Experimental filmmaker Gérard Courant, who holds the world record for the longest film ever made, the 156-hour Cinématon, will be in the spotlight at the fourth Gulf Film Festival, which will be held from April 14 to 20, 2011, at Dubai Festival City. The fourth edition of the Gulf Film Festival will showcase films from […]
Experimental filmmaker Gérard Courant, who holds the world record for the longest film ever made, the 156-hour Cinématon, will be in the spotlight at the fourth Gulf Film Festival, which will be held from April 14 to 20, 2011, at Dubai Festival City.
The fourth edition of the Gulf Film Festival will showcase films from Courants repertoire in its In Focus segment on screens across the Dubai Festival Centre mall. The films not only provide a glimpse of Courants stylistic ingenuity, but also the breadth of the subjects he has explored. Screenings will be free-of-charge and open to the public. Festival delegates will also have the opportunity to participate in Cinématon.
Masoud Amralla Al Ali, Festival Director, Gulf Film Festival, said the showcase of Courants films is intended to inspire emerging filmmakers to experiment with various media, styles and interpretations and find their own way.
Courant and his body of work embody what the Gulf Film Festival is trying to achieve, he said. His films are avant-garde; they defy conventional methods of filmmaking to create works that are in a league of their own. He is relentlessly devoted to his craft, investing time and energy into breaking new ground. He is a fine example for filmmakers trying to find their own voice, and we are delighted to welcome him to Dubai.
One of the most prolific filmmakers of recent times, with more than 300 films to his credit, Courant is also a master of conceptual and lyrical cinema. His work includes contemplative feature films, films made of still images and negative images, films that revisit a single event over 24 years, in addition to his most well-known work, Cinématon, made over 33 years and featuring short, silent self-portraits of more than 2,347 artists, directors and cinephiles including Jean-Luc Godard, Sergie Bardaghnouf and Youssef Chahine shot in single takes.
In addition to Cinematon, some of Courants best-known works include Aditya, 24 Passions, Shes a Very Nice Lady, Shiva, Marilyn, Guy Lux, and Nuns, and Rasage.
