release date September 21 2014
Egyptian Filmmaker Naji Ismail's Om Amira Participates at 3 Film Festivals in Germany and Nigeria
Egyptian filmmaker Naji Ismail's short documentary Om Amira will tour an array of highly-renowned film festivals worldwide, starting with the African Film Festival Cologne in Germany, followed by Nuremberg international human rights award to ultimately land in the African International Film Festival in Nigeria.
Produced by Anna Hunna initiative, Om Amira takes part at the African Film Festival Cologne in Germany, which has opened last Thursday and closes on September 28th, 2014. Brilliantly portraying the issues and struggles of the working Egyptian mother, the film screens at Nuremberg international Human Rights Awards which runs from 2 to 9 October, 2014.
Om Amira has been also officially selected to compete at the 4th African International Film Festival in Nigeria, which runs from 9-16 November, 2014.
Produced by Rahala for Production & Distribution that was founded by Naji Ismail, Om Amira was supported by Ana Hunna initiative that aims to economically showcase the true power and influence of women within their communities through film productions.
The 24-minute film tells the story of Amira's mother (Om Amira) who, resides with her family on a roof top, Downtown Cairo. Having no other option but to toughen up to support her family and her sick daughter suffering from a heart condition, she sells home-made sandwiches for living, spending all night long until the sun rise in the streets of the sleepless city of Cairo. For her struggle and dedication to support her family, the main character, Om Amira, received the Perfect Mother award.
Previously, Om Amira was officially selected in 2014 Berlin International Film Festival marking the first Egyptian film ever to participate in this competition, the Short Film Corner at Cannes Film Festival. Furthermore, the film won the ACT award as the Best Women's Film at the Ismailia International Film Festival, and the Best Cinematography award at SIMA Awards "Social Impact Media Awards" within the Short Documentary section. The short documentary, Om Amira, had an official screening at the Arab Texas Film Festival, in the USA as well as the Festival del Cinema Africano, d'Asiae America Latina of Milanin Italy. The film has also participated in the 12th In The Palace International Film Festival which takes place in June, 2014 at Balchik, Bulgaria.
Om Amira is written and directed by Naji Ismail who comes from Upper Egypt and graduated from the High Cinema Institute in 2005. During his college years, Naji wrote and directed the short fiction film El Balad as a college project, about an isolated village before which a bus passes by and never makes a stop until an average guy decides to stop it. In 2010, Ismail won a scholarship offered by the Documentary Center at The George Washington University in USA.
Ismail also directed The Story of the Revolution; a short film featuring a visual narration of the revolution days through Ahmed Hadad's verses. In 2012, Ismail scripted Knocking on Doors which highlights several complicated relationships between people from different walks of life.
Established in 2012 by Naji Ismail, Rahala for Production and Distribution aims to be a leading company in the independent filmmaking industry by collaborating with talented filmmakers whose passion would drive them to transform their independent ideas into bold and creative films. Rahala inc. is keen to produce and co-produce films from across the world and specifically from across Africa.
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