Algerian director Rachid Hami leans back on his chair and carefully contemplates his response.
I was asking him about the making of the musical drama Orchestra Class, which premiered at the Dubai International Film Festival (Diff) on December 7.
“Well, like you said, it’s a long journey,” he says. “When you come from a different ethnic background, from the ghettos, it is tough to convince the people who take decisions. But, in a way, you accept that it is a battle that you must fight, as a filmmaker.”
Samir Guesmi, known for his roles in District 13 and Tell No One, both of which are thrillers, spoke about how he prepped for his role as a music teacher.
“Well, you don’t prepare yourself, you prepare to interact with the children,” he says. “My character is a teacher who wants to learn the violin, and when you want to learn something, you don’t prepare. You just be there, in the moment.”
So what compelled them to bring their film to Diff? “Coming from an Arabic background, I wanted to show my work to people from the same background as me, and Diff is the biggest festival in the region,” said Hami. “Also, Dubai is a melting-pot of so many cultures which makes Diff the perfect festival to show one’s work.”
Orchestra Class will screen again on December 9 at Galleria Mall at 7.15pm. Tickets, starting at Dh35, are available on diff.ae.
— The Young Journalist Award (YJA) at Diff is a training programme for high school and university students who are aspiring writers and reporters. Seven students are competing at the festival this year. One winner will secure a monthlong internship with Gulf News.
