Dave Chappell says support for Gaza war is result of ‘antisemitism in the West’ at Abu Dhabi show
Updated 24 May 2024
Arab News
DUBAI: US comedian Dave Chappelle performed to a packed audience at Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena on Thursday as part of Abu Dhabi Comedy Week, where he also addressed the war in Gaza.
“What is happening in Gaza is a direct result of antisemitism in the West,” he said on stage.
“If you are in America, the best thing you can do is to make American Jews feel safe, feel loved and supported so they can know they don’t have to support a country that is committing genocide just to feel safe,” he added.
Chappelle previously slammed the Israeli bombing of Gaza, as well as the US support for it, at a show in Boston in October.
According to people in attendance, an audience member asked Chappelle to shut up, which sparked a heated response from the comedian.
“You can’t take tens of billions from my country and go kill innocent women and children and tell me to shut the f--- up,” he said, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Some members of the crowd began chanting “free Palestine,” to which Chappelle replied: “You are damn right, free Palestine.”
Olivia Wilde inspires emerging filmmakers at RSIFF
Actor talks about creativity, perseverance, collaborative spirit
Updated 08 December 2024
Nada Hameed
JEDDAH: Hollywood star Olivia Wilde took center stage during an In Conversation segment on Sunday at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah’s Al-Balad.
Known as an actor, director, and producer, Wilde’s career includes acclaimed roles in film and television, including “House” and “Tron: Legacy.” Her directorial debut in 2019’s “Booksmart” made waves before she followed it up with the 2022 Venice Film Festival title “Don’t Worry Darling.”
Wilde delved into creativity, perseverance, and the collaborative spirit that fuels the film industry.
Reflecting on the challenges of modern filmmaking, she said: “Out of boredom comes great ideas sometimes, but now no one’s ever bored. Kids are much more interesting and imaginative than adults because they haven’t been indoctrinated by cliches. As filmmakers, it’s so important to challenge ourselves and not force our stories to be something familiar.”
She also pointed out that narratives from diverse cultures can offer refreshing perspectives.
She said: “When you get out of what I consider to be the central hub of entertainment in the Western world, you find a lot more interesting stories because people aren’t raised with the same materials and cycles.
“Films coming from societies that haven’t been indoctrinated with the same cliches have a singularity that is incredibly refreshing.”
Wilde likened the filmmaking process to solving a puzzle, highlighting the integral role of casting, and added: “Casting is the most important part of the process because putting together a film is like solving a puzzle.
“If you aren’t chosen, it’s not because you’re a failure — it’s about whether you fit into the bigger picture of that specific project.”
Olivia Wilde poses in the portrait studio during the Red Sea International Film Festival 2024 on Dec. 8, 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Getty Images)
She also discussed the challenge of making films, describing the completion of any project as a “miracle.” She said: “When you actually get a movie made, no matter how big it is, it feels so satisfying because you did it, you got it made. Anyone who’s made something knows that feeling.”
Taking risks is a factor, and she added: “I naturally gravitate toward roles that have a little bit of risk involved. Part of it is being willing to not be accepted, to not be celebrated by everyone.”
Wilde most recently starred in and directed “Don’t Worry Darling,” which debuted at the 2022 Venice Film Festival and grossed nearly $100 million worldwide.
She said: “A director should be so prepared that they can answer any question.
“Actors enjoy taking risks and being vulnerable when there’s a director who feels like they have their backs.”
Reflecting on her dual experience as an actor and director, she added: “My experience acting made me a better producer and director because I understood the extreme vulnerability actors experience every day on set.”
The multi-hyphenate is set to star in Sarah Adina Smith’s upcoming psychological thriller “Monkey Hill” and she is also set to direct “Avengelyne,” a film adaptation about the ’90s comic book character.
Wilde encouraged aspiring filmmakers hoping to follow in her footsteps to embrace non-traditional paths, highlighting that passion for storytelling transcends formal education in the field.
She said: “I think having done another career entirely is very beneficial to filmmaking or acting. You could have gone to school for economics, but love movies and become an incredible director.”
The fourth edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival features a stellar lineup of speakers, including Academy Award-winning actor Brendan Fraser; director Michael Mann; Academy Award-nominated actor Jeremy Renner; celebrated director Spike Lee; and Academy Award-nominated Benedict Cumberbatch.
South Korean star Park Sung-hoon talks K-dramas at Red Sea International Film Festival
Updated 08 December 2024
SALEH FAREED
JEDDAH: South Korean actor Park Sung-hoon, who stars in Netflix’s smash hit “Squid Game,” jetted to Saudi Arabia for the Red Sea International Film Festival and spoke to Arab News about his hopes for Saudi-Korean cultural collaboration.
