Film fever is officially in the capital
The Middle East International Film Festival 09 (MEIFF), presented by ADACH, kicks off on 8th October with a colourful collection of films to enjoy over ten days.
With so many to choose from, we sought out the expertise of a true film fanatic: MEIFF volunteer James Franklin.
The 16 year old Australian student at Raha International School film hopes to become a film director and would love to attend the New York Film Academy. Having signed up for MEIFF’s volunteer programme, James can’t wait to mingle with fellow film fans and people in the business.
“Taking part in MEIFF gives me an opportunity to meet and work alongside other people in the film industry – I might be able to listen to the directors speaking and get an insight into the creative process,” James says.
“I will also be able to mix with and learn from the other volunteers that come from all parts of the world. It’s a-once in- a-lifetime chance to get involved with an international event and I’m so excited that it’s happening here in Abu Dhabi.”
Franklin’s film favourites:
James gives Abu Dhabi Week his lowdown of the top 20 films he thinks we should all be front-row for.
1: The Informant!
“I have this film as my top choice because I have read brilliant reviews about it, so I’m excited to see it.”
Based on a true story, Matt Damon stars as Mark Whitacre, a biochemist who exposes his company’s role in an international price fixing conspiracy. This black comedy sees a fantastic performance from Damon as a whistleblower with plenty of dark secrets of his own.
“For fans of Stephen Soderbergh’s work it is a definite must see. Even if you aren’t familiar with his work, it will still be a fun experience – Soderbergh is the face of the independent film genre.”
2. The Age of Stupid
One of this year’s titles in the Documentary Feature Competition, the subtitled Arabic film is a clever and thought-provoking blend of fact and fiction set in the year 2055. An archivist combs his way through a video library in once-frozen Antarctica to determine why humankind failed to heed the warnings of global warming before it was too late.
“I think that this is a good film for the general public to watch – I am very passionate about the environment and this movie will definitely make people realise what they are doing in terms of damaging the planet. The director Franny Armstrong isn’t widely known, but his only documentary [McLibel] previous to this was very influential.”
3: Ponyo (Gake no ue no Ponyo)
“This movie is based on Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid and is a must for animated film fans – including myself. I have not been able to find one bad review about this film and I was very excited to hear that it was coming to MEIFF.”
This delightful fairy tale tells the story of a little goldfish princess who dreams of becoming a human girl and the boy who becomes her friend.
4: The Warrior and the Wolf
This magical tale looks deeply into China’s past, with a moving story of a brave solider and a mysterious widow who has the power to transport his mind to a place of legends.
“This film falls into the adventure film genre and I think it’s similar to Lord of the Rings as it involves magic and fighting. I have not heard of the director before but he has apparently been banned from making films in the past because he was too radical in his approach.”
5: Shorts
A family film based on the story of a nerdy boy who finds a rainbow coloured rock that grants wishes to anyone who holds it – but things soon get out of hand.
“This is a great film for children, and Robert Rodriguez is a great film director.”
6: Yuki and Nina
Two young girls have to learn to deal with the devastating effects of divorce. When Yuki learns that her parents are separating, she and her best friend Nina attempt to keep the parents together. But when that fails, the pair flee to the woods – where magical things begin to happen...
“This is a really good movie for kids.”
7:The Men Who Stare At Goats
Inspired by a true story and Jon Ronson’s non-fiction bestseller of the same title, this dark and quirky comedy brings to light some astonishing revelations about a top-secret wing of the US military when reporter Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor) encounters Lyn Cassidy (George Clooney), a Special Forces operator on a mind-boggling mission.
“I’m really looking forward to this film – the movie has an A-list cast and the director has produced many good films – winning an Oscar for Good Night and Good Luck (which also starred George Clooney).”
8: Hipsters
“This is a new film from Russia and an interesting musical.”
Set in an oppressed 1950s Soviet Union, teenagers are embracing American culture as a form of rebellion. Fashion, jazz music and swing-dancing take centre stage in this colourful, toe-tapping musical.
9: Capitalism: A Love Story
“The Director Michael Moore is very controversial in the way he makes his films – they’re very real documentaries and can reveal things that some people aren’t comfortable with, especially in the government of the United States. His films are quite popular – Fahrenheit 9/11 is the highest grossing documentary of all time.”
Moore return to the topic of corporate dominance with his trademark sardonic humour, going after the very system that led to the current economic meltdown and asks what price America must pay for its love of capitalism.
