Khaberni - The Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation hosted last evening the Syrian director Bassel Khateeb in a dialogue titled "Bassel Khateeb Between Cinema and TV", organized by the Cultural Forum in collaboration with the Cinema Department at the Foundation, attended by many interested in artistic and cinematic affairs.
During the dialogue, which was moderated by director Dr. Najwa Qandqji, Khateeb presented his rich experience that carried human and national concerns to the screen, making the image a mirror for an Arab soul searching for beauty despite the darkness.
Khateeb discussed the circumstances of his family's travel to the Netherlands due to his father's work in the Arab section of the Dutch radio, where he was born during that period. He pointed out that his father's strong belonging and attachment to the Levant led him to decide to return to Syria.
He also mentioned his earlier passion for drawing during his childhood, which eventually shifted to cinema during his medical studies in Russia, causing him to change his academic path from medicine to film studies, noting that cinema is a magical art, where the director has the ability to create something from nothing and create a whole world of images and stories.
Khateeb mentioned that he returned to Syria after graduating in the late year of 1987, when the cinema production was weak, while there was a prolific period in drama and television production. He pointed to the first TV series he directed after returning four years later, titled "Autumn," which was highly successful, considering the series as an entrance gateway to the world of television.
Khateeb noted the significant responsibility a director bears when working in both television and cinema, which requires the director to pay attention to the smallest details, and not to relax or slack off during any of the work phases.
He pointed out that most world-renowned directors, who have directed some of the most important cinematic films, also work on successful TV series, noting that while the work is the same in both cases, there may be differences in the production mechanisms and the durations of the work.
It should be noted that, starting this evening, the Shoman Cinema Committee is organizing an event titled "Bassel Khateeb Retrospective," where films by the Syrian director Bassel Khateeb will be shown over three consecutive days. The screenings will start today at 6:30 PM at the cinema hall at the Foundation's headquarters in Jabal Amman.
The screenings begin tonight with the Syrian film "Hayat." On Wednesday, the film "Two Days" will be shown, and on Thursday, the film "Maryam" will be shown.
Bassel Khateeb, a Palestinian filmmaker, TV director and producer, was born in 1962 in Hilversum, Netherlands. His father, the late Arab poet Youssef Khateeb, graduated from the College of Film Directing and Television at the Cinema Institute in Moscow in 1987. He is the founder and director of Joy Film for cinematic and television production in Damascus, as well as the founder and dean of the Damascus Cinema Institute. He has been working in the direction and production of films and series since 1990. He has directed 7 short films and 13 feature films: The Last Message - Maryam - The Mother - Syrians - The Father - Ibn Badis - The Confession - Damascus Aleppo - Until the End of Life - The Bishop - The Sage - Two Days - Hayat. He has also directed 29 long TV series including: Days of Anger - I am Jerusalem - Nasser - Nizar Qabbani - Dhi Qar - Abu Zayd Al Hilali - Hulagu - Bilqis - Events in Damascus, Love and War Messages -Little Women - Hanin - Adham Al Sharqawi - Asad Al Jazeera - Hurair - Guardian of Jerusalem.
Khateeb has won several awards at Arab and international film and television festivals. He resides and works in Damascus, Syria.
