ZAGROS, the First Feature Film From Belgian-Kurdish Director Sahim Omar Kalifa, Selected for Dubai International Film Festival
- Details
- Category: Indies, Docs, Foreign Film
- Published on Friday, 24 November 2017 09:08
- Written by Janet Walker
ZAGROS, the first feature film from Belgian-Kurdish director Sahim Omar Kalifa, will be presented in the prestigious Muhr Feature Competition at this year's Dubai International Film Festival which opens December 5 through December 14, 2017.
Sahim's three short films, 'Land of the Heroes' (2010), 'Baghdad Messi' (2012) and 'Bad Hunter' (2014), were selected for 250 festivals and took home a total of 97 international awards to date. Both 'Baghdad Messi' and 'Bad Hunter' were shortlisted for the Oscars, and Sahim is now a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
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ZAGROS recently won the Grand Prix for Best Film in the Official International Competition of the Ghent International Film Festival, and both the Silver Atlas for Best Director and the Audience Award at the Arras International Film Festival.
Synopsis
Havin, the young wife of Kurdish shepherd Zagros, is accused of adultery. She flees with their daughter Rayhan from Kurdistan to Brussels. Zagros is convinced of her innocence, leaves his family and joins his wife in the West to start a new life.
Yet, in Brussels, Havin reveals that she has not told Zagros the whole truth and Zagros starts having doubts. He has to choose between his love for Havin and his family’s honour. This choice is becoming increasingly difficult and drives Zagros to despair.
Click here to see the trailer.
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Feyyaz Duman plays the lead role. Other main character are played by Halima Ilter, Daria Hachem Mohamed Gulli, Brader Musiki, Suat Üsta, Elvan Köçer and Maaike Neuville.
The screenplay was written by Sahim Omar Kalifa and Jean-Claude van Rijckeghem (Moscow, Belgium - SACD Award Cannes 2008).Ruben Impens (Raw, The Broken Circle Breakdown, Black Mirror) was the Director of Photography, and the film was edited by Dorith Vinken (Layla M., Strike A Pose).
'Zagros' screenings at Dubai Film Festival:
December 7 2017 - 21:45 – Mall of the Emirate VOX
December 9 2017 - 14:45 - Mall of the Emirate VOX
'Zagros' is produced by Dries Phlypo and Jean-Claude van Rijckeghem for the Belgian production company A Private View, in co-production with Dutch producer Viking Film and the Franco-Belgian Man's Films Productions.
The project was supported by the VAF/Filmfonds of Flemish Minister of Culture Sven Gatz and received additional support of the economic fund Screen Flanders, an initiative under the authority of Flemish Minister of Economy Philippe Muyters and Minister of Culture Sven Gatz.
Also supported by the Dutch Film Fund, the Dutch Film Production Incentive, the Centre du Cinéma et de l’Audiovisuel of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, Eurimages, the Creative Europe MEDIA programme of the European Union, Casa Kafka Pictures, the Tax Shelter of the Belgian Government, Telenet's STAP programme, and Canvas.
