8th Dubai International Film Festival Opens For Entries: Global Profile, Funds, Growth Opportunities On Offer

The Dubai International Film Festival, the leading film festival of the Middle East, Africa and near Asia, has opened its doors to films and filmmakers for its eighth edition, to be held from December 7 to 14, 2011.

Entries are invited for the Festival’s 2011 official screening selection, including the prestigious Muhr Arab, Muhr Asia Africa and Muhr Emirati competitions, and its out-of-competition section. The Muhr Awards, presented for shorts, documentaries and feature films, offer a US$600,000 purse and are open to directors of Arab origin from around the world, their counterparts from Asia and Africa and UAE nationals respectively.

The Festival’s out-of-competition section includes the popular Arabian Nights, Cinema for Children, Cinema of AsiaAfrica, Cinema of the World and In Focus segments. Entry for both sections, expected to number in the thousands, is free and will be accepted until August 31, 2011. The final shortlist will be announced in November 2011.

Masoud Amralla Al Ali, Artistic Director, Dubai International Film Festival, said the Festival is a proven springboard for films and filmmakers into the global and regional limelight.

“Our Festival is an established destination for discovery of Arab, Asian and African cinema; our track record in catapulting films to the international domain is unmatched in the region,” Al Ali said. “Major international festivals, studios, film business leaders, media and audiences take a keen interest in our selection because of the strength of our team and the quality of our offering. We are thrilled to once more bring deserving films to the world’s attention, and look forward to some challenging months of whittling down our final selection.”

Reflecting its work in both showcasing and developing talent, the Dubai International Film Festival is also inviting filmmakers to participate in its initiatives spanning the filmmaking cycle.

Filmmakers of Arab origin, for example, are welcome to apply for the Festival’s successful co-production and post-production initiatives, as well as its myriad international collaborations.

The Dubai Film Connection, DIFF’s co-production market, will shortlist 15 director-producer teams to receive more than US$100,000 in funding, invaluable industry networking and access to specialists who help realize their documentary and feature film works in progress. Submissions for the fifth Dubai Film Connection, scheduled for December 8 to 11, will close August 1, 2011.

The Festival’s post-production support programme, Enjaaz, is also accepting applications until August 1. Enjaaz offers 15 filmmakers up to US$100,000 each to help their projects move through the final stage of filmmaking.

More details on all submission categories are available on www.dubaifilmfest.com. All films seeking entry must be produced after September 1, 2010, and must not have been screened in the Gulf region for any audiences prior to DIFF, with the exception of the Gulf Film Festival; and must not have been broadcast or made available on television or other public viewing platforms.

DIFF is held in association with Dubai Studio City. Dubai Duty Free, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai Pearl, Emirates Airline and Madinat Jumeirah, the home of the Dubai International Film Festival, are the principal sponsors of DIFF. The Festival is supported by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority.

For more and updated information about DIFF, please visit www.dubaifilmfest.com

Dubais Most Popular Gaming Event Returns To Dubai Festival City

Middle East Gamers, the leading regional gaming website, announced the return of GamesFest, UAE’s hottest gaming event series which aims to bring together gamers to participate in tournaments, win prizes and discover the latest releases from the video games industry, on 24th June at The Living Rooms Café, Dubai Festival City.

Organized by Middle East Gamers, GamesFest will give gamers the opportunity to play the latest games, participate in tournaments both on consoles and PC, as well as try out the latest gaming gear. Highlights of the event include:

1. Exclusive Deus Ex: Human Revolution video game preview at GamesFest – Deus Ex: Human Revolution is the sequel to the cult classic Deus Ex and it will be showcased for the first time in the Middle East at GamesFest.
2. Golden System’s PC Tournaments – Tournaments will be held for Call of Duty: Black Ops and StarCraft II where gamers have the chance to win a gaming PC courtesy of Golden Systems.
3. WWE All Stars Tournament – Compete in the WWE Tournament and win an Xbox 360, autographed John Cena posters and a WWE title belt.
4. FIFA 11 Tournament – By popular demand, UAE’s most popular game is back at GamesFest with an Xbox 360 as top prize.
5. ASUS 3D Benchmark Competition – Tweak an ASUS PC to achieve the best 3D Benchmark scores to win great prizes from ASUS.
6. Product Showcases – Check out the latest gaming products from ASUS, Gigabyte, Golden Systems, Linksys, Memorex, Nvidia, Roccat, Prince Computers and Thrustmaster.
7. The Ultimate Gaming PC – Check out Tbreak’s Ultimate Gaming PC, built with some of the best components available in the UAE. The Ultimate Gaming PC is valued over AED 15,000.

