THOSE WHOSE A DIFFICULT WAY IS LOCATED BY INTERNATIONAL FILM FORUMS AND WHO IS NOT AFRAID OF HIGH-INTELLIGENT FILM, WE RECOMMEND TO VISIT THE 11TH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL IN DUBAI, WHICH DECEMBER 10-17. YOU ARE WAITING FOR A LONG CINEMA WITH A LARGE BUDGET. Text: Igor Shevkun
The pulse of the city
In the era of the most diverse film festivals - from Berlin to Cairo - it may seem that the organizers pursue the same ambitious goals: to conduct a film screening annually, to get the main films of the year that had not previously participated in other film festivals, and to find stars of the first echelon for red carpet . The Dubai Film Festival copes with all these tasks. This largest movie show in the Middle East, Asia and Africa has already been visited by George Clooney, Cate Blanchett, Kevin Spacey, Tom Cruise and Sharon Stone.
Born in 2004, the Dubai Film Festival immediately outlined its credo - “Connecting Cultures. Meeting of Minds.” It is not surprising that his logo - a black horse on a white background - symbolizes intelligence, wisdom, courage and dynamic power. This is the defining symbol and the DNA of the movie.
Immediately after the start of the film festival, it turned out that Dubai was populated by crowds of people who were ready to queue for hours at the box office of the Madinat Arena movie theaters and Mall of the Emirates for the right to watch films from around the world in 43 languages. In 2013, the festival was visited by more than 56 thousand spectators who were able to appreciate 174 feature films, as well as documentary and short films, including 70 world premieres and 11 international ones. "One of the main goals of the film festival is to inspire viewers with new talents and an original, insightful movie that makes you think," says film director of the festival Masood Amrallah Al Ali. There is an opinion that the film festival often determines the fate of the film and the director. And it’s hard to disagree.
It was the organizers of the Dubai film festival who realized before everyone that the audience was ready to pay money for a sincere “conversation” about the private life and career of a venerable director or actor. At the request of the Dubai audience, they invited the “great and terrible” Martin Sheen, the British actor, the star of the “English Patient”, “The Lonely Man” Colin Firth, to Madinat Jumeirah Theater, and then they called the Hollywood comedian Owen Wilson, who completely killed everyone with his game in the film "Midnight in Paris". Usually only accredited journalists have access to the stars at international film festivals. Another know-how - at the Dubai Film Festival you can buy a whole package of tickets for movie shows 48 hours before the ticket office opens. This package includes 25 films - feature films, documentaries and short films, which are required to be watched, with the exception of gala shows.
You can learn a lot about the character of the 11th International Film Festival by “stepping out of your comfort zone,” according to the organizers themselves. They ordered viewers to watch experimental and documentary films, as well as attend workshops for directors at the Madinat Arena exhibition center. The main rule: to feel like an advanced gourmet, we recommend watching films in the original language with subtitles. Well, of course, it’s worth a visit to a couple of social parties, which this year promises to be many.
Frame quality
Recently, Arabian cinema is developing rapidly and is in great demand in France, Germany and the UK. The bosses of major film companies do not hide that they are inspired by independent Arab films that attract with their originality and colorful themes. Films get good reviews from critics. So far, all the films in one way or another reflect the directors' vision of the features of life in the Middle East, but at the same time, according to Masoud Amrall Al Ali, this vision may not coincide with the opinion of the organizers of the film festival itself.
The fact of the popularity of Arab cinema is also indicated by its fact: its task is not only to entertain and educate the audience, but also to challenge and excite. In 2014, the film festival program will feature many films on sharp and relevant topics sent from the UAE, Bahrain, Yemen, and other Gulf countries. “We value close contact with local talents and strive to support the Arab film industry with all our strength,” says Antoine Khalif, director of the Arab section of the festival. “Wajdah” by Haifa Al-Mansor and “Attack” Ziad Douri have become vivid examples of such films. Last year we opened the film festival with the Omar ribbon by Hani Abu Assad, which was nominated for an Oscar. However, the entire tenth film forum was unbelievable. There are many pressing political and social issues in the region that are sometimes difficult to convey to the cinema, but we feel that the audience m is very important is to see the directors and actors in this area have some privilege -. give the author's reflections on important issues, identify problems and fighting with them in his films. "
The main intrigue is traditionally preserved in two sections of the main competition - cinema of the Arab countries (The Muhr Arab Features Awards) and cinema of the countries of Asia and Africa (The Muhr Asia / Africa Awards). All laureates are awarded a cash prize - 575 thousand dollars. Also, everyone is eagerly awaiting which picture will receive the FIPRESCI Film Critics' Award of International Critics - a guarantee that distributors will certainly sell their film in Europe. The Lifetime Achievement Awards every year receive movie sharks from Arab countries, Asia, Africa and the West. So, in 2013, the honorary statuette was awarded to the star of the films “The Departed” and “The Way” Martin Shin and the Egyptian film critic Samir Farid. In 2012, the award went into the hands of Arab singer and actress Sabah and two-time Oscar winner Sean Penn. And in 2008, the American actor and director Terry Gilliam, as well as the creator of the films Patriots, River of London Rashid Bushareb and Charles Rowan, the producer of the paintings Batman: The Beginning, were awarded the Life Achievement Award for their commitment to the principles of cinema and many years of contribution. "and" City of Angels. "
Recently it became known that the organizers of the Dubai Film Festival are announcing a new project together with the Dubai Film Market cinema platform, where you can buy Arab films and television programs with the support of such well-known companies as Gulf Film, Vox, Front Row Filmed Entertainment and Kuwait National Cinema Company. This is an important point that solves the difficulties with the sale of Arab cinema abroad.
So the film festival is not only a chance to see the upcoming premieres and meet with eminent actors and directors. For industry professionals, this is an opportunity to make new acquisitions and expand business contacts.
