Amman Filmmakers Cooperative

AFC FILM "SHARAR" GOES TO LOCARNO INT'L FILM FESTIVAL

(JORDAN - 07/07/2006) In yet another major milestone for Jordanian independent cinema, AFC filmmakers Saleh Kasem and Ammar Quttaineh, have been informed of the selection of their short fiction film Sharar, produced in Jordan, to compete at the 59th Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland.

The film cast is made of Karim Shiyab, Mutaz Dirani, Nour Moumani, Loay Quttaineh, and Tamir Omary.

Actors Mutaz Dirani (left) Karim Shiyab (right.)

Sharar is written by filmmaker Hazim Bitar and focuses on the hardship of a laborer, from Jordan's industrial zone, in the era of diminishing opportunities. "It's hard to ignore the difficulties blue-collar workers are faced with in Jordan, so we felt compelled to tell realistic stories that not only entertain, but stories that reflect our concern with the status quo," said Hazim Bitar, founder and coordinator of the Amman Filmmakers Cooperative (AFC).

For Syrian co-director Saleh Kasem, the film Sharar is his very first film after completing his filmmaking training at the Amman Filmmakers Cooperative. "I was concerned by the lack of transition," commented Kasem. "Usually, students at the AFC start with shorter more manageable films, but I was given a real filmmaking challenge and I am glad it turned out to be this way," Kasem continues.

Ammar Quttiaineh (left) and Saleh Kasem (right) decide on shot

But for veteran Jordanian co-director Ammar Quttaineh, this achievement comes as a continuation of his filmmaking journey which started back in 2004 when the AFC produced his popular short films Tough Luck and Overdose.

Hazim Bitar (left), Omar Saleh (middle), Ammar Quttaineh (right)

The Locarno film festival is an Academy-certified film festival, raising the number of Academy-certified film festivals to which AFC films have been selected to three in 2006: Tampere Film Festival, Huesca Film Festival, and now the Locarno film festival.

Undoubtedly, Jordanian filmmakers are inching toward international recognition one film festival at a time, with filmmakers from the Amman Filmmakers Cooperative leading the way.

For more information about Sharar and other AFC films: http://ammanfilmmakers.alif.com/student-films.htm

To more information about AFC filmmakers Kasem and Quttaineh:
http://ammanfilmmakers.alif.com/filmmakers-bios.htm

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