Filmmaker Hadi Ghandour’s diary of Cannes Film Festival

The famous Cannes Film Festival hosted its first Saudi Arabian pavilion at this year's event. (AFP/Anne-Christine Poujoulat)
Updated 20 May 2018
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Filmmaker Hadi Ghandour’s diary of Cannes Film Festival

  • Arab News sent screenwriter and director Hadi Ghandour to spend three days at Cannes
  • The first Saudi Arabian pavilion at the Cannes Film Festival was one of the highlights

CANNES: Arab News sent screenwriter and director Hadi Ghandour to spend three days with the team and talent in the first Saudi pavilion at the Cannes Film Festival, which closes on Saturday.

DAY 1
Cannes is always an overwhelming experience. I had attended the festival a couple of times before and after the production of my first feature film.
The frantic pace within the glitzy setting can be unsettling.
There are people everywhere, buying and selling ideas and films and themselves. It can all be very dizzying, but never boring. Here, the ostentatious and intellectual coexist.
It is a balmy Saturday afternoon. The Grand Palais is clogged by people sneaking in selfies. A swarm of eccentrics scurry along the edifice, desperately touting for screening tickets with signs saying: “Invitation SVP!”
One woman has written on her chest: “Will trade a kiss for a ticket.” The arthouse beggar.
This year’s lineup has a decidedly different tone. Somehow the festival feels smaller, in a good way. The pomp is still there, but there are also films by lesser-known filmmakers, including the debut feature “Yommedine” by Egyptian director Abu Bakr Shawky. It is also a particularly proud moment for Lebanese cinema, as Nadine Labaki’s “Capharnaum” is competing in the official selection.
The Saudi presence is on everybody’s lips. I spot a flyer in a festival goody bag inviting guests to “Discover the Kingdom” at the Saudi Film Council pavilion. On my way there, I overhear a haughty young man on the street ask his friend, “Who has time for movies?”
I arrive at the Village International, the outdoor space where countries promote their cinema. National flags wave on the rooftops of the pavilions that line the harbor. The scene is reminiscent of a mini UN. Opposite the Lebanese pavilion and nestled against the yacht-filled port is the Saudi pavilion.
It is the first of its kind in the history of the festival. It isn’t until I enter that I am convinced that this is not a mirage. I am cordially greeted by a traditionally dressed Saudi man who serves Arabic coffee.
A bar beside him serves dates and juices. Inside, the atmosphere is markedly buoyant and it is without question the busiest pavilion at the festival.
I get the impression that it’s like the popular and mysterious new kid in school.
Laughing guests mingle. Inquisitive eyes scan the two-story structure. Breezy white drapes soften the sunlight. The walls are covered with screens showing beautiful panoramic Saudi landscapes; sand dunes, traditional streets, castles and UNESCO-protected areas I have never seen before.
All are potential location shoots, I am told. “This castle can maybe be the hideout of a James Bond villain,” said Faisal Almadani of Midwam, an interactive digital experience company. He places VR goggles around my head and takes me through a virtual tour of a Jeddah market.
Nine Saudi filmmakers are here to represent their country. Some have not arrived yet, but the ones who have are circulating. They are all sharply dressed. Some already know each other; others are meeting for the first time.
Talha B., one of the filmmakers, remarks with a grin: “I took a gamble a few years ago. Now I can go back and not be the black sheep of the family.”
The sun is starting to set and music is emerging from the beachside restaurants.
Some of the parties have already begun. I remember the haughty man I overheard and decide to prove him wrong. I head off to watch a movie. “Le Depart” by Jerzy Skolimowski is playing on a huge outdoor screen on the shore as part of Cinema de la Plage.
I sit there beneath the stars. People around me disappear.
The festival disappears. The sea disappears. It’s just me and this film.
“Who has time for the movies?” I look around and get my answer.

