New graphic novel: “MOHAMED ALI, KINHASA 1974”
June 1, 2020
We are pleased to announce the launch of Mohamed Ali, Kinhasa 1974 – a graphic novel based on Abbas’s photographic adventure at “The Rumble in the Jungle”, the legendary fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in 1974.
It’s been described as the greatest boxing match ever fought. And arguably the greatest sporting event of the 20th century. On October 30, 1974, former world champion Muhammad Ali went up against George Foreman, the undefeated heavyweight champion of the world, in the famous “Rumble in the Jungle” in Kinshasa, Zaire.
Ali went into the fight as a 4-1 underdog after Foreman had knocked out the only two fighters to have ever defeated him. And for eight brutal rounds only one winner ever look likely. Foreman pummelled Ali with body shot after body shot but he refused to go down. The former champ took everything that Foreman could throw at him in a fight that was immortalised by Ali’s famous ‘rope-a-dope’ tactics. Ali leaned back into the ringside ropes for round-after round while Foreman threw punch-after-punch at him. By the start of the eight round, Foreman was exhausted. He had punched himself out.
Then, in a stunning reversal of everything that had happened up to that point, Ali exploded off the ropes and rocked Foreman with a devastating right and left combination that sent the champion tumbling to the canvas. Against all expectations, Ali had won by a knockout and reclaimed the world heavyweight championship.
Abbas was there to immortalise this once-in-a-lifetime fight. Now, 36 years later, his photos bring that famous night to life in this rare book – an incredible cross between documentaries, photo reports and graphic novels. Between each of his striking images, the authors fill in the gaps with the story of one of boxing’s greatest nights. So it feels like you too are ringside at the “Fight of the Century”.
Text and illustrations by Jo Morvan, Rafael Ortiz and Tréfouël. Published by Dupuis France.
Standard edition
• 136 pages
• 280 x 210 mm
• ISBN: 9782800163666
• 24.95 euros
Special edition
• A special edition limited to 777 copies is available with original frontispiece, numbered, signed and printed on art paper
• 35 euros
“ABBAS BY ABBAS” in official selection of four FILM FESTIVALS in france
January 8, 2020
We are pleased to announce that “ABBAS BY ABBAS” has been selected by four film festivals including FIPADOC International Documentary Festival in Biarritz.
The television broadcast of the film in France is now scheduled on Tuesday, 18 February at 8.30pm on the LCP Assemblée Nationale channel. The film will be followed by a debate.
“ABBAS BY ABBAS” is a film directed by Kamy Pakdel and produced by Hind Saïh of Bellota Films in collaboration with LCP Assemblée Nationale
Director of Photography: Laurent Chalet
Sound Engineer: Dana Farzanehpour
Editor: Thibaut Sève
Composer: Julien Thiault
Co-Producer: Pierre Hanoune
“Abbas by Abbas” film premiere and commemorative party in Paris
November 9, 2019
The Paris premiere of the film Abbas by Abbas opened to a full house at Max Linder Panorama on Friday, 8 November 2019. Abbas’s family, old friends and the “who’s who” of photography and journalism turned out in force to hear the last words of one of the world’s greatest photographers. After the screening, everyone gathered at Café Delaville – where artists have come together for generations – to celebrate the life and work of the photographic legend.
Abbas by Abbas is a film by Kamy Pakdel, produced by Bellota Films. Image by Laurent Chalent, sound by Dana Farzanehpour, editing by Thibault Sève and original music by Julien Thiault.
The film will be televised on the French parlementary channel LCP Assemblée Nationale (lcp.fr) on Tuesday, 3 December 2019 at 8.30pm.
Recent exhibition: Vietnam, Forget ME Not
May 11, 2019
Commemorating the first anniversary of Abbas’s passing, Folia Gallery, in collaboration with Fonds Abbas Photos, presented for the first time in Europe an exhibition of photographs from the reportage made by Abbas in Vietnam from 1972 to 1975, and 30 years later, during his return in 2008.
This exhibition was presented in conjunction with Abbas’s new book Vietnam, Forget ME Not, published by Delpire Editeur.
“December 1972. We visit a refugee camp, located in a former US military base in Da Nang. ‘Forget ME Not’ is written clumsily on the door of a ramshackle hut… Forty five years later, I tell myself that it is also time for me to write ‘Forget ME Not’ somewhere. I dive into my contact sheets, thrilled to revive memories evoked by the strips of negatives, amazed to discover some gems that didn’t capture my attention during the first edit in 1972.” – Abbas
From May 16 to June 22
Exhibition opening and book launch on Wednesday, May 15 from 6:30 pm
Galerie Folia
13 Rue de l’Abbaye
75006 Paris
Opening hours:
1–7pm, Tuesday to Friday
11am–7pm, Saturday
Paris Photo 2018
November 8, 2018
At the 22nd edition of Paris Photo, Magnum Gallery presented a rare vintage print by Abbas of the Iranian film director Abbas Kiarostami. The iconic portrait was shot on the hills surrounding Tehran during the filming of Taste of Cherry, which was co-awarded the Golden Palm in Cannes 1997.
Paris Photo
Stand number A35
Grand Palais
3 Avenue du Général Eisenhower
75008 Paris
12–8pm, Thursday, 8 November to Saturday, 10 November
12–7pm, Sunday, 11 November
Abbas’s photo drawn by Philippe Baudelocque at Magnum Paris
September 24, 2018
Memorial Service
May 4, 2018