PRESS DOCUMENT Photos HERE Performance texts HERE Facebok event HERE Reservations via Ihjoz HERE

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1 PRESS DOCUMENT Photos HERE Performance texts HERE Facebok event HERE Reservations via Ihjoz HERE, u

2 introduction The conflict between authorities and art, in its various forms, is inherent in the process of creating, developing and spreading any artistic creation. Political authorities, particularly in the Arab region, have the power to determine what works may be presented or published, to change or even ban them if they seemingly present different perspectives than those of the mainstream which reflects their own principles and vision. Artists, who do not accept to submit to these rules, have always managed to find their own spaces of freedom which has led some of to prison or exile, or even ended their lives in some cases. Based on the need to support art as a means of expression and resistance and as a tool to confront the imposed reality, tied with our conviction that supporting art production is a necessary contribution to the development of the cultural ecosystem and arts in general, Al-Mawred (Culture Resource) in partnership with KKV-Norway, presents the REDZONE Festival in Beirut from 3 till 8 May 2018, featuring premieres of five artworks that explore the limits of freedom of expression and address the themes of war, religion and gender, highlighting the intricate relationship between violence, death, fear and forgiveness.

3 I once entered a garden LEBANON / SYRIA A one-to-one interactive installation by Bissane Al Sharif (Palestine/Syria), Chrystèle Khodr (Lebanon) and Wael Ali (Syria). 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 May 3:00 pm - 8:00 pm Zoukak Studio - Karantina A one-to-one interactive installation by Bissane Al Sharif (Palestine/Syria), Chrystèle Khodr (Lebanon) and Wael Ali (Syria). The project questions the first sexual experiences and the discovery of intimate life during times of war and peace in the Middle East. The work is based on the stories and memories of adults who lived their teenage years in Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq and Syria. Concept & Design: Bissane Al Sharif, Chrystèle Khodr, Waël Ali Technical Director: Nadim Deaibes

4 Economy of Effort Pays the Price EGYPT An art installation by Mohamed Al-Masry (Egypt) 3, 4, 5 May 7:00 pm - 11:00 pm Circus parking facing Zoukak Studio An art installation by Mohamed Al-Masry (Egypt) based on the concept of using tanks as a model representing the entire system of industrialization and the consequent economic policies and political conflicts at the expense of many human considerations. The tanks also represent the sovereign, political, economic and elite approach that manipulates people and their destinies in order to find a market for them. Design & Implementation: Mohamed Al-Masry Lighting Designer: Saad Samir

5 Hunna MOROCCO A dance performance by choreographer Khalid Benghrib (Morocco) 3, 4 May 8:30 pm - 9:45 pm Sunflower Theater - Tayouneh A dance performance by choreographer Khalid Benghrib (Morocco) that deals with issues related to the body and women and the various forms of violations they are subjected to in the name of religion, society, customs and traditions. This performance is a continuation of Benghrib s previous performance Hum and it may be considered as sociological research that aims to question the phenomenon of religious extremism based on dreams, art, mythology, religion, symbols and philosophy. Director and Choreographer: Khalid Benghrib Assistant Director & Sound Designer: Youness Aboulakoul Lighting Designer: Zouheir Atbane Performers: Mohammed Kharbouchi, Juliette Boucheny, Ninon Idlas, Chourouk El Mahati, Bouchra Cherif Production Manager, Public Relations & Communication: Imane Tkito

6 Jimi and the Saint EGYPT A musical concert by Jimi and the Saint (Egypt) 4 May 10:00 pm - 11:30 pm Zoukak Studio - Karantina A musical concert by Jimi and the Saint (Egypt) to launch their first album, consisting of 5 tracks that tackle the ability of youth to express freely and challenge the socio-political barriers imposed on them. The music that the band produces is a mix between rock and electronic, and the live show is designed to deliver a unique blend of live music performance and visual programming which promises to be a unique audio-visual experience. Vocals: Jimi Elgohary Guitar: Rami Sidky The Saint Synthesizers & Electronics: Sherif Galal Drums & Electronic Beats: Ahmad AJ Elgohary Sound Engineering: Hameed Sabry Visuals: Shadi Jaber Tour Manager & Show Caller: Razan Al-Nasser

7 The Confession LEBANON / SYRIA A theatre performance written by Wael Kaddour and directed by Abdullah Al-Kafri (Syria) 7, 8 May 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm Sunflower Theater - Tayouneh This theatre performance takes us into a day of Jalal's life, who is facing both his past and his new choices. It tells the story of the officer whose services were abandoned by the regime during the years of stable government control, and who was then asked to return to service after an uprising in the country. This offer awakens an old desire in him to regain the power he had for a long period, a period that he was attempting to forget after the regime had abandoned him and after having spent years with his nephew Omar, the promising theater director who is preparing a new play based on "Death and the Maiden" by Argentinian playwright Ariel Dourphman. The latter revolves around an ambiguous encounter between a former prisoner and a former executioner. Text: Wael Kadour / Director: Abdullah Alkafri / Performance: Ossama Halal, Jamal Salloum, Hamza Hamadeh, Suha Nader, Shadi Moqresh / Scenography: Karam Abu Ayash / Production Management: Marwa Chehadi / Original Music composed by Abed Kobeissy / Artistic Collaboration: Eric Deniaud, Chrystele Khodr / English Translation: Hassan Abdulrazzak / Stage Manager: Hassan Akkol / Implementation of Model: Fares Khalif / Set Executer: Abdul Qader Al Abdullah

8 Al-Mawred Founded in 2004, Al-Mawred (Culture Resource) is a non-profit organization working in culture and arts in the Arab region. It aims to support artists, cultural actors and cultural institutions through grants, capacity building and networking. It also aims to promote creative works outside the commercial mainstream, regionally and internationally, and to strengthen the conditions that enables these productions by shaping policies and legislations, and publishing studies and reference manuals. By means of its activities and services over the years, Culture Resource has been able to support the work of over than one thousand artists and cultural actors, and it is continuing to develop its programs to keep serving as a positive model of a credible and transparent independent organization. KKV KKV (Kirkelig Kulturverksted) is a nonprofit company based in Oslo, Norway. It was founded in 1974 by collective of alternative musicians and artists under the leadership of the record producer Erik Hillestad and it aims to encourage artists in widening the space for freedom of artistic expression in a time where we see increasing limitations for this freedom in many parts of the world. KKV produces records, concerts, exhibitions and events within various forms of performing arts. Since 2002 when KKV launched the CD-project Lullabies from the Axis of Evil, the company has devoted itself to supporting and collaborating with artists from the Middle East and it started since 2014 a close cooperation with Al-Mawred in organizing the REDZONE Festival. REDZONE An annual festival launched by KKV Kirkelig Kulturverksted (Norway), seeking to introduce artworks that tackle subjects related to freedom of expression. The first edition was held in the Norwegian capital Oslo in 2013 and in Cairo and Beirut in 2014, and the second edition was held in Tunisia and Beirut in 2016 within the framework of the 7th edition of the Spring Festival organized by Al- Mawred (Culture Resource) in collaboration with Shams Association (Lebanon), Le Rio Theater and Cinema and Al-Hamra Theater (Tunisia). This year, Al-Mawred in partnership with KKV and in collaboration with Shams Association and Zoukak Studio (Lebanon), is presenting the 3rd independent edition of the REDZONE Festival in Beirut from 3 till 8 May 2018, following the selection of five artworks that have received exceptional production grants in 2017 to be premiered in the festival.

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