“It was a pleasure to start with for "Merely a Smell" to be selected for the international competition of "It's all true" film , and an added delight for it to receive the Jury's appreciation.

Though unfortunately I am not with you and can't see your faces, your smiles nor your sorrow, I do feel that the Jury's award is a sign that some of the "smell" that penetrates our daily life in the region, as well as the resistance of its people in the search of just paths, has reached through to you. That same smell which I have experienced as early as 1982 with the invasion of Beirut by the Israeli Defence Forces and the massacres of Sabra and Shatila, is one we have been invaded by as early as 1948 when the Palestinian people were colonised and expelled from their land.

The 17 dead, whose smell permeates the film, are from Aynata, a southern Lebanese village and their continued death has little been condemned. At the same moment, the European ship embarks on Beirut to select the few it considers worth of rescue from death and its smell, while the death of all remaining others continues to be an insignificant trivial occurrence. Black and white contrasting colours and distinct sounds were the only manner I could find to express moments such as these; a manner that continues searching for a cinematic language, as opposed to the language of reportage, to convey an experience as deep and personal.

Though geographic space distances us from Brazil and the rest of Latin America, I am sure that we are brought closer by intersections in each of our pursuit of a just paths for the life our societies, and I hope when I join you in future festivals, that we would be much further ahead in such paths.”

Maher Abi Samra



Cosmonauta Polyakov

I am so so so happy! Thank you for this wonderful news - it's my first 1st prize in film and I am proud I have received it in Brazil!

"It's All True" is honouring most of all the courage of the people who are reaching out for the infinite - and the challenge that space means for human consciousness. Many people say that space is not important and that we have harder problems to solve on Earth. But where does insight come from? Where are the new heroes to inspire us and be an example? Thank you and the Jury for having given "Cosmonaut Polyakov" its true wings...

Warmly,
from all my heart,
Dana

I really wish I could be there with you tonight!

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