MANARA (2019)
76th Venice Film Festival - Venice Days (Special Presentation)
Manara is the the second film directed by Zayn Alexander and written by Pascale Seigneurie. In association with Premiere Film, “Manara” made its world premiere during the 76th Venice Film Festival (Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica della Biennale di Venezia) in the Giornate degli Autori section (Venice Days) at the Villa degli Autori at the Venice Lido. Manara is distributed internationally by Premiere Film. The film’s Arab world distribution is handled by MAD Solutions.
“... Thoughtful and quietly powerful, and feels particularly timely.”
“Alexander has something to say about his country’s behavioural and psychological attitudes and it is remarkable what he manages to achieve in such a short time frame.”
“... A perfect example of how to carefully construct a short film narrative.”
“... A compelling and well-crafted film.”
“... A poetic and potent exploration of family, grief, rage and anger.”
“One of the best Arab/Lebanese short films of 2019.”
“... A riveting intrigue filled film with Hitchkockesque elements. Director Zayn Alexander has skilfully crafted a tale that straddles the genres of a murder mystery but equally examines societal pressure and customs.”
“Troubled family relationships, loss of communication, carefully curated appearances. Such are the themes of this powerful film, broached in a way that implicates the viewer, but does not give all the answers, leaving room for varying interpretations.”
Zayn Alexander attends the sixteenth edition of Giornate degli Autori at the Villa degli Autori on September 4, 2019 in Venice, Italy during the 76th Venice Film Festival.
Director Zayn Alexander, along with film director Andrea Segre (Founder of ZaLab) and Giorgio Gosetti (Artistic Director of the Giornate degli Autori - Venice Days), presents his film Manara at the 76th Venice Film Festival in the Giornate degli Autori section.
Laguna Sud - Il Cinema fuori dal Palazzo (Winner - Laguna Sud Award)
Prior to its official presentation at the 76th Venice Film Festival, MANARA was awarded the “Laguna Sud Award” for Best Short Film at the 5th edition of Laguna Sud - Il Cinema fuori dal Palazzo.
Laguna Sud was conceived and directed by Andrea Segre (founder of Zalab) and Giorgio Gosetti (artistic director of Venice Days). The jury, composed of director Paola Randi, director of photography Valerio Azzali and writer Francesco Targhetta awarded Manara the top prize.
Here's the verdict:
‘.. Per aver saputo dipingere un mondo di pergiudizio e stereotipi con originalità e sensibilità, senza retorica, in una storia in cui gli “assenti” sono protagonist.’
‘.. For having been able to paint a world of judgement and stereotypes with originality and sensitivity, without rhetoric, in a story in which the "absent" are the protagonists.’
2019 Carthage Film Festival (Nominee - Tanit d’Or)
Following its Venice debut, “Manara” made its MENA premiere (Middle East and North Africa) at the 2019 Carthage Film Festival (Journées Cinématographiques de Carthage) in Tunis, Tunisia. The film participated in the official competition ‘Compétition Officielle Courts Métrages de Fiction’ and was nominated for the Tanit d’Or award for ‘Best Short Film’. The JCC opened in Tunis on October 26th and closed on November 2nd.
Zayn Alexander attends the opening ceremony of the 2019 Carthage Film Festival in Tunis, Tunisia on October 26, 2019.
2020 Alexandria Short Film Festival (Winner - Silver Hypatia Award)
Manara made its Egyptian premiere at the 6th Alexandria Short Film Festival in February 2020. The film participated in the official competition where it picked up the “Silver Hypatia Award” for Best Narrative Short Film.
2020 ÉCU - The European Independent Film Festival (Winner - The Ahmed Khedr Award for Excellence in Arab Filmmaking)
Manara made its French premiere at the 2020 ÉCU - The European Independent Film Festival. The film participated in the official competition and picked up “The Ahmed Khedr Award for Excellence in Arab Filmmaking” for its outstanding creative efforts. Founded in 2013, this award is given to promising filmmakers from the Arab world and is dedicated to the late Ahmed Khedr.