DAY 2
Cannes during the festival feels like a movie set. It is so completely taken over that the people in restaurants and shops and on the streets look like extras. The city is divided into two kinds of people: those who wear festival badges and those who don’t.
The former vastly outnumber the latter. And they get all the benefits.
Sunday is overcast. Thick clouds are quickly gathering, promising a rainy day. A young woman dressed in sweatpants walks into the Palais with a changing bag and emerges dressed in a tawdry golden gown.
With this Clark Kent-style transformation, sh is red carpet-ready in case a charitable individual hands her a ticket.
There is a buzz inside the Saudi pavilion. A lively panel discussion on women in film is taking place, featuring Haifaa Al-Mansour, CAA agent Maha Dakhil and writer-director Maram Taibah.
What strikes me most is the very different way Al-Mansour and Taibah view their role as filmmakers.
“I celebrate being a woman filmmaker … it is part of my identity. There are so many stories about women and so much representation that is missing,” said Al-Mansour.
But Taibah identifies just as a filmmaker, not as a female filmmaker.

 

 “I’m dedicated to the story. If it happens to be a story about women, it’s great, but if it’s not, then that’s where my creative flow is going to go. It limits me. As a storyteller I’m interested in the human experience on a universal level. Women need to be seen as talents. Full stop.”
All three share an optimism for the future.
“The ground feels very fertile... things are happening overnight,” said Dakhil, who ended the panel with a word of advice for aspiring storytellers. “Dream up your story, and the medium is secondary.”
It’s lunchtime. Sandwiches, salads and desserts are served. There is another panel, this time focused on film education. In attendance are representatives from La Femis film school in Paris, Effat University, Film Independent and the Studio School.
Dr. Bayan Alshabani explains that Effat University in Jeddah had been teaching filmmaking before cinemas reopened. And here’s the kicker: its students are exclusively women.
“Since we have smartphones, everyone is making movies. We have the talent, we just have to formally nurture those talents,” she later adds.
Maria Bozzi from Film Independent announces the launch of workshops in Saudi to collaborate with local writers. Glenn Kalison, the president of Studio School, is excited about training Saudi film crews.
It is easy to forget that just a few months ago cinemas were banned in Saudi Arabia. What the SFC is attempting to build is impressive. But what impresses me most are the filmmakers I meet.
A cursory talk with Mujtaba Saeed segues into a philosophical discussion. Maram Taibah has an eloquence and sensitivity about her. Musab Alamri is fast-talking and intelligent. Talha and Maan B. clearly look after and motivate one another.
Faisal Alotaibi is cultured and considered in his words. Seba Alluqmani is bubbly and enthusiastic. And Ali Alkalthami’s passion to foster a filmmaking community with his Telfaz11 online platform is inspiring.
Thunder shakes the pavilion, and one can easily mistake the lightning for camera flashes. Heavy rain pounds on the rooftop, deafening the chatter. But as the evening approaches the weather slowly begins to clear. Before dinner, Faisal Baltyuor, the head of the SFC, gives an impassioned speech to the filmmakers, asking them to share their advice and comments.
He is hopeful that the Saudi presence will be even bigger next year — and on the red carpet.
Over a live music performance, dinner is served: kefta, chicken kebabs, pasta, hummus and vine leaves. The ebullient SFC staff join in, wrapping the night up in song.

DAY 3
It’s late morning at the Croisette, and 21-year-old Saudi director Meshal Aljaser has just arrived from Los Angeles.
With long hair and wearing a blazer over a black kandura, he looks California cool. He’s funny, edgy and sarcastic. And he’s not shy about his ambitions.
“I’d like to make English international films someday, maybe when I’m old. But if you ask me what my dream is, what I really feel, I really want to perfect Saudi film. I hope to become an iconic Saudi director after I die where people can study me. If it doesn’t happen, it’s OK, at least I tried.”
His short film “Is Sumiyati Going to Hell?” has just screened along with the other Saudi shorts in a cozy cinema inside the Grand Palais. I came out of the screening impressed by the selection. There is diversity in both form and content. The filmmakers all managed to create personal works despite the restrictions they faced, and I noticed that humor was very often present, even in the films tackling heavy subject matters such as domestic abuse, religious tension and extremism.
The work made me look forward to seeing how local talent will in the coming years express itself within the context of Saudi’s traditions and cultural norms. The boundaries are widening, but will they be pushed even further by the film-makers?
This will no doubt be something that emerging artists will face.
“I like to tell my stories and imagine one day that my kids or my grandparents will watch them. I don’t want them to be uncomfortable watching what I make,” Talha B. told me.
The film-makers head back to the pavilion to attend a panel on film festivals, featuring the programmers from the Toronto, Venice and Clermont-Ferrand film festivals, who give tips for navigating the daunting circuit.
Soon after it ends, I notice whispering among the PR, filmmakers and members of the SFC staff. I’m not supposed to know what’s going on, but I soon find out; John Travolta pays the pavilion an impromptu visit.
I decide to wind down by watching a film at the Director’s Fortnight, one of the sidebar sections held in parallel to the Cannes Film Festival:
“Amin,” by Philippe Faucon. But I am so pleasantly tired from the past few days that I fall asleep. I’ll have to watch it again.
The three days have come to an end.
They went by in a flash, and I have the same feeling I had in summer camp when I was 17: a mix of fatigue, satisfaction and sadness that it has all come to an end. But the future of Saudi cinema is just beginning.

