Crossroads Catalogue 2009

SYRIA / FRANCERana Kazkaz & Anas KhalafDirectorsContactAddress: PO Box 3341 Damascus, SyriaT: +33-689-830-735M: +33-689-830-735rkazkaz@aol.comanaskhalaf@gmail.comFilmographyGibran, 2011 (in development)Exquisite Corpse (short), 2008Kemo Sabe (short), 2007Driving to Zigzigland, 2007DamaScenesCreditsProduced by: Rana Kazkaz & Anas KhalafDirector: Rana Kazkaz & Anas KhalafScriptwriter: Screenplay by Rana Kazkaz –Story by Rana Kazkaz & Anas KhalafCo-Producers: Les Films de Zayna (France),Sombrero Films (France)Budget: 1.000.000 EurosSecured Financing: 12%SynopsisDamascus, Syria – The Present. Although their spiritual beliefs, ties to the past and dreams for the presentare different, six Damascenes – a Mother and Daughter, a Father and Son, a Grandfather and Granddaughter- with backgrounds deeply rooted in tradition, struggle with their ability to live in a modernizingworld. They do, however, share one thing in common - life has thrust them together during a peculiartime – Ramadan. Whether faced with finding a suitable husband, pursuing meaningful employment orcoping with illness or the death of a loved one, these six main characters find themselves confronted bya similar struggle, between modernity and tradition. Ultimately, these confrontations – humorous andtragic – will require that these characters realize that their survival as individuals and as family dependson their ability to make peace with the present instead of living in a glorified past.Director’s StatementIt is widely accepted that Damascus is the oldest, continuously inhabited capital city in the world. As such,Damascus is bound to centuries-old traditions. For this reason, its path towards modernity, although inevitable,is embraced by some of its citizens and rejected by others. Our humble wish for the citizens ofDamascus, including ourselves, is that we learn to honour the past and make peace with the present inorder to improve our future. Our hope is that DamaScenes, the film, will offer the world an enlighteningwindow into this city and its inhabitants - a place and people often misunderstood, as they are not typicallyvisited by outsiders.10