San Francisco, CA: Arab Film Festival Opening Night and Centerpiece Film

MASQUEREDES
A Film by Lyes Salem

Castro Theatre, San Francisco
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Bay Area All-Access Pass (includes opening night film and awards ceremony)
Los Angeles All-Access Pass (includes opening night film and awards ceremony)

ABOUT THE FILM:
In a village in Algeria, ­Mounir is fed up with the teasing his family receives on account of his narcoleptic sister, Rym, who neighbors declare will never marry. To prove them wrong, Mounir makes up a story about his sister's engagement to a wealthy European businessman, earning himself the respect and adoration of the villagers, but alienating himself from his sister. All the while, Rym is in love with someone else and fights to marry for love.

REVIEWS
"Lively ethnic laffer deftly tosses matrimony, celebrity and narcolepsy into a potent brew with international appeal. A likable cast, a witty star turn by [director Lyes] Salem, faultless staging and a neatly inflected pace contribute to a modest but sparkling romp..."
- VARIETY

"Undoubtedly, Masquerades marks [director Lyes] Salem out as a talent we'll certainly be seeing more of; and if his next work is as genial as this, the pleasure will be all ours."
- SCREEN DAILY

FESTIVALS AND AWARDS

2009
Official Selection, SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL
Official Selection, ARAB FILM FESTIVAL OF ROTTERDAM
Official Selection, MOSCOW INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Official Selection, EDINBRUGH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Official Selection, AFRICAVENIR FILM FESTIVAL
Official Selection, HAÏFA FILM FESTIVAL
Official Selection, BEIRUT INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Official Selection, CAIRO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Official Selection, LIVERPOOL ARABIC ARTS FESTIVAL
Official Selection, ARABIAN NIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL
Official Selection, TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL
Official Selection, IMAGEN DOS POVOS
Best Actor Lyes Salem, FESTIVAL DES PREMIERS ET DEUXIEME FILM L'ILE DE LA
REUNION (REUNION ISLAND)
Algeria's Official Entry for the 2009 Academy Awards
Lumiere Award for Most Promising Young Actor, LUMIERE AWARDS

2008
Murh Award: Best Feature, DUBAI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
FIPRESCI Prize, DUBAI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Best Arabic Film, CAIRO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Public Prize, BESANÇON FILM FESTIVAL