Lebanese composer Khaled Mouzanar, Palestinian filmmaker Mai Masri and Tunisian director Meryam Joobeur are among the new members invited to join the class of 2020 of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Half of the new class are from outside the US, representing 68 countries, and 45 per cent are women, the film academy announced on Tuesday, June 30.
“We have always embraced extraordinary talent that reflects the rich variety of our global film community, and never more so than now,” Academy president David Rubin said in a statement.
The academy announced it had surpassed the goals it set in 2016 to double its female membership that of and underrepresented ethnic and racial communities by 2020.
“We take great pride in the strides we have made in exceeding our initial inclusion goals set back in 2016, but acknowledge the road ahead is a long one. We are committed to staying the course,” Academy chief executive Dawn Hudson said.
Those who accept the invitation will become new additions to the Academy’s membership in 2020.
Here is a look at some of the newly invited members who come from the Arab world.
Khaled Mouzanar
The composer and songwriter has composed the scores for many films, including Caramel, Where do We Go Now? and Capernaum, all of which are directed by and star his wife, Nadine Labaki. Mouzanar was also co-producer on Capernaum, which was nominated for an Oscar in 2019.
In an interview with The National last year, the composer said the success of their latest film was "as clear as water". "I mortgaged my home to do the film," he says. "It was never a question of not succeeding." The film won numerous awards but lost to Alfonso Cuaron's Roma at the Oscars.
Mai Masri
The Amman-born director and producer has made films focusing on the struggle of Palestinians since the 1980s. Her latest feature, 3000 Nights, tells the story of a woman who gives birth to her son while in an Israeli jail. It was screened at Toronto International Film Festival in 2015.
Meryam Joobeur
The Tunisian-American filmmaker is an Oscar-nominated director whose short film Brotherhood received a nod in the short-live action category. The film tells the story of a family shaken by the return of their oldest son, Malik, who after a long journey, comes home with a mysterious new wife. It lost to Marshall Curry's The Neighbours' Window.
You can watch Brotherhood in full here:
Mounia Akl
The Lebanese filmmaker's short film Submarine was selected at the 69th Cannes Film Festival, screened at Toronto International Film Festival and won the Jury Prize at Dubai International Film Festival. Akl holds a master's degree in directing from Columbia University in New York. She is currently making the feature film Costa Brava Lebanon, which was selected to participate in the Sundance Screenwriters and Directors Lab. She works in Beirut and Los Angeles.
Ahmad Saleh
The Saudi writer and filmmaker, who lives in Germany, holds a master's degree in film from the Academy of Media Arts Cologne, where he wrote and directed two short films. Ayny, his graduation film, won the foreign animation gold medal at the 2016 Student Academy Awards.
Najwa Najjar
The Palestinian-Jordanian writer had her directorial debut with Pomegranates and Myrrh. The film, which starred Yasmine Al Masri and Hiam Abbass, screened at international film festivals.
Tala Hadid
The Iraqi-British filmmaker is an award-winning director and producer. Her latest film, House in the Fields, is a documentary that examines the life of an isolated rural Amazigh community in the High Atlas Mountains. She is also the sister of the late internationally renowned architect, Zaha Hadid.
Rana Eid
The sound editor is considered to be one of the best in the Lebanese film industry today. She is the founder of Rana Studios for audio post-production. One of her latest works is Philippe Aractingi's Ismaii. Eid also teaches sound for film at the Universite Saint Esprit de Kaslik.
Salem Brahimi
The Algerian-British director is behind a number of films set in Algeria. His moving drama Let Them Come screened at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival and won the Special Jury Prize Muhr Feature Award at Dubai International Film Festival in 2015.
Rima Mismar
The Lebanese producer is the executive director of Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, an organisation that supports creatives in the Arab world. Mismar has forged a career as a film critic since the 1990s and has served as jury member at several film festivals.
Ali Essafi
The Moroccan screenwriter made his directorial debut with General, Nous Voila! (General, Here We Come!) in 1997. The film won the special jury award at the Namur Film Festival.
Miranda Yousef
The American-Egyptian director is also an award-winning film editor. She holds a master's degree in directing from the University of California, Los Angeles. Her work includes The New Bauhaus (2019) and Troubadours (2011).
Tarak Ben Ammar
French-Tunisian Tarak Ben Ammar is an international producer and distributor, who has worked on numerous films as a producer, including American Skin (2019).
Malek Bensmail
Born in Constantine, the French-Algerian filmmaker started his career at an early age. His film The Battle of Algiers, a Film Within History was screened at festivals around the world and won numerous awards.
Hajooj Kuka
The Sudanese documentary filmmaker wrote and directed his first narrative film Akasha, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2018.
