Winners of Black Pearl Awards - MEIFF 2008

The Middle East International Film Festival (MEIFF) faced some criticism for totally ignoring the Arabic language, the Syrian actor Abed Fahed lead the criticism, and I agree with him, yes English is the universal language, but you can’t totally ignore Arabic, have an Arabic interface for the website, circulate an Arabic schedule beside the English one, translate the speeches since you are doing it an Arab country. According to Fahed, Cannes Festival runs in French, Berlin Festival is in German, and so on, which means Arabic should be an integral part of this festival.

Anyways, some numbers, and the list of winners:
The awards were the culmination of ten action-packed days of cinema, with 152 movies and 186 screenings shown in five Abu Dhabi venues. A total of 76 feature films and 34 short films from over 35 countries competed for the MEIFF 2008 Black Pearl Awards.

Winners of the US$1 million MEIFF 2008 Black Pearl Awards were announced at the festival’s closing night ceremony, directed and choreographed by Otis Sallid.

MEIFF 2008 Black Pearl Award Winners:-

The Black Pearl for Best Narrative Film - $200,000
Disgrace | Director: Steve Jacobs. Producers: Anna Maria Monticelli, Emile Sherman, Steve Jacobs

The Black Pearl for Best Documentary – $150,000
Stranded | Director: Gonzalo Arijon. Producer: Marc Silvera

The Black Pearl Special Jury Prize- $125,000
Youssou N’Dour: I Bring What I Love | Director and Producer: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi

The Black Pearl for Best Actress - $75,000
Fawzia: A Special Blend | Actress: Ilham Shaheen

The Black Pearl for Best Actor - $75,000
Wild Blood | Actor: Luca Zingaretti

The Black Pearl for Best Artistic Contribution - $75,000
Laila’s Birthday | Screenwriter: Rashid Masharawi

The Black Pearl Audience Choice Award
Saving Luna | Co-Directors: Suzanne Chisholm & Michael Parfit. Producer: Suzanne Chisholm

The Black Pearl for Best Narrative - Short Film- $75,000
The View | Co-Directors: Hazim Bitar & Rifqi Assaf. Producer: Amman Filmmaker Cooperative

The Black Pearl for Best Documentary – Short Film- $75,000
Breadmakers | Director: Yasmin Fedda. Producers: Jim Hickey & Robin Mitchell

The Black Pearl for Best Animation- Shot Film- $75,000
Jacinta | Director: Karla Casteneda. Producer: Luis Tellez

Best Advertisement – Cultural Category - $25,000
Anti Slavery | Director: Eric Lynne. Producer: Partizan Films – Midi Minuit

Best Advertisement – Consumer Category - $25,000
Battle | Director: Traktor. Producer: Partizan Films – Midi Minuit

Best Advertisement – Artistic Contribution - $25,000
Great Pretender | Director: Patrick Bergh. Producer: Partizan Films – Midi Minuit

The Black Pearl for Best Narrative – Student Films – $25,000
Illusion | Director: Burhan Qurbani. Producer: Fabian Gasmia

The Black Pearl for Best Emerging Filmmaker – Student Films- $25,000
Lullaby | Director: Serena Abi Aad. Producer: IESAV

The Black Pearl for Best Animation – Student Films – $25,000
Adherent | Director: Julian Nazario Vargas. Producer: Rube Baggerud

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