Venice Film Fest’s Orizzonti section, meet the new filmmakers: Sameh Zoabi
Alongside non-US festivals like Cannes, Berlin and Toronto, the Venice International Film Festival has become a high profile launch event for major Hollywood and independent films on the annual calendar. In addition to its use by distributors to release awards contenders, Venice is also a platform to introduce new cinematic voices, particularly European directors, but also increasingly, those from other parts of the world.
The main platform for new cinema is the Horizons or Orizzonti section, which is made up mostly of new or innovative films, including a small selection of short films. New Machine Magazine profiles Palestinian director Sameh Zoabi, who is showing his latest film in the 2018 Orizzonti section.
Sameh Zoabi
Tel Aviv on Fire, Venice International Film Festival Orizzonti Section
SYNOPSIS:
Salam is an inexperienced Palestinian man who becomes a writer for a popular soap opera after a chance encounter with an Israeli soldier. His career begins to rise until the soldier and the shows financial backers disagree on how the show should end and Salam is caught in the middle.
ABOUT THE FILMMAKER:
– Sameh was born in 1975 in Iksal, a Palestinian village near Nazareth
– He graduated from Tel Aviv University with a degree in both Film Studies as well as English Literature
– He is also keen on teaching and works as an adjunct professor at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Hunter College as well as in Columbia University’s MFA program
PREVIOUS AWARDS FOR OTHER FILMS:
– Amiens International Film Festival, Screenplay Creation Fonds for Be Quiet (2014)
– Aspen Shortsfest, Jury award for Be quiet (2005)
– Berkshire International Film Festival, Audience Award for Under The Same Sun (2013)
– Dubai International Film Festival, Muhr Award for Be Quiet (2005)
– Montpellier Mediterranean Film Festival, Golden Antigone for Ish lelo selolari (2010)
– Rhode Island International Film Festival, First Prize for Under the Same Sun
