Abdellatif Abdelhamid
Encyclopedia
Abdellatif Abdelhamid is one of Syria
's most prominent film
directors. His films have earned numerous awards in the Arab world
, beginning with the Damascus International Film Festival
, the Carthage Film Festival
, and Rabat International Film Festival.
, prior to pursuing studies in film directing. Two years after enrolling in Tishreen University
to study Arabic literature, he earned a scholarship to study film directing at the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography
, where he graduated in 1981.
on Ahlam al-Madina
. He also played the lead role in Usama Muhammad
's Nujoum al- Nahar. Among Syrian filmmakers his work has garnered the widest popular appeal in Syria and the Arab world. He has authored the scripts of all his films. His films have also received critical acclaim worldwide: Verbal Letters received the Golden Olive at the Valencia Mediterranean Film Festival in 1992, and At Our Listeners' Request received the Special Acknowledgmentment at the Asiatica Film Mediale in Italy in 2003, "for the lyricism with which he was capable of describing the tricks of fortune and the reality of war."
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
's most prominent film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
directors. His films have earned numerous awards in the Arab world
Arab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
, beginning with the Damascus International Film Festival
Damascus International Film Festival
The Damascus International Film Festival is a biannual November film festival hosted by the government of Syria since 1979. The festival was established by the late Syrian film director Muhammad Shahin. It alternates with the Carthage Film Festival. Up to 1999, the festival's competition focused...
, the Carthage Film Festival
Carthage Film Festival
The Carthage Film Festival is a biannual October film festival hosted by the government of Tunisia. It alternates with the Damascus International Film Festival....
, and Rabat International Film Festival.
Background
Abdelhamid worked as an actor, musician and singer in the theaters of his hometown, LatakiaLatakia
Latakia, or Latakiyah , is the principal port city of Syria, as well as the capital of the Latakia Governorate. In addition to serving as a port, the city is a manufacturing center for surrounding agricultural towns and villages...
, prior to pursuing studies in film directing. Two years after enrolling in Tishreen University
Tishreen University
Tishreen University , is a public university located in Latakia, Syria. It is the third largest university in Syria. Established on May 20, 1971.-Name:The university was founded under the name of the University of Latakia on May 20, 1971...
to study Arabic literature, he earned a scholarship to study film directing at the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography
Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography
The Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography All-Russian State University of Cinematography named after S. A. Gerasimov), VGIK for short, is a film school in Moscow, Russia.-History:...
, where he graduated in 1981.
Work
He has directed two short documentaries for the National Organization for Cinema in Syria. He worked as an assistant director to Mohamed MalasMohamed Malas
Mohammad Malas is a prominent Syrian filmmaker. He graduated from the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography in 1974.-Selected cinematography:* A Dream of a Small City * Quneitra 74 * Ahlam al-Madina...
on Ahlam al-Madina
Ahlam al-Madina
Ahlam al-Madina is a Syrian feature drama film by director Mohamed Malas. The story is about a young widow and her two sons are forced to move from their native Quneitra to Damascus, where her brutish father offers little emotional or financial support, forcing all of them to fend for themselves...
. He also played the lead role in Usama Muhammad
Usama Muhammad
Usama Muhammad is a Syrian film director and screenwriter. His film The Box of Life was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival.-Filmography:* Stars in Broad Daylight...
's Nujoum al- Nahar. Among Syrian filmmakers his work has garnered the widest popular appeal in Syria and the Arab world. He has authored the scripts of all his films. His films have also received critical acclaim worldwide: Verbal Letters received the Golden Olive at the Valencia Mediterranean Film Festival in 1992, and At Our Listeners' Request received the Special Acknowledgmentment at the Asiatica Film Mediale in Italy in 2003, "for the lyricism with which he was capable of describing the tricks of fortune and the reality of war."
Filmography
- Umniyat (Wishes, 1983) (Documentary).
- Aydina (Our Hands, 1982) (Documentary).
- Layali Ibn Awah, (Nights of the Jackals, 1989).
- Rasael Shafahiyyah (Verbal Letters, 1991).
- Suoud al-Matar (The Rise of Rain, 1994).
- Nassim al-RohNassim al-RohNassim al-Roh is a Syrian drama film by director Abdellatif Abdelhamid. The film discusses different social scenes in modern Syrian society....
(Soul Breeze, 1998). - Qamaran wa ZaytounaQamaran wa ZaytounaQamaran wa Zaytouna is a Syrian feature drama film by director Abdellatif Abdelhamid.-Background:The film takes Abdelhamid's familiar style in his Layali Ibn Awah and Rasael Shafahiyah...
(Two Moons and an Olive, 2001). - Ma Yatlubuhu al-Musstamiun (At Our Listeners’ Request, 2003).
- Kharej al-Taghtiya (Out of Coverage, 2007).