Sept 26 - Oct 5, 2013
en
Eröffnungssfilm "Valley of Saints" © Peerwar Pictures
The film “Valley of Saints” is the first feature-length film by director Musa Syeed. His parents had to flee the Indian province of Kashmir and emigrated to the USA. Here Syeed was born and today lives in New York. When Musa Syeed visited his parents’ country he was overwhelmed. “Valley of Saints” is based on these intense impressions, the film will open the 20th Filmfest Hamburg on September 27, 2012 in the presence of Hamburg’s mayor Olaf Scholz.
“Kashmir is a blank spot on the cinematic map. There are hardly any theaters and even the leading actor, an amateur, has not seen “Valley of Saints” on the big screen. In this way we want to present Kashmir to our audience; the impressive nature and the myths of the ancestors on the one hand and the political instability of the region that we often forget about on the other,” explains festival director Albert Wiederspiel talking about his choice for the opening film which stands out from the usual German movie theater program.
“Valley of Saints”, an American/Indian co-production was filmed in Kashmir in Kashmiri and has already won several international awards: For example it received the award for best film at both the Sundance Film Festival and the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.
“Kashmir is a blank spot on the cinematic map. There are hardly any theaters and even the leading actor, an amateur, has not seen “Valley of Saints” on the big screen. In this way we want to present Kashmir to our audience; the impressive nature and the myths of the ancestors on the one hand and the political instability of the region that we often forget about on the other,” explains festival director Albert Wiederspiel talking about his choice for the opening film which stands out from the usual German movie theater program.
“Valley of Saints”, an American/Indian co-production was filmed in Kashmir in Kashmiri and has already won several international awards: For example it received the award for best film at both the Sundance Film Festival and the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.
At the center of the plot is the idyllic Dal Lake where Gulzar, a young boatman, lives in a simple stilt house. To escape poverty and war he decides to go to Delhi with his best friend. However, this plan is suddenly thwarted when a Kashmir-wide curfew is enforced. Furthermore, Gulzar meets the pretty scientist Asifa and helps her to take water samples from the lake for an environmental study. When he becomes aware of the extent of environmental pollution and falls in love with Asifa his life is turned upside down. What should he choose? An advanced way of life in the glamorous big city or his home town? The lake is threatened with a slow demise but if he stays, Gulzar could help to save it and thus conserve the traditional life on its banks.Director Musa Syeed creates an extraordinary, multi-layered portrait of his home country against a backdrop of global, ecological and political upheaval. The impressive “Valley of Saints” not only features a carefully told story but also enchanting lighting and expansive camera work which allow the audience members to really immerse themselves in the faraway, almost forgotten province of Kashmir.
Distributor Kairos Filmverleih’s “Valley of Saints” is being shown at Filmfest Hamburg in the section “Drei Farben Grün” (Three Colors Green). The opening event begins at 7:30 pm at CinemaxX Dammtor. The after-show and official opening party for Filmfest Hamburg will take place at the Grand Elysee Hotel on Rothenbaumchaussee. This event is being supported by our media partner NDR, SKODA and the Grand Elysee.
The 20th Filmfest Hamburg will take place from September 27th to October 6th , 2012 at the following venues: Abaton, CinemaxX Dammtor, Metropolis, Passage, Studio-Kino, 3011 and the B-Movie.
The Michel Children and Youth Film Festival is celebrating its’ 10th anniversary
from September 28th to October 6th at the Abaton movie theater.
The Michel Children and Youth Film Festival is celebrating its’ 10th anniversary
from September 28th to October 6th at the Abaton movie theater.