Films from the Southern Mediterranean

Films from the Southern Mediterranean

Films from the Southern Mediterranean will again tour nationwide in October 2013.  We are delighted that the Arts Council has awarded the project funding under the Arts Council’s Touring & Dissemination of Work Scheme.  We are looking forward to finding the films, confirming the venues and generally preparing to go on the road again.  Please check back for more updates.

2012

Our tour has concluded for this year 2012.  We had a great time touring the films to the three venues and were particularly pleased that Algerian actress Adila Bendimerad from The Repentent travelled to Ireland for the event. Adila met audiences in Galway and Bray and gave everyone a valuable insight into film and arts culture in that country. Thanks again Adila.  We have applied for funding to repeat the tour next year in 2013 so fingers crossed we are successful.  Thanks to everyone who came out to support us and please check our Facebook page for pics.

This tour is a programme of  3 films, jointly curated by Maretta Dillon and access>CINEMA.  It will visit three of access> CINEMA'S venues from September 30-October 7, 2012. The  project has been awarded funding under the Arts Council’s Touring & Dissemination of Work Scheme for activities taking place from July 2012 to December 2012.

We're delighted to now announce all the films for the tour.  Joining On the Edge from Morocco and Footnote from Israel is the Algerian film, The Repentant.

The Repentant (El taaib) concerns a terrorist, Rashid, who responds to the Algerian government's call to lay down his arms, obtain amnesty and become a 'repentant'. He can then rejoin society and become a normal citizen again.  Rashid appears to have renounced violence but it's not clear if that really is the case. Director Merzak Allouache's films questions what was state policy in Algeria and asks if a collective amnesia to forget the violence of the mid 1990s can ever truly work? The film won the Europa Cinemas Label at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival.

On the Edge (Ala al hâfa), the first full-length feature from Moroccan director Leïla Kilani is an appealing tale of two women flirting with crime in today's Tangiers.  

Joseph Cedar's Footnote  (Hearat Shulayim) won the Best Screenplay Award at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. It tells the story of a father and son whose academic rivalry comes to a head when one is nominated for a major prize. It won the Best Screenplay Award at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.

The films will screen at the following venues : 

Galway Film Society / Booking 091 569 777 / www.tht.ie

• On the Edge / Sunday, Sept 30, 5.45pm
• The Repentant / Sunday, Sept 30, 8.15pm
• Footnote / Sunday, October 7, 8.15pm

Mermaid Arts Centre / Booking 01 272 4030 / www.mermaidartscentre.ie

• The Repentant / Monday, Oct 1, 8.00pm
• On the Edge / Thursday, Oct 4, 8.00pm
• Footnote / Friday, Oct 5, 8.00pm

Belltable Arts Centre / Booking 061 319 866

• The Repentant / Monday, Oct 1, 8.00pm
• Footnote / Tuesday, Oct 2, 8.00pm
• On the Edge / Wednesday, Oct 3, 8.00pm

for more information on the tour.  

The Southern Mediterranean countries are: Algeria; Egypt; Israel; Jordan; Lebanon; Morocco; Occupied Palestinian Territory; Syria and Tunisia. It is proposed to select and tour three films from the Southern Mediterranean region to three different venues that work with or are part of access>CINEMA's network.

The aim of the tour is to increase the visibility of films from this diverse and complex region so as to contribute to the cultural dialogue and the mutual understanding between Ireland and the South Mediterranean countries. Audiences in Ireland will have a valuable opportunity to access, enjoy and engage directly with the artistic output of this unique area.