Global Flicks: Netflix Partners With AFAC And Gives 250,000 USD To Arab Filmmakers; Lee Jung-jae Makes Directorial Debut At Cannes; Salma Hayek Producing New Soccer Romance Film For Vix+

Africa: Sis Tamara will be starring in a new short film. Titled Mjita Wam, the film pushes to establish an open conversation and communication on behalf of the LGBTQI+ community. Sis Tamara Is building upon the success of finishing in the top 10 contestants in Big Brother Mzans. The film is from the mind of Anathi Siyingu who wishes to touch on areas that filmmakers in the past have failed to examine when depicting authentic queer relationships on screen.  

The new horror film, Gaia recently opened at Silwerskerm Film Festival. The project from writer and director duo Tertius Kapp and Jaco Bouwer was well received. The story follows a group of explorers that stumble upon a man and his son who obsessively worship the Mother Earth Goddess, Gaia. The film carries a unique backdrop of environmentalism and the harmful effects of modern society. It stars Carel Nel (Raised By Wolves, 2020), alongside Monique Rockman (Number 37, 2018). The trailer can be seen here.  

Asia: The Italian Recipe opens at Italy’s Far East Film Festival. The story follows classic rom-com elements as a famous pop star attends a reality tv show competition in Italy where he crosses paths with a small-town girl with big dreams of making it as an Italian chef. The film is a co-production with China and is directed by Hou Zuxin. It stars Xun Liu (My Love, 2021) and Yao Huang (Nice View, 2022). The Far East Film Festival will begin on April 28th and run till April 30th.  

Lee Jung-Jae will be making his directorial debut at Cannes this year from May 17-28th. The star of the hit series Squid Games has titled his suspense thriller Hunt. The story follows two Korean spies in the 80s hunting a mole in their organization. Lee Jung-Jae will be playing one of the two spies alongside Jung Woo Sen, (Reign of Assassins, 2010).  

Leila Hatami - Tasavor (Imagine)

Middle East: Netflix has partnered with the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC) to provide a total of 250,000 dollars to five Arab producers and directors. The money will go to Diala Kachmar and her project From The Other Shore, Moroccan director Asmae El Moudir and her film The Mother Of All Lies, Tunisian director-producer Sarra Abidi’s My Name Is Clara, Jana Whbe’s The Day Valdimir Died, and Tania Khoury’s Manity. All women come from Lebanon.  

Ali Behrad’s Tasavor (Imagine) will be screening at Cannes’ Critics Week. The Iranian film follows a cab driver in Tehran who falls for a woman he cannot have. It stars Leila Hatami A Separation (2011) and Mehrdad Sedighian (Tsunami, 2019). Cannes’ Critics Week is well known for up-and-coming filmmakers making their mark and launching their careers. It will take place from May 18-26th.  

from left, front row: Sergio Gonzales,1 Ray Acevado, and back: Robbi Rosa, Charlie Rivera, and Ricky Martin - AP Photo/Rick Maiman

Latin America: Salma Hayek will be producing a soccer romance film for TelevisaUnivision. Titled Quiero Tu Vida the film will follow young soccer star Nico, played by Erick Elías (Betty En NY, 2019), who suffers from a career-threatening injury. Hope is not lost when an enticing opportunity to live out his dream presents itself. The film is currently shooting in Mexico City with director Jorge Colón at the helm. Salma Hayek has recently grown her producing credits with the biographical film Frida and the Netflix series Monarca. Quiero Tu Vida will exclusively premiere on the new streaming service Vix+.  

The documentary on 80s boy band Menudo will be streaming on HBO Max this summer. Menudo: Forever Young was brought to life by Kristofer Ríos (Noodle School, 2018) and Angel Manuel Soto, who will be directing the major DC superhero film Blue Beetle next year. The documentary chronicles the birth and death of the band and delves deep into the sexual misconduct allegations against Edgardo Diaz who brought the group together in the late 70s. The four-part documentary will premiere on HBO Max on June 23rd, 2022.  

Europe: Karim Bensalah will be making his feature debut with Lumière Noire. Karim broke out with his award-winning short films (Les Heures Blanches, 2014) and (Le Secret De Fatima, 2004). Lumière Noire won the 2019 Montpellier Cinemed Development Support Grant. Hamza Meziani (Occidental, 2017) will be playing the lead. The story follows the son of an Algerian diplomat that is threatened with deportation. Shooting for the project begins on May 9th.  

The trailer for Vida Dena’s My Paper Life has arrived. The Iranian director’s feature-length documentary follows a Syrian family living in Brussels looking back on their path to finding a home. The film premiered this April at Visions du Reèl. This will be Vida Dena’s sophomore film after her debut in 2015 with Ayan And The White Balloon. The trailer can be seen here.