4th Gulf Film Festival Concludes With Award Ceremony Highlighting Best Filmmakers From Around The Region, World

The fourth edition of the Gulf Film Festival, the home of bold, experimental and contemporary cinema from the Arabian peninsula, concluded today at a glittering closing ceremony where the best filmmakers from the region and around the world picked up more than half a million dirhams in prizes and prestigious awards.

His Excellency Mohammed Al Murr, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), presented trophies and cash prizes to the winners of the Gulf Competition for film professionals and students, and the Festival’s inaugural International Competition for short films. The Gulf Film Festival is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority.

At the closing ceremony at the InterContinental Dubai Festival City, the festival also presented its 2011 Lifetime Achievement honours to Emirati actress Mariam Sultan, Saudi director/producer Mohammad F. Al Gazzaz, Kuwaiti producer/director Mohammad Al-Sanousi for their contribution to Arab cinema, and the Special Recognition Award to Kuwaiti thespian Mohammed Almunai.

GFF also honoured world-renowned director Abbas Kiarostami, who held his first master-class in the region in Dubai for 45 filmmakers, as well as avant-garde French filmmaker Gerard Courant, whose films were screened in the festival’s In Focus segment.

In addition to the winners in the in-competition segments at the festival, the New York Film Academy Abu Dhabi presented two special awards to outstanding GFF filmmakers at the closing ceremony. The prize is a four-week educational scholarship for an acting or film-making course at the Academy.

The winners at GFF 2011 are:

The New York Film Academy Abu Dhabi Awards:
Hamad Saghran from UAE
Sarmad Al-Zoubidy from Oman

International Competition – Shorts
Special Mention: PARIGOT by Alex Digoix, Alexandre Wolfromm, Geoffrey Lerus, Loic Bramoulle, Mehdi Alavi – France
Third Prize: VA DIGAR HICH… (AND NOTHING ELSE…) by Roqiye Tavakoli – Iran
Second Prize: EL ORDEN DELAS COSAS (THE ORDER OF THINGS) by César Eteban Alenda, José Esteban Alenda – Spain
First Prize: CASUS BELLI by Yorgos Zois – Greece

Gulf Competition Students – Shorts
Special Mention: DEMI-PLIE by Faisal Al Thani – Qatar
Third Prize: AKHIR DECEMBER (END OF DECEMBER) by Hamad Al Hammadi – UAE
Second Prize: HADITH (ACCIDENT) by Sarmad Al-Zoubidy – Oman
Special Jury Prize: QABLA AL GHOROUB (BEFORE SUNSET) by Issa Al-Subhi – Oman
First Prize: NOURA by Abdulrahman Al Salman – Kuwait

Gulf Competition Students – Documentary
Third Prize: SHO’UB WA QABA’EL (NATIONS AND TRIBES) by Maysoon Al Ali – UAE
Second Prize: GHANNI OGHNIATAK (SING YOUR SONG) by Omar Falah – Iraq
First Prize: FAHAM WA RAMAD (CHARCOAL AND ASHES) by Hussein Mohsen – Iraq

Official Gulf Competition – Shorts
Special Mention: BAHARAT (SPICES)By Amer Alrawas – Oman
Special Mention: SLOW DEATH by Jamal Salim – UAE
Special Mention: Actress Haya Abdulsalam For MAY AL JANNAH (HEAVEN’S WATER) – Kuwait
Special Mention: Ali Mohammed Jassim for editing SEMI-ILLUMINATED – Iraq
Special Mention: Waleed Al Shehhi For the cinematography of REEH (WIND) – UAE
Script Prize: SABEEL by Mohammed Hassan Ahmed – UAE
Third Prize: THE POWER OF GENERATIONS by Mohammed Jassim – Bahrain
Second Prize: FRAME by Luay Fadhil – Iraq
Special Jury Prize: ALWAN (COLORS) by Akeel Hameed – Iraq
First Prize: SABEEL by Khalid Al Mahmood – UAE

