Moroccan filmmaker Faouzi Bensaidi, known for his acclaimed works such as “Death for Sale” and “Volubilis,” has been appointed as a jury member for the prestigious Venice Film Festival.
He will be serving on the “LUIGI DE LAURENTIIS” jury, responsible for awarding the Venice Award for a Debut Film.
This particular category aims to recognize outstanding debut feature-length films from various competitive sections of the festival, including the Official Selection and Independent and Parallel Sidebars.
As the film festival draws near, several Arab movies have made the cut and are expected to be screened before a diverse international audience, including renowned filmmakers and actors.
Among the selected Arab films is “Behind the Mountains,” a Tunisian production directed by Mohamed Ben Attia, which will have its international premiere in the Horizons category. Notably, Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania will also be part of the jury for this category.
One of the films supported by Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Fund, “Behind the Mountains” tells the story of Rafik, who reveals a remarkable discovery to his son after spending four years in prison.
The Tunisian director behind this film has previously won the Best First Feature Award at the Berlin International Film Festival for his work “HEDI.”
In its 11th edition, “Final Cut in Venice” will continue its mission of providing essential support for the completion of films from all African countries and five Middle Eastern countries, namely Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria.
Some of the featured films include “Happy Holidays” with joint production from Palestine, Germany, France, Qatar, and Italy, as well as “Allah is Not Obliged” with multiple countries collaborating in its making.
The Venice Film Festival’s International Juries for the Venezia 80 Competition have been carefully selected, with Damien Chazelle, the director behind the critically acclaimed “La La Land,” serving as the chairperson.
The esteemed panel also includes Palestinian actor Salah Bakri, known for his role in Meryem Touzani’s “The Blue Caftan,” as well as notable figures like Jane Campion, Mia Hansen Love, Gabriele Mainetti, Martin McDonagh, Santiago Mitre, Laura Poitras, and Shu Qi.
The festival promises to be a remarkable event, showcasing outstanding cinematic achievements from around the world and celebrating the talent and creativity of filmmakers from diverse backgrounds.
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