The film and entertainment industry will remain vibrant amid the Covid-19 pandemic, according to acclaimed actress and producer Uma Thurman.
“In the midst of a global pandemic, the need and drive for communication, empathy and entertainment has never been greater. People are consuming more visual entertainment than ever before,” she told Gulf Times.
“The medium of film is always fluid, and there will be another side to this crisis,” stressed Thurman, who has joined the SundanceTV Shorts Competition jury panel along with renowned filmmakers Annemarie Jacir and Sophia al-Maria.
The first-of-its-kind contest, launched by SundanceTV in collaboration with beIN Media Group and Doha Film Institute in the Middle East and North Africa for the first time, serves as a platform for emerging filmmakers and original storytellers to share their stories.
The winners and runner-ups will be announced next month.
The winner of the competition will take part in an exclusive masterclass with Thurman, a Golden Globe winner and Academy Award and Primetime Emmy Award nominee.
Thurman is best known for her iconic roles in Quentin Tarantino’s cult classics, 'Pulp Fiction' and the 'Kill Bill' franchise, which garnered her an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe nomination, respectively.
About films as an important tool for communication, Thurman said: “The short-form narrative requires an economy of storytelling that is an essential skill of the director. In today’s world, abundant, affordable technology provides unprecedented opportunities for filmmakers to reach global audiences like never before.”
Asked about her thoughts on filmmaking in the Arab world, she said: “Having had so many opportunities to take part in film festivals, both through submitted films and as a juror on international festivals, such as Venice, Cannes and Berlin, I know the potency of the cultural exchange that happens when people from all around the world share their stories.”
On her expectations from the competition, Thurman said: “I find a well-told story consumes you effortlessly even when the content is confrontational. I look forward to hearing the voices of the contestants.”
In these challenging times, Thurman's advice and message for aspiring filmmakers is "universal: transform fear into courage”.
About the relevance of film festivals as platforms for discovery, especially an event like Ajyal that focuses on the youth and the transformative power of film, Thurman said, “Film festivals are soulful melting pots of multinational voices. Now more than ever, a sense of global community is essential.”
“The medium of film is always fluid, and there will be another side to this crisis,” stressed Thurman, who has joined the SundanceTV Shorts Competition jury panel along with renowned filmmakers Annemarie Jacir and Sophia al-Maria.
The first-of-its-kind contest, launched by SundanceTV in collaboration with beIN Media Group and Doha Film Institute in the Middle East and North Africa for the first time, serves as a platform for emerging filmmakers and original storytellers to share their stories.
The winners and runner-ups will be announced next month.
The winner of the competition will take part in an exclusive masterclass with Thurman, a Golden Globe winner and Academy Award and Primetime Emmy Award nominee.
Thurman is best known for her iconic roles in Quentin Tarantino’s cult classics, 'Pulp Fiction' and the 'Kill Bill' franchise, which garnered her an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe nomination, respectively.
About films as an important tool for communication, Thurman said: “The short-form narrative requires an economy of storytelling that is an essential skill of the director. In today’s world, abundant, affordable technology provides unprecedented opportunities for filmmakers to reach global audiences like never before.”
Asked about her thoughts on filmmaking in the Arab world, she said: “Having had so many opportunities to take part in film festivals, both through submitted films and as a juror on international festivals, such as Venice, Cannes and Berlin, I know the potency of the cultural exchange that happens when people from all around the world share their stories.”
On her expectations from the competition, Thurman said: “I find a well-told story consumes you effortlessly even when the content is confrontational. I look forward to hearing the voices of the contestants.”
In these challenging times, Thurman's advice and message for aspiring filmmakers is "universal: transform fear into courage”.
About the relevance of film festivals as platforms for discovery, especially an event like Ajyal that focuses on the youth and the transformative power of film, Thurman said, “Film festivals are soulful melting pots of multinational voices. Now more than ever, a sense of global community is essential.”