In Tel Aviv, Eurovision fans hope world shows Israel some love

In Tel Aviv, Eurovision fans hope world shows Israel some love
Israelis watch as Eden Golan from Israel performs "Hurricane" at a watch party for the live telecast of the Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, May 11, 2024. (Reuters)
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Updated 12 May 2024
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In Tel Aviv, Eurovision fans hope world shows Israel some love

In Tel Aviv, Eurovision fans hope world shows Israel some love
  • Israel ranks with Croatia and Switzerland as one of the bookmakers’ favorites to succeed Sweden and take home the colorful and kitschy competition watched by more than a hundred million people

TEL AVIV: Eurovision fans gathered in Tel Aviv Saturday to watch the show taking place in Sweden on big screens said they were hoping voters would finally show Israel some love.
The mood was electric at the packed Layla bar in Tel Aviv as the show got underway, with the crowd going wild when Israel’s contestant Eden Golan appeared on screen, jumping up and down and waving Israeli flags.
With her long lavender-streaked hair and matching nails, Golan performed her tune wearing a white chiffon gown billowing in the artificial wind and smoke filling the stage.
If Israel were to win, it would mean that “maybe we are not hated so much, and that the music really won,” said Tal Bendersky, draped in an Israeli flag.
The 23-year-old from southern Israel told AFP he had come to Layla, which prides itself as “the best gay bar in Tel Aviv,” “to celebrate with all the people that love the Israeli people.”
“Hopefully in the end, we will celebrate as much as we can, when she will hopefully win.”
A win for Israel would mean “we are loved in the world, and we have support of the world,” Yarden Arak, 33, told AFP.
Israel ranks with Croatia and Switzerland as one of the bookmakers’ favorites to succeed Sweden and take home the colorful and kitschy competition watched by more than a hundred million people.
But a win by Israel could be a stretch, given the fierce controversy that has surrounded its participation in this year’s edition of the competition as it continues to bombard and besiege Gaza.
The war started with Hamas’s unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel that resulted in the deaths of more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.
Militants also seized hostages, of whom Israel estimates 128 remain in Gaza, including 36 who the military says are dead.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 34,971 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.
Before the competition began, police in the host city Malmo said at least 5,000 people were demonstrating in the streets outside the venue.
Golan’s song “Hurricane” is an adaptation of an earlier version named “October Rain,” which she modified after organizers deemed it too political because of its apparent allusions to the Hamas attack.
The EBU — which oversees the event — confirmed in March the participation of Golan, despite calls for her exclusion from thousands of musicians around the world.
More recently, nine of the acts, seven of whom are finalists, have called for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza.
Shortly before she took to the stage, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz hailed her in a post on X, formerly twitter.
“Eden proudly stands against immense hatred and anti-Semitism. Tonight, let’s show all the haters who’s leading the way!” he wrote.
And in Tel Aviv, hopes remained high, with many dismissing the protests, saying the demonstrators did not understand what Israel was going through since Hamas’s attack sparked the war.
“No one feels what we feel... They don’t know the facts, but it’s okay,” said Victoria Shishko, a 33-year-old Tel Aviv resident born in Ukraine.
“We know the truth and we will survive,” she told AFP, voicing confidence that Israel could win the contest.
That would show “that people really love us and they believe us and they stand with us,” she said.
“We deserve it. We are kind and good people and we hope to win.”
Others said they felt bad for Golan.
“I can’t imagine what Eden is going through,” said Alec Snyder, a 29-year-old Tel Aviv resident born in Los Angeles.
“Given the drama... I really hope Israel wins. I’m rooting for us tremendously,” he told AFP.
“It’s going to be tough, but we have a wonderful song, and I am sure we will do really well tonight.”


Lyna Khoudri shares teaser trailer for Afghanistan evacuation drama ‘13 Days, 13 Nights’

Lyna Khoudri shares teaser trailer for Afghanistan evacuation drama ‘13 Days, 13 Nights’
Updated 18 February 2025
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Lyna Khoudri shares teaser trailer for Afghanistan evacuation drama ‘13 Days, 13 Nights’

Lyna Khoudri shares teaser trailer for Afghanistan evacuation drama ‘13 Days, 13 Nights’

DUBAI: French Algerian actress Lyna Khoudri took to social media to share the teaser clip and poster for upcoming film “13 Days, 13 Nights” by director Martin Bourboulon this week.

The Afghanistan evacuation drama, the full title of which is “In The Hell Of Kabul: 13 Days, 13 Nights,” stars Khoudri alongside Danish BAFTA-winning “Borgen” star Sidse Babett Knudsen, Roschdy Zem (“Chocolat,” “Oh Mercy!”), and theater actor Christophe Montenez.

Set against US troops’ withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, as the Taliban marches on Kabul, the film recounts the true story of French Commander Mohamed Bida who oversaw security at the French embassy, which was the last Western mission to remain open.

Commander Bida negotiated with the Taliban to organize an evacuation convoy with the help of Eva, a young French Afghan translator played by Khoudri.

