Abu Raed Wins Grand Prize at Heartland Fest

Hollywood Reporter brings the news that Captain Abu Raed, Jordan’s first entry into the Oscar race, and one of the best films of the year, has won the grand prize for best dramatic feature at the Heartland Film Festival, “which focuses on upbeat films about the human condition.” Gini Reticker’s “Pray the Devil Back to Hell” was named best documentary feature. Abu Raed is a story of personal heroism, the courage of the individual – I’m not quite sure how “upbeat” it is. But I’m sure they’ll happily take the win.

And speaking of the Foreign Language race, Nathaniel Rogers at the Film Experience has done a podcast on the foreign entries so far well worth a listen. He’s talking this time with Boyd Van Hoeij of European Films.

You can catch up with Abu Raed’s director, Amin Matalqa, on his own blog, A Filmmaker’s Journey.