Saudi actress and filmmaker Ahd Aspiring filmmakers invited to join TROPFEST Arabia for workshop on short film creation as part of regional seriesJEDDAH — On behalf of TROPFEST Arabia, Arab film analyst Alaa Karkouti will run a workshop on short filmmaking and provide tips on how to make a successful TROPFEST Arabia short film in Jeddah on May 26. The program was supported by Saudi director Mamdouh Salem and award-winning Saudi actress and filmmaker Ahd. The two-hour workshop on short film creation for aspiring filmmakers will be held at SilverGrey Picture & Sound, SDE Building at Tahlia Dist, Majra Al Sail in Jeddah on Saturday May 26 from 6.30 P.M. to 8.30 P.M. The workshop will outline how to successfully submit a film for TROPFEST Arabia 2012, the short film festival that supports budding filmmakers. The aim of TROPFEST Arabia is to contribute to the development of the Arab film industry by providing an opportunity for the region's filmmakers to bring their short films to the community. The second edition of TROPFEST Arabia will take place in Abu Dhabi in October this year. Director Mamdouh Salem, one of the most prominent figures in the world of Saudi TV and cinema who has won numerous awards in Saudi Arabia and abroad for his work in the industry, heads the Saudi Film Festival. He recently took part in Nabeul International Film Festival in Tunisia with his two new films “Mohemat Tifl” (A Child's Mission) and “Jeddah”. A native of Saudi Arabia, Ahd is an award-winning actress and filmmaker based in New York. She has worked on multiple projects including writing, directing and acting in “Al Gundurji'” (The Shoemaker) shown in numerous international festivals including Clermont-Ferrand and Gulf Film Festival. Ahd was also part of Peter Berg's team in the Hollywood movie “The Kingdom” and received a Cloeween Connection award from the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) as an emerging Middle Eastern filmmaker which was presented by world renowned director Spike Lee. The workshop will cover the short filmmaking process and expose participants to submissions from TROPFEST Arabia 2011. It will also give participants an opportunity to raise questions and gain further insight into the TROPFEST Arabia festival, and the role that short films are increasingly playing in the region's rapidly growing media industry. In order to be eligible to participate in the TROPFEST Arabia workshops and submit a film entry, participants must be citizens of the Middle East or North Africa (MENA). To register for TROPEST Arabia workshops or details on how to submit a film, visit: www.tropfest.com/arabia.
