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Tuesday at the Darat
Archaeological Site @ 7:30 pm
21/4/2009
Talk by Aramram
Aramram WebTV is an Arabic interactive video platform for
young people to express and shape their view of the world.
It aims to represent a wide spectrum of the Jordanian and
Arab society, allowing it to express itself creatively, and
free of the traditional restrictions of mainstream media.
The word "Aramram" may not render itself well to
translation, but its Arabic root means "intense"
and it could also mean "to mix". It is often used
to describe an army as a large one.
www.aramram.com
28/4/2009
The Adventures of Prince Achmed
Silhouette film by Lotte Reiniger. Music by Agnes Bashir and
Elia Khoury (2008)
60 min. | 1926
"The Adventures of Prince Achmed" (Die Abenteuer
des Prinzen Achmed) is a 1926 feature-length animated film
by the German animator Lotte Reiniger. It is the oldest surviving
animated feature film, and it features a silhouette animation
technique, invented by Reiniger, which involves manipulated
cutouts made from cardboard and thin sheets of lead under
a camera. The story is based on the elements taken from the
collection 1001 Arabian Nights, specifically The Story of
Prince Ahmed and the Fairy Paribanou. With the assistance
of Aladdin, the Witch of the Fiery Mountain, and a magic horse,
the title character battles the evil African sorcerer to win
the hand of Princess Pari Banou. In 2008, a new edition of
the film was released by the Goethe Institut with musical
tracks by Agnes Bashir and Elia Khoury. [Film in German with
Arabic subtitles]
5/5/2009
Poetry Reading by
H.E. Dr. Monther Al Masri
Under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Sabri Rbeihat, Minister of
Culture, and H.E. Dr. Tayseer Al Noaimi, Minister of Education,
The National Jordanian UNESCO Committee presents a poetry
reading by Dr. Monther Al Masri. The event celebrates Jerusalem,
the Capital of Arab Culture for 2009, and will include poetry
reading and images of the city. [Poems are in Arabic]
12/5/2009
Memory Guardians
Cartoons by Carlos Lattouf and folklore music by Al Hannouneh
Society for Popular Culture
The event commemorates the 61 years of Nakbah and celebrates
Jerusalem Capital of Arab Culture for 2009.
19/5/2009
Presentation of short films curated and produced by Aramram.
[Part 1]
26/5/2009
Recycle
Documentary film by
Mahmoud Al Massad
78 min. | 2007
Abu Amar found himself disillusioned with the chaos Afghanistan
was left in during the 80's and tried to clear this confusion
by writing a book on Jihad. However insightful and moderate,
he has failed so far to publish his work. In the meantime
his attempts to build a normal life in the impoverished town
of Zarqa are failing. While the locals share their insights
on Al Zarqawi and the current situation in the Middle East,
the effects of their constraining environment become clear
as Abu Amar has to make a radical decision to save himself
from humiliation. [Film is in Arabic with English subtitles]
2/6/2009
Still Waiting
3 min. | 2007
Take Me Home
54 min. | 2008
Films by Mais Darwazeh
The home of the Palestinian person today is no longer defined
by geographical borders; "Take Me Home" is an observational
first person pilgrimage introducing a unique person, Watfa,
who carries with her the legacy of a family. A dispersed Palestinian
family, who helped establish revolutionary movements, at times
when the Arab world’s faith in the individual’s
freedom and autonomy was self-evident. The director questions
her personal fears, and desperately clings on to the resonance
of intimate moments shared with her grandmother and great
aunt; a passing generation whose hope has been continuously
challenged by decades of oppression and conflict. [Films are
in Arabic with English subtitles]
9/6/2009
I am Gaza
Documentary film by Asma Bseiso
42 min. | 2009
This documentary looks into the historical significance of
the brutal 2008-2009 Israeli war on Gaza, in addition to its
impact on Palestine. The film, which was shot in Gaza right
after the attacks, addresses the personal stories that were
not tackled by media; it also helps in showing the potential
long term psychological and social impacts of war on the people
of Gaza. The film encourages the viewer to look at these effects
and stimulate a better driven approach to revitalize Gaza.
[Film is in Arabic with English subtitles]
16/6/2009
Presentation of short films curated and produced by Aramram.
[Part 2]
23/6/2009
Film Screenings by Dalia Al Kury
Harat
Showing 3 of 9 short films on underprivileged neighborhoods
in Amman, the "Harat" 3-minute series were produced
in 2009 for Aramram WebTV. [Films are in Arabic]
Smile You Are in South Lebanon
60 min. | 2006 - 2007
While the politicians of the world are focused on saving Lebanon
from a potential civil war and a failed election, director
Dalia Al-Kury goes on a family visit to south Lebanon and
focuses the lens on her animated uncle Rami (who would much
rather be swimming), little Mariam who is learning how to
walk, and Ali, the courageous farmer who is giving his banana
tree a 'Caesarean Section'. The result is an intimate and
vibrant family portrait which exposes the strength of a brand
of dark Lebanese humor - a resource which has helped this
family and their compatriots cope with wars still too fresh
in their memories. [Film is in Arabic with English subtitles]
30/6/2009
Sera' fi Jerash
(Struggle in Jerash)
Film by Wasif Al Sheikh Yassin
70 min. | 1957
The pioneering Jordanian feature film "Struggle in Jerash"
was produced, directed, filmed, and performed by local independents,
some of whom worked as projectionists in movie theaters, some
artisans, others welding technicians, projection repairmen.
