Sweden's first Arab film festival featured dozens of feature, documentary, and short films from across the Arab world, Venus Fouad reports While the Malmo Arab Film Festival showed a wide range of short and full-length films, the main focus was on the Gulf cinema. Many of the films screened in Malmo had featured in the Gulf Film Festival of Dubai, which showcases contemporary and experimental Arab cinema. The organisers made an apt choice when they decided on Malmo as the venue for the festival. This is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Scandinavia. Sweden's third biggest city, it boasts a population of 370,000 who trace their origins to more than 175 countries. Nearly 15 per cent of the city's population have Arab origins. The event, held from 23 �ê" 27 September, was sponsored by the Arabian Scandinavian Cultural Centre and managed by Palestinian filmmaker Mohamed Qablawi. On the jury were Egyptian actor Hani Salama, Egyptian director Saad Hendawi, Palestinian film critic Bashar Ibrahim, Jordan's cultural impresario Dima Hamdallah and Moroccan journalist Sanaa Bakalie. Top Arab filmmakers and actors were invited to the event. These included Asser Yassin, Basma, Bahij Hojeij, Julia Kassar, Hassan Mora, Mohamed Al-Hashki, Seba Mubarak, Zeina, Idris Merini, Qassam Hawl and Katrine Al-Khatib. Among the stars of the event from the United Arab Emirates alone were Gulf Film Festival director Masoud Amrallah, filmmaker Nogoum Al-Ghanem, film critic Ibrahim Al-Mulla and script writer Mohamed Hassan Ahmed. In addition to the screenings, the event hosted four different seminars on Arab revolution, the image of women in Arab cinema, freedom in Arab cinema, and the development of the Gulf cinema. Several Gulf films competed for awards in Malmo, including Sabil (Path) by UAE director Khaled Annl-Mahmoud and Hamama (Pigeon) by Nogoum Al-Ghanem. The widely acclaimed Al-Rahil Aan Baghdad (Leaving Baghdad) by Iraqi director Qoteiba Al-Janabii, a biographical film about the personal photographer of Saddam Hussein, was also entered in the competition. Among the UAE films taking part were Dar al-Hayy (Neighbourhood House) by Ali Mostafa, which depicts the complexities and contradictions of life in Dubai; Ahlam Taht al-Insha (Dreams under Construction) by Moez Ben Hafez, a documentary about expatriate construction workers; Sheikh al-Gebel (Old Man of the Mountain) by Nasser Al-Yaqoubi, about the pioneering men of the UAE; Al-Bahth Aan al-Sharik al-Methali: Stayel Dubai (Looking for the Right Partner: Dubai Style) by Elhab Sharaf and Hend Al-Hammadi; and Mawt Batei (Slow Death) by Gamal Salem, which tells the story of an Asian gravedigger who refuses to leave his adopted country. Saudi films included Al-Hesn (The Fort) by Feisal Al-Oteibi, which recounts the events in a desert frontier; and Ayesh (Living) by Abdallah Al-Ayyaf, which tells the story of a man who survives a personal crisis and finds true faith. Bahrain's entry was Selah al-Agial (Weapon of Generations) by Mohamed Jassem, which highlights the history of the region. Oman contributed the film Boharat (Spices) by Omani director Amer Al-Rawwas, which tells four simultaneous stories -- of a barren woman looking for treatment; a 