TV Times

TV Times

Junctures in Pavel’s career
Samy Pavel began his acting and directing career in 1960. He enrolled as a student in Superior Institute of Arts and Films in Belgium and acquired his degrees with first class honors.

From 1964 –1967 he studied at the “Yves Furet Actors Studio”, Paris. Thereafter he continued his studies in the American Film Institute and U.C.L.A. in Los Angeles.

In the theatrical career Mr. Pavel had played and directed Huis Clos Jean Paul Sarte, Hamlet - Shakespeare Racine, Street Car Named Desire and Cat on Hot Tin Roof by Tennesse Williams. First roles in Italian films under the directorship of the famous Taviani Brothers: “Under the Sign of Scorpio” and “The Cocks of St. Michel” (968-1970) was awarded at the Cannes Festival.

In 1972 he for the first time he played the role of a director in “The Two Seasons of Life”, which won the Golden Lion Opera Prima for the best director at the Venice film festival. The music investiture was by world famous Italian composer Ennio Moricone. (The same composer composed western music of Sergio Leone etc.)

Wrote, produced and directed L’Ete Provisoire with Samy Frey in1976 the film, a deep psychological reflection on the writer’s character, provided material for academic thesis for number of post-graduate students.

Directed Claude Francois, Le Film de Sa Vie, a film depicting life of a French famous post-war singer who died in his prime of life in1977. Five books were written by different French writers are based on this film and Gaumont Company in France distributed the film in 150 theaters in France.

Wrote, produced and directed the film “L’ Arriviste” in 1985, music composed by Ennoi Moricone was a world hit. In 1990 Samy Pavel wrote and directed “La Veillee”, with Irene Jacob (first prize for best actress at the festival of Cannes) which refers to the life of Van Gogh’s brother Theo. It was the official film selected for the opening in Amsterdam of the 100th Anniversary from the death of Van Gogh. Silver award and it won Best Foreign film at the Houston Film Festival. First prize at the International film Festival of Portugal, Figuera-da-Fos. The Grand Prix of the International Film Festival of Bratislava. Guest of Honor at the Rumanian Film Festival. He was offered to lecture at the Houston University of America.

Mr. Pavel’s complete work was shown for a week at the International Festival of Portugal, Figuera-da-Fos with the title as “The Work of Pavel”1994. From 1997-2004 Mr. Pavel directed and co-produced the trilogy The Tea Garden, The flower Garden and The Music Garden in Sri-Lanka for French and Belgian TV. The Music Garden was the official selection Directors fortnight Cannes Film festival, official selection Best Screenplay Cuban international Film festival 2003 and won Gold Remi award at the Houston Film festival 2004- for Sri Lanka.

Directed and co-produced “The Projectionist” which won first prize at the Human rights commission at Strasbourg and it was awarded at the International Festivals of Brussels, first Prize at the Festival of Mediterranean and official selection at the Sarasota Film Festival U.S.A. In 2005 he directed and produced a 20 episode teledrama with the title of “Sanda Mudunata”.

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