Official Gulf Competition – Documentary
Third Prize: WAD’AN BABEL (GOODBYE BABYLON) by Amer Alwan – Iraq
Second Prize: COLA by Yahya Hassan Al-Allaq – Iraq
Special Jury Prize: AL ANFAL – FRAGMENTS OF LIFE AND DEATH by Mano Khalil – Iraq, Switzerland
First Prize: HAMAMA by Nujoom Alghanem – UAE

Official Gulf Competition – Feature
Second Prize: GARAQI DAHOLAKAN (THE QUARTER OF SCARECROWS) by Hassan Ali Mahmood – Iraq
First Prize: AL RAHEEL MIN BAGHDAD (LEAVING BAGHDAD) by Koutaiba Al-Janabi Iraq, UK, UAE

In all 153 films from 31 countries were screened at GFF 2011, with screenings marked by strong audience turnout. All shows were open and free for the public. There were over 114 films from the Arabian peninsula including 45 from the UAE and a strong representation from the GCC region and Iraq.

In addition to the Abbas Kiarostami master-class, GFF 2011 also organised free student workshops led by film industry experts and by New York Film Academy Abu Dhabi, which featured sessions by leading director Nadia Fares and cinematographer Savas Alatis.

The Festival also honoured its twin juries at the closing ceremony: The Gulf Competition jury comprised veteran Egyptian filmmaker Magdy Ahmed Aly, with Emirati poet and author Ahmed Rashed Thani, and Iraqi filmmaker Kais Al-Zubaidi; and the international and student competition jury comprised Montserrat Guiu Valls, Managing Director of the Festival de Cine de Huesca, Bahraini filmmaker Bassam Al-Thawadi and Lebanese film critic Hauvick Habechian as members.

GFF 2011 was held at the InterContinental Hotel, Crowne Plaza and Grand Festival Cinemas at Dubai Festival City. It is supported by Dubai Culture & Arts Authority and is held in association with Dubai Studio City. For more details, log on to: www.gulffilmfest.com

 

Runners From Around The World Make Tracks For Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon

With just days to go until the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, runners from around the world are making tracks for the Middle East’s biggest mass participation running event with more than 100 nationalities set to hit the start line on Friday (Jan 21).

Last year, more than 11,000 runners representing 121 nationalities took part in the three races – the marathon, the 10km and the 3km Fun Run. And with some 14,000 competitors expected in 2011, record numbers are expected when the marathon gets underway outside the American University at 7am.

As well as runners from the UAE’s cosmopolitan community and the elite field of athletes from the traditional hotbeds of Kenya and Ethiopia, dedicated tour parties of runners from as far afield as Japan and Germany are packing their running shoes for the $1 million event.

“Marathon tourism is a growing business with many people planning their holiday time around the world’s biggest running events,” said event director Peter Connerton. “We are delighted that the Dubai Marathon is now a key date on the international running calendar – having runners sign up from all corners of the world is positive promotion for the city as well as for the marathon.”

Held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, and with the support of the Dubai Sports Council, the 2011 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon’s prize money is the richest in the world.

But while there will be record pay days of $250,000 for the winners of both the men and women’s marathons, there are also big prizes to be won in the other categories. In the 10km event, the winners of both the men and women’s race will collect a cheque for AED4,000, while the winners in the Marathon Wheelchair category will take home AED10,000.

In addition, Dubai Holding is supporting the efforts of UAE nationals by providing first prizes of AED10,000 for the leading UAE nationals (men and women) in the marathon as well as in the Marathon Wheelchair category.

Leading the 50-strong group of Japanese athletes will be former world championship bronze medalist Masako Chiba, the Dubai Marathon Japanese Ambassador, who will compete in the 10km.

The 34 year-old from Uji, Kyoto won the 10,000m bronze medal at the 1997 World Championships in Athens (31m:41.93s) and also took third place on the podium in the marathon at the 2003 World Championships in Paris.

The Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon is also supported by The Dubai Sports Council, Dubai Holding, \\\”Official Outfitter\\\” adidas, The Address Dubai Marina, Dubai Eye 103.8 FM, Khaleej Times, TNT, Gatorade, Aquafina, Fitness First, Men’s Fitness, Plan B and by government departments Dubai Police, RTA, Dubai Municipality DHA and the Dubai Ambulance Services.
 

