artvamp » events

A benefit for American Arab a documentary in progress

kristie — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:02:46 +0000

Kartemquin Films and director Usama Alshaibi invite you to

A BENEFIT FOR AMERICAN ARAB
A documentary in progress

Thursday, August 5th, 6-9pm
The Stan Mansion
2408 North Kedzie, Chicago, Illinois 60647

Enjoy an evening of Music by Black Bear Combo, Middle Eastern Food,
Cash Bar*, Raffle, Belly Dancing, Henna Tattoos, and the World Premiere
of clips from the upcoming film American Arab.

Proceeds will support production of the film.
(Click here for information)

Cinema Alshaibi Saturday June 26 at Fat Rabbit FREE

kristie — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 14:53:08 +0000

Husband and wife collaborators Usama and Kristie Alshaibi are presenting some rarely seen short videos created between 1998 and 2010. This will include early 16mm films by both directors as well as a number of collaborations shot on a wide array of mediums.

In addition, we will premiere a trailer of Usama’s new feature length movie, “Profane.”

The Alshaibis will be selling copies of their limited edition book A History of Flying Vaginas and their DVD of short artfully perverse films titled “Solar Anus Cinema.”

The event is FREE. But please help the Alshaibis in any way you can by buying merchandise or contributing to http://profanemovie.com to help raise finishing funds for the new feature. BYOB.

Saturday June 26, 2010
@Fat Rabbit 1711 S. Halsted,
Chicago, IL 60608

Usama Alshaibi’s Award-Winning Doc “Nice Bombs” Coming to DVD with Free Screening at Portage Theater October 16, 2009

kristie — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:26:56 +0000

Usama Alshaibi’s Award-Winning Doc “Nice Bombs” Coming to DVD with Free Screening OCTOBER 16 at Portage Theater, 4050 North Milwuakee Ave, Chicago

Showtimes are at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Seating is on a first-come, first-served

To celebrate the release of “Nice Bombs” on DVD, filmmaker Usama Alshaibi and distributor Cinema Obscura are presenting two free screenings of the film at the historic Portage Theater on Friday, October 16, 2009.

In “Nice Bombs,” Alshaibi returns to Baghdad to reunite with his family after nearly 24 years. This documentary navigates through his unique relationship to an Iraq that is much different than the country of his childhood. Through a wide range of opinions and experiences he provides a broad panorama of voices long neglected under Saddam’s regime. With humor and resilience, “Nice Bombs” explores Usama’s dual role as both Iraqi and American.

Michael Philips, film critic at “The Chicago Tribune” and co-host of “At the Movies,” says “Nice Bombs” is “..a surprisingly warm first-person video diary….the footage has been edited with grace and tact.”

Aside from winning Best Documentary at the Chicago Underground Film Festival, “Nice Bombs” aired on the Sundance Channel and was produced by Benzfilm Inc. and Kristie Alshaibi.

The DVD of “Nice Bombs” will be available in stores and on-line October, 27, 2009. Pre-orders are currently accepted now at amazon.com and at cinemaobscuradvd.com.

Usama Alshaibi was born in Baghdad, Iraq in 1969 and spent his formative years living between the United States and the Middle East. His work in film and video has been screened at numerous film festivals and venues across the globe. He is the recipient of a generous 2005 grant from the Creative Capital Foundation for the Arts and a Playboy Foundation Award, as well as the winner of the Creative Promise Award at Tribeca All Access in New York City.

Screenings in the Netherlands

kristie — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 08:48:29 +0000

Usama and Kristie will be doing a residency in the Netherlands at Extrapool, along with Chicago-based performance artist Magic is Küntmaster. We will be screening films directed by Usama on the followiung dates:

Friday, 20th of March, 2009 at Extrapool in Nijmegen, Netherlands: New Solar Anus Cinema and a few surprises. Click for details: www.extrapool.nl

Tuesday, 24th of March at Ruinte-x in Tilburg, Netherlands: Iraqi shorts and a sneak preview of Usama’s new project. Click for details: www.ruimte-x.nl/

We will visiting Amsterdam as well, so if you’d like to have us screen our movies, just send us an email: artvamp@artvamp.com

