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{{Short description|Sudanese filmmaker and screenwriter}}
{{Short description|Sudanese filmmaker and producer}}
'''Amjad Abu Alala''' ({{Lang-ar|أمجد أبو العلا}}, born in [[Dubai]]) is a Sudanese [[film director]] and [[screenwriter]], who was born and lives in the [[United Arab Emirates]]. He became internationally known for his first feature film ''[[You Will Die at Twenty]]'' in 2019. This film was the first entry ever to be submitted from [[Sudan]] for the [[Academy Awards]] in the 'Best International Film' category, but was not selected in the final stage. His film has won, however, awards at international film festivals and has been shown internationally.
'''Amjad Abu Alala''' ({{Langx|ar|أمجد أبو العلا}}, born in [[Dubai]]) is a Sudanese [[film director]], [[screenwriter]] and producer, who was born and lives in the [[United Arab Emirates]]. He became internationally known for his first feature film ''[[You Will Die at Twenty]]'' in 2019. This film was the first entry ever to be submitted from [[Sudan]] for the [[Academy Awards]] in the 'Best International Film' category, but was not selected in the final stage. His film has won, however, awards at international film festivals and has been shown internationally.


== Life and career ==
== Life and career ==
Abu Alala was born in the [[United Arab Emirates]] of Sudanese parents and grew up in [[Dubai]]. He studied [[Media and Communications|media and communication]] science at [[United Arab Emirates University|Emirates University]] and then made his first documentaries for several Arab and Western TV stations. He has also directed four short films until 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Magdi|first=Samy|date=2020-12-20|title=A Sudan in transition presents first-ever film for Oscars|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/sudan-transition-presents-film-oscars-74913470|url-status=live|access-date=2021-06-22|website=ABC News|language=en}}</ref>
Abu Alala was born in the [[United Arab Emirates]] to Sudanese parents and grew up in [[Dubai]]. He studied [[Media and Communications|media and communication]] science at [[United Arab Emirates University|Emirates University]] and then made his first documentaries for several Arab and Western TV stations. He has also directed four short films until 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Magdi|first=Samy|date=2020-12-20|title=A Sudan in transition presents first-ever film for Oscars|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/sudan-transition-presents-film-oscars-74913470|url-status=live|access-date=2021-06-22|website=ABC News|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201226195901/https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/sudan-transition-presents-film-oscars-74913470 |archive-date=2020-12-26 }}</ref>


For his first feature film, Abu Alala turned to Sudan. His parents are both from [[Wad Madani]] in eastern Sudan, and he wanted to explore his roots. Searching for a story, suitable not only for a Sudanese audience, but also for viewers all over the world, he chose a short story by Sudanese writer [[Hammour Ziada]] from 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lynx Qualey|first=Marcia|date=2019-09-10|title=Award-winning Film 'You Will Die at Twenty,' Based on Hammour Ziada Story|url=https://arablit.org/2019/09/10/you-will-die-at-twenty/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-06-22|website=ArabLit & ArabLit Quarterly|language=en}}</ref>
For his first feature film, Abu Alala turned to Sudan. His parents are both from [[Wad Madani]] in central Sudan, and he wanted to explore his roots. Searching for a story, suitable not only for a Sudanese audience, but also for viewers all over the world, he chose a short story by Sudanese writer [[Hammour Ziada]] from 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lynx Qualey|first=Marcia|date=2019-09-10|title=Award-winning Film 'You Will Die at Twenty,' Based on Hammour Ziada Story|url=https://arablit.org/2019/09/10/you-will-die-at-twenty/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-06-22|website=ArabLit & ArabLit Quarterly|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108152055/https://arablit.org/2019/09/10/you-will-die-at-twenty/ |archive-date=2020-01-08 }}</ref>


His feature film ''[[You Will Die at Twenty]]'' was presented and awarded at the Venice International Film Festival in August 2019 as part of the ''<nowiki/>'Venice Days''' competition. In September 2019, it was also screened at the [[Toronto Film Festival]].
His feature film ''[[You Will Die at Twenty]]'' was presented and awarded at the Venice International Film Festival in August 2019 as part of the ''<nowiki/>'Venice Days''' competition. In September 2019, it was also screened at the [[Toronto Film Festival]].
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As a producer, Abu Alala founded a creative laboratory in collaboration with the [[Doha Film Institute]] and produced five short films.
As a producer, Abu Alala founded a creative laboratory in collaboration with the [[Doha Film Institute]] and produced five short films.


