11 films to share regional perspectives

DIFF’s Arabian Nights lineup pays homage to cultural vibrancy

DUBAI, Nov 13: The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) has announced the vibrant lineup of films for its iconic Arabian Nights programme. A favourite of Festival-goers, the 2017 edition will feature nuanced stories from regional and international filmmakers highlighting the multifaceted nature of Arabian culture. Held during the 14th Festival, from Dec 6-13, audiences will be taken on a whirlwind journey that explores the division of borders and the humanity that can traverse them.

First in the lineup, and making his debut at the Festival, is award-winning French director Gaël Morel with his latest feature, ‘Catch The Wind’. Having opened to critical acclaim at the Toronto International Film Festival, ‘Catch The Wind’ follows Edith, a 45-year-old textile factory worker that sees her life turned upside down by her company’s downsizing measures.

Returning to DIFF is French actor and director Rachid Hami with a heart-warming tale of new beginnings and the power of music. In ‘Orchestra Class’, Simon is a distinguished but disillusioned violinist, charged with a class of green music students. Arnold is a shy and chubby pupil who is fascinated with the violin and has a natural gift with the instrument. With Arnold’s raw talent and the joyous energy of his class, Simon gradually rediscovers the joys of music.

Festival heavyweight and Peabody award-winning filmmaker Julia Bacha presents, ‘Naila and the Uprising’, an inspiring true story about love, family and freedom. The story follows Naila Ayesh who, alongside a clandestine network of Palestinian women, stepped out from the fringes of society and into the heart of an uprising.

Aida Begic, hailing from BosniaHerzegovina, returns to DIFF with ‘Never Leave Me’. Having made a mark on the industry with her first feature, ‘Snijeg (Snow)’ at Cannes, ‘Never Leave Me’ is an emotional story of unlikely friendship between three teenage boys in a Syrian refugee camp in Turkey. Having been abandoned or separated from their parents, the boys

“There are still a whole lotta conversations about what we can and cannot do. Even in bringing this forward people were like ‘We don’t need women to see that.’” initially grate on each other, but slowly bond over their desire to find a better life away from their dire conditions.

Awards

Norwegian filmmaker Egil Håskjold Larsen brings his first feature film to Arabian Nights, ‘69 Minutes of 86 Days’, which has already swept several awards at the Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival, Sheffield International Documentary Festival and Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival. This striking story follows three-year old Lean on an arduous journey through Europe, as she flees with millions of other refugees from warzones to safe havens in the north.

Joining Larsen in his debut at the Festival is Algerian filmmaker Karim Moussaoui, with his praised film ‘Until the Birds Return’. Nominated for the prestigious Cannes Un Certain Regard award, the film centres around Mourad, Aisha and Dahman, and is a tale of tough choices in the quest for new beginnings. Mourad is a successful businessman averse to trouble, but when he sees a man in danger he must decide if he should step in and help. Aisha is done with the past and heading down the road to start life as a married woman, accompanied by her father and neighbour Jalil.

Fellow Un Certain Regard nominee and acclaimed Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania brings ‘Beauty and the Dogs’ to DIFF. Miriam, a young Tunisian woman, meets Youssef at a student party and decides to go home with him. What follows is a long night in which she must fight for her right and dignity, and Miriam soon discovers that justice is hard to find when judgment favours the oppressors.

‘The Poetess’ is an arresting and engaging documentary from famed non-fiction directors Stefanie Brockhaus and Andreas Wolff. It follows the dramatic decision of self-taught Saudi writer Hissa Hilal to take part in “Million’s Poet”, an Abu-Dhabi based multi-million dollar TV show. It is the Arab world’s biggest poetry competition,

Regardless, Wise was excited to join the project. “I remember seeing the original movie when I was in college and left a really big imprint on me. I’ve always wanted and it is dominated by men. Premiered at the Locarno Film Festival, ‘The Poetess’ features Hilal in every shot, but the audience never sees her face.

Making his debut at the Festival is French-Lebanese director Nadim Tabet with Enjaaz-, DIFF’s production support programme, supported feature ‘One of These Days’. It is an autumn day in Beirut as the city rests on the edge of chaos. For Maya, Tarek, Yasmina and Rami, however, it is just another ordinary day in their young adult lives, in which they question themselves and each other about sex, love and whom they’ll hang out with at night.

Acclaimed TV and film writer Khaled Diab returns with the world premiere of his first feature ‘Artificial Labor’. After turning heads with ‘Clash’ in 2016, which was the opening film at Cannes International Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard category, ‘Artificial Labor’ analyses the lengths we will go for the hope of a better life. After tireless attempts to obtain legitimate entry to the United States fail, an Egyptian couple hijacks the American Embassy in Egypt under the false pretence that birthing their twins there would grant them American citizenship.

Closing the Arabian Nights lineup is the world premiere of ‘Kiss Me Not’. The latest in a slate of celebrated films from Egyptian-American writer, producer and director Ahmed Amer. Having made waves at the 2016 Festival with ‘Ali, The Goat and Ibrahim’, Amer returns with an original mockumentary that follows young director Tamer. He is left in the lurch when Fagr, the star of his first feature film, decides to wear the hijab and quits the production during shooting of an important kissing scene.

Ticket packages are on sale now for the 14th edition of the Dubai International Film Festival, running from Dec 6-13, 2017. Registration is now open for media, industry professionals and the public. For more information on ticket packages and registration for media, students and industry professionals, visit diff.ae.

to play a cinematic icon,” she said.

“And working with Spike is the best,” she added. “He’s fast and furious. He’s really loving to his actors and he sets you up for success.”

Lee shared a similar sentiment. “To go from Tracy Camilla Johns to DeWanda Wise was dope. A treasure hunt. We were digging for gold and we found it,” he smiled. (RTRS)

LOS ANGELES:

Children have been Gwyneth Paltrow’s greatest teachers. “They really could force me to be a better person in a million ways,” Paltrow shared at the Paul Mitchell Presents the 2017 Baby2Baby Gala in Los Angeles Saturday, where the mother of two was honored with the non-profit’s Giving Tree Award for her dedication to children’s causes.

The organization, led by co-presidents Kelly Sawyer Patricof and Norah Weinstein, provides low-income families with basic needs for children under 12 years old.

“For a mother to have to make a choice between food, diapers and clothing for their children is unacceptable in this day and age,” Paltrow said during her acceptance speech. “We’re living in a time where we really need to come together as a community and do what we can and really uplift each other.” (RTRS)