The 55th Cannes International Film Festival will wind down on Sunday, with a prize winning ceremony amid competition on the golden palm prize among 22 films from 15 countries including Palestine that takes part in this festival for the first time ever.
The film Divine Intervention by Palestinian director Elia Suleiman, touches on a Palestinian couple's relationship with both meeting everyday at the israeli barricade that separates Jerusalem from Ramallah that are under Israeli occupation. The film elaborates on the difficult living circumstances under the Israeli occupation in a very sarcastic way.
This year’s Cannes festival witnessed the most ever Arab presence which was described by critics as real celebration for the new Arab cinema series. Among others the Kuwaiti film Dreams Without Sleep by director Walid al Awadhi was screened at the international film market, the joint Lebanese and French production Ard al Majhoul (Unknown Land) by Lebanese director Ghassan Salhab, was screened as part of an event entitled Special View, the Palestinian film Rana’s Wedding, produced in collaboration with Holland, shot in Jerusalem under the direction of Hani Abu Asa’d and based on a story written by Liana Bader.
The participating Arabic films included also Rashidah by the Algerian director Yasminah Beshir, Fi Entithar al Saadah (Waiting for Happiness) by director Abdel Rahman Sisaco from Mauritania and the film Tadhiyat (Sacrifices) by the Syrian director Osama Mohammed.
The audience included well-known international celebrities including Jack Nicholson, Sharon Stone, Leonardo Dicaprio and others. Sharon stone is taking part with others in the jury committee chaired by the American director David Lynch – Albawaba.com
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