Christies October Sale In Dubai Features Rich Offering Of Works From Around The Middle East Turkey

Christie’s October 26th, 2010 Dubai sale of Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art is blessed with a rich offering of works reflecting the emergence of the Iranian Modern Art movement, a further selection of works from the renowned Farsi Collection, one of the most comprehensive groups of modern Egyptian art in private hands and a diverse range of 20 works from modern and contemporary Turkish artists.

Michael Jeha, Managing Director of Christie’s Dubai, said: “We are delighted to have been entrusted with the great private collection of Egyptian art which has in turn attracted a wealth of individual collectors, from 15 different countries, to consign other significant works to this, our ninth sale series in the Middle East. I believe this is one of Christie’s richest sale yet in terms of its diversity and rarity.” (Separate press releases are available for the Farsi Collection and the Turkish works).

The Farsi Collection
Dr. Farsi’s private collection is recognized as the most comprehensive group of modern Egyptian art in private hands. The group of 30 works to be offered at Christie’s in Dubai includes paintings representing many of Egypt’s most famous 20th century artists such as
Mahmoud Said, Ragheb Ayad, Abul Hadi El-Gazzar, Hamed Nada, Seif and Adham Wanly, and Adam Henein, for which new world auction records have been established earlier this year in Dubai.

Lebanese Art
Chafic Abboud (1926-2004) is represented by three works from the studio of the artist which include an oil on canvas painted in 1992, Premiers Gestes (estimate: $70,000-100,000 lot 32) and Untitled (estimate: $60,000-80,000 lot 34). Six works are also offered in the sale the proceeds of which are to benefit the forthcoming Shafic Abboud Retrospective at the Institut du Monde Arabe, in Paris, in 2011. With a combined estimate of $130,000, the six works include three by Abboud and one by fellow Lebanese artist Hussein Madi.

Two works by Paul Guiragossian (1926-1993), dominate this section of the sale; La Foule, 1987, exhibited earlier this year in Beirut, is reminiscent of the warm exotic tones used by Fauve artists and shows a feize-like group of women standing in line facing the viewer and reflecting Guiragossian’s preoccupation with women and motherhood, (estimate: 100,000-130,000 lot 38). His Claire Obscure (shown here) also painted in 1987 but with fewer figures and painted in thick strokes and larger blocks of colour is rare to find among the artist’s work and is a technique reserved for his most monumental compositions. Nothing similar has been sold at auction before and it is estimated at $100,000 – 130,000 (lot 39).

Turkish Art
The highlight of this section of the sale is Fahrelnissa Zeid’s (Turkish / Jordanian 1900-1991) exuberant Dervishes, painted circa 1950s. As a young aristocratic woman, Zeid, lived in Paris joining the so-called Ecole de Paris group of artists in the 1940s. She later married into the Jordanian Royal Family. The whirling dance depicted here is a Sufi tradition where the goal is to reach Majbhd, a sacred ecstasy. The dervishes wear their traditional white whirling skirts and distinctive tall hats and the work is estimated at $80,000-100,000 (lot 31). A panoramic view of Istanbul by Devrim Erbil (b.1937) inspired by the jewel-like illustrations of the city by the 16th century Turkish artist Matrakci Nasuh, is estimated at $70,000-90,000 (lot 108). (A separate press release is available on Turkish Art.)

Syrian Art
Eight works by Fateh Moudarres (1922-1999) include Untitled from circa 1970 (estimate: $140,000-180,000 – lot 40). The striped painting is reminiscent of the walls of the Mamluk buildings in Damascus with its alternate strips of black and paler stone merged onto the bodies of the figures in the crowd. It also features Moudarres’ childhood nightmare figure of a ravenous dog which he referred to as ‘the Beast’ and used in his paintings after the war of 1967. Another highlight is a view of Maaloula by Louay Kayyali (1934-1978), depicting a tiny village to the northeast of Damascus, built into the rugged hillside at high altitude. Maaloula from the Arabic word meaning ‘entrance’ is the only place where the western dialect of Aramaic, the language of Christ, is still spoken. All students of Fine Art at Damascus University, where Fateh Moudaress and Louay Kayyali both taught, are required to paint in Maaloula and therefore it is unsurprising that both artists used the village as a subject for many of their paintings. The example in the sale is a rare and spectacular version from the 1960s and is estimated at $50,000-70,000 – lot 92. Kayyali’s Ice Cream Seller, painted in 1972, is also included in the sale with an estimate of $90,000- 120,000 (lot 90). There are also eight works by Syrian artists from an Italian private collection.

