A Ciambra Virtually Screens on Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation's Website

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A Ciambra Virtually Screens on Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation's Website


A Ciambra by director Jonas Carpignano will screen online through the official website of Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation in the light of the novel Coronavirus pandemic. Coming as part the long-term collaboration between the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation and MAD Solutions, the film's screening is slated to be held on Tuesday, September 29, at 5:30 PM (GMT+2) and will be made available only for audiences across the Arab world.

Founded in 1978, Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation is a non-profit initiative launched by the Arab Bank through allocating a percentage of its yearly profits to fund it. It serves as the bank’s arm to raise the social and cultural awareness through three main elements; Thought Leadership, Literature and Arts, and Innovation.

Set in a small Romani community in Calabria, A Ciambra follows Pio, a 14-year-old brat who is desperate to grow up fast. He follows his older brother, Cosimo, everywhere. When he suddenly disappears, Pio sets out to prove he's ready to step into his big brother's shoes.

Directed by Jonas Carpignano, A Ciambra stars Pio Amato, Koudous Seihon, Iolanda Amato, and Damiano Amato. MAD Solutions handles the film’s distribution across the Arab world.

Previously landing its world premiere at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Label Europa Cinemas Award, A Ciambra took part in more than 40 international film festivals, including the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF), Carthage Film Festival (JCC), Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF), Hong Kong International Film Festival, Sydney Film Festival, among many others.

The film received a number of prestigious awards including; the Cinema Extraordinaire Award at the Bergen International Film Festival in Norway, Best Director and Best Editing awards at the David di Donatello Awards, Best Actor award at the Seville European Film Festival, Georges Delerue Prize (Best Music) at the Ghent International Film Festival, and SNCCI Award and Best Italian Film at the Trieste International Film Festival.

Director/writer Jonas Carpignano grew up between New York City and Rome. His first feature film Mediterranea premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2015 before receiving the Best Directorial Debut of 2015 Award by the National Board of Review, as well as the Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Director. The film was nominated for three Independent Spirit Awards including the Best First Feature Film Award.

His second feature film A Ciambra had its world premiere at the Quinzaine des Réalisateurs at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival where it won the Europa Cinema Label award for Best European Film. The film won numerous awards in addition to earning Carpignano a nomination for Best Director at the Independent Spirit Awards. A Ciambra was chosen to represent Italy for the Best Foreign Film at the 2018 Academy Awards and was named the Best Italian Film of 2017 by the National Syndicate of Italian Film Critics.