In 2013, Abu Alala won the Best Arabic Theatre Script Award for his script ‘Apple Pies’.<ref>{{Cite web|title=You Will Die at 20, by Amjad Abu Alala {{!}} Institut français|url=https://www.institutfrancais.com/en/work/you-will-die-at-20-by-amjad-abu-alala|access-date=2021-06-22|website=www.institutfrancais.com|language=en}}</ref> Promoting Sudanese films, he has also been involved in the selection for the [[Sudan Independent Film Festival]] in Khartoum <ref name=":0" /> and the Arab Film Institute.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Amjad Abu Alala {{!}} IFFR|url=https://iffr.com/en/persons/amjad-abu-alala|access-date=2021-06-22|website=iffr.com}}</ref>
In 2013, Abu Alala won the Best Arabic Theatre Script Award for his script ‘Apple Pies’.<ref>{{Cite web|title=You Will Die at 20, by Amjad Abu Alala {{!}} Institut français|url=https://www.institutfrancais.com/en/work/you-will-die-at-20-by-amjad-abu-alala|access-date=2021-06-22|website=www.institutfrancais.com|language=en}}</ref> Promoting Sudanese films, he has also been involved in the selection for the [[Sudan Independent Film Festival]] in Khartoum<ref name=":0" /> and the Arab Film Institute.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Amjad Abu Alala {{!}} IFFR|url=https://iffr.com/en/persons/amjad-abu-alala|access-date=2021-06-22|website=iffr.com}}</ref>

In 2021, he was selected as a jury member for the First feature section of the [[74th Locarno Film Festival]] to be held from 4 to 14 August.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.locarnofestival.ch/LFF/locarno-74/awards-and-juries/Jury-Concorso-Internazionale.html |title= 74th Locarno Film Festival (Concorso Internazionale: Jury) |website= Locarno Film Festival |date= July 3, 2021 |access-date= July 3, 2021|lang=en}}</ref>

== Favorite films ==
In 2022, Abu Alala participated in the ''[[Sight & Sound]]'' film polls of that year. It is held every ten years to select the greatest films of all time, by asking contemporary directors to name ten films of their choice.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/greatest-films-all-time/all-voters/amjad-abu-alala | title=Amjad Abu Alala &#124; BFI }}</ref>

Abu Alala's selections were:

{{div col | colwidth=25em}}
* ''[[12 Angry Men (1957 film)|12 Angry Men]] '' (1957)
* ''[[Persona (1966 film)|Persona]]'' (1966)
* ''[[Mirror (1975 film)|Mirror]]'' (1975)
* ''[[Cairo Station|Bāb al-Ḥadīd]]'' (1958)
* ''[[Eternity and a Day|Mia aioniótita kai mia méra]]'' (1998)
* ''[[Dreams (1990 film)|Akira Kurosawa's Dreams]] '' (1966)
* ''[[Taste of Cherry]]'' (1997)
* ''[[Dancer in the Dark]]'' (2000)
* ''[[A Short Film About Killing|Krótki film o zabijaniu]]'' (1987)
* ''[[The Turin Horse|A torinói ló]]'' (2011)
{{div col end}}


== Filmography ==
== Filmography ==
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[[Venice Film Festival|Venice Film Festival 2019]]
[[Venice Film Festival|Venice Film Festival 2019]]


* Lion of the Future Award for best debut feature film: [[You Will Die at Twenty|''You Will Die at Twenty'']]
* Lion of the Future Award for best debut feature film: ''[[You Will Die at Twenty]]''


== See also ==
== See also ==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Abu Alala, Amjad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Abu Alala, Amjad}}