The teaser trailer features aerial shots of hundreds of people attempting to leave Afghanistan, as well as close up shots of Zem who plays Commander Bida.

“This movie happens to be one of the most exciting challenges that has been offered to me. Firstly, there is this character based on a real-life person, whose fate intersects with history itself. Secondly, the context of fleeing your own country has left no one indifferent thus bringing us to a story within history, the one that we are interested in,” Zem said, according to a previous article by Deadline.

“It tells us how, in the heart of a recent drama, a few individuals only listened to their courage to save what many would consider dear, with the feeling that they were only doing what seemed right to them. Heroes, as many would call them, because they retain the most essential quality: humanity,” he added.

The film marks a change for Bourboulon after period dramas “The Three Musketeers – Part II: Milady,” “The Three Musketeers – Part I: D’Artagnan” and “Eiffel.”

Khoudri, 32, first rose to prominence in her role as Nedjma in Mounia Meddour’s critically acclaimed drama “Papicha.” For her work in the film, she won the Orizzonti Award for best actress at the 74th Venice Film Festival, and she was nominated in the Cesar Awards’ most promising actress category.

Khoudri also starred in the 2019 mini-series “Les Sauvages” and in 2016’s “Blood on the Docks.”

Notably, she was cast in Wes Anderson’s 2021 comedy “The French Dispatch” alongside Timothee Chalamet, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, and Owen Wilson.


Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival announces 2025 dates

Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival announces 2025 dates
Updated 17 February 2025
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Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival announces 2025 dates

Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival announces 2025 dates

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival has announced the dates for its fifth edition, with international celebrities set to touch down in Jeddah for the festival that will run from Dec. 4-13.

The event will take place at the film festival’s headquarters in Al-Balad, Jeddah.

Last year’s theme, “The New Home of Film,” celebrated the festival’s new headquarters Al-Balad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 2024 festival played host to more than 40,000 attendees and nearly 7,000 accredited guests, showcasing 122 films from 85 countries, including 61 premieres. A total of 302 screenings took place, with half of the films being world or international premieres, including 46 world premieres, 15 international premieres, and 53 MENA premieres.

The Al-Balad headquarters features five purpose-built cinemas and a large auditorium that hosted back-to-back screenings as well as In Conversation panels with celebrities.

Presided over by Spike Lee, the 2024 edition's two juries deliberated across 14 competition categories, with 16 feature films vying for top honors, alongside short films from the Arab world, Asia, and Africa featured in the New Saudi, New Cinema, and Arab Shorts programs.

Last year’s red carpet featured the likes of Emily Blunt, Aamir Khan, Mona Zaki, Viola Davis, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas. Other notable attendees included Michelle Yeoh, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Johnny Depp, Yousra, Vin Diesel, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Cynthia Erivo, Brendan Fraser, Mohamed Sami, and more.


‘Conclave’ and ‘Brutalist’ share BAFTA honors as Anna Kendrick looks to Georges Chakra archive

‘Conclave’ and ‘Brutalist’ share BAFTA honors as Anna Kendrick looks to Georges Chakra archive
Updated 18 February 2025
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‘Conclave’ and ‘Brutalist’ share BAFTA honors as Anna Kendrick looks to Georges Chakra archive

‘Conclave’ and ‘Brutalist’ share BAFTA honors as Anna Kendrick looks to Georges Chakra archive
  • “Conclave”, which stars Ralph Fiennes as a cardinal corralling conniving clergy as they elect a new pope, was also named outstanding British film and took trophies for editing and adapted screenplay
  • US filmmaker Brady Corbet took the BAFTA for best director for “The Brutalist,” while leading man Adrien Brody scooped up the best actor gong

DUBAI/LONDON: Hollywood actress Anna Kendrick hit the red carpet at the 78th British Academy Film Awards in an archival look by Lebanese designer Georges Chakra on Sunday night in London.

Kendrick showed off a silk chiffon pleated gown adorned with bands of cascading black crystal fringe and a sweeping train from the designer’s Fall/Winter 2005-2006 couture collection at the BAFTAs.

Anna Kendrick showed off a look from Georges Chakra's Fall/Winter 2005-2006 couture collection. (Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Papal thriller “Conclave” and immigrant epic “The Brutalist” tied for top honors at the ceremony, with each film picking up four coveted gongs.
“Conclave,” directed by German-born Edward Berger, won the BAFTA for the best film with its tale of the intrigue and horse-trading behind the scenes during the election of a new pope.

Accepting the award, Berger recalled the journey to make the film took seven years, paying tribute to British screenplay writer Peter Straughan's “wonderful script” and lead actor Ralph Fiennes.

US filmmaker Brady Corbet took the BAFTA for best director for “The Brutalist”, while leading man Adrien Brody scooped up the best actor gong for his portrayal of a Hungarian Holocaust survivor and architect who emigrates to the United States.