Posted by The European Independent Film Festival on Sunday, April 26, 2020
2020 BCT - Festival Nazionale del Cinema e della Televisione - Città di Benevento (Nominee - Best Short Film)
MANARA returned to Italy to screen, in competition, at the 2020 BCT - Benevento Cinema e Televisione. This year's edition was an in-person event and took place from July 28th to August 2nd. BCT - Festival Nazionale del Cinema e della Televisione - Città di Benevento receives over 1500 films from 30 different countries around the world and shortlists around 200 to take part in the official selection.
2020 River Film Festival (Nominee - PREMIO SPECIALE DEL PUBBLICO)
MANARA continues its European tour with a screening on the waters of the Piovego at Porta Portello Padova at the 2020 River Film Festival. The RFF is an event with a strong cultural connotation. Now in its 14th edition, the 2020 RFF offers an eclectic and rich program dedicated to new international short films, many have already been screened at prestigious international festivals, such as Cannes, Berlin, San Sebastian, Toronto and Venice.
2020 Elba Film Festival (Winner - Best Actor)
Another screening in Italy, this time on the Elba Island, a magnificent Island in the Tuscan Arcipelago. MANARA was nominated in both “Best Short Film” and “Best Actor” categories. The film picked up the award for “Best Actor” for director/actor Zayn Alexander.
2020 NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFLA) co-hosted by The Academy (AMPAS) (Nominee - Best Screenplay)
“Manara” premiered to U.S. audiences in December of 2020 at NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFLA) in its first virtual edition of its annual InFocus: Middle Eastern, Arab program. Co-hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), the program featured a collection of compelling short films curated in partnership with the Arab Film and Media Institute (AFMI) and showcased Arab storytellers from across the world, featuring stories that cinematically capture resilience and community amidst the hardships of immigration, political instability and personal loss.
2020 Lonely Wolf: London International Film Festival (Winner - Best Foreign Film)
“Manara” wins "Best Foreign Film" and picks up two nominations for "Best Drama" and "Best Actress in a Leading Role" for Hala Basma Safieddine at the 2020 Lonely Wolf: London International Film Festival.
2020 Beirut Shorts International Film Festival (Nominee - Best Independent Short Fiction)
MANARA will be making its Lebanese premiere at the 2020 Beirut Shorts International Film Festival. The film is in competition and is up for Best Independent Short Fiction in the “National Independent Competition” category. The festival is organized by Beirut Film Society and will run from January 14th to the 20th.
Shattered but Unbroken: Spotlight on Lebanese Cinema by SR Socially Relevant™ Film Festival NY and The Lebanese American University – LAU
Manara will have its New York premiere as part of the film series titled Un-Broken: Memory and Identity in Lebanese Cinema. The event is organized by the Socially Relevant Film Festival (SRFF) together with festival partner LAU, The Lebanese American University in New York.
The film series will celebrate Memory and Identity in Lebanese Cinema marking the first anniversary of the terrible blast that shattered Beirut and shook Lebanon.
Opening screenings will take place at The Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center at the Lincoln Center on August 17 followed by an online streaming of films and live panels from August 18 through 21.
18th Reykjavik International Film Festival (RIFF) | “The Golden Egg” Competition
Manara made its Nordic premiere at the 18th RIFF | Reykjavík International Film Festival. The film screened screening as part of "The Golden Egg" competition on Wednesday, Oct 6th @ Bíó Paradís 2.
5th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) | “Black Box Cinema”
Manara will be screening during the 5th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF), May 23-29, 2022 at the Black Box Cinema. The Black Box Cinema is one of the fair’s most popular pavilions since its debut.
This year, Black Box Cinema will feature 22 short films from 13 countries.
Black Box Cinema is a 50-seat cinema founded and managed by filmmaker Nawaf Al Janahi, created specifically to be at non-film events, to “ spread film culture in new circles and giving different audiences the chance to come closer to Arab cinema”.