NICE BOMBS playing New York City September 10, 2008

kristie — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:29:35 +0000

Nice Bombs showing at New Filmmakers screening series

Anthology Film Archive
32 Second Avenue
New York, NY 10003
on Wed Sept 10th @ 8:45 pm

We Shoot Your Music – April 25

kristie — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 23:23:57 +0000

WE SHOOT YOUR MUSIC
Music Videos from 1998-2008

WHAT: Music Videos by Usama and Kristie Alshaibi from 1998-2008

WHEN: Friday April 25, 2008 at 9:00 pm

WHERE: Medicine Park Gallery 2659 West Chicago Ave, Chicago 60622
(phone: 773.255.5582)

CONTACT: Amy Cargill : medparkchicago@gmail.com

IN ATTENDANCE: Kristie and Usama Alshaibi with Performance by Magic is
Küntmaster and Mykel Boyd.

http://www.medparkchicago.com
http://wwww.dancehabibi.com

“Although I have worked with many of these musicians on narrative and experimental films, these videos are made specifically for their music. All these were shot in Chicago in collaboration with the musicians and other filmmakers. You will notice some of the musicians as actors in other videos as well. Although I have directed most of these, Kristie and I work very closely together. She has worked as producer, performer and on her latest debut, as director for the new Magic is Küntmaster music video. The videos were shot on a variety of formats from analog tube cameras to HD.”
–Usama Alshaibi:
usama@artvamp.com

FORGET HER music by Magic is Küntmaster (4:45, video,directed by Kristie Alshaibi with Camilla
Ha)

TELL THE POLICE THE TRUTH music by Mahjongg (3:57, video, directed and edited by Usama
Alshaibi with Mahjongg, cinematography Amy Cargill)

WHOOP DRAFT music by Water Babies (4:27, video, by Usama Alshaibi)

VANITAS music by Bobby Conn (8:00, video, directed by Usama Alshaibi, produced by Kristie
Alshaibi, cinematography by Chris Rejano, edited by Amy Cargill)

WHEN THE MONEY’S GONE music by Bobby Conn (3:23, video, directed by Usama Alshaibi,
produced by Kristie Alshaibi, cinematography by Chris Rejano, edited by Amy Cargill)

KING FOR A DAY (CD Version) music by Bobby Conn (4:00, video, directed by Usama Alshaibi,
produced by Kristie Alshaibi, cinematography by Chris Rejano, edited by Amy Cargill)

KING FOR A DAY (Party Version) music by Bobby Conn (4:00, video, by Usama Alshaibi)

LOVELY LITTLE GIRLS LIVE music by Lovely Little Girls (4:50, video, by Usama Alshaibi)

STABBED IN THE FACE music by Panicsville (6:53, video, by Usama Alshaibi)

HOLD MY SCISSORS music by Magic is Küntmaster (4:17, video, directed and edited by Usama
Alshaibi with Camilla Ha)

ANGELS music by Bobby Conn (4:30, video, by Usama Alshaibi)

THE SPEECH music by Zeek Sheck (4:30, 16mm film, directed by Usama Alshaibi)

NICE BOMBS Premiering on the Sundance Channel March 19, 2008

kristie — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 02:48:56 +0000

Artvamp is proud to announce the broadcast premiere of “NICE BOMBS.”

THE SUNDANCE CHANNEL
MARCH 19
6:30 EST/PST

Check your local listing for channel number.

NICE BOMBS follows director Usama Alshaibi on a journey back to his home town of Baghdad, Iraq.

“thoroughly engaging . . .offers a uniquely time-layered vision of the war.“-Ronnie Scheib, Variety

“Loaded with candid conversations and opinions about the hot-button issues of war, terrorism, and Islamic extremism,’Nice Bombs’ offers many different Iraqi and American points of view and portrays a time and place of nightmarish complexity.“- Bruce Bennett, NEW YORK SUN

“Chicago filmmaker Usama Alshaibi grew up in Iraq and the U.S., and although he recently became an American citizen, his personal video documentary has plenty to say about the day-to-day existence of his Baghdad relatives, whom he visited in 2004. Distance tends to simplify our view of anything, and this video humanizes the situation on the ground mostly by complicating it: in a voice-over Alshaibi says he’s often asked what “”the Iraqis” think, but by the end this question has become as meaningless as asking what “the Americans” think. Much of his previous work has been experimental, but this becomes formally adventurous only near the end, as he converses by phone with a cousin who tells him how much worse the situation has grown this year.” 92 min.-Jonathan Rosenbaum, Critics Choice, Chicago Reader.

