15 scripts chosen by GFF’s ‘Gulf Script Market for Short Films’ for mentoring and potential filming opportunities

The inaugural Gulf Script Market for Short Films, a brand new initiative of the fifth Gulf Film Festival to finesse the scriptwriting skills of regional writers and filmmakers and provide mentoring and potential production opportunities, announced that 15 projects have been selected from over 99 submissions.

Celebrated Egyptian director and scriptwriter Mohamed Khan; award-winning Lebanese director, scriptwriter and film entrepreneur Michel Kammoun and accomplished Bahraini author and scriptwriter Fareed Ramadan chose the 15 scripts, four each from the UAE and Oman, two each from Iraq and Saudi Arabia, and one each from Bahrain, Qatar and Belgium. All the scripts are in Arabic, except one UAE entry, which is in English.

The selected scriptwriters will attend extensive mentoring sessions at the ongoing film festival, with GFF partnering them with directors and producers, to help turn the completed scripts into accomplished film projects.

The chosen scripts are: The 563 Dirhams by Shaikha Al Ayali, Light Goes to Bed by Yousef Ibrahim, Rain by Amal Al Dowaila and Transit by Marwan Alhammadi – the only English script (all from the UAE); Cholo by Muzna Almusafer, Valley Girl by Amal Alsibaei, Al Kashaf by Samaa Isaa and Key by Huda Hamad Al Jahoori (all from Oman); Cotton by Luay Fadhil and Street Memories by Hashim Al-Efari (both from Iraq); The Clown by Hussam Alhulwah and Ghashwa by Salma Bukhamseen (both from Saudi Arabia); Life by Fathiya Nasser (Bahrain); The Crucified by Khalid Al Mahmoud (Iraq) and Baghdad Sport Club by Sahim Omar Kalifa (Belgium).

Over three days, the winners will be part of hands-on script doctoring sessions led by award-winning regional filmmakers, followed by pitch sessions to emerging and established directors, and industry networking geared towards securing partnership and production agreements. Paired with the Festival’s existing US$250,000 Enjaaz annual production fund for Gulf short films, the new initiative creates a holistic, end-to-end support programme for emerging and established scriptwriters, directors, and other film talent from the region.

The lineup of movies at GFF 2012 includes 82 world premieres, 12 international premieres, 27 Middle East premieres, 11 GCC premieres and four UAE premieres. GFF is also celebrating its landmark 5th anniversary with a special weekend of festival film screenings in Abu Dhabi from April 12 to 14, 2012, at the Abu Dhabi Theatre, in partnership with the Sultan Bin Zayed Centre for Culture and Media.

Universal rebooting ‘The Mummy’ with ‘Prometheus’ writer

Though most remember ‘The Mummy’ series as the Indiana Jones-like entertaining action adventure franchise that made Brendan Fraser a star, it’s actually a horror movie property of Universal that was spun off in that direction by the studio.  The first two movies were wildly successfully and actually pretty damn entertaining, but ‘The Tomb of The Dragon Emperor’ was awful on so many levels that it not only killed the franchise but resurrected it then slaughtered it again. Just Youtube the Yeti fighting scene for a dose of awfulness. Now, Universal is bringing the franchise back but in the form of a reboot.

Variety says that Jon Spaihts has been hired  by the studio to pen a reboot of the franchise. The writer has written unproduced screenplays like Shadow 19 and Passengers (which got Keanu Reeves interested) before, but most will soon know him as the guy who stemmed the idea for ‘Prometheus’ which was originally a prequel to ‘Alien’. Sean Daniel, who produced the original series, will produce again.

Word is that the studio wants the property to go back to its horror roots, which is honestly a great idea since the first movie had elements of that and it was highly entertaining to watch. A more horror oriented approach is the best fit for a character like the Mummy and I hope they do a good job with it.

Otherwise, bury it back into its tomb.

Ben Kingsley in talks to join ‘Iron Man 3′ as villain

Though the actor Ben Kingsley is an Oscar winner, the only time he actually play a good role in a good film recently is Martin Scorsese’s ‘Hugo’. The rest of the time, he’s in really bad action movies or playing embarrassing roles in comedies. Now, you could see him battle Tony Stark very soon.

Variety reports that the actor is in talks to play the villain in the upcoming ‘Iron Man 3′, which is being directed by Shane Black and has Robert Downey Jr., Gyneth Paltrow and Don Cheadle reprising their roles. There’s no information on who the villain will be yet, but all eyes go to Iron Man’s most famous villain Mandarin who is a magician with magic rings. But he’s also of Asian origin, while Kingsley isn’t (he’s half Indian though). So it’s anyone’s guess so far. I’m intrigued to see the character he will play. Hopefully it will be better than the villains he’s played in ‘Prince of Persia’ and ‘Bloodrayne’.

Thoughts?

‘Krissh 3′ will be a dark, violent movie

The Koi Mil Gaya/Krrish movies have always had a light tone, something that would appeal to kids yet not drive away adult movie-goers in search for a decent super-hero movie. With Krrish 3, however, director Rakesh Roshan is planning to shift tracks, which reportedly, will be the darkest and the most violent film in the series.

According to a TOI source, the film will follow a similar track adopted by the last Spiderman movie, where Peter Parker battles a darker, evil version of himself. This, apparently, will be the main highlight of the movie.

New cast Kangana Ranaut will play as an alien, who “will have an army of animals who will create havoc in Krrish’s life. Her character will be a total badass, and major action scenes are planned between Krrish and her,” according to the source.

Rakesh Roshan is said to be specifically catering to the adult audience, and wants to “focus on action scenes and bring out the violent streak in the protagonist. There will be blood and gore.”

Details on the story is scarce, but if these rumors are true, India might see it’s first proper, non-ridiculous, non-intelligence challenging super-hero movie yet. Mr. Roshan, please thread carefully.