10: Double Take
Alfred Hitchcock is portrayed as an unwilling victim of the political and cultural shifts of the Cold War era in a fascinating found- footage fabrication made up of newsreels, period television programmes and clips of the master and his films. Double Take playfully examines the catastrophe culture that took over American homes in the 1950s.
“I always am looking for another genre of film to sink my teeth into so that I can broaden my general knowledge on film; I’m interested to see this film because the documentary style is so experimental.”
11: Last Ride
Award-winning Australian actor Hugo Weaving gives a brilliant performance as a criminal and father on the run with his 10 year old son who both loves and fears him in a feature debut from acclaimed short-film maker Glendyn Ivin.
“This movie is set in Australia – naturally I’m interested to see the quality of the films that have been produced in my own country.”
12: Blue
A first for Bollywood, this underwater thriller is a creative remake of British Film, The Deep.
“The music for the film is sure to be fantastic, created by the music director of Slumdog Millionaire and sung by Kylie Minogue.”
13: No One Knows About Persian Cats
“This film will be really interesting. The movie looks at the oppressed nature of independent musicians and their struggles.”
A vivid and daring look at the illegal world of Iran’s independent music scene, No One Knows ... tells the story of young musicians Negar and Ashkan who forge plans to escape their home soil as they begin to realise that pursuing the art is near-impossible in their own country.
14: 1958
“The film documents a film maker’s life. I think this film will be helpful for young and budding film makers because it shows how his life influenced his creative mind.”
1958 marks the birth of film maker Ghassan Salhab in Senegal, but it was also the beginning of a serious internal conflict that resulted in a long series of civil wars in his parents’ native country of Lebanon.
15: Carioca
“This movie is a bit of a history lesson for many people with misconceptions – Carioca was apparently a pioneering dancer and a militant and a rebel.”
This is a delightful and long-overdue tribute to Tahia Carioca, golden-era Egyptian belly dancer (and sometime actress) – veteran documentary film maker Nabiha Lotfy takes up the challenge in this cinematic treat.
16: Honeymoons
Acclaimed Serbia director Goran Paskaljevi? delivers a political parable and love story as two hopeful couples end up entrapped in European border incidents.
“It is fantastic to see new films from other countries; this movie refers to a famous parable and love story and is a definite must-see.”
17: The Traveler
“I think that this will be a really good start to the film festival. Set in the Middle East, this story is about a man named Hassan who realises at the end of his life he only remembers three days in his life.”
A moving story about one man’s search for his identity as he nears the end of his life; three days are played out in detail as Hassan recalls three key meetings at different times of his life – all linked in a endearing story that affirms Hassan’s identity.
18: Earth Whisperer’s Mother Earth
Focusing on 10 visionary New Zealanders who have set out to prove that a shift in environmental consciousness can have a healing effect on our planet, this documentary provides a powerful demonstration of what can be achieved through dedication and passion.
“This documentary tries to prove that different mindsets towards the environment can have an effect on it. It is a very interesting concept and it will be interesting to see how the director argues her point.”
19: Food, Inc.
This documentary is a stomach-churning examination of the big business behind food.
“Apparently you’re not likely to want another meal straight after viewing this scarily frank film.”
20: Plastic Planet
Film maker Werner Boote hosts this journey across China, Europe, India and the United States in an alarming discovery of how the long-lasting substance, plastic, may be taking over the world.
“I really like the concept of this movie – I entered the Movies in Motion competition in 2008 with a short film based on why we should recycle plastic bags, and I’m hoping to meet the director to ask him about his film ideas and compare them with my own. This movie is aiming to show the damage that plastic is having on our planet.”
Don’t miss out!
MEIFF 09 will have screenings at three locations:
? Emirates Palace Auditorium
? Cinestar Cinemas, Marina Mall
? Grand Cinema, Abu Dhabi Mall
You can buy your tickets online at the website, or in person at the cinema box offices or from the booth in the Emirates Palace entrance lobby; they are open every day from noon to 10pm.
The standard ticket price is AED 20 (Gala Screenings at Emirates Palace Hotel AED 30, Students and Seniors AED 10). A pack of 10 vouchers is AED 150, and a complete Festival Pass is AED 200; those are good for all screenings, except the invitation only opening and closing night galas.
More information including the full schedule: www.meiff.com