[[Category:Film producers]]
[[Category:Sudanese film producers]]
[[Category:Screenwriters]]
[[Category:Sudanese screenwriters]]
[[Category:Sudanese artists]]
[[Category:Sudanese artists]]
[[Category:Sudanese film directors]]
[[Category:Sudanese film directors]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Living people]]

Latest revision as of 05:43, 5 November 2024

Amjad Abu Alala (Arabic: أمجد أبو العلا, born in Dubai) is a Sudanese film director, screenwriter and producer, who was born and lives in the United Arab Emirates. He became internationally known for his first feature film You Will Die at Twenty in 2019. This film was the first entry ever to be submitted from Sudan for the Academy Awards in the 'Best International Film' category, but was not selected in the final stage. His film has won, however, awards at international film festivals and has been shown internationally.

Life and career

[edit]

Abu Alala was born in the United Arab Emirates to Sudanese parents and grew up in Dubai. He studied media and communication science at Emirates University and then made his first documentaries for several Arab and Western TV stations. He has also directed four short films until 2019.[1]

For his first feature film, Abu Alala turned to Sudan. His parents are both from Wad Madani in central Sudan, and he wanted to explore his roots. Searching for a story, suitable not only for a Sudanese audience, but also for viewers all over the world, he chose a short story by Sudanese writer Hammour Ziada from 2014.[2]

His feature film You Will Die at Twenty was presented and awarded at the Venice International Film Festival in August 2019 as part of the 'Venice Days' competition. In September 2019, it was also screened at the Toronto Film Festival.

By coincidence, the film was shot at the time of the Sudanese revolution against Omar al-Bashir, who was overthrown by the military during demonstrations in April 2019 after having ruled the country for almost 30 years. This meant great challenges for the entire crew, not only because of governmental restrictions, but because there was no film industry in Sudan and they had to fly in several tons of equipment that they needed for the shooting.[3][4]

As a producer, Abu Alala founded a creative laboratory in collaboration with the Doha Film Institute and produced five short films.

In 2013, Abu Alala won the Best Arabic Theatre Script Award for his script ‘Apple Pies’.[5] Promoting Sudanese films, he has also been involved in the selection for the Sudan Independent Film Festival in Khartoum[3] and the Arab Film Institute.[6]

In 2021, he was selected as a jury member for the First feature section of the 74th Locarno Film Festival to be held from 4 to 14 August.[7]

Favorite films

[edit]

In 2022, Abu Alala participated in the Sight & Sound film polls of that year. It is held every ten years to select the greatest films of all time, by asking contemporary directors to name ten films of their choice.[8]

Abu Alala's selections were:

Filmography

[edit]
  • 2004: Coffee and Oranges (short film)
  • 2005: Birds’ Feathers (short film)
  • 2009: Teena (short film)
  • 2012: Studio (short film)
  • 2019: You Will Die at Twenty, feature film

Awards

[edit]

El Gouna Film Festival, Egypt, 2019

  • Golden Star in the section for Narrative Competition: You Will Die at Twenty

Venice Film Festival 2019

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Magdi, Samy (2020-12-20). "A Sudan in transition presents first-ever film for Oscars". ABC News. Archived from the original on 2020-12-26. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
  2. ^ Lynx Qualey, Marcia (2019-09-10). "Award-winning Film 'You Will Die at Twenty,' Based on Hammour Ziada Story". ArabLit & ArabLit Quarterly. Archived from the original on 2020-01-08. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
  3. ^ a b "You Will Die at Twenty". Doha Film Institute. Retrieved 2021-06-21.
  4. ^ "Amjad Abu Alala's 'You will die at 20' revives Sudanese cinema". Arab News. 2020-01-21. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
  5. ^ "You Will Die at 20, by Amjad Abu Alala | Institut français". www.institutfrancais.com. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
  6. ^ "Amjad Abu Alala | IFFR". iffr.com. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
  7. ^ "74th Locarno Film Festival (Concorso Internazionale: Jury)". Locarno Film Festival. July 3, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  8. ^ "Amjad Abu Alala | BFI".
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