São Paulo – This Wednesday (25th) marks the National Arab Community Day in Brazil, and the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce will celebrate by throwing a party at São Paulo’s Esporte Clube Sírio, during which prizes will be given for the film contest Os árabes e a 25 de março (The Arabs and 25th of March Street), held by the Chamber and the Institute of Arab Culture (Icarabe).
The entire Arab community in Brazil will be paid tribute through the announcement of the contest’s winners. Os árabes e a 25 de março was launched in May last year to encourage film productions on 25th of March Street, in Downtown São Paulo, a stronghold of Syrian and Lebanese immigrants since the late 19th century.
Short films lasting up to 15 minutes were eligible. Out of 28 entries, four documentaries were shortlisted as finalists for the Popular Jury prize. One of them was voted the winner by the Official Jury, and another was voted best entry by under-18 directors. The winners of these three categories will be announced this evening.
“As tradition has it, on occasion of March 25th we strive to promote a bit of the history of immigration and its protagonists,” said the Arab Chamber president Marcelo Sallum.
In past editions, the Chamber has always paid tribute to outstanding members of the community or to people who have somehow helped cement Brazil’s ties with the Arab countries. This time, however, the community in itself and one of its landmarks are being honored.
“The work done this year revolved around 25th of March Street, where it all started,” Sallum remarked. “The immigrants came [to Brazil] and started out as travelling salesmen; the next step was to invest in more solid establishments, and the place they gathered in was the 25th,” he added.
Sallum underscored that leading entrepreneurs within the Arab community have owned stores in the Street. “That’s where the ideas, the seeds for the community’s foremost organizations first emerged, including the Arab Chamber, as 15 businessmen hailing from 25th of March St. got together in an office on Senador Queiroz Avenue, which is close by,” he explained. The two roads intersect in Downtown São Paulo.
Arab Chamber CEO Michel Alaby stated that holding the contest and paying tribute to the Arab community are ways to keep immigration history alive. “March 25th already is a traditional date in the state’s and the country’s calendars as a celebration of the Arab community. This year, we chose to preserve our memory, hence we and the Icarabe launched this short film contest,” he said.
The celebration will feature an Arab folk dance group, an Arab music group, a calligrapher and two tattoo artists. The dinner menu will feature typical dishes.
The 28 entrants to the contest have been invited to the celebration, as well as Arab-Brazilian community members, diplomats, politicians, religious leaders and entrepreneurs.
*With collaboration from Alexandre Rocha. Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