The Details
Article 15
Produced by: Carnival Cinemas, Zee Studios
Directed by: Anubhav Sinha
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, Sayani Gupta, Zeeshan Ayyub
Our rating: 4/5
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Stree
Producer: Maddock Films, Jio Movies
Director: Amar Kaushik
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana, Abhishek Banerjee
Rating: 3.5
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203S%20Money%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202018%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20London%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ivan%20Zhiznevsky%2C%20Eugene%20Dugaev%20and%20Andrei%20Dikouchine%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%245.6%20million%20raised%20in%20total%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The low down
Producers: Uniglobe Entertainment & Vision Films
Director: Namrata Singh Gujral
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Nargis Fakhri, Bo Derek, Candy Clark
Rating: 2/5
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
World Cup League Two
Results
Oman beat Nepal by 18 runs
Oman beat United States by six wickets
Nepal beat United States by 35 runs
Oman beat Nepal by eight wickets
Fixtures
Tuesday, Oman v United States
Wednesday, Nepal v United States
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN MARITIME DISPUTE
2000: Israel withdraws from Lebanon after nearly 30 years without an officially demarcated border. The UN establishes the Blue Line to act as the frontier.
2007: Lebanon and Cyprus define their respective exclusive economic zones to facilitate oil and gas exploration. Israel uses this to define its EEZ with Cyprus
2011: Lebanon disputes Israeli-proposed line and submits documents to UN showing different EEZ. Cyprus offers to mediate without much progress.
2018: Lebanon signs first offshore oil and gas licencing deal with consortium of France’s Total, Italy’s Eni and Russia’s Novatek.
2018-2019: US seeks to mediate between Israel and Lebanon to prevent clashes over oil and gas resources.
The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV
How tumultuous protests grew
- A fuel tax protest by French drivers appealed to wider anti-government sentiment
- Unlike previous French demonstrations there was no trade union or organised movement involved
- Demonstrators responded to online petitions and flooded squares to block traffic
- At its height there were almost 300,000 on the streets in support
- Named after the high visibility jackets that drivers must keep in cars
- Clashes soon turned violent as thousands fought with police at cordons
- An estimated two dozen people lost eyes and many others were admitted to hospital
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The years Ramadan fell in May
Her most famous song
Aghadan Alqak (Would I Ever Find You Again)?
Would I ever find you again
You, the heaven of my love, my yearning and madness;
You, the kiss to my soul, my cheer and
sadness?
Would your lights ever break the night of my eyes again?
Would I ever find you again?
This world is volume and you're the notion,
This world is night and you're the lifetime,
This world is eyes and you're the vision,
This world is sky and you're the moon time,
Have mercy on the heart that belongs to you.
Lyrics: Al Hadi Adam; Composer: Mohammed Abdel Wahab
Results
6.30pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah Group Two (PA) US$55,000 (Dirt) 1,600m; Winner: Rasi, Harry Bentley (jockey), Sulaiman Al Ghunaimi (trainer).
7.05pm: Meydan Trophy (TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,900m; Winner: Ya Hayati, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Bochart, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
8.15pm: Balanchine Group Two (TB) $250,000 (T) 1,800m; Winner: Magic Lily, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,000m; Winner: Waady, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson.
9.25pm: Firebreak Stakes Group Three (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Capezzano, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer.
10pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,410m; Winner: Eynhallow, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby.
A Prayer Before Dawn
Director: Jean-Stephane Sauvaire
Starring: Joe Cole, Somluck Kamsing, Panya Yimmumphai
Three stars
THREE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS
Khalfan Mubarak
The Al Jazira playmaker has for some time been tipped for stardom within UAE football, with Quique Sanchez Flores, his former manager at Al Ahli, once labelling him a “genius”. He was only 17. Now 23, Mubarak has developed into a crafty supplier of chances, evidenced by his seven assists in six league matches this season. Still to display his class at international level, though.
Rayan Yaslam
The Al Ain attacking midfielder has become a regular starter for his club in the past 15 months. Yaslam, 23, is a tidy and intelligent player, technically proficient with an eye for opening up defences. Developed while alongside Abdulrahman in the Al Ain first-team and has progressed well since manager Zoran Mamic’s arrival. However, made his UAE debut only last December.
Ismail Matar
The Al Wahda forward is revered by teammates and a key contributor to the squad. At 35, his best days are behind him, but Matar is incredibly experienced and an example to his colleagues. His ability to cope with tournament football is a concern, though, despite Matar beginning the season well. Not a like-for-like replacement, although the system could be adjusted to suit.
Health Valley
Founded in 2002 and set up as a foundation in 2006, Health Valley has been an innovation in healthcare for more than 10 years in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
It serves as a place where companies, businesses, universities, healthcare providers and government agencies can collaborate, offering a platform where they can connect and work together on healthcare innovation.
Its partners work on technological innovation, new forms of diagnostics and other methods to make a difference in healthcare.
Its agency consists of eight people, four innovation managers and office managers, two communication advisers and one director. It gives innovation support to businesses and other parties in its network like a broker, connecting people with the right organisation to help them further
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin
Director: Shawn Levy
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
