Join NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) for a conversation with Basil Khalil, Academy Award and Palme d’Or nominated writer and director. We will discuss positioning a film in navigating the festival and awards circuit, including submitting to the Academy and going through with the process of having a film nominated, cultivating relationships, deliverables, and the difference between these processes for shorts and features. We will also discuss Basil’s journey as an independent filmmaker, the independent cinema landscape today, as well as advice and insight for independent filmmakers.
Basil Khalil
Oscar® and Palme d’Or Nominated Writer and Director
About Basil Khalil:
Academy Award & Palme d’Or nominated writer and director Basil Khalil was born and raised in Nazareth, to a Palestinian father and British-Irish mother. His debut feature A Gaza Weekend premiered at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, winning the FIPRESCI prize. Previous to that he co-wrote and directed the short film Ave Maria that premiered in the official selection at the Cannes Film Festival and went on to receive an Oscar nomination.
Serge Bakalian
Arab Film and Media Institute
About our Moderator:
Serge is a non-profit leader, science advisor, and the founder of the Arab Film and Media Institute (AFMI), serving as its Executive Director. The California-based AFMI is a unique ecosystem to find, nurture, connect and develop Arab film and media projects, and home to the Arab Film Festival, the largest and oldest festival of its kind in North America. He also works as a science advisor for the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. Serge caught the artist bug in 2007 and moved to San Francisco to develop and produce film and theatre projects, the latter dedicated to exploring Middle Eastern cultures and identities. Born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon, Serge holds degrees in Chemistry and International Relations.
IMPORTANT DETAILS:
This panel will take place virtually over ZOOM. Ticket purchasers will receive a ZOOM link to this panel 2 hours before the published start time. If you don’t already have the ZOOM app, please make sure to download on your device before the panel start time.
If you purchase a ticket for our November Festival events prior to the date of this panel, you will also receive admission to this virtual panel, included as part of your pass.
If you are a current Annual Member of NFMLA, please email info@nfmla.org to receive a complimentary ticket to this panel. If you are not an Annual Member of NFMLA and would like to join, you can become a member here.
