Ajyal fest to pay tribute to Kuwaiti legend Abdulredha

‘Last Jedi’ to close Dubai Film Festival

DOHA, Qatar, Nov 22, (Agencies): Following the presentation of a posthumous honorary award to the late acting legend Abdulhussain Abdulredha, Ajyal Youth Film Festival presented by the Doha Film Institute will launch “Made in Kuwait” programme.

In fitting celebration of Abdulredha’s illustrious career, who charmed millions with his inimitable acting prowess and endearing personality, the inaugural edition of the new section will focus on Kuwaiti cinematic voices in Made in Kuwait, which illuminate the unique perspectives of the country’s filmmaking talents.

Fatma Al Remaihi, Chief Executive Officer of the Doha Film Institute, said: “Abdulhussain Abdulredha has been a guiding star for artists across the Arab world. Beyond his sterling arts and cinematic contribution, he was a benevolent man who made a positive connection to the minds of audiences. He demonstrated through his life and works how art can transcend all differences and unite people. As we mourn his sad passing, we pay tribute to him by showcasing the works of young Kuwaiti talents that he would have been proud of.”

Six short films by Kuwaiti filmmakers will be screened in tribute to the great actor, who touched the lives of people across the Arab world through his comedy and inspired generations of creative artists.

The ‘Made in Kuwait’ programme includes six compelling short films that will undoubtedly touch a chord with all filmgoers. The programme includes:

Muneera by Oscar Boyson is a cautionary tale that warns of paying attention to the mystical while ignoring the truth in front of us. It dreamily and seamlessly moves between Kuwait City and Venice.

I Wasn’t Cheating by Mousaed Khaled is about Suleiman, who is wrongly accused of cheating in an Arabic exam. Part morality tale, part gentle comedy, it takes us all back to those tense days of academic success.

Sandarah by Yousef Al Bagshi is a tribute to human benevolence, and deep with emotions brought about by conflict through a story set during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, when a detachment of soldiers is sent to arrest a family.

The Best Life by Meqdad Al Kout is an amusing take on the obsession for online living, and presents how a man is glued to his smartphone, following his favourite social media guru over the course of a day.

Bird Watch - Health by Zahra Al-Mahdi is a charming episode that features wonderful line-drawn animation and whimsical handmade models, and explores the marvellous imagination of children.

A Picture by Dawood Shuail is about Abdullah, whose father gives him a new camera. But while he is out and about taking shots, he inadvertently takes a picture of a crime in progress.

Tickets for the 5th Ajyal Youth Film Festival are available for purchase for QR25 for general screenings online at www.dohafilminstitute.com and from Ajyal FNAC Ticket Outlet at FNAC (Doha Festival City) or the Ajyal Katara Box Office in Katara Building 12. For upto-date information or more details on the Ajyal Youth Film Festival, please visit www.dohafilminstitute.com/filmfestival.

The Ajyal Youth Film Festival is made possible thanks to its partners: Cultural Partner, Katara Cultural Village, Principal Partners Occidental Petroleum Corporation and Ooredoo and Strategic Partner Qatar Tourism Authority.

Also:

LOS ANGELES: Crowd-pleaser “The Last Jedi” will close the Dubai Intl Film Festival before launching in the Middle East, part of an overall fest lineup that mixes premieres of Arabic movies with standouts from the international festival circuit. US director Scott Cooper’s brutal Western “Hostiles” is slated to kick off Dubai’s 14th edition, which runs Dec 6-13.

The festival is also feting prominent Egyptian screenwriter Wahid Hamed with a lifetime achievement award during the opening ceremony. Hamed’s long list of Egyptian film and TV credits includes big-budget 2006 contemporary Cairo epic “The Yacoubian Building,” directed by his son, Marwan Hamed, a watershed work that tackled taboo such as homosexuality and traveled widely.

Though no talent will be making the trek to Dubai for “Hostiles” and the latest “Star Wars” installment, Oscar-nominated multi-hyphenate Rob Reiner is expected to attend for the Middle East premiere of his drama “Shock and Awe,” which depicts the journalists who delved into unsubstantiated claims by former US president George W. Bush that led to the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Other US pics being showcased include James Franco’s “The Disaster Artist,” “The Shape of Water,” “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri,” and Alexander Payne’s “Downsizing.” All told, more than 140 titles, comprising shorts and a showcase of VR works from around the world, will unspool, including plenty of awards season hopefuls.

US documentary-maker Morgan Spurlock is expected to be on hand for the regional premiere of his latest film, “Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken!”, and to hold an onstage conversation, while Cate Blanchett will return to preside over the jury that will bestow the $100,000 IWC Filmmaker Award on one of four feature-film projects being developed by directors from the Gulf region.

As for the Arabic competition lineup, there is no shortage of world premieres — seven out of 18 titles. Many of the pics are “inspired by people surviving in war-torn countries,” artistic director Masoud Amralla Al Ali told Variety. These include Iraqi-Canadian director Bar Shamoun’s documentary “73 Degrees Celsius,” which follows three Iraqi children from different ethnic backgrounds whose lives were changed by the 2003 US-led invasion, and Annemarie Jacir’s “Wajib,” which is this year’s Palestinian candidate for the foreign-language Oscar. Both pics are supported by Dubai’s Enjaaz fund.