  • Hadi Ghandour is a Lebanese/JordanianBelgian screenwriter and director. His award-winning first feature film, “The Traveler,” toured film festivals around the world.

FASTFACTS

Effat University

Effat University in Jeddah had been teaching filmmaking before cinemas reopened and its students are exclusively women.


Riyadh forum highlights importance of cultural identity and Arab heritage

Updated 15 sec ago
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Riyadh forum highlights importance of cultural identity and Arab heritage

  • Scholars, officials, experts explore and celebrate Arabian Peninsula
  • Katakura Kunio said that both Japanese and Islamic cultures had historic roots in promoting peace

RIYADH: The Al-Marwiyah Al-Arabiyah Conference, called “Desert Culture,” concluded on Monday in Riyadh. The two-day event brought together a diverse group of scholars, officials, and experts to explore and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the Arabian Peninsula.

Prince Turki Al-Faisal, the chairman of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, said that nomadism was central to Arab culture, emphasizing its roots in values over materialism. He noted that Arabs were natural storytellers, adept at turning chaos into clarity.

Katakura Kunio, president of the Motoko Katakura Foundation for Desert Culture in Japan, delivered a speech in memory of his late wife, anthropologist Motoko Katakura, which highlighted her research in Saudi Arabia.

Kunio said: “Motoko’s enduring passion for comfort inspired our foundation to establish the Comfort Prize, aimed at supporting both Japanese and international researchers and artists. This award honors individuals who dedicate their lives to enriching desert culture.

“In the current climate of positive change within Saudi Arabia, including the increased societal participation of women and the focus on tourism development, it is natural to re-evaluate the traditional value of comfort. Perhaps, in a world increasingly driven by hyper-capitalism, comfort can offer a remedy for the global population yearning for a slower pace.”

Kunio said that both Japanese and Islamic cultures had historic roots in promoting peace. He noted that Prince Shotoku of Japan endorsed “respect for peace” in his 17-Article Constitution, while the Prophet Muhammad established the Madinah Charter, which also emphasized peace and tolerance. These parallels suggested a common ground for fostering cross-cultural understanding, he added.

Abdullah Hamidaddin, assistant secretary-general for scientific affairs at the KFCRIS, described Al–Marwiyah Al-Arabiyah as a research initiative which aimed to address confusion about Arab civilization. It sought to combat attempts to undermine and marginalize Arab culture.

Hamidaddin said that the project used scientific methods to study Arab narratives and the origin of language in the Arabian Peninsula, while promoting dialogues, field studies, and critical analyses in various fields, including history, archaeology, sociology, philosophy, literature, and art.

The conference aimed to highlight the civilizational and cultural significance of the Arabian Peninsula, while seeking to strengthen the sense of Arab identity for future generations. It also promoted cultural exchange between the Arab world and neighboring regions.

A lecture titled “Gifts of God (Camels),” by Sulaiman Al-Theeb, cultural adviser at the center, was presented during the conference.

He spoke of the Arabian Peninsula’s deep connection with camels through three key concepts: rock and mural art; archaeological finds, like daily tools; and references to camels in ancient Arabic inscriptions, especially Thamudic writings.

Al-Theeb highlighted the significant status of camels in the region, which has earned them the moniker “the ship of the desert.”

Mohammed Al-Rowaily, a member of the Cultural Council at the Abdulrahman Al-Sudairy Cultural Center, said that the Arabic narrative played a crucial role in sharing ideas with others. He noted that Arabic storytelling enhanced cross-cultural understanding by conveying elements from history, oral literature, civilization, arts, and other creative works.

Hajar Al-Shammari, a linguistic researcher in Saudi history, said that the event boosted cultural engagement by fostering dialogue and cultural exchange among academics. Through the sharing of ideas it helped to establish a foundation for field studies and critical analyses focused on Arab perceptions and identity.

