKET by Antonio Lemma – short doc
(Afghanistan, 2012, 30′), vo. dari, subtitles: italian
The story of a trip to Afghanistan, a story of men and women trying to start rebuilding the country, through micro-enterprises, but also a story of men that, with the aim to discourage the outflow of capital, decide to organise a market where to “exchange money”, encouraging illegal trafficking of weapons and opium. In the presence of the director
H. 4.15 pm – STENSEN
BULAQ by Davide Morandini – short doc
(UK, Italy, Egypt, 2011, 25’) vo. Arabic, subtitles: italian
The revolution in Egypt as seen through the population of Bulaq a very popular district a few meters away from Tahrir Square, where people fhas been fighting for yearsto survive. Through the revolution, people in the neighborhood did finally hear their voice, even if none of their demands have yet been answered… In the presence of the director
H 5.00 pm – STENSEN
JUST PLAY by Dimitri Chimenti – documentary
(Italy, Francie Palestine, 2012, 58’) vo. Arabic, subtitles: italian
There is a cultural association that for the last 10 years has brought its music schools in a territory from the refugee camps of Lebanon up to the Gaza Strip. Its name is Al Kamandjâti, with teachers from around the world and reaches thousands of children. For the Kamandjâti, music education is not only the best way to protect life, but also the most efficient tools of resistance.
In the presence of the director
H. 6.15 pm – STENSEN
FACING MIRRORS by Negar Azarbayjani – feature film
(Iran, Germania, 2012, 102′)
Rana, a conservative young mother, has been secretly driving a cab to support her family since her husband went to jail. When she picks up Adineh, a young woman from a wealthy family who is fleeing an arranged marriage and the country for a transgender operation, it’s a clash of class and belief systems. But soon enough, an unlikely alliance forms. Italian premiere in the presence of the director, the actresses and the producer
H. 8.45 pm – STENSEN
CASABLANCA MON AMOUR by John Slattery – documentary
(USA, Marocco, 2012, 78’) vo. arabic, english, subtitles: italian, english
An essay-road movie that offers a playful subversion of the traditional American “Hollywood goes to Morocco” story. The film questions the exotic vision of Morocco, reconstructed through the backgrounds of some of the most ‘famous films of American cinema, from Star Wars to Gladiator. With his camera and with the help of two Moroccan boys, the director collects interviews from Moroccans, tell their impressions, and give us back the image of Morocco as an out of the ordinary. Italian premiere, In the presence of the director and of the producer
H. 10.15 pm – STENSEN
THE BOXING GIRLS OF KABUL by Ariel Nasr – documentary
(Canada, Afghanistan, 2012, 52’) vo. dari, pashto, subtitles: italian, english
A courageous group of young Afghan women risk persecution to become world-class boxers, training without even the most basic of facilities. Inspired by their coach who was once an Olympic contender, the girls dream about winning medals for their country and a shot at the 2012 Olympics. The film shadows them closely over the course of a year, following three young contenders to their first competition. But when Afghan TV covers a medal won by one of the girls, and the news reports women being stoned in other parts of the country, their lives and their families are threatened. Italian premiere