90-year-old man looking for hope,;a girl defying her destiny; and a blogger. From Qatar, the director Feisal Al-Thani submitted Domay Belya (Belya's Toys) about a girl who wants to become a dancer. From Kuwait, Abdallah Bu Shehri submitted Mayy al-Janna (Water of Paradise) about a travelling salesman who meets a pregnant girl. From Yemen, Khadija Al-Salami entered with Al-Wahsh Al-Kaser (Wild Beast), which exposes corruption in Yemen. The Malmo Festival, which aspires to become an annual event promoting inter-cultural dialogue, screened 24 films in three competitions for features, documentary, and short films. These were: Features: * Modon al-Transit (Cities of Transit) by Mohamed Al-Hoshki; starring Seba Mubarak and Mohamed Qabbani; Jordan, 2010. * Bintein Min Masr (Two Girls from Egypt) by Mohamed Amin; starring Zeina, Seba Mubarak,and Iyad Nasser; Egypt, 2010. * Khareg Aan al-Qanun (Outlaw) by Rashid Bu Shareb; featuring Gamal Dabouz, Rushdi Zam and Selim Bu Ogeila; Algeria, 2010. * Shatti Ya Deni (Let it Rain) by Bahij Hojeij; starring Hassan Morad, Julia Kassar and Carmen Luis; Lebanon, 2010. * Al-Maghna (Singing) by Qassem Hawl; featuring Amer Olwan Katrine Al-Khatib, and Tareq Hashem; Iraq, 2010 * Al-Arabi Usturat al-Kora (Football Legend Al-Arabi) by Idris Al-Marini; starring Fadil Ben Moussa and Hanan Ibrahimi; Morocco, 2011 * Rasael al-Bahr (Messages of the Sea) by Dawud Abdel Sayyed; featuring Asser Yassin and Basma; Egypt, 2010. * Matar Aylul (September Rain) by Abdel-Latif Abdel-Hamid; featuring Ayman Zidan and Samar Sami; Syria, 2010. Documentaries: Ana Wal Agenda (The Agenda and Me) by Nevine Shalabi; Egypt, 2011 Iraqiyun Fil Manfa (Iraqis in Exile) by Fajr Yakoub; Syria, 2010. Hamama (Pigeon) by Nogoum Al-Ghanem; UAE, 2011. Photon by Awad Al-Hamzani; Sweden 2011. Kawkab Men Babel (Planet from Babylon) by Farouq Dawud; Iraq, 2010 18 Yom Fi Masr (18 Days in Egypt) by Ahmad Salah and Ramadan Salah; Egypt, 2011 Bardus (I Study) by Julia Basha; USA, 2010. Short films * Shewayyet Waqt (A little Time) by Maher Salibi; Syria, 2009 * ABC by Mohamed Salama; Jordan, 2011 * Nesf Modaa (Half Lit) by Jassem Mohamed Jassem; Iraq, 2010. * Nadia by Juana Jarjoura; Lebanon, 2010 * Sabil (Path) by Khaled Al-Mahmoud; UAE 2010 * Tholathaa (Tuesday) by Sabine Shamma; Lebanon, 2010 * Hayah Qasirah (Short Life) by Adel Al-Fodeili; Morocco, 2010 * Al-Khoruj (Getting Out) by Tawfiq Al-Zaydi; Saudi Arabia, 2010 * Dar al-Hayy (Neighbourhood House) by Ali Mostafa; UAE * Ahlam Taht al-Inshaa (Dreams under Construction) by Moezz Ben Hafez; UAE. * Sheikh al-Gabal (The Old Man of the Mountain) by Nasser Al-Yaaqoubi; UAE * Al-Hesn (The Fort) by Feisal aA-Oteibi; Saudi Arabia. * Al-Bahth An al-Shariq al-Methali: Stayel Dubai (Looking for the Perfect Partner, Dubai Style) by Elham Sharaf and Hend Al-Hamadi; UAE. * Al-Wahsh al-Kaser (Wild Beast) by Khadija Al-Salami; Yemen. * Selah al-Agial (Weapon of Generations); Bahrain. * Boharat (Spices) by Amer Al-Rawwas; Oman. * Domay Belya (Belya's Dolls) by Feisal Al-Thani; Qatar * Mawt Batie (Slow Death) by Jamal Salim; UAE * Mayy al-Janna (Water of Paradise) by Abdallah Bu Shehri; Kuwait. * Ayesh (Living) by Abdallaha Al-Ayyaf; Saudi Arabia. www.malmoarabfilmfestival.se
