Artist Ahmed Kamal receives a note from the jury at the Kerala International Film Festival in India for his film "East 12"

 

The film (East 12) continues its successful tours at international festivals. After being screened in the Directors’ Half-Month at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, and in the New Visions program at the fourth session of the Red Sea International Film Festival, it participated The film was in the official competition of the 29th session of the Kerala International Film Festival in India, which concluded its activities on Friday evening. The film received a special mention from the jury for technical excellence, due to the integrated harmony between the elements. Decoration design, sound tape, and photography.

 

The film’s hero, artist Ahmed Kamal, received the award, expressing his happiness with the Indian audience’s reception of the film, as Sharq 12 was shown three times during the festival’s activities.

 

In press statements, “Kamal” said: I am happy to participate in the film (East 12) in the Kerala Film Festival, which is held in India, a country with a long cinematic history, pays special attention to the film industry, and the film (East 12) was received in an outstanding manner, by the audience, filmmakers, and critics alike, as among the three screenings that were held for the film was a screening, after which a symposium was held. I also participated in an important symposium held on the sidelines of the festival in a section entitled (Directors’ Meeting), which is held daily to discuss the official competition films. In addition, I conducted dozens of press interviews and met dozens of critics from India. And outside of it, everyone agreed that the film was distinguished in all its elements, and most of the questions revolved around the stages of preparing the film, and about the background to which its director, Hala Al-Qusi, belongs. Some noted its influence on photography, and praised its boldness in returning to using cinematic material again after stopping its use and turning to digital, in addition to music, and the acting performance of the film’s heroes.

 

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It is noteworthy that (East 12) is a film written and directed by Hala Al-Qusi, starring Manah Al-Batrawi and Ahmed Kamal, and it witnesses the first cinematic appearance of the two talents. The two rising stars, Omar Raziq and Fayza Shamah, with the participation of Osama Abu Al-Atta, Bassem Wadih, and Mahmoud Fares.

 

 

The film has a screenplay and dialogue by Hala Al-Qusi, and is photographed by Abdul Salam Moussa, music by Ahmed Al-Sawy, sound tape design by Abdel Rahman Mahmoud and Jim Saholika, recording of dialogue by Mohamed Hassan, and editing by Bobby Rolofs. Hala Al-Qousi, choreography by Sherine Hegazy, artistic vision and costumes by Hala Al-Qousi, decor by Amr Abdo, executive director Fadel Al-Jarhi, and production director Muhammad Jamal Al-Din.

 

The film “Sharq 12” belongs to the genre Black comedy, which takes place within a framework of satirical fantasy in a closed world outside of time, in which the young musician Abdo (Omar Raziq) rebels against Shawqi the acrobat. (Ahmed Kamal), who runs the place with a mixture of absurdity, violence, and the majesty of the storyteller (Mahna Al-Batrawi), who comforts people with imaginary tales about the sea that no one knows. Using his talent, Abdo plans with the young woman Ninah (Fayza Shamah) to break Shawqi’s grip and gain freedom in a wider world. The first film to be shot in this format in more than ten years. The film was developed in the Cinema City laboratories and digitally scanned in the restoration department in the Media Production City. The final sound work was also done in Dolby Atmos Studio in Media Production City.