Women In Motion Maysaloun Hamoud
Source: Courtesy Kering
On Wednesday, November 8th, Kering hosted a special preview of the Palestinian director Maysaloun Hamoud´s first film, In Between. The screening was part of Kering´s Women in Motion initiative, which sets out to showcase the contribution of women to the film industry, whether in front of the camera or behind it. Maysaloun Hamoud received the Women in Motion Young Talent Award at the 70th Festival de Cannes in 2017. The Award, accompanied by a funding of €50,000, will enable her to continue her filmmaking projects.
Following the screening, award-winning writer and director, Debra Granik (Winter´s Bone) spoke with Maysaloun Hamoud on the universal themes in their work, the challenges facing women in film today and their vision for bridging cultural and gender divides. The evening was moderated by Keri Putnam, Executive Director of the Sundance Institute. In Between (Bar Bahar) chronicles the daily lives of three young Palestinian women living in Tel Aviv, torn between family traditions and their desire for independence. The film, an ode to tolerance and diversity has won acclaim at festivals worldwide.
Said Maysaloun, “the film addresses many issues that Middle Eastern women face but can actually speak to anyone. Through this film, I told my own story as a Palestinian woman, but it resonated universally. The response has been overwhelming.“
She continued, “I created these characters to demonstrate that women don´t conform to a single stereotype. We do not have to be one kind of woman; we can be all kinds. We should not compromise; we cannot afford to do so.“
Speaking to the role of women in film and the importance of the platforms that support them, Debra remarked, “being female deeply influences the way I create, but having such platforms as Sundance and Women in Motion to support women storytellers allows me to focus on my craft and not my gender. It´s this type of culture pushing that is changing the game.“
In Between will be released in the U.S. on 5 January 2018, at The Landmark Sunshine Cinema in New York City.
ABOUT WOMEN IN MOTION----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Women in Motion sets out to showcase the contribution of women to the film industry, whether in front of the camera or behind it. Launched in 2015 by Kering, in partnership with the Festival de Cannes, Women in Motion is an integral part of the Festival´s official programme. The initiative is based on two pillars: Talks open to journalists and industry professionals which give major figures the opportunity to compare and contrast their experiences and viewpoints around the question of women´s contribution to cinema, and to pool their recommendations for greater representation within the industry. Two Women in Motion Awards are presented each year, one to an inspiring figure who embodies the programme´s values, and another to a young film industry professional, who receives funding support for cinematographic projects.
ABOUT KERING-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A global Luxury group, Kering develops an ensemble of luxury houses in fashion, leather goods, jewellery and watches: Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Brioni, Christopher Kane, McQ, Stella McCartney, Tomas Maier, Boucheron, Dodo, Girard-Perregaux, Pomellato, Qeelin and Ulysse Nardin. Kering is also developing the Sport & Lifestyle brands Puma, Volcom and Cobra. By “˜empowering imagination´, Kering encourages its brands to reach their potential, in the most sustainable manner. The Group generated revenue of €12.385 billion in 2016 and had more than 40,000 employees at year end. Source : women In Motion