Al-Shammari added that Arabic storytelling played a significant role in promoting social cohesion, fulfilling the search for roots, and reinforcing values. This was especially important in the context of cultural identity and Arab heritage.


Bella Hadid celebrates fragrance launch in New York

Updated 06 May 2024
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Bella Hadid celebrates fragrance launch in New York

DUBAI: American-Dutch-Palestinian model Bella Hadid celebrated the launch of her new fragrance brand, Orebella, at a party held over the weekend at The Huntress New York.

In typical Hadid fashion, she turned heads in an archival Roberto Cavalli look from the label’s Spring/Summer 2003 collection, consisting of a petite yellow gown, matching lace-up corset, and gold stiletto sandals.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Bella (@bellahadid)

The runway sensation turned to Instagram last week to showcase images of her fragrances, which are named “Salted Muse,” “Blooming Fire” and “Window2Soul.”

Crafted from glass and adorned with gold caps, the bottles are offered in 10, 50 and 100 ml.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Bella (@bellahadid)

Hadid in her caption described the fragrances as “hydrating, alcohol-free and enriched with essential oils.” She urged her followers to “shake to activate the transformative bi-phase formula.”

The “Salted Muse” perfume has “top notes” of sea salt, pink pepper and carbon dioxide extract, “heart notes” of olive tree accord, fig and lavender, and “base notes” of cedarwood, sandalwood and amber, according to reports.

The “Blooming Fire” fragrance has bergamot, cedarwood, clove leaf and cardamom, followed by Tahitian monoi and jasmine, and finishes with patchouli.

The “Window2Soul” scent has a blend of lemon, geranium and mint in its top notes, transitions to jasmine and damask rose, and concludes with a base of tonka bean.

Hadid wrote on her website: “For me, fragrance has always been at the center of my life — helping me feel in charge of who I am and my surroundings,” she said. “From my home to nostalgic memories, to my own energy and connection with others, scent has been an outlet for me. It made me feel safe in my own world.”

“Through my healing journey, I found that I was extremely sensitive to the alcohol in traditional perfumes — both physically and mentally — it became something that was more overwhelming than calming to me,” she added. “That is the main reason I wanted to find an alternative, so essential oils became an artistic and experimental process for me.”

While Hadid’s New York trip has primarily been spent promoting Orebella, she is expected to attend the Met Gala in a few days.


Green Day announce Dubai gig

Updated 06 May 2024
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Green Day announce Dubai gig

DUBAI: US punk band Green Day are headed to Dubai in January next year.

The Grammy Award winners will make their Middle East debut at Expo City Dubai on Jan. 27 in an open-air venue that can host up to 30,000 people.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Green Day (@greenday)

Renowned as one of the most iconic punk rock bands in recent decades, Green Day will play a selection of their biggest hits. These are expected to include “American Idiot,” “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” and “Wake Me Up When September Ends” from their eight-time platinum album “American Idiot”, as well as tracks from the 10-time platinum diamond “Dookie” and their most recent studio album, “Saviors.”

The Offspring will be the support act on the night. The US rock band has enjoyed huge success since forming in 1984, releasing 10 studio albums and selling over 40 million records worldwide.

Their biggest hits include “Pretty Fly (For a White Guy),” “Why Don’t You Get a Job?” and “Original Prankster.”


Naomi Campbell sparkles in Nicolas Jebran gown

Updated 05 May 2024
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Naomi Campbell sparkles in Nicolas Jebran gown

DUBAI: British supermodel Naomi Campbell wowed fellow guests at the wedding of PrettyLittleThing founder Umar Kamani and model Nada Adelle, which took place at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes, France.

Campbell wore a custom couture gown by Lebanese designer Nicolas Jebran, who took to social media to share the supermodel’s ethereal look.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Dr Naomi Campbell (@naomi)

“It is not a catwalk: this is a Naomi-walk with grace & gardens of bliss! The gorgeous beauty queen takes it to the next level! @Naomi, a complete stunner, in a #NicolasJebran custom couture gown as she attended the #kamaniwedding wedding yesterday!” wrote the designer to the stars.

Campbell herself posted three white heart emojis and: “My chosen family! Would not want to be anywhere else than with you on this day, TO WITNESS THIS BEAUTIFUL UNION OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE MR & MRS KAMANI @nadakamani @umarkamani WE LOVE YOU.”

