Abbas Fahdel
Encyclopedia
Abbas Fahdel is an Iraqi-French film director
, screenwriter
and film critic, born in Babylon
, Iraq
.
Based in France since the age of 18 years, he studied cinema at the Sorbonne University until Ph.D.
In January 2002, he returned to Iraq with a French passport and filmed a documentary film, Back to Babylon (film)
, in which he asked himself: "What have my childhood friends become? How have their lives changed? What would my life have been like if I hadn't chosen to build my destiny elsewhere?" The country's dramatic situation is the background of this introspective investigation.
One year later, in February 2003, when a new war seems imminent, Abbas Fahdel returned to Iraq with the intention of filming his family and friends, and the superstitious hope of protecting them against the dangers threatening them. When the war started, he returned to France and lost all contact with his family. Two months later, he again returned to Iraq and discovered a country shaken by violence, the nightmare of dictatorship replaced by chaos, but a country where, nonetheless, everything remains possible: the best or the worse. This historical moment is the theme of his second documentary film, We Iraqis
.
In 2008, he directed the feature film Dawn of the World
, a war-drama in which he gives an unexpected account of the multiple impacts of the Gulf Wars and how they have dramatically damaged an area known to be the geographic location of the biblical Garden of Eden
.
Short films:
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:...
, screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
and film critic, born in Babylon
Babylon
Babylon was an Akkadian city-state of ancient Mesopotamia, the remains of which are found in present-day Al Hillah, Babil Province, Iraq, about 85 kilometers south of Baghdad...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
Based in France since the age of 18 years, he studied cinema at the Sorbonne University until Ph.D.
In January 2002, he returned to Iraq with a French passport and filmed a documentary film, Back to Babylon (film)
Back to Babylon (film)
Back to Babylon is a documentary film directed by the Iraqi-French film director Abbas Fahdel.-Synopsis:Back in his home town of Babylon after a long exile, the Iraqi-born director Abbas Fahdel asks himself: "What has become of my friends? What has life here made of them? What would life here...
, in which he asked himself: "What have my childhood friends become? How have their lives changed? What would my life have been like if I hadn't chosen to build my destiny elsewhere?" The country's dramatic situation is the background of this introspective investigation.
One year later, in February 2003, when a new war seems imminent, Abbas Fahdel returned to Iraq with the intention of filming his family and friends, and the superstitious hope of protecting them against the dangers threatening them. When the war started, he returned to France and lost all contact with his family. Two months later, he again returned to Iraq and discovered a country shaken by violence, the nightmare of dictatorship replaced by chaos, but a country where, nonetheless, everything remains possible: the best or the worse. This historical moment is the theme of his second documentary film, We Iraqis
We Iraqis
We Iraqis is a documentary film written and directed by the Iraqi-French film director Abbas Fahdel.The film shows daily life in Baghdad, just before and after the 2003 invasion of Iraq...
.
In 2008, he directed the feature film Dawn of the World
Dawn of the World
Dawn of the World is a feature film written and directed by the Iraqi-French film director Abbas Fahdel.Starring Venice Film Festival revelation Hafsia Herzi and Hiam Abbass , Dawn of the World gives an unexpected account of the multiple impacts of the Iran–Iraq War, the Gulf War and the 1991...
, a war-drama in which he gives an unexpected account of the multiple impacts of the Gulf Wars and how they have dramatically damaged an area known to be the geographic location of the biblical Garden of Eden
Garden of Eden
The Garden of Eden is in the Bible's Book of Genesis as being the place where the first man, Adam, and his wife, Eve, lived after they were created by God. Literally, the Bible speaks about a garden in Eden...
.
Filmography
- 20082008 in filmThis is a list of all major films made in 2008.-Highest-grossing films:Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top grossing films that were first released in the USA in 2008...
: Dawn of the WorldDawn of the WorldDawn of the World is a feature film written and directed by the Iraqi-French film director Abbas Fahdel.Starring Venice Film Festival revelation Hafsia Herzi and Hiam Abbass , Dawn of the World gives an unexpected account of the multiple impacts of the Iran–Iraq War, the Gulf War and the 1991... - 20042004 in filmThe year 2004 in film involved some significant events. Major releases of sequels took place. It included blockbuster films like Shrek 2, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Passion of the Christ, Meet the Fockers, Blade: Trinity, Spider-Man 2, Alien vs. Predator, Kill Bill Vol...
: We IraqisWe IraqisWe Iraqis is a documentary film written and directed by the Iraqi-French film director Abbas Fahdel.The film shows daily life in Baghdad, just before and after the 2003 invasion of Iraq... - 20022002 in filmThe year 2002 in film involved some significant events. The first significant releases of sequels took place between The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, Men in Black II, Analyze That, Spy Kids 2: The Island of...