The rising South Korean star, who is also known for his roles in dramas such as “The Glory” and “Queen of Tears,” lauded the popularity of Korean entertainment content in the Kingdom.
“I am grateful for this, and this really motivated me to try to pay back for this interest, and here I am at the Red Sea International Film Festival enjoying every bit of it,” he said.
The rising South Korean star, who is also known for his roles in dramas such as “The Glory” and “Queen of Tears,” lauded the popularity of Korean entertainment content in the Kingdom. (Getty Images)
Globally, three South Korean subscription platforms lead in Korean content offerings: Wavve and Watcha, each with over 4,000 titles, and Tving, with over 3,500 titles, according to data science firm BB Media. Excluding local platforms, Amazon Prime Video currently holds the top position among global subscription streaming platforms in terms of Korean titles with 1,394, though Netflix is close behind and boasts more original K-dramas.
The actor touched on the role of streaming platforms in popularizing Korean content internationally, saying “Korea has always put an effort to make good quality movies and dramas because it is a way of bringing joy and comfort to people even during hard times, and I think with the advanced changes in technology, streaming networks and platforms provided ways for Korean movies and dramas to be shown to a wider audience.”
As the Kingdom’s entertainment scene continues to expand — with the likes of Film AlUla and the Red Sea Film Foundation offering support to rising filmmakers — the actor said he would like to see more cross-cultural collaboration.
“I was very impressed with what I have (seen) here in Saudi Arabia, and I am aware that the movie industry in Saudi Arabia is moving rapidly, and I would love to see more collaboration between Saudi Arabia and Korea in the film industry,” he said.
On the question of making a film in Saudi Arabia, the young Korean actor, who plays a contestant named Cho Sang-woo in “Squid Game,” said: “I would love definitely to work here. I am very impressed with the beautiful landscape and architecture. Just last night, I was thinking of how wonderful to be in the screen around this amazing landscape.”
He also pointed out that he will convey a positive message to friends and colleagues in Korea about Saudi Arabia, which he is visiting for the first time.
“I am so amazed (by) the great hospitality and passion that we felt at the festival. So, I hope that I will come back next year and also hope for future collaboration between South Korea and Saudi Arabia film industry,” he said.
Tunisian short at RSIFF explores ‘universal desire for freedom of movement’
Updated 08 December 2024
Dalal Awienat
DUBAI: Sparked by real-life events, the Tunisian short film, “In Three Layers of Darkness,” explores the experience of many immigrants traveling to the Western hemisphere.
Director Houcem Slouli told Arab News that his film, now playing at Jeddah’s Red Sea International Film Festival, critiques the “dehumanizing aspects of bureaucratic systems.”
“Last year, a Tunisian filmmaker had her first short film selected for a festival in France, but her visa was repeatedly denied, despite having all the necessary documents,” he said. He was referring to the case of filmmaker Wafa Lazhari, who was unable to attend the International Animation Film Festival in Annecy, France.
Outraged by this, Slouli sought to take the issue to the silver screen in his 15-minute film that features dialogue in French and Arabic. The director cast actors Ghassen Trabelsi, Mohamed Kolsi, Leila Masrouhi, Sinda Boudriga, Azza Medimegh, Nessrin Bani and Slim Dhib in the short.
“The film addresses themes such as immigration, bureaucratic injustice, dreams and ambition. A dream without borders, with no geographical limits,” the filmmaker explained, adding: “Through the character of Ghassen, we see someone defending his skills and his dreams, fighting for a fundamental right — the right to move freely in the world … unfortunately, for years, Arabs and Africans have not had this freedom and this blocks their ambitions and their dreams.”
Inspired by a verse in the Qur’an — verse six of Surah Az-Zumar — the film’s title symbolizes the many challenges that its protagonist faces in his quest to obtain a visa to stay in France.
“The three layers represent personal, bureaucratic and social obstacles that trap him in a system,” Slouli said. Meanwhile, the Qur’anic verse is interpreted to mean layers within a mother’s womb.
From a malfunctioning parking ticket machine that makes him late for his interview to an invasive health inspection and an unfeeling immigration officer, the narrative presents its lead character with various obstacles.
Slouli hopes that portraying these hurdles will encourage a shift in thinking.
“I hope decision-makers will think about this universal desire for freedom of movement and about human rights that should be available to everyone, no matter their nationality or status,” he said.
He is particularly keen to take the story to the shores of the Red Sea, as “it’s also a chance to share Ghassen’s story with an Arab audience that understands the struggles related to migration and achieving dreams,” Slouli said.
It is not Slouli’s first experience at an international festival — in 2023, his short film “Conditional Desire” won the Best Short Film Award at Turkiye’s Accessible Film Festival. It was also featured as part of the Short Film Competition of the Silicon Valley African Film Festival in the US.
