The Muslim Film Festival “MFF2020” awaits its fans across Australia and the world for 2 weeks of independent films from Saturday 5 September to Saturday 19 September 2020.
The criteria of accepting films are quite relaxed and inclusive, with the prime focus on showcasing culturally diverse Muslim societies across the globe.
The Australian International Muslim Film Festival was founded in late 2018 to support and promote Muslim independent films from all around the world.
The organisers aim to promote and provide exposure for these films and organise entertaining and culturally diverse sessions to showcase these talented filmmakers’ artwork.
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Dr Joanne McKeown, the festival director, says, “the festival is not strictly a religious festival or a conservative event. We accept almost any film made by Muslims, or telling stories about Muslims anywhere in the world – made by anyone Muslim or non-Muslim.
She further adds, “we have ethical guidelines, of course, based on Islamic teachings and we will not let anyone cross them, but once again this is not really a preaching or daawah event.”
Karina Sorelli, who joined the production team of the festival as an Executive Producer recently, added that she believes “it is important to have women’s voices heard in our film and television industry as we are still under-represented.”
She further added,”also as a Muslim woman, I believe we have a lot of history and culture to share with the world and hopefully end any stigma that may have surrounded our culture since 9/11.”
Karina’s journey to her role with the Muslim Film Festival started last year in Melbourne after watching last year’s inaugural festival
“I was impressed by the number of talented people that came forward to share their moving picture stories, all from diverse backgrounds. Our diverse culture was so well-represented, it made me realise how diverse the Muslim culture is and I am incredibly proud to be a part of this film festival and I hope it goes from strength to strength right across Australia and hopefully internationally one day.”
The festival website and social media pages show that a total of 73 films have been submitted this year, including shorts, dramas and documentaries from around 24 countries.
Muslim Film Festival judges have selected 55 brilliant films this year which are going to be offered for Video On Demand via Vimeo platform for 2 weeks from Saturday 5 September to Saturday 19 September 2020.
Anyone can to watch these films from anywhere around the globe.
Four sessions of in-theatre screenings will be held on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September in the city of Perth, Western Australia. The opening session and Awards Ceremony session will be on Saturday 5 September, at the State Library of Western Australia, from 1.00 pm until 5.30 pm. There will be another two additional sessions on 6 September at Backlot Theatre, Perth, Western Australia, from 2.00 pm to 6.30 pm. (subject to cancellation depending on coronavirus restrictions).
The festival is showing some films for the first time globally like the South African feature film “Barakat” (138 minutes) which is directed by Amy Jephta, written by Amy Jephta and Ephraim Gordon. The film tells the story of Aisha Davids, who decides to accept a marriage proposal, as she devises a plan to break the news to her four sons over Eid family reunion.
The only problem is that the two eldest sons have been at loggerheads since their father passed away and refuse to be in the same room at the same time. Her big revelation is spoiled when the boys hear via the grapevine about their mother’s pending nuptials and come together to voice their disapproval of the match. Now it’s up to Aisha, her fiancé and her daughters in law to bring the sons around to her way of thinking using the one thing they can all agree on – the barakat.
MFF2020 aims to promote inclusion, tolerance, and friendship and introduce Muslim society’s culture and stories to a wider audience. The program will reflect the diversity and opportunities within Muslim communities.
MFF Finalists 2020:
The official selection has been released on the festival website, all the finalists are competing for the first time at MFF.
SPECIAL MENTION BY THE JUDGES:
(OFFICIAL CERTIFICATE ONLY)
SHORT DRAMA Category:
Better than Neil Armstrong
Director Alireza Ghasemi
Iran
FEATURE DRAMA Category:
Omar and Us
Directors Maryna Gorbach & Mehmet Bahadir
Turkey
Women Who Run With Wolves
Director Amir Athar Soheili
Iran
Barakat
Director Amy Jephta
South Africa
SHORT DOCUMENTARY Category:
The Little Tea Shop
Directors Matteo Servente, Molly J Wexler
United States
FEATURE DOCUMENTARY Category:
Progress in the valley of the people who don’t know
Director Florian Kunert
Germany
SHORT DRAMA FINALISTS:
(EACH OFFICIAL CERTIFICATE, WINNER: + TROPHY AND $250 AWARD)
Brotherhood
Director Meryam Joobeur
Canada
Maradona’s Legs
Director Firas Khoury
Germany
I am Fatou
Director Amir Ramadan
Italy
SHORT DOCUMENTARY FINALISTS:
(EACH OFFICIAL CERTIFICATE, WINNER:
+ TROPHY AND $250 AWARD)
Gando
Director Teymour Ghaderi
Iran
The Kebab Man
Directors Declan Arrighi, Jordan Osborne
Australia
Gaza, one football, one leg
Director Patrice Forget
France
FEATURE DOCUMENTARY FINALISTS:
(EACH OFFICAL CERTIFICATE, WINNER:
+ TROPHY AND $500 AWARD)
Islam De Cuba
Director Marzia Rumi
Italy
The Price of Folly
Director Safia Kessas
Belgium
MUSLIM FILM FESTIVAL 2020 MAJOR EVENTS:
Muslim Film Festival 2020 (couched)
WATCH FROM ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!!!
https://www.facebook.com/events/494218981416068/
Sat 5 Sep – Sat 19 Sep: Video on Demand
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MuslimFilmFestival2020 Award Ceremony/
Opening Sessions (State Library of WA)
https://www.facebook.com/events/2745007335823902/
SATURDAY 5 SEPTEMBER, 2020 AT 1 PM – 5.30 PM
State library theatre ticket sale:
https://www.trybooking.com/BKZPB
***
MuslimFilmFestival2020 at Backlot Cinema, Perth
Session 3 and Session 4
SUNDAY 6 SEPTEMBER, 2020 AT 2 PM – 6 PM
https://www.facebook.com/events/924550417948701
Tickets on sale on:
Backlot Theatre Ticket sale:
https://www.trybooking.com/BKZPC
State library theatre:
https://www.trybooking.com/BKZPB
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