Egyptian/American filmmaker Ali Selim made history last week when he was awarded the best first feature prize at the prestigious Independent Spirit Awards last week for his debut Sweet Land. What a wild ride it has been, Selim told The Daily Star Egypt in an email interview after winning the award. Selim wanted to thank fans of Sweet Land around the world and Egypt for their support and belief in the film. Set in a 20s rural Minnesota, Sweet Land tells the story of a German postal bride Inge who immigrates to the US to marry Norwegian farmer Olaf. Inge, who is met with initial suspicion and rejection because of her German heritage, learns English, gains the trust of her small, rural community and falls in love with Olaf against the sweeping backdrop of the Midwestern state s vast farmland. Selim's success was not merely the result of the film's stunning cinematography, solid acting, breathtaking setting and sweet storyline. The director exhibits an affinity for his characters that stand out in every scene. It is no surprise that Sweet Land charmed its global audiences, including Egyptians, where the film made its Middle East debut at the Cairo International Film Festival last December. Sweet Land also won the audience award at the Florida Film Festival and the Hamptons International Film Festival and its lead Elizabeth Reaser was nominated for the best actress award at the 22nd Spirit Awards that saw the comedy Little Miss Sunshine reign at the Oscars, scooping four silver gongs. The Independent Spirit Awards is the premier American honor for independent cinema. Past winners of the Spirit s best first feature include Spike Lee for She s Gotta Have It, Billy Bob Thornton for Sling Blade, Spike Jonze s Being John Malkovich, Todd Field s In The Bedroom, Zach Braff for Graden State, and Paul Haggis for last year s best picture Oscar winner Crash. Born to an Egyptian father and a German mother, the 45-year-old filmmaker has directed more than 850 advertisements before shooting his first full-feature film two years ago on a shoestring, self-financed budget. The film will be released on DVD by next October. For more on Ali Selim, please check www.dailystaregypt.com for a full Sweet Land review and a one-on-one interview with Selim.