Iranian Art
Aside from the private collection mentioned above, the highlight of the sale is a large oil on canvas triptych by the leading Iranian artist Mohammed Ehsai (b. 1939). Entitled Banquet (lot 79 – illustrated page 1) and painted in 2009, the monochrome black and white design reflects his fascination with calligraphy and is estimated at $350,000-500,000.

Farhad Moshiri’s (b. 1963), Love, (shown here) a rare example from early in his Jars series, shows a jar inscribed with Eshgh the Arabic word for Love. By folding and crushing the canvas Moshiri mimicks the cracquelure effect of traditional earthenware pots (estimate: $150,000-250,000 – lot 71). Moshiri’s Mobile Talker, from his Candy Store series and painted in 2007 shows a fashionable young woman in a headscarf holding her ‘phone, the outline of her face, features and hands traced in blobs of glitter all superimposed onto a multi-tiered cake. This saccharine, artificial image plays to Moshiri’s interest in the new media-savvy generation of young Iranians, his love of Pop Art and issues of consumerism (estimate: $120,000-180,000 – lot 106).

Untitled, one of only ten or twelve abstract works by Sohrab Sepehri (1928-1980), painted in 1970 with primary coloured lines and shapes set against a dark background carries an estimate of $200,000-300,000 (lot 80). It was exhibited last year in a retrospective of the artist’s work at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art. An unnerving oil on canvas by Afshin Pirhashemi (b. 1974) Seduction, (shown here) painted this year, shows six women dressed in black robes advancing towards the viewer holding swords and pistols, each applying bright red lipstick??. Exploring the complexities of life in today’s Iran, it is estimated at $80,000-120,000 (lot 81). Kambiz Sabri’s (b.1967) Red Dive from 2008 is a red Toshiba television with a collection of red plastic toys attached, estimate $7,000- 10,000 (lot 114).

Others Iranian artists represented in sale include Reza Aramesh, Farzan Sadjadi, Alireza Fani, and Shahriar Ahmadi.
 

Discover The Magic Of Arabia With Arabian Adventures 2010-11 Brochures Showcase New Tours & Safaris Around The UAE

Arabian Adventures, the region’s leading Destination Management Company (DMC) and official safari operator in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (DDCR), has launched its new Tours & Safaris brochures for Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Fujairah.

The brochures feature an array of exhilarating excursions, highlighting the many different things to do whilst visiting the Emirates and helping to raise the profile of the UAE’s unique character and culture.

Commenting on the launch, Frédéric Bardin, Senior Vice President at Arabian Adventures said: “Over three million customers have now experienced one or more of our events or excursions since we started in 1987, which says a great deal about the quality of service that we offer. This figure is growing by well over 200,000 every year.”

He continues: “Whatever you are interested in we provide an eclectic mix of things for people to do. We are forever looking at ways to broaden our appeal to an ever growing range of clients within our traditional core markets in the Middle East, Europe and Russia as well as attracting further interest across emerging markets such as China, Korea and Brazil.”

Ten exciting new excursions are included across Arabian Adventures’ new brochures. These include the adrenalin-fuelled ‘Boating Adventure’; a leisurely sail with friends on a ‘Catamaran Cruise’; a fascinating underwater adventure as you ‘Scuba Dive’ in the open seas or at the Dubai Aquarium; and the adventure-filled ‘Dibba Delights’ that combines trekking, cycling, rock climbing or kayaking. The diversity of the latest offerings ensures that there is something for everyone.

In addition to English, the brochures are published in different languages including German, French, Italian, Russian, Korean and Mandarin.

Bardin concluded: “Dubai and the UAE, in general, remain extremely popular to a wide variety of visitors. Dubai, for example, is the only place in the world where you can ski on water, sand and snow, all in the same day.”

