Champ of the Camp
Fall Grant 2012 - Production Stage
Mahmoud Kaabour / Feature Documentary / United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Qatar / 2013 / 75 min / Colour / Original Language: Bengali, English, Hindi, Urdu / Interests: Documentary, Social Issues, Music
Synopsis
Hailed by critics world-wide for its entertaining yet sympathetic look at the labour issue in the Arabian Gulf, “Champ of the Camp” follows charming migrant workers who compete in a massive Bollywood singing and trivia competition that takes places across the labour camps of Dubai.
It puts a face to this vast and isolated population of men who build Arab cities to support their families back home in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
At once funny, heart-wrenching, and full of beautiful songs, the film alternates between the X Factor style suspense of the competition and the gritty reality of the labour environment, introducing us along the way to memorable characters who might be on their way to fame.
Credits
- Director
- Mahmoud Kaabour
- Screenwriter
- Mahmoud Kaabour
- Producer
- Eva Star Sayre
About the Director
Mahmoud Kaabour, an award-winning Lebanese director, writer, and lecturer, graduated from the Mel Oppenheim School of Cinema in Montreal. He was named to the “100 Most Powerful Arabs Under 40” list in 2015. His first documentary, ‘Being Osama’ (co-directed with Tim Schwab), looked at the lives and times of six men who share bin Laden’s first name in the post-9/11 world, received four international awards and was aired internationally. His ‘Grandma, a Thousand Times’ (2010) screened in more than 55 cities worldwide, winning seven audience and best film awards. His current film, ‘Champ of the Camp’ offers the world an unprecedented glimpse into the lives of the thousands of UAE construction workers who participate in a massive annual Bollywood singing competition. Kaabour is the founder and managing director of Veritas Films.
Awards and Festival History
Festivals
Across the Middle East / now showing on OSN.
MEXICO / DocsDF International Documentary Festival of Mexico City / Oct 29 – Nov 9 2014 / Central - South American Premiere.
USA / Twin Cities Arab Film Festival / Nov 9 2014
QATAR / Al Jazeera International
Contacts
-
International Sales Agent
Matthias Angoulvant
- Company:
- WIDE Management
- Phone:
- +33 1 53 95 24 42
- Email:
- ma@widemanagement.com
-
Main Contact
Eva Star Sayre
- Company:
- Veritas Films
- Phone:
- +971 501 152 606
- Email:
- champ@veritasfilms.ae