“Hundreds of gamers have already registered for the event and we’re excited to offer a great day of gaming and activities at The Living Rooms Café, Dubai Festival City,” said Abbas Jaffar Ali, publisher of Middle East Gamers.
Presented by Nahel.com, GamesFest will be held at The Living Rooms Cafe at Dubai Festival City on Friday, 24th June 2011 from 12pm to 10pm.

GamesFest is sponsored by Nahel.com, ASUS, Eidos, Gigabyte, Golden Systems, Linksys, Memorex, Nvidia, Roccat, Prince Computers, Thrustmaster, THQ and Viva Entertainement.

Gamers can register for the event at www.megamers.com/gamesfest.

About Middle East Gamers
Middle East Gamers is the largest English-language gaming website in the Middle East. The website is updated daily by a team of seasoned video game enthusiasts with over 50 games journalists contributing to the site over the past four years. Middle East Gamers is part of the t-break Network which includes Tbreak.com, MEGamers.com and ME-Movies.com.

Event details:
Date and Time: 12pm to 10pm, Friday, 24th June 2011
Venue: The Living Rooms Cafe, Dubai Festival City
Entrance: Free entry for all. Space is limited and priority will be given to those who register.
GamesFest is organized by Middle East Gamers, the UAE’s largest gaming website. For more information on Middle East Gamers, please visit www.megamers.com.
 

Dubai Launches World Discovery Festival To Offer A One-Of-A-Kind Exposition Of The Worlds Best Consumer Offerings

The World Discovery Fest, a unique spectacle of travel, leisure and holiday destinations, culture and cuisines, top-end lifestyle displays and an entertainment fiesta, has been announced today (Tuesday, May 31, 2011).

World Discovery Fest is unique in that it offers its audience lifestyle choices with a fusion of cultures, styles, tastes and entertainment and is intended to draw a large number of nationals and expatriates from around the region.

Organised by the International Conferences & Exhibitions (IC & E) and supported by the Government of Dubai and the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, World Discovery Fest will be held at The Meydan Grandstand, Dubai’s newest hospitality and tourism venue, and will run from November 3 to 5, 2011, coinciding with the Eid holiday period.

A series of activities, attractions and live demonstrations at World Discovery Fest are spread out across the four dedicated show segments: Travel & Leisure Zone, Entertainment Zone, Food & Beverage Zone, and Retail Therapy Zone.

Anselm Godinho, Managing Director, International Conferences and Exhibitions (IC&E), said: "World Discovery Fest takes inspiration from the many cultures and nationalities that wonderfully co-exist in the UAE, while reinforcing the country’s growing reputation as a haven for luxury, entertainment, tourism, shopping and culinary excellence. The Festival will offer a fresh outlook of various products, services and value-added offerings in a truly multicultural, relaxing and uniquely engaging atmosphere. World Discovery Festival is quite simply an exclusive exposition of all the good things in life, which is a true reflection of Dubai. The extravaganza is expected to attract a large number of visitors from across the region who regularly travel to Dubai during the Eid holidays."

A major attraction at the World Discovery Festival will be the widely anticipated Coffee & Tea Show, Dubai’s first-ever event devoted to people who are passionate, enthusiastic and eager to learn more about coffee and tea. The show will be part of the Food & Beverage Zone and will be open to the public, providing an ideal networking and marketing platform for all key players in the coffee and tea trade. The show will host the 3rd UAE Barista Championship, where the best professional baristas in the UAE will vie for the coveted title and the right to represent UAE at the 2012 World Barista Championship in Vienna, Austria. The Food & Beverage Zone will also showcase presentations and exciting offerings from various specialty restaurants and cafes.

The Travel & Leisure Zone will feature competing airlines, cruise operators, tour operators, travel agencies, hotels & resorts, spas and national tourist promotion organisations, all showcasing a choice of hospitality offerings and leisure destinations across the world.

The Entertainment Zone is a chilled-out environment of non-stop live music from some of the hottest regional and international talent and DJ fillers. An amalgamation of sound, lights and visuals, the Entertainment Zone promises to be vibrant, spontaneous and extremely entertaining for all visitors of the Festival.

The Retail Therapy Zone will be a shopping spectacle with a diverse collection of exclusive fashion, jewellery, beauty and other high-end lifestyle products. Exhibitors range from regular retail booths to private retail suites for more exclusive products, providing a wide array of choices for shopping aficionados.
 

