lebanon - audiovisual - docmed (en).v.5

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Beirut On a typical Saturday evening in Beirut, movie theatres in the Lebanese capital are overcrowded, whileshopping centres are packed with youth eager to discover the latest movies of the season. The only aspect over-

shadowing the Lebanese cinematic landscape is the strikingly evident lack of local movies, while American and Eu-

ropean productions are flooding the market.

The same is true if we take a look at Arabic television programmes with very few high-end docu-

mentaries produced by countries in the region.

This explains the pressing interest in a programme like DOCmed, which aims at "developing the ca-

pacity of local producers and helping them nd opportunities to promote their work abroad, so that

it can be acknowledged and internationally acclaimed", says Roula

Kobeissi, the Programme Coordinator in Beirut. The idea of DOCmed

was born out of the collaboration of three partners: Beirut DC

(Lebanon), Eurodoc (France), and Doc in Tunis (Tunisia) in coopera-

tion with Arte France. It has a clear objective: to train producers of

Arab countries in the Southern Mediterranean, and an easy target:

to produce mainly creative documentaries. Extending over a three-

Could the Arab Spring be the

creative driving force behind the Mediter-

ranean cinematic landscape? At a time when entire lm

scripts are being written, the means to produce documentaries should also

be secured. Thats exactly where the shoe pinches: in Beirut- just like in many

other countries of the Mediterranean- there is a serious lack of local producers

capable of expanding the native cinematic landscape. Against this backdrop,

the European programme DOCmed aims to develop the capacity of local pro-

ducers and help them nd opportunities to promote their work abroad.

Text by: Antoine Ajoury

Photos by: Nabil Mounzer

ENPI Info Centre Feature no. 57This is a series of features on

projects funded by the EUsRegional Programme, prepared by

journalists and photographers on

the ground or the ENPI Info

Centre. ENPI Info Centre/EU 2011

This publication does

not represent the

official view of the EC

or the EU institutions.

The EC accepts no

responsibility or

liability whatsoever

with regard to itscontent.

AUDIOVISUALS & MEDIA > LEBANON

Seeking film producers to

portray the Arab Springwww.enpi-info.eu

n Lebanese producer Abir Hashemand cameraman discuss a shooting


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Seeking flm producers to portray the Arab Spring p.2

ENPI Info Centre - Feature no. 57

year period (2011 to 2013), DOCmed is

the outcome of a larger European pro-

gramme, Euromed Audiovisual III,

which contributes to the development

of the cinematic eld in countries of theSouthern Mediterranean region.

Filling a void

In the heart of Furn el Chebbak, Beirut

DC is located on the ground oor of an

old building. With its small garden,

pond and red shutters, its offices starkly

contrast with the unbearable hubbub

of this popular neighborhood of Beirut.

Inside however, the place is a real hive

of activity. A hyperactive Jad Abi Khalil, also in charge of Beirut DC, explains: "We have ex-

cellent projects which dont bear fruit mainly because producers are not properly trained.

The same applies to co-producers who lack the necessary training, while an important part

of lms are co-produced today with European countries. This is why DOCmed focuses on

co-production training in the Arab world and Lebanon".

"We often see a director wearing two hats, that of producer and director at the same

time, although it would be certainly more efficient if the director was focused on doing

his job, and the professional producer given the means to do his as well". As far as she

is concerned, it is probably one of the main reasons explaining the lack of important

cinematic production in Lebanon. In addition, Lebanese lms are not very visible on

the local, Arab, or international markets. The DOCmed project was therefore launched

in an attempt to fulll the production needs of Arab and Lebanese lm industries, in

order to nd solutions and help producers take on their roles and responsibilities. Ten

producers or producers/directors are selected each year within the framework of this

programme, partly funded by the European Union. The beneciaries should already

have a project in the pipeline, as long as it hasnt been produced yet.

A visionary training programme

Sitting comfortably in one of the cafes in Beirut, surrounded by her collaborators, Abir

Hashem works at Solo lms in Lebanon, a production house which has been operating

for the last ten years. She is the producer of Asphalte (Asphalt), a documentary shot by Ali

Hammoud about the journey of heavy transport drivers as they leave Lebanon for Dubaior Qatar and travel across Syria and Jordan. Hashem explains: "the main benet we derive

from funding is the independence it gives us. We dont have to depend on a specic tele-

vision channel or put up with its set of conditions, ideological orientations, or interference

in the lmmaking process".

