Syrian cinema during the year 2022.. Production of 25 films and many external participations

Damascus-SANA

The year 2022 has come to an end, leaving behind many diverse programs and events in their content at the Syrian cinematic level, as Syrian cinema won several Arab and international awards and witnessed the launch of a number of cinematic demonstrations and shows through which the contemporary and advanced face of cinema emerged despite the difficulties and obstacles it faced.

The current year brought with it new steps in the march of Syrian cinema, despite the great production difficulties and the lack of festivals as a result of the current circumstances, according to the journalist and film critic Nidal Qushaha, who considered in his statement to SANA that the cinema’s gains during this year were through the production of approximately 25 films by the Film Foundation, among feature films. Medium length, short and supporting youth cinema.

Qushaha pointed out that the Syrian cinema appeared this year in two Arab capitals after a break for several years through the participation of Syrian films in festivals in Baghdad and Muscat, indicating that with regard to specialized publications in the world of cinema, it was not at the level of ambition, as there was a decline in its publication and in the number of awards. He added, “The biggest loss for Syrian cinema remains the absence of the Damascus Film Festival.”

A number of cinematic events and demonstrations inside Syria in 2022:

A children’s cinema demonstration held by the General Film Organization under the title (exciting midterm holiday) in Al-Kindi halls in Damascus and the rest of the governorates, during which 14 films of the latest international cinema productions in the field of animation were shown, at a rate of two films per day.

The First International Women’s Film Festival, whose activities were held at Dar Al-Assad for Culture and Arts with the participation of ten Arab and foreign countries under the title (Women Make Change). And “The Woman Behind the Tattoo Artist,” and “Teresa” and “Maryam.”

- Launching a competition for the scenario of the feature film directed to the family and children by the Cinema Foundation. The competition is related to the scenario that deals with the issues of the Syrian child in the present day. The two texts “Bayan Kasr” written by Hossam Hamidou and “The Crossing of Death” written by Ahmed Al-Hakim won the competition for the best screenplay text. In the Current Reality category, the text “A Sunny Autumn Day” by Rose Ismail won for the Children’s Cinema category.

– Launching the activities of the Resistance Cinema Week in September 2022, which was set up by the Ministry of Culture in cooperation with the Lebanese Association for Arts (Resalat). Anzour and the Iranian film “Journey to the Levant” directed by Ibrahim Hatem Kabba, which documented scenes from the terrorist war on Syria, then the two films “Flight 17” directed by Ali Al-Maghout and the Iranian film “When the Moon Full” directed by Narges Eibar.

– Holding the “Iranian Cinema Days” event at the Drama Theater in Dar Al-Assad for Culture and Arts, which was organized by the Iranian Cultural Chancellery in Syria in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture. "Painting Basin" and "Angels Come Together".

A number of awards won by Syrian cinema in foreign participations:

The Syrian short narrative film (Photograph), directed by Al-Muhannad Kulthum and produced by the General Film Corporation, won the Jury Prize at the conclusion of the official competition of the International Film Festival Against Terrorism held in the Iraqi city of Erbil.

– Syrian cinema won two awards at the Lebanese Film and Television Festival – the eleventh session, through the films “Dark Clouds and Back to the Wall.”

Syria won two awards at the Alexandria Film Festival in its 38th session, Mahmoud Hamida, for the films “A Tale in Damascus” by Ahmed Ahmed and the movie “Amusement Park” by the young director Nour Khair Al-Anam.

Three awards for Syria during the Carthage Days Film Festival in its 33rd session, which was held in the Tunisian capital, Tunis, where the movie (The Road) by director Abdel Latif Abdel Hamid won the audience award, and the movie “People Follow Up” by director Firas Mohamed won the Golden Tanit, while the artist Muwafaq won Al-Ahmad won the Best Actor Award for his role in the feature film “The Road”.

The film “The Oath of Siriacus,” directed by Olivier Bourgeois and produced by the Ministry of Culture represented by the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums and the Syrian Trust for Development, won the Honor Award in the Best Documentary category at the eighth edition of the Cardiff Film Festival, which was held in Wales, Britain.

The Syrian short documentary film “The Silk Journey” by film director Muhannad Kalthoum, and produced by the Cinema Foundation, won the Grand Prize for the Short Documentary Film Competition at the 9th International Festival of Cinema and the Sea in Mir El-Left, Morocco.

In the context of foreign participation, a number of Syrian artists were honored in cinematic events, most notably the selection of the management of the Third Cinemana Festival for Arab Film, which was held in the Omani capital, the hometown of artist Abbas Al-Nouri, to honor him in recognition of his artistic career alongside a group of Arab artists and directors.

Syrian local and international cinema shows, including:

The General Film Organization launched a set of screenings for the feature film (The Last Breakfast), directed by Abdul Latif Abdel Hamid, in the Syrian governorates.

The launch of the first public screening of the movie “Kazy Rose” at Cinema City Damascus, in the presence of the work makers, a number of participating artists, and a crowd of spectators.

As part of the cinema screenings demonstration in front of the Citadel of Aleppo, which was held by the Ministry of Culture - the Cinema Foundation, the movie “The Last Breakfast” directed by Abdul Latif Abdel Hamid was shown.

– The launch of the activities of the Syrian Cinema Week in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, in coordination between the cinema and theater departments in Syria and Iraq. And “Jawad”, “Unless something hurts you”, “The Last Shot” and “Back to the Wall”.

In the Omani capital, Muscat, “Syrian Cinematic Days” activities were held, which lasted for four days, and included screenings of Syrian films “Blood of the Palm”, “The Last Breakfast”, “Dark Clouds” and “The Morning Star”.

Syria participated in the Casablanca Arab Film Festival in its third session through two films produced by the Cinema Foundation, namely (The Road) and (A Tale in Damascus).

– Syria participated in the Horizons of Arab Cinema competition, within the Cairo International Film Festival, in its forty-fourth session, with the movie (Youssef’s Journey - The Forgotten), directed by Jude Saeed.

– She also participated in the seventh session of the Jerusalem International Film Festival in Gaza, through the two films (Bouh) by director Ayham Arsan in the feature narrative film competition, and (Cafe of Keys) by director Ali Al-Aqbani, in the category of short narrative films.

Khader Suleiman

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