Documentary Film Award for “Sira” in Innsbruck
The Swiss documentary film “Sira – Wenn der Halbmond spricht” by Sandra Gysi and Ahmed Abdel Mohsen was honoured with the Documentary Film Award at the 20th International Film Festival in Innsbruck (May 31 - June 5, 2011).
06.06.2011
"Sira - Wenn der Halbmond spricht" portrays Sayyed el-Dawwy, the last of the living poets of the greatest of all Arabic epics. While on concert tour, Sayyed el-Dawwy intends to pass the Sira, the epic collection of five million verses, on to his grandson Ramadan. Martial Knaebel, former head of the Fribourg Film Festival, was one of the three-member jury for documentary films. The jury's statement was as follows: "The discreet precision of the camera that is always at a respectful distance to the protagonists; the extraordinary photographic and sound montage that allows the music to pervade the film and therefore create a special atmosphere; and last but not least the playful lightness in which the audience is lead through the film."
Following its world premiere at the Festival Visions du Réel in Nyon, the film was released in cinemas in French-speaking Switzerland at the end of April. "Sira - Wenn der Halbmond spricht" will start in cinemas in German-speaking Switzerland on August 25 (distribution: Columbus).
Zurich, June 6, 2011