Amman Filmmakers Cooperative

THE VIEW WINS BEST SHORT FILM AT FRANCO-ARAB FILM FESTIVAL 2008

July 10, 2008

The verdict is in. The View by Cooperative filmmakers Hazim Bitar and
Rifqi Assaf wins Best Short Film (1000 USD) at the Franco-Arab Film
Festival 2008. This is the first festival participation for the short
film, which explores the psychology of violence in the absence of
restraints.

(Photo right to left: Hazim Bitar of the Amman Filmmakers Cooperative, actor Rabee Zureikat, co-director Rifqi Assaf, Ali Kali of Société Générale Bank, French Ambassador Denys Gauer. )

The one-take film tells the story of an Israeli sniper in occupied
Palestine who suffers mission drift while peeping through his rifle
scope at an unfolding drama between a Palestinian couple.

"This was the first real test for the film, and it seems we did not
disappoint our audiences," said co-director Rifqi Assaf.

The leading roles in the film went to Rabee Zureikat, an advertising
executive for a major car maker, and Kian Hattar, a graphics design
student at Yarmouk University. Hotel manager Feras Ja'bari also
participated in a supporting role.

"Despite the extremely limited resources of the Amman Filmmakers
Cooperative, we are delighted to know that we can still touch both
critics and audiences with our films," commented producer and
co-director Hazim Bitar.

The competition screening was attended by leading film critic Adnan
Madanat who described The View as a "bold feat." Accomplished Egyptian
director Yusri Nasrallah, who also attended the screening, described
The View as "a very good film."

THE VIEW: FILM INFO

TITLE: Al-Mash'hd (The View).
DIRECTOR: Hazim Bitar & Rifqi Assaf
WRITER: Hazim Bitar & Rifqi Assaf
DIALOG: Hazim Bitar
CAST: Rabee Zureikat, Kian Hattar, Fares Ja'bari
CINEMATOGRAPHY & EDITING: Hazim Bitar
LENGTH: 16 min.
FORMAT: HDV
LANGUAGE: Hebrew w/English and Arabic subtitles
PRODUCER: Hazim Bitar & Amman Filmmakers Cooperative
PRODUCTION Date: May 2008
POSTER: Ayah Younis

RELATED LINKS

The View, a New Short Film, Explores the Psychology of War
http://ammanfilmmakers.alif.com/may-21-08-theview.htm

Film Poster
http://AmmanFIlmmakers.alif.com/images/theviewposter.jpg

Film Page
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Al-Mashhd-The-View/13251098289

Film Trailer
http://youtube.com/watch?v=w1Ffmhnhp38

CONTACT:

Hazim Bitar
Phone: +962.776.400.434
Email: ArabFilmmakers@gmail.com
Web: JordanianFilms.com

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http://JordanianFilms.com