Established over 20 years ago, Arabian Adventures is the market leader in the Middle East. The company employs a dedicated team of close to 400 multi-lingual and multi-cultural experts and has fully staffed offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Fujairah, on the East Coast of the UAE. In addition the company boasts a network of travel shops and desks in a number of the UAE’s major hotels. It also has overseas representatives in the UK, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Japan, China and the USA.

With the launch of its brand new, state-of-the-art, operations centre at Dubai Investment Park in February and the recent expansion of its fleet to over 100 vehicles, Arabian Adventures is the first choice for individual as well as group travel to the UAE.

 

Passengers from around the world cross new Dubai-Prague bridge

Emirates lived up to its name as the international airline of the UAE after passengers from more than 20 countries joined its first flight to Prague.

Travellers from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, India, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Malaysia, Singapore, China, South Korea – and as far a field as Australia – were amongst those on board yesterday’s inaugural.

The airline is providing the only daily, non-stop passenger service to Prague, capital of the Czech Republic and site of the famous Charles Bridge, straddling the Vltava River.

Tim Clark, President, Emirates Airline, who headed the Emirates’ delegation on the first flight, said: "Prague is our second European route launch this year after Amsterdam on 1st May and our 103rd destination globally. The Czech Republic is a popular tourist destination and an exciting emerging market. The route is off to a good start with passengers joining the inaugural flight to Prague from more than 20 countries across the world, underscoring the hub role of Dubai and the boost this new link will provide to the Czech tourism industry. "

Mr Clark added: "With a fleet of 149 aircraft including 11 A380s, we continue to drive forward with our expansion plans and more new routes are on the way. Madrid starts up 1st August and Dakar in Senegal begins a month after that."

Also representing Emirates for the first flight were Richard Vaughan, Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations Worldwide; Salem Obaidalla, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Europe & Russian Federation; Boutros Boutros, Divisional Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications and Ram Menen, Divisional Senior Vice President, Cargo.

They were joined by Brigadier Obaid Mehayer Bin Suroor, Deputy Director of Dubai Naturalisation & Residency department and members of the UAE media.

After arriving at Ruzyne International Airport in Prague, the Emirates’ aircraft received a water cannon welcome, while a traditional Rosenka dance group performed on the tarmac.

Amongst those welcoming the flight were Jaroslav Ludva, the Czech Ambassador to the UAE and Miroslav Dvorak, CEO of Prague Airport.

Mr Dvorak said: "The Emirates’ flight is the first scheduled all-year-round non-stop service to Dubai. It will enable Czechs to travel directly to the Middle East for the first time, whilst also linking passengers to a range of destinations in the Eastern hemisphere. Thanks to this network of connections, we are expecting a great deal of interest in flights to Dubai."

Last night, more than 300 guests were invited to a special gala dinner at Prague’s Municipal House where Michael Bolton headed up the entertainment. Guests also enjoyed New York’s String Angels and the Czech National Symphonic Orchestra.

EK 139 leaves Dubai daily at 1030hrs and arrives in Prague at 1450hrs. EK 140 departs from Prague at 1620hrs and gets into Dubai at 0010hrs the following day.

An Airbus A330-200 aircraft is being deployed for the service, offering up to 278 seats across Business and Economy.

Trade between the Czech Republic and the UAE has leapt from under USD 26 million (AED 95 million) in 1993 to USD 678 million (AED 2.4 billion) in 2008, according to the Czech Foreign Ministry.

Nearly 30% of exports to the UAE are glass products including Czech-made Bohemian glass.

Aside from glass, Czech exports include electrical equipment, jewellery, beverages, data processing devices, machine tools, cars and car parts.

Emirates SkyCargo has served Prague until now by moving goods by road via Vienna. The new non-stop service provides extra capacity in the belly hold of the passenger flights, bringing more flexibility over the movement of goods.

Speaking about the Czech Republic as a destination, John Felix, Senior Vice President, Emirates Holidays, said: "As Emirates Airline’s tour operating arm, the introduction of new routes helps us consolidate and continue to grow the variety of holidays we offer our customers. Europe is a key market for us and Prague is a stunning addition, popular amongst a wide range of tourists, and a gateway to the rest of central Europe. It’s therefore an exciting opportunity for our business and our customers in the Middle East."