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
![](/content/projects/director_image/148/embeded_director_2_copy.jpg)
Mahmoud Kaabour is a Lebanese filmmaker, content strategist, and the founder of Veritas Films. He graduated in Film Production from Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema in Montreal before working for the National Film Board of Canada and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. His films’ Being Osama’, ‘Grandma, a Thousand Times’ and ‘Champ of the Camp’ won top awards at festivals like Doha Tribeca, London International Doc Fest, DocsDF, Taiwan International Doc Fest and Dox Box, and were all broadcast internationally. In 2015, he was named on the Arabian Business “100 Most Powerful Arabs Under 40” list. He is currently based in Berlin.
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