Artist

Ismail Shammout >1930-2006. Palestinian artist illustrator, he was clearly influenced by the images that were captured by his artist’s eye during his people’s exodus and then by their life of misery and despair in the refugee camps. By 1953, he had a collection of 60 works – oil paintings, watercolors, and drawings. He studied fine art in Cairo where he opened his major exhibition in Cairo, with the participation of the Palestinian artist Tamam Aref Al-Akhal, a colleague then, and currently his wife. The exhibition was sponsored and inaugurated by Egyptian President. He also joined the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome. He was a refugee who lived the Palestinian experience fully, and went on to tell the story through art. Dispossession, exile, identity, suffering, perseverance, and struggle, are all predominant features of his brilliant oil paintings, and his remarkable way of advocating for his people's cause. 21st July 1954.Moved to Italy and joined the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome

http://www.ifamericansknew.org/cur_sit/shammout.html
http://imeu.net/news/article002033.shtml
http://www.shammout.com/art-pale.htm

Illustrator, Cartoonist

Naji al-ali (1936 - 1987), a Palestinian illustrator . He is an artist who transcended fictional frontiers using lines that draw free borders, the boundaries of freedom without pavements, the freedom of the artist, the people, and the homeland. He lived on the edge of danger because he was closest to the truth. In 1985 he moved to London and during that period he published more than 40,000 cartoons. The Time magazine described him saying: "This man draws with human bones." The 'Asahi' Japanese newspaper wrote: "Naji Al-Ali draws using phosphoric acid. Also " The New York Times once wrote: "If you want to know what the Arabs think of the US look at Naji Al-Ali's cartoons. In 1987 he was killed in Central London by a hired murderer.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/6911815.stm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naji_Salim_al-Ali
http://www.najialali.com/drawings/

Moustapha Akkad

Moustapha Akkad (1930-2005) he is a Syrian film producer and a director. He directed the films Lion of the Desert and Mohammad the Messenger of God. Also he is the producer of the series of Halloween films were he became best known for his key involvement. He studied film direction and production at the United States in the 1950’s. Akkad, and his 34-year-old daughter Rima, were killed in the 2005 Amman-Jordan bombings. His daughter died instantly, and Akkad died of his injuries two days later in a hospital.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moustapha_Akkad

http://www.hollywood.com/celebrity/Moustapha_Akkad/1123969
http://www.lovefilm.com/visitor/browse_contributor/99297/Moustapha_Akkad.html
http://www.nndb.com/people/456/000108132/

Surrealism & Filmmaking

Surrealism is an art of movement where in films are often found in passing frames, the unexpected appearance of the strange into the normal which may or may not be more explored in the rest of the film. The focus in this kind films might be only on expressions or objects or anything, it can be described as an art of consciously. Surrealism has been a style of filmmaking since the 1920's. The German film makers have started surrealist style of films like The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and Nosferatu.


Salvador Dali and Luis Bunuel is another example of surrealist filmmakers. the 17 minutes short film ( Un Chien Andalou) also have introduced the world to the Surrealism in filmmaking.

Moreover, a best known example of Surrealist filmmakers now is David Lynch. He has received more than one academy awards of best directing. Elephant Man (1980), Blue (1987)Velvet and for Mulholland Drive (2002). Lynch’s films are known as dreamlike and nightmarish sequences.



http://www.moviemail-online.co.uk/scripts/media_view.pl?id=85&type=Articles
http://www.filmreference.com/encyclopedia/Romantic-Comedy-Yugoslavia/Surrealism-SURREALIST-CINEMA.html
http://www.filmreference.com/Films-A-An/L-Age-D-Or.html