Stars align

The seventh edition of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival gets ready to thrill and delight audiences in the capital

For ten days in the capital, the city immerses itself in a celebration of filmmaking. Flashbulbs pop loudly as photographers snap away as designer dresses swish down the red carpet, celebrities rub elbows with fellow actors and friends, industry professionals gather together to network and plot their next pictures and, perhaps most importantly, hushed audiences are seated in darkened rooms eager to experience the best of cinema.

The seventh edition of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival (ADFF) promises all that and more. From 24th October to 2nd November, residents can immerse themselves in the magic of the movies. With locations showcasing screenings and world premieres at both Marina Mall and Emirates Palace, the festival aims to provide a strong programme and selection of films to delight and enthrall all who attend.

“In programming our festival we have always strived to bring to Abu Dhabi the best of Arab and international cinema. It creates a unique blend of titles, with some of the most celebrated films that screen in major festivals in the first half of the year, together with brand new films that have just had their world premiere at festivals like Toronto and Venice,” says Ali Al Jabri, director of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival.

Keen to have the audience connect with films featured, the line-up for this
year’s offerings are engaging, challenging and enlightening.

Director of programming, Teresa Cavina explains, “I believe the main point of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival is to be a bridge between films and the audience. We want to go along the path, hand-in-hand with the audience, and push them further in terms of content.”

So how exactly does ADFF decide their programme for the year? Cavina explains, “It’s an ongoing process that starts immediately at the end of the festival, sometimes even earlier! The festival has a fast-growing reputation between filmmakers and producers, so quite a few films come by themselves, otherwise all the programming team members cast our nets around and it’s a bit like being in a forest hunting – you have tips and information and try to track them down.”

Handpicked and screened beforehand, the festival took approximately 4,000 films into consideration before whittling down the 2013 line-up to 166 films representing 51 countries around the globe.

Cavina adds: “The most important thing is that the film is good. And there is no compromise about that. All the films at the festival are good and each one is there for a reason.”

This year’s special programmes include a selection of themed films that focus on directorial debuts of now prominent Arab directors, the 100th anniversary of Indian cinema and restored classics. The unique offerings have always been popular favourites with the audience and celebrate both the history and progress of film.

“We wanted to celebrate the cinema of a country that has given so much to cinema and is so connected to the UAE, it was a natural choice to pick Indian film,” says Cavina. The restored classics feature generational favourites that transcend time. These “eternal delights”, as Cavina puts it, include favourites such as ‘Dial M for Murder’, ‘The Thief of Baghdad’ and ‘Once Upon a Time in the West’.

And this year in the special Arab programme, debut films of now prominent Arab directors show how it all began. Intishal Al Timimi, director of Arabic programming says:
“In my opinion, there is a possibility to study from their first films, what they did after that and also to see how these people revealed their talents from the
very beginning.”

In addition to the six competition categories – Narrative, Documentary, New Horizons, Our World, Short and Emirates Film Competitions – that have filmmakers in the running for a coveted Black Pearl Award, this year has also added the Child Protection Award. Recognising films that deal with the subject of child safety, this is a new initiative created in partnership with the Ministry of Interior’s Child Protection Centre and aims to highlight the cinema’s power in raising awareness of child protection and children’s rights.

Amidst all the glitz and glamour of an international film festival, ADFF is also keen to celebrate and showcase the thriving talents in Arab Cinema.

This year will see 13 Arab feature films competing in various categories of the programme.

With the exception of the Emirates Film Competition, which is focused on shorts created by filmmakers in the Gulf Region, “ADFF was the first festival in the MENA region to have Arab films compete side by side with international ones,” says director of the festival, Ali Al Jabri. “And we’re proud to maintain that principle. It was very important for us to put Arab cinema on an equal playing field.”

“We are proud to discover films, support films and our festival is not only a place to screen films but to make films,” says Intishal Al Timimi.

SANAD, the development and post-production fund of the ADFF, provides filmmakers from the Arab world with vital financial support towards the development or completion of feature-length films. Supplemented by industry events and meetings with representatives, the fund is providing hands-on training to emerging talents. And within the programme there’s a handful of SANAD-funded films on offer too.

“The festival should also express the need for the cinema industry in the region. It is a process, all together,” adds Al Timimi.

A process that is slowly, but surely, paving a way for Abu Dhabi to become a hub for international cinema.

 

Win! Win! Win!

ONE lucky reader has the chance to win a pair of tickets to the invite-only Opening Ceremony on 24th October (including the screening of Jennifer Aniston’s new film, Life of Crime and after party!) of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival.

For your chance to win, simply answer the following question correctly:

How many films will be showcased as part of the 2013 line-up?

A. 51

B. 166

C. 72

To enter: visit abudhabiweek.ae/competitions/ and enter before 9am on Wednesday 16th October. Only one entry per person.

 

Fancy a film?

With a fantastic programme of 166 films on offer, where to start? Here are some of Abu Dhabi Week’s suggestions on one’s to watch…

 

Life of Crime

Jennifer Aniston and Tim Robbins star in ADFF’s opening film. This entertaining caper sees two ex-cons hatch a plan to kidnap a real estate developer’s wife. Directed by Daniel Schechter

Showing: Thursday 24th October, 8pm EP

(By invitation only)

 

Amazonia

Born and raised in captivity, a capuchin monkey suddenly finds himself in the Amazon jungle, fighting to survive in this family-friendly film. Shot on location, in 3D. Directed by Thierry Ragobert

Showing: Saturday 26th October, 3.30pm VOX and

Thursday 31st October,

7pm VOX

 

Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Part of the Restored
Classics, this film see’s Audrey Hepburn try her
hand at finding acceptance in
the dazzling
and glamorous
social scene in
New York City.
Based on the Truman Capote novel. Directed
by Blake Edwards

Showing: Friday 25th October, 3.15pm VOX

 

Djinn

The world premiere of the UAE’s first horror film, this story revolves around a high-rise located near a mysterious fishing village in Ras al-Khaimah. Featuring supernatural thrills and traditional Arabic folklore. Directed by Tobe Hooper

Showing: Friday 25th October, 6pm EP

 

In the Sands of Babylon

The world premiere of this SANAD-funded film shows an Iraqi soldier escaping from Kuwait in 1991. Directed by Mohamed Jabarah Al-Daradji

Showing: Monday 28th October, 9pm EP and

Wednesday 30th October, 3.30pm VOX

 

Siddharth

In the running for the Child Protection Award, this film tells the story of a poor Delhi street merchant desperately looking for his missing son. Directed by Richie Mehta

Showing: Wednesday 30th October, 9pm VOX and

Saturday 2nd November, 8.45pm VOX

 

Sawaiba Khan