That varied experience seems to have been handy when it comes to collaborating with the cast and crew on any given project, something that he says is his favorite part of the process. (Supplied)
Born in Tunisia in 1994, Slouli completed a degree in film and audiovisual studies at the Higher Institute of Arts and Multimedia in Manouba, Tunisia, before working with notable Tunisian production firms such as Nomadis Images, Artistes Producteurs Associes and Instinct Bleu Films, in addition to ad-hoc projects working as an assistant director and casting director.
That varied experience seems to have been handy when it comes to collaborating with the cast and crew on any given project, something that he says is his favorite part of the process.
“Of course, sometimes the discussions lead to conflicts, but there’s also real pleasure in these moments. They give life to the collaboration,” he said.
“It’s amazing to see how ideas come to life with the help of the production team, the actors, the director of photography, and everyone involved in the project. Cinema has this unique ability to capture human experiences and present them in a way that speaks to everyone.”
Marrakech Film Festival bestows Palestinian film ‘Happy Holidays’ with top award
“The Village Next to Paradise” participated last year in the Marrakech festival’s Atlas Workshops, an initiative to develop filmmakers from Morocco, the Middle East and Africa and promote their work
Updated 08 December 2024
AP
MARRAKECH, Morocco: The Marrakech International Film Festival bestowed its top prize Friday on “Happy Holidays,” a Palestinian drama set in Israel whose screenplay won an award at the Venice Film Festival in September.
The film, directed by Scandar Copti, follows Israeli and Palestinian characters facing familial and societal pressures in present-day Haifa and stars both professional and non-professional actors. It is the first Palestinian film to win Marrakech’s Etoile D’Or award.
Screenwriter Mona Copti in an acceptance speech said the film team’s joy at winning was tempered by war in the Middle East and she denounced what she called the dehumanization of Palestinians.
The festival awarded its jury prize to two additional films from Somalia and Argentina. (X @Marrakech_Fest)
Eight features, each a director’s first or second film, competed in the festival. The winning films tackled social issues through the lens of family, a theme that the festival’s artistic director Remi Bonhomme underlined at its opening.
The festival awarded its jury prize to two additional films from Somalia and Argentina. The nine-member jury awarded Mo Harawe’s “The Village Next to Paradise” — a story about a family living under the threat of drone strikes dreaming of a better life — and Silvina Schnicer’s “The Cottage” about children who commit an unspeakable act at a rich family’s summer vacation home.
“The Village Next to Paradise” participated last year in the Marrakech festival’s Atlas Workshops, an initiative to develop filmmakers from Morocco, the Middle East and Africa and promote their work. In his acceptance speech, Harawe lauded the film’s Somali cast and crew and highlighted the significance of the award for Somalia.
Cecilia Rainero, the lead actor of “The Cottage,” thanked the jury and said it was meaningful amid Argentinian President Javier Milei’s moves to defund the country’s film industry.
Brad Pitt turns heads at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix while filming F1 blockbuster
Pitt was spotted at the Yas Marina Circuit during Friday’s practice sessions
Updated 07 December 2024
Arab News
ABU DHABI: Hollywood megastar Brad Pitt brought a touch of cinematic glamor to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend as he continued filming scenes for the highly anticipated movie “F1,” set to hit cinemas in June next year.
Pitt was spotted at the Yas Marina Circuit during Friday’s practice sessions, wearing a white racing jumpsuit as he posed with teams and filmed scenes alongside co-star Damson Idris.
The pair were photographed with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. and Charles Leclerc, with the Spanish driver sharing selfies featuring Pitt, Idris, Leclerc and Ferrari team members, captioned: “Look who photobombed our team pic.”
In the film, Pitt stars as Sonny Hayes, a fictional 1990s F1 driver who makes a dramatic return to the track after a career-ending crash to mentor rookie Joshua Pearce, played by Idris.
The movie contains a stellar ensemble cast, including Javier Bardem, Sarah Niles, Kerry Condon and Tobias Menzies, with Joseph Kosinski directing. Adding authenticity, seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton and legendary producer Jerry Bruckheimer are among the project’s key drivers.
The film blends the real-world of Formula 1 through fictional storytelling and the help of all 10 F1 teams. Real-life drivers such as Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso, Sergio Perez and Sainz appear as themselves, adding an extra layer of authenticity.
Pitt underwent rigorous training to master the high-speed vehicles used in the film. “He’s an amazing driver,” Bruckheimer said. “Some of the F1 drivers said he’s a natural athlete. He really is.”
Following a teaser trailer in July, fans have eagerly awaited more glimpses of F1, with continued filming at real races, including a high-profile shoot during the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
