Where to watch independent cinema In the UAE cinemaspace-abudhabi. splashthat.com
Diff365@Vox The Scene Club Cinema Akil Cinema Space Loco’motion
Cinema 9, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai dubaifilmfest.com
Dubai International Film Festival launched Diff365@ Vox to support independent cinema all year long.
Cinema nine at Mall of the Emirates shows films that are not likely to appear in standard UAE theatres. Each title screens for two weeks before being replaced by another. Previous films include I, Daniel Blake, A Man Called Ove and Ali the Goat and Ibrahim.
Tickets are priced the same as standard tickets, and can be bought online or through the box office.
Upcoming screenings: The First May in Monday ■ (Unil tomorrow) Brigsby Bear (ThursdayAugust ■ 9)
The Roxy, Boxpark; Roxy Cinemas, City Walk, Dubai thesceneclub.com
The Scene Club, which launched in 2007, screens one independent film twice per month as part of their programming. In previous years, the Scene Club was a paid members-only service, but founder and Emirati filmmaker Nayla Al Khaja announced a partnership with Roxy Cinemas this year, which changed the club’s format. The Scene Club screenings have included Oscar-winning Moonlight, Paterson and Land of Mine.
To attend upcoming screenings, viewers must RSVP by registering online.
Upcoming screenings: The Inland Road (Today in ■ The Roxy, Boxpark; tomorrow in Roxy Cinemas, City Walk)
Warehouse 68, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai
Cinema Akil was cofounded in 2014 by Butheina Kazim.
It aims to bring awareness to cinematic art forms from around the world. It shows films created throughout the decades, ranging from art house and independent titles to documentaries and locally created content. Monetary contributions are made at the door.
Upcoming screenings: All Eyez On Me (now until Thursday) Barakah Meets Barakah ■ (now until Thursday) Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With ■ Me; Cult Classic Thriller Special (Tomorrow) Parisienne (Peur De Rien) ■ (Friday-July 31) Colossal (Friday-July 31) ■
Manarat Al Saadiyat Auditorium, Cultural District, Abu Dhabi
Cinema Space in Abu Dhabi is a voluntary, independent platform that screens restored ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang screens at Cinema Space on Saturday.
classics and contemporary world cinema, as well as family-friendly titles. Film showings are free, but similar to The Scene Club, an online RSVP is mandatory for each screening.
Upcoming screenings: The Classic (Tomorrow, ■ hosted at the Korean Cultural Centre) Chitty Chitty Bang Bang ■ (Saturday) Before the Revolution (Saturday) ■ Trances (El Hal) (July 31) ■ The Way Home (July 31) ■
Various locations facebook.com/locomotionuae
Loco’motion, launched by Vikas Punjabi, focuses on environmental films that do not receive a wide-release in the UAE. Their last screening was the Leonardo DiCaprio documentary Before the Flood. Upcoming screenings have yet to be announced.