Those were some of the skills that were employed in manufacturing
the film development gear, printing and cutting hardware and
the sound sync system for the film. The film had a promotional
movie trailer which was projected in various theaters before
the screening of the film. This trailer contained documentary
segments of Jordanian and Palestinian cities, which today
have become an integral part of the audio-visual memory of
those cities. "Struggle in Jerash" is the first
Jordanian feature film, and was funded by a company established
by the filmmakers, each contributing 5 JD. [Film in Arabic]
7/7/2009
"Hay" Performance
Mousa Al Satari plays the role of a storyteller in a theatrical
reading of a text by Samar Dudin. The story is inspired by
the story of "Hay bin Yaqthan", by Ibn Tufail. The
storyteller interacts with the public and talks to images
of actors in a visual projection. [Performance is in Arabic]
14/7/2009
Theatrical Readings
Directed by Mousa Al Satari, a series of theatrical readings
takes place in different locations at the Darat.
21/7/2009
Poetry Reading by
Tamim Al Barghouti
Biographies
Aramram
Firas Taybeh, Serene Al Ahmad, Amer Dweik, Mohammad Hushki
and Abdel Salam Akkad. This group of young filmmakers, journalists
and producers came together with a vision of creating an independent
alternative media platform. www.aramram.com
Asma Bseiso
A passionate Jordanian/Palestinian filmmaker who has been
involved in telling people stories from a humanitarian point
of view. Bseiso has produced six short documentaries, including
"Seven Professions and a Lost Homeland" (2008),
"Travel Healthy and Return Wealthy" (2008), "Letter
from Guantanamo" (2007). "I am Gaza" is her
first featured documentary.
Dalia Al Kury
Born in 1980, Dalia Al Kury is an independent documentary
filmmaker and is the author of all her films. Her documentaries
are mainly screened on Al Arabiya TV and in Arab related film
festivals. She is a Jordanian-Palestinian-Canadian and holds
an MA in Screen Documentary, from Goldsmiths University, in
the UK.
Mahmoud Al Massad
Independent filmmaker Mahmoud Al Massad was born in Zarqa,
Jordan in 1969. After studying film and art at Yarmouk University
in Jordan, he left the country in 1988 and continued to work
in the television and film industries in Romania, Italy, Germany
and Sweden, making more than 12 short films. He is currently
developing Jackie and the 40 Yellow Cabs, a feature film.
Recycle is his first feature length documentary.
Mais Darwazeh
After working in several fields, Mais’s film career
started by working on short experimental films: "It Wasn’t
a Question of Olives" (2001), "The Human Puppet"
(2005) and "Still Waiting" (2007). "Take Me
Home" (2008) is her first long documentary, which she
completed for her postgraduate degree from the UK. She is
currently preparing for her next feature-length documentary
"My Love Awaits Me By the Sea". She lives and works
in Jordan.
Monther Al Masri
Monther Al Masri was born in Nablus in 1935. Al Masri obtained
a bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering from London University
in 1958, then a master's degree in Civil Engineering from
Birmingham University in 1959, and a PHD in Technical Education
from University of London in 1985. Al Masri wrote poems on
issues that are related to the nation and the home. He brought
these themes together in one book titled "Jerusalem,
City of a Bloody Peace.
Mousa Al Satari
An actor and a theater director, Al Satari was born in Amman
in 1976 and graduated in 1997 from the Theater Department
in the Training Center of Fine Arts. He participated as an
actor in the plays "Fiddler's Comedy" directed by
Hakim Harb, "The Mantle of the World" by Khalid
Tarifi, and "Untitled" by Majd Al Qasas. He also
acted in cinematic films "The Mission" by Hamad
Al Zoubi, "Alia" by Talin Qerresh, and "SMS"
by Al-Abdullah Al-Yahya. In addition to his work as an actor,
Al Satri trains children in theater workshops, such as "Amman
the friend of Children" workshops with the municipality
of Amman and in a number of local schools.
Permanent Exhibition
"Dar Khalid"
A museum of images reflecting
Khalid Shoman's life and legacy.
Darat al Funun opening hours:
Saturday-Thursday:
10am - 7pm
Ramadan: 10am - 3pm
Darat Al Funun,
P.O.Box: 5223, Amman 11183, Jordan
Tel: (962-6) 464 3251 /2
Fax: (962-6) 464 3253
darat@thekhalidshomanfoundation.org
www.daratalfunun.org
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