The wedding was also attended by Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed Al-Turki, the CEO of the Red Sea Film Festival Foundation. Other celebrity guests included former England international footballer Rio Ferdinand, fashion designer Manish Malhotra, singer Christina Milian, and Ronan and Stormy Keating.

Serenading the couple during the wedding ceremony was renowned Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, who performed his rendition of “The Prayer,” accompanied by a full orchestra, as Adelle walked down the aisle.

Supermodel Campbell enjoys a huge fan base in the Arab world. She has also been romantically involved with individuals from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt.

Late last year, she was among was among the celebrities spotted on the red carpet at the Middle East and North Africa premiere of “The Absence of Eden,” on the third day of Jeddah’s Red Sea International Film Festival.

“I love what Red Sea has become and that it’s growing and growing and growing. And it’s really amazing and phenomenal what the team and Mo (Al-Turki) and Jomana (Al-Rashid) have created,” said Campbell in a video posted on festival’s Instagram page.

Her charitable organization, Fashion for Relief, also joined forces with Qatar Creates to launch a new global initiative called Emerge. The catwalk star co-hosted a charity gala and fashion show to support creatives and business talents around the world, with a focus on Africa, the diaspora and developing communities. 


Meet the Russian stylist living ‘blissfully’ in Saudi Arabia

Since her arrival, Margo Marsden has been documenting her experience of life in Saudi Arabia on social media. (Supplied)
Updated 04 May 2024
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Meet the Russian stylist living ‘blissfully’ in Saudi Arabia

  • “True to our expectations, we’ve found immense satisfaction living in Saudi Arabia. We consider it the best decision we’ve made for our family, and have no regrets.” Marsden, a professional stylist, told Arab News

RIYADH: Margo Marsden relocated to Saudi Arabia two years ago when her husband — a British oil and gas engineer — accepted a job in the Kingdom. Since her arrival, she has been documenting her experience of life in Saudi Arabia on social media. Her TikTok profile states she is a “Russian mother married to British father … living blissfully in Saudi Arabia.”

“True to our expectations, we’ve found immense satisfaction living in Saudi Arabia. We consider it the best decision we’ve made for our family, and have no regrets.” Marsden, a professional stylist, told Arab News. “Living here is incredibly invigorating; one can palpably sense the positive transformations taking place in the country, aligned with the ambitious Vision 2030 plan. In my view, Saudi Arabia stands as the premier destination for living in 2024.”

Marsden was born and raised in Kazakhstan before moving to Russia with her parents when she was 14 years old. She lived in several countries before relocating to Saudi Arabia, including Malaysia, Singapore, Italy, Turkiye, Lebanon, Thailand, the UK, and Norway.

Living here is incredibly invigorating; one can palpably sense the positive transformations taking place in the country, aligned with the ambitious Vision 2030 plan.

Margo Marsden, Russian stylist in KSA

Marsden had worked in Riyadh for a month in 2019 with fashion retailer Zara during Ramadan, and when her husband told her about his job offer, she was thrilled at the prospect of visiting the Kingdom again.

“I love it here, and I look forward to sharing my knowledge with local and expat women, to elevate their confidence and refine their fashion identity,” she said.

Marsden now has more than two decades of experience in the fashion industry. It’s a passion that began in her childhood, when she would meticulously craft outfits for her Barbie dolls with her mother’s guidance.

Marsden said she worked as a model — treading catwalks in Russia, Kazakhstan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Lebanon, Turkey, Trinidad and Tobago, and Thailand — before moving into the business side of the industry, studying fashion design at Accademia Italiana in Bangkok and personal styling at the London College of Style. She has worked as a buyer, content creator and stylist.

“My artistic pursuits also extend behind the camera; I coordinated photoshoots for both personal and corporate clients,” she added.

As a stylist, she said, her main objective is “to enhance my client’s natural beauty and instill confidence in each customer I work with.” While Marsden doesn’t currently have any clients in the Kingdom, she is hoping to establish her own business eventually.

“I’m eager to offer my expertise to individuals keen on enhancing their appearance. Helping others look and feel their best is immensely fulfilling to me,” she added.

To follow Marsden’s journey in Saudi Arabia, visit her Instagram @margo.marsden.