RSIFF Unveils Lineup for International Short Film Competition

RSIFF Unveils Lineup for International Short Film Competition
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RSIFF Unveils Lineup for International Short Film Competition

RSIFF Unveils Lineup for International Short Film Competition

The Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) unveiled on Monday the lineup of international short films participating in the event.
The third edition of the festival, scheduled to take place from November 30 to December 9, 2023, in Jeddah, will screen films by industry professionals from Asia and Africa, SPA reported.
Under this year's theme, "Your Story, Your Festival", RSIFF will be presenting 14 short films by both emerging and seasoned filmmakers hailing from a variety of countries such as Singapore, Senegal, Kazakhstan and Pakistan, offering thus a platform where they can premiere their productions.
RSIFF Director of International Programming Kaleem Aftab said: "We are delighted by the large number of entries received for the short film competition from filmmakers across Asia and Africa. Selecting 14 films from a vast pool of entries was a challenge, but the sheer number demonstrated that these filmmakers are rising to the forefront of the next generation of directors. We eagerly anticipate welcoming them to Jeddah to showcase their works and integrate them into the global cinema industry community during this year's edition."
The international films chosen for this year's short film category include "Titanic", "Time is a Mother", "The Late Wind", "The Waiting", "Solachia", "Dusk", "Travel Bag", "Our Mothers' Land", "Eid Mubarak" and "The In Between".



Brazilian Judge Orders Adele Song Removed over Plagiarism Claim

British singer Adele poses on the red carpet upon her arrival for the BRIT Awards 2022 in London on February 8, 2022. (AFP)
British singer Adele poses on the red carpet upon her arrival for the BRIT Awards 2022 in London on February 8, 2022. (AFP)
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Brazilian Judge Orders Adele Song Removed over Plagiarism Claim

British singer Adele poses on the red carpet upon her arrival for the BRIT Awards 2022 in London on February 8, 2022. (AFP)
British singer Adele poses on the red carpet upon her arrival for the BRIT Awards 2022 in London on February 8, 2022. (AFP)

A judge in Rio de Janeiro has ordered the global removal of a 2015 song by British singer Adele due to a plagiarism claim by a Brazilian musician, which Universal Music is fighting on appeal. The ruling, made public on Monday, came in a case filed this year by Toninho Geraes, whose compositions were made famous by some of Brazil's most acclaimed samba singers.

Geraes accused Adele of copying his song "Mulheres", a national hit since the 1990s. His lawyers uploaded to YouTube a comparison of that song and Adele's "Million Years Ago".

"The ruling shows that the Brazilian justice system is strong and that injuries to Brazilian artists won't be ignored," said Fredimio Biasotto Trotta, a lawyer for Geraes.

The decision orders Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music to immediately cease "using, reproducing, editing, distributing, or commercializing" the song by any means on streaming or sharing platforms, without Geraes' consent. It set a fine of 50,000 reais ($8,080.94) if the companies fail to comply with the order.

The Berne Convention, an international treaty, orders other signatory countries, including the US, to comply with legal decisions regarding copyright, Trotta said.

Geraes' lawyers are now notifying streaming services, such as Spotify and Deezer, to withdraw the song in Brazil and globally. On Wednesday morning, the song was still widely available.

Universal appealed the decision on Tuesday, arguing there was no plagiarism, only an "accidental melodic similarity" due to the use of "musical clichés."

Both Adele and Geraes have contracts with Universal, but the Brazilian musician has been trying to terminate his contract with the company due to his plagiarism claim, his lawyer said.

"I felt very disrespected," Geraes told Reuters. He is asking the courts for compensation of more than $150,000. Lawyers representing Universal Music declined to comment, and Sony Music did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Geraes learned of the similarities between the two songs after a friend, who is also a composer, heard Adele's "Million Years Ago" at a party in 2021.