By submitting her application to DOCmed, she was expecting to get a chance to follow a

project from A to Z. "When they ask me the question sometimes, I tell them I am the pro-

ducer from A to C or from C to D", she laughs."It is therefore a great opportunity for me to

deepen my knowledge of this trade, from funding to pitching, including handling the

budget. The experience shared by European professionals is very useful", she adds. Myriam

Sassine works for "Abbout productions", a production house established back in 1998. She

is working on a lm directed by Carine Doumit, entitled The Diary of the Disoriented, a

diary which highlights the relationship of the director with her native country, Lebanon.

"Organizing a training programme for producers is, in itself, a visionary endeavour. The role

In my

opinion, the

experience

shared by

European

professionals

is very

useful.

The main benet

we derive from

funding is the

independence it

gives us. We donthave to depend on

a specic television

channel or put up

with its set of

conditions.

Organizing a

training programme

for producers is, in

itself, a visionary

endeavour.

nLebanese DOCmed CoordinatorRoula Koubeissi

n Lebanese producerAbir Hashem


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of lm producers is not very well

known in countries of the Near East.

There are plenty of directors but not

enough producers", she claims. "The

problem we are facing in Lebanon also

applies to Syria and Algeria. In some

countries like Morocco, there are

funds available to produce lms, but

not enough know-how to nd ade-

quate funding for each lm produc-

tion", adds Myriam.

Still at the regional level, the Arab

Spring was a source of inspiration for

participants who expressed their

sheer enthusiasm during the rst session. "They were able to share their personal experiences and common hope.

The Arab revolts were, so to speak, an important motivating factor which has positively impacted the participants

projects, especially those relating to documentaries", concludes Roula Kobeissi.

www.en i-info.eu

n r

Euromed Audiovisual III

Contributes to intercultural dialogue and cultural diversity through support to building

cinematographic and audiovisual capacity in the Mediterranean Partner Countries

Seeking flm producers to port ray the Arab Spring p.3

ENPI Info Centre - Feature no. 57

http://www.euromedaudiovisuel.net/index.aspx?lang=en

Participating

countries

Algeria, Egypt,

Israel, Jordan,

Lebanon,

Morocco,

Occupied

Palestinian

Territory, Syria,

Tunisia

Timeframe

2009-2012

Budget

11 million

Aims

The programme aims to contribute to intercultural dialogue and cultural diversity through support for the

development of cinematographic and audiovisual capacity in the Partner Countries. It promotes

complementarity and integration of the regions lm and audiovisual industries, while seeking to harmonise

public sector policy and legislation

It builds on the achievements of Euromed I and Audiovisual II, aiming to tap into the potential of a developing

audiovisual market in the region and assist Mediterranean lms secure a place on the global scene.

Find out more

DoCMed project che >

http://euromedaudiovisuel.net/general.aspx?menu=1&treeID=11139&lang=en&documentID=11143

Beirut DC >http://www.beirutdc.org/beirutdc/default.aspx

ENPI Info Centre project che >http://www.enpi-info.eu/mainmed.php?id=301&id_type=10&lang_id=450

Thematic portal >http://www.enpi-info.eu/thememed.php?subject=9

The ENPI Info Centre is an EU-funded RegionalInformation and Communication projecthighlighting the partnership between the EU andNeighbouring countries. The project is managed

by Action Global Communications.

www.enpi-info.eu

nLebanese producerMyriam Sassine

in Beirut
http://www.enpi-info.eu/http://www.euromedaudiovisuel.net/index.aspx?lang=enhttp://euromedaudiovisuel.net/general.aspx?menu=1&treeID=11139&lang=en&documentID=11143http://www.beirutdc.org/beirutdc/default.aspxhttp://www.beirutdc.org/beirutdc/default.aspxhttp://www.enpi-info.eu/mainmed.php?id=301&id_type=10&lang_id=450http://www.enpi-info.eu/mainmed.php?id=301&id_type=10&lang_id=450http://www.enpi-info.eu/thememed.php?subject=9http://www.enpi-info.eu/thememed.php?subject=9http://www.actionprgroup.com/http://www.enpi-info.eu/http://www.euromedaudiovisuel.net/index.aspx?lang=enhttp://euromedaudiovisuel.net/general.aspx?menu=1&treeID=11139&lang=en&documentID=11143http://www.beirutdc.org/beirutdc/default.aspxhttp://www.enpi-info.eu/mainmed.php?id=301&id_type=10&lang_id=450http://www.enpi-info.eu/thememed.php?subject=9http://www.actionprgroup.com/http://www.enpi-info.eu/

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