LFS Graduate Karim Bensalah has been selected for the prestigious Sundance Institute Directors Lab, following his participation in the Screenwriters Lab last year. Press release below.
Sundance Institute Selects 13 Projects for 2012 June Directors and Screenwriters Labs
Los Angeles, CA — Sundance Institute today announced the 13 projects selected for its annual June Directors and Screenwriters Labs, taking place at the Sundance Resort in Utah from May 28 through June 28. Under the leadership of Michelle Satter, Founding Director of the Institute’s Feature Film Program, and the artistic direction of Gyula Gazdag, the projects selected for this year's program include emerging filmmakers and projects from the United States, Italy, Romania, Australia, Algeria, France, Chile and the UK.
Directors Lab Fellows work with an accomplished group of Creative Advisors, professional actors and production crews to shoot and edit key scenes from their screenplays. Through this intense, hands-on process, the Fellows workshop their scripts, collaborate with actors and find a visual storytelling language for their films in an environment where experimentation and risk-taking is encouraged. Fellows also join in the week-long Screenwriters Lab with five additional projects to participate in individualized story sessions under the guidance of established screenwriters.
Projects supported through the Directors or Screenwriters Labs receive continued tailored support from the Feature Film Program, which can include ongoing creative and strategic advice, significant production and postproduction resources, a Screenplay Reading Series, a Work in Progress Screening Initiative and direct financial support through project-specific grants and artist fellowships.
Keri Putnam, Executive Director of Sundance Institute, said, “For independent artists in particular, it can be challenging to receive specialized support and encouragement. As our offerings for artists continue to grow our hope is that filmmakers have added incentive to remain true to their visions throughout the creative process.”
Michelle Satter, Founding Director of the Feature Film Program, said, “Our Directors and Screenwriters Labs are a creative hotbed for innovation and collaboration, and we appreciate the opportunity to work with emerging artists on the leading edge of independent filmmaking. We look forward to helping their unique visions unfold in the inspired setting of the Utah mountains, as we have done for more than three decades.”
Gyula Gazdag returns as the Artistic Director for the Directors Lab. This year’s Creative Advisors for the Directors and Screenwriters Labs include Gregg Araki, Michael Arndt, Andrea Arnold, John August, Ramin Bahrani, Walter Bernstein, Mark Boal, Scott Z. Burns, Sebastian Cordero, Joan Darling, Caleb Deschanel, Suzy Elmiger, Robert Elswit, Billy Goldenberg, Deena Goldstone, Affonso Gonçalves, Ed Harris, Michael Hoffman, Azazel Jacobs, Christine Lahti, Kasi Lemmons, Peter Medak, John Cameron Mitchell, Walter Mosley, Jessie Nelson, Jeff Nichols, Robert Redford, Jennifer Salt, Susan Shilliday, Stewart Stern, Wesley Strick, Joan Tewkesbury, Athina Rachel Tsangari, Bill Wheeler, Tyger Williams and Doug Wright.
Karim Bensalah (writer/director) / Red Olive Tree (Algeria/France): Plagued by divided loyalties following the French-Algerian war, the recently deceased Ahmed miraculously arises to lead his bickering French family to his homeland, in a mysterious trip where they grapple with the consequences of the choices he made in life and allow him to find peace in death.
Karim Bensalah was born in Algeria. After spending his childhood in Algeria, Brazil, Haiti and Senegal, he went to study social sciences and philosophy in France. He next attended the London Film School. Bensalah directed the short Fatima’s Secret, then a segment of the feature film Paris La Métisse along with 15 other young directors. He has also directed the short films Chibanis and Construction(s) with the group Collectif Tribudom, and works as an actor in films and theatre.
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