British Council Welcomes Inspirational, Award-Winning UK Poets to Emirates Airline Festival of Literature 2011

As one of the sponsors of Emirates Airline Festival of Literature 2011 that kicks off this month from 8-12 March, the British Council, the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations welcomes and presents award-winning UK poets and authors to audiences in Dubai.

“Emirates Airline Festival of Literature is committed to building mutually beneficial partnerships that promote literacy and encourage reading development. We are very pleased to be working with British Council again this year to reach new multi-cultural audiences, through engagement and open dialogue,” said Isobel Abulhoul, Festival Director, Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.
Simon Armitage, a critically-acclaimed poet, novelist, musician and lyricist and the inspirational Benjamin Zephaniah who draws on the rich culture of reggae and rap for his radical, populist poetry, will engage audiences during a gala evening that will take place on 9 March from 20.00-22.00 at the Cultural and Scientific Association in Al Mamzar.

Renowned novelist, poet, literary critic, essayist and environmental activist Margaret Atwood is also set to enthrall audiences during her first visit to Dubai. Atwood, in conversation with Rosie Goldsmith, will appear in a unique event that will see a combination of readings in both English and Arabic with Nujoom Al Ghanem. Nathalie Handal, an award-winning poet, playwright and editor along with poet, literary critic and Editor-in-Chief of Al Bayan – Dha’en Shaheen, and Yang Lian, a leading contemporary Chinese poet, will all come together to celebrate the vibrancy, variety and richness of contemporary poetry around the world with simultaneous translation available to ensure that all nationalities can enjoy this truly unique experience.

“The British Council’s Literature department promotes contemporary and innovative work from the United Kingdom to audiences across the globe and we are proud to be one of the sponsors of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.” said Michel Bechara, Director of Projects, British Council, UAE.

“The Emirates Airlines International Festival of Literature is the Middle East’s largest celebration of the written and spoken word, and brings together people of all ages and nationalities and provides the opportunity for them to meet with authors from around the world to promote education, debate and, above all else, reading. This is a great opportunity for students and audiences to be part of a programme that will showcase inspirational works from leading International poets, such as Benjamin Zephaniah and Simon Armitage” added Bechara.

At its core, this lively festival features a strong educational remit through its ties to schools and indulges its audiences with readings, debates and workshops from writers and authors from the UAE and abroad.

And on 10 March, students at the University of Sharjah – College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences will also have the opportunity to meet Armitage and Zephaniah who will share details on their lives and their work as well as giving readings of their poetry.

Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, The Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Rule of Dubai, will also see the arrival of other supreme UK authors including crime writer Mark Billingham, broadcaster and novelist Kate Adie, Philip Ardagh, children’s writer Anthony Browne and weird fiction writer China Miéville among others.
 

Dubai Shopping Festival 2011 Starts Its Regional Promotional Road Show

The Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment (DEPE), an agency under the Department of Economic Development (DED) and organisers of the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), announced the beginning of the regional promotional road show for the 16th edition of the Dubai Shopping Festival 2011 which is being held from 20th January to 20th February 2011.

The regional promotional road show starts with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and ends with India on January 6, 2011. It will also include visits to Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Egypt. Emirates are taking part in the road shows promoting various travel and tour packages for the 32- day extravaganza.

Ibrahim Saleh, Festivals Coordinator General and Deputy CEO of Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment (DEPE), who will lead the road show tours, stated that the purpose behind organizing the annual road show was to promote the events and attractions of DSF regionally.

“We usually conduct an in-depth analysis and study of our largest tourist arrival destinations and markets to meet their requirements and aspirations before we start any regional or global promotional road shows for Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) or Eid in Dubai,” he said, stressing that these markets were selected to promote DSF 2011 as they constitute Dubai’s largest tourist arrival market.

“We plan to communicate the mixture of activities, promotions, shopping and events that will be on offer in DSF 2011 to the media, travel agencies and tour operators in these countries in an effort to attract more visitors to Dubai,” Saleh explained.

He further said that Dubai Shopping Festival has played a major role in reviving and boosting the tourism and retail industries in Dubai. Dubai’s signature event has attracted more than 40 million visitors from various nationalities and recorded a consumer spending of over AED 84 billion since its start in 1996.

“More than 6000 retail outlets in addition to around 50 shopping malls will offer sale and discounted prices of up to 75% on a wide range of goods and services,” he stressed.

Ahmed Khoory, Emirates’ Senior Vice President Gulf, Middle East and Iran said: “Emirates has been a major sponsor of the Dubai Shopping Festival since its inception in 1996. We are proud to once again be involved with this incredible event as part of our commitment to the development of Dubai as a world-class tourist destination.”

“During DSF 2011 Emirates is offering a ‘