: Back to Babylon (film)Back to Babylon (film)Back to Babylon is a documentary film directed by the Iraqi-French film director Abbas Fahdel.-Synopsis:Back in his home town of Babylon after a long exile, the Iraqi-born director Abbas Fahdel asks himself: "What has become of my friends? What has life here made of them? What would life here...
Short films:
- Things in the shadow
- Weegee’s World
- Sunday at a suburban café
Awards
- Best Film award, Gulf Film FestivalGulf Film FestivalThe Gulf Film Festival is an annual non-profit cultural event that aims to celebrate the highest standards of Persian Gulf cinema. The Festival takes place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, since 2008....
, 2009, for Dawn of the WorldDawn of the WorldDawn of the World is a feature film written and directed by the Iraqi-French film director Abbas Fahdel.Starring Venice Film Festival revelation Hafsia Herzi and Hiam Abbass , Dawn of the World gives an unexpected account of the multiple impacts of the Iran–Iraq War, the Gulf War and the 1991...
. - Audience Award and NETPAC Award, Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian CinemaVesoul International Film Festival of Asian CinemaThe Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema is an annual special-interest film festival focusing on the cinemas of Asia. The festival is held annually in Vesoul, France. It was created in 1995 by Martine and Jean-Marc Thérouanne who have been codirecting the festival since...
, 2009, for Dawn of the WorldDawn of the WorldDawn of the World is a feature film written and directed by the Iraqi-French film director Abbas Fahdel.Starring Venice Film Festival revelation Hafsia Herzi and Hiam Abbass , Dawn of the World gives an unexpected account of the multiple impacts of the Iran–Iraq War, the Gulf War and the 1991...
. - Best Film award, 20th Fameck Arab Film Festival, 2009, for Dawn of the WorldDawn of the WorldDawn of the World is a feature film written and directed by the Iraqi-French film director Abbas Fahdel.Starring Venice Film Festival revelation Hafsia Herzi and Hiam Abbass , Dawn of the World gives an unexpected account of the multiple impacts of the Iran–Iraq War, the Gulf War and the 1991...
. - Great Prize of the Jury, Rabat International Film Festival, 2009, for Dawn of the WorldDawn of the WorldDawn of the World is a feature film written and directed by the Iraqi-French film director Abbas Fahdel.Starring Venice Film Festival revelation Hafsia Herzi and Hiam Abbass , Dawn of the World gives an unexpected account of the multiple impacts of the Iran–Iraq War, the Gulf War and the 1991...
. - Great Prize for the best scriptwriter (Grand Prix du Meilleur Scénariste, SOPADIN), for Dawn of the WorldDawn of the WorldDawn of the World is a feature film written and directed by the Iraqi-French film director Abbas Fahdel.Starring Venice Film Festival revelation Hafsia Herzi and Hiam Abbass , Dawn of the World gives an unexpected account of the multiple impacts of the Iran–Iraq War, the Gulf War and the 1991...
. - Best Screenplay Award (Trophée du Premier Scénario, Centre National de la CinématographieCentre National de la CinématographieLe Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée or CNC is a French agency of the Ministry of Culture, responsible for the production and promotion of cinematic and audiovisual arts in France, is a publicly owned establishment, with legal and financial autonomy.Created by law on 25 October 1946...
), for Dawn of the WorldDawn of the WorldDawn of the World is a feature film written and directed by the Iraqi-French film director Abbas Fahdel.Starring Venice Film Festival revelation Hafsia Herzi and Hiam Abbass , Dawn of the World gives an unexpected account of the multiple impacts of the Iran–Iraq War, the Gulf War and the 1991...
. - Best Screenplay Award, 9th Beirut International Film Festival, 2009, for Dawn of the WorldDawn of the WorldDawn of the World is a feature film written and directed by the Iraqi-French film director Abbas Fahdel.Starring Venice Film Festival revelation Hafsia Herzi and Hiam Abbass , Dawn of the World gives an unexpected account of the multiple impacts of the Iran–Iraq War, the Gulf War and the 1991...
. - Prize of the Jury, 15th African, Asian and Latin American Film Festival, Milano, Italy, 2005, for We IraqisWe IraqisWe Iraqis is a documentary film written and directed by the Iraqi-French film director Abbas Fahdel.The film shows daily life in Baghdad, just before and after the 2003 invasion of Iraq...
. - The Shield of the Ministry of Culture, Iraq, 2010.
- Honorary Diploma of the Ministry of Culture, Iraq, 2010.