Abbas Arnaout
Encyclopedia
Abbas Arnaout (born October 23, 1944) is a Jordanian director
and writer
, most known recently for being the founder and festival
director of the Al Jazeera International Documentary Film Festival, as well as his documentary film
making career.
Abbas Arnaout studied film direction in the United Kingdom
, and specialized in directing drama
and television
documentaries
. Arnaout was the managing director of the Jordanian Television (now known as JRTV
), but left in 1975 to work in Dubai TV
. He directed several television series during his time at Dubai TV.
He also directed several documentary films, most of which are politically-themed, documenting the recent history of the Arab-Israeli conflict. One of his prominent documentaries is Al Khiam, which chronicles and portrays the nature of the Khiam detention center
by the Israel
i forces prior to their withdrawal from south Lebanon
.
In 1996, Abbas Arnaout moved to work at Al Jazeera
, and, in 2004, founded the Al Jazeera International Documentary Film Festival. He currently is the director of the festival.
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, most known recently for being the founder and festival
Festival
A festival or gala is an event, usually and ordinarily staged by a local community, which centers on and celebrates some unique aspect of that community and the Festival....
director of the Al Jazeera International Documentary Film Festival, as well as his documentary film
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
making career.
Abbas Arnaout studied film direction in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and specialized in directing drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
and television
Television director
A television director directs the activities involved in making a television program and is part of a television crew.-Duties:The duties of a television director vary depending on whether the production is live or recorded to video tape or video server .In both types of productions, the...
documentaries
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
. Arnaout was the managing director of the Jordanian Television (now known as JRTV
JRTV
Jordan Radio and Television is the state broadcaster of Jordan. It was formed in 1985 from the merger of Jordan Radio and Jordan Television....
), but left in 1975 to work in Dubai TV
Dubai TV
Dubai TV is a channel offered by the Dubai Media Incorporated . It replaced Emirates Dubai Television in June 2004. Dubai TV broadcasts programmes predominantly in Arabic. The programming caters to family Arab audience specifically in the Persian Gulf region and is available in Australia, Europe,...
. He directed several television series during his time at Dubai TV.
He also directed several documentary films, most of which are politically-themed, documenting the recent history of the Arab-Israeli conflict. One of his prominent documentaries is Al Khiam, which chronicles and portrays the nature of the Khiam detention center
Khiam detention center
The Khiam Detention Center, located near Khiam, Lebanon, was a French barrack complex originally built in the 1930s. It became a base for the Lebanese army before falling under control of the South Lebanon Army and in 1985 was converted into a prison camp...
by the Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i forces prior to their withdrawal from south Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
.
In 1996, Abbas Arnaout moved to work at Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera is an independent broadcaster owned by the state of Qatar through the Qatar Media Corporation and headquartered in Doha, Qatar...
, and, in 2004, founded the Al Jazeera International Documentary Film Festival. He currently is the director of the festival.