“In early 2004 Chicago filmmaker Usama Alshaibi returned to his native Iraq with his wife, producer Kristie Alshaibi, and his camera. He had been away for nearly a quarter-century. The result is a surprisingly warm first-person video diary, blending a series of reunions with Alshaibi’s vast array of relatives and footage of the bazaars, streets, homes and everyday perils of life in post-Saddam, mid-occupation and mid-chaos Iraq.“-Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune

nice bombs opens this week

kristie — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 03:48:51 +0000

Just a reminder that the Artvamp and Benzfilm Group documentary Nice Bombs opens in Chicago and New York this week! See below for theaters and showtimes.

NEW YORK
The Pioneer Theatre
155 East 3rd Street- NY, NY
Tel: (212) 591-0434
SHOWTIMES
Weds., July 11 @ 7pm & 9pm
Thurs., July 12 @ 9pm
Fri., July 13 @ 7pm & 9pm
Sat., July 14 @ 7pm & 9pm
Sun., July 15 @ 5pm & 9pm
Mon., July 16 @ 9pm
Tues., July 17 @ 9pm
Weds., July 18 @ 7pm
Thurs., July 19 @ 7pm
Fri., July 20 @ 7pm
Sat., July 21 @ 7pm
Sun., July 22 @ 7pm
BUY TICKETS HERE

CHICAGO
The Gene Siskel Film Center
164 North State Street Chicago, Illinois 60601
Tel: 312-846-2600
*Director Usama Alshaibi will be in attendance for Q & A
SHOWTIMES:
Wednesday, July 11 @ 8:30pm
Monday, July 16 @ 8:15pm
BUY TICKETS HERE

For more info visit nicebombs.com

nice bombs in theaters

kristie — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 23:54:04 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Seventh Art Releasing presents an Artvamp and Benzfilm Group
Production

NICE BOMBS
MY JOURNEY BACK TO IRAQ

Executive Producers: William Haddad, Justin Moyer, Studs Terkel
Produced by: Kristie Alshaibi, Ben Berkowitz, Ben Redgrave
Directed by: Usama Alshaibi
http://www.nicebombs.com

Playing theatrically in NYC and Chicago beginning July 11th 2007 Los Angeles and other dates
coming soon…

NEW YORK
The Pioneer Theatre
July 11, 9pm (followed by a ten day run, ending on July 21.)
155 East 3rd Street- NY, NY
Tel: (212) 591-0434

CHICAGO
The Gene Siskel Film Center
July 11, 8:30pm & July 16 8:15pm
164 North State Street Chicago, Illinois 60601
Tel: 312-846-2600

In Nice Bombs, filmmaker Usama Alshaibi returns to Baghdad to reunite with his family after nearly 24 years. Usama captures the conflicting reactions to the conditions of life in Baghdad. His cousin Tareef enters the room upon hearing an explosion. “It’s a bomb. A nice bomb,” he explains. The phrase is indicative of his family’s nonchalance about their situation. As one young boy put it, “We’re Iraqis. It’s normal.” With humor and resilience Nice Bombs explores Usama’s dual role as both Iraqi and American.

“It pulls off the rare feat of being ‘important’ without forcing a political agenda down the audience’s throat.”

-Time Out Chicago

” …a surprisingly warm first-person video diary…edited with grace and tact.”

-Michael Philips, Chicago Tribune

“Among the many Iraq docs I’ve seen over the last few years, Usama Alshaibi’s ‘Nice Bombs’ offers a refreshing new perspective… Westerners will likely sympathize with Alshaibi and his family in a much deeper way. Because, after all, he is one of us, too.”

-Anthony Kaufman, IndieWIRE

For more information, a screener of the film or to schedule an interview contact:
BENZFILM GROUP
400 S. Main St. #2B LA, CA 90013
213-613-0229 office
213-613-0269 fax
info@benzfilm.com
www.benzfilm.com

nice bombs screening in nyc

kristie — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 15:48:10 +0000