Brody told a winners press conference that the film was “an opportunity for me to honor my own ancestral struggles.”

In “a film that speaks to tremendous cruelty and despicable behavior in our past... we see elements existing today that can guide us and remind us of that,” he added.

Veteran British actor Fiennes, who played a cardinal in “Conclave”, once again saw his hopes of winning a BAFTA gong dashed, losing out to Brody in the race for the honour.

Scandal-hit “Emilia Perez”, a surreal musical about a Mexican druglord, had been heavily favored at the beginning of the year. But it ended the evening with just two BAFTAs, including one for Zoe Saldana for best supporting actress.

Until last month, French director Jacques Audiard's movie had been expected to be a frontrunner having won 11 nominations.

But old racist and Islamophobic tweets by lead actor Karla Sofia Gascon surfaced at the end of January, shaking up the race just before the London ceremony and the Oscars on March 2.
 


Review: Hulu’s ‘Muslim Matchmaker’ has heart, but not enough spark

Review: Hulu’s ‘Muslim Matchmaker’ has heart, but not enough spark
Updated 11 February 2025
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Review: Hulu’s ‘Muslim Matchmaker’ has heart, but not enough spark

Review: Hulu’s ‘Muslim Matchmaker’ has heart, but not enough spark

TORONTO: “Muslim Matchmaker” premiered on Hulu this week. The series is directed and produced by Smriti Mundhra (of Netflix’s “Indian Matchmaking” fame).

But this time around it’s not Sima Aunty and her outrageous comments, but rather two older sister types – Hoda Abrahim and Yasmin Elhady – who are helping eight Muslim Americans find love.

The premise of their matchmaking business is the “Rules of Three: Three dates, three months, and three hundred questions.” In an era of dating apps and superficial swipes, the duo urges couples to approach their search for love with intention. They emphasize the importance of giving the relationship time and space to grow while asking the right questions.

The eight-episode show provides a fresh perspective on Muslim Americans as they navigate both their Muslim and cultural identities in the West. It offers captivating discussions on topics like cultural expectations when dating an older woman, the appropriate timeline to “date,” and finding a partner with an equal “halal-to-haram ratio.” These discussions are sure to resonate with many. And perhaps, offer a glimpse into a Muslim world that’s rarely seen in mainstream Western media.

The show comes with good intentions. For one, it acknowledges dating app fatigue. It offers a refreshing take with matchmakers who approach singles’ choices without judgment or sacrilegious remarks about “wanting too much” (looking at you, Sima Aunty).

But that’s also probably the biggest failing of the show. Dating shows thrive on drama – and there’s none here.

Tension doesn't surface until episode four. A Bengali-American woman is older than the man she’s dating, and cultural norms deem this unacceptable. We’re left on a cliffhanger, wondering how the Bengali-American man will disclose the relationship to his family.

It shouldn’t take that long to get us hooked.


Japanese gaming expert sees potential in Saudi industry

Japanese gaming expert sees potential in Saudi industry
Updated 10 February 2025
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Japanese gaming expert sees potential in Saudi industry

Japanese gaming expert sees potential in Saudi industry
  • Game producers in Japan could tailor products to Saudi players, says Prof. Koji Mikami
  • Saudi spending power makes region a valuable market

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is an important market for Japanese video game producers, who could tailor their games to appeal to the region, according to one expert.

Koji Mikami, a professor at the Tokyo University of Technology who specializes in gaming technology, spoke about the Saudi industry’s potential during an event in Riyadh on Monday.

“In my opinion, Saudi Arabian gamers love high-quality games and are willing to invest in premium gaming experiences,” he said.

Mikami emphasized that Saudi gamers’ spending power makes the region a valuable market for Japanese game studios.

“I believe Saudi Arabia has bigger potential than other regions, and I hope Japanese game studios will develop games tailored for the Saudi market,” he added.

The comments were made at a seminar hosted on Monday by the Federation of Saudi Chambers in collaboration with the Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East.

The event, part of the Saudi-Japan Vision 2030 initiative, explored market trends, gaming technologies, and potential partnerships between the two nations.

With Saudi Arabia rapidly becoming a global hub for gaming and esports, the seminar underscored the potential for Japanese developers to invest in the Kingdom’s booming industry.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is famously a keen gamer, and according to PwC, 67 percent of the population — or 23.5 million people — share his hobby.

The Kingdom is also investing $38 billion into the gaming industry through the Public Investment Fund.

Discussions at the event highlighted Saudi Arabia’s gaming market growth, with increasing investments in game development, esports, and localization.

The event also touched on opportunities for collaboration between Saudi and Japanese gaming companies in areas such as co-developing new IPs, technology exchange, and industry partnerships.

The event concluded with a panel discussion on the future of gaming, emphasizing the importance of knowledge-sharing, innovation, and cross-border partnerships to advance the industry.

Speakers reinforced Saudi Arabia’s commitment to developing a sustainable and tech-driven gaming ecosystem, aligned with Vision 2030 objectives.