December 2006
 

1. World Cinema Fund supports mec film co-production RECYCLE

World Cinema Fund of Berlin International Film Festival funds Jordanian-Dutch-German documentary film RECYCLE, directed by Mahmoud al-Massad (co-produced by iSee and mec film) with 30.000,-€.

Content:
Abu Amr, an ex-mujahedeen struggles to reconcile his faith and reality. But he faces setback at every turn as he is forced to collect carton in te streets of Zarqa (Jordan), an occupation barely sustaining his family. As his situation deteriorates he has to make a radical decision to save himself from humiliation.

RECYCLE is a documentary addressing the intricate realities of life in the Middle East during spiraling international tensions from inside the community of al-Zarqawi's hometown.

Berlinale press release
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2. LIKE TWENTY IMPOSSIBLES wins in Bolanzo

Annemarie Jacir's short film LIKE TWENTY IMPOSSIBLES wins another award, this time for Best Short Film at Borderlands Film Festival in Bolanzo/Italy.
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3. Arab focus and TV-conference in Augsburg

For the 2007 edition of the festival is presenting a large Arab focus of recent productions that reflect the tendencies, developments and changes of film-making in the region.

The variety of subjects enables the audiences to get a better insight of what the subjects are (independent) filmmakers in the Arab World deal with.

The festival invites the filmmakers to present their films in person and to discuss the work as well as wider questions with the audience, such as: What are stories Arab film-makers want to tell? What are the subjects they deal with in their work? And what does the film-industry in the Arab World look like? What are the latest developments, changes and tendencies?

Film-making today, especially documentary film-making, is unthinkable without the support of TV. Technical innovation, digital and video formats as well as a growing number of TV-stations changed especially the documentary film-making all over the world. The political and social issues this genre usually deals with is increasingly broadcast as reportage on TV. What are the stories Arab documentary film-makers today tell? Which influence do Arab TV stations have on the production of documentaries? What kind of reportages does Arab TV produce?

In the context of the festival conducts a conference about Arab TV. Media experts will give an overview of the politics, work and programming of transnational Arab TV stations, commissioning editors, producers and directors of these stations will present their programme slots.

Curated by Irit Neidhardt (mec film)
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4. DVDs

Some of the finest films of mec film catalogue are available on DVD. Academic and research libraries can place their mec film orders with Harrassowitz. To browse the catalogue, click here
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5. screenings

mec film presents in December

in theatres (Germany only)

NEWS FROM HOME (Amos Gitai)

26.+27.12.06 Subiaco Kinos Schramberg
19.-25.12.06 Subiaco Kinos Freudenstadt
12.-18.12.06 Subiaco Kinos Alpirsbach
7.-11.12.06 Subiaco Kinos Schramberg
2.+3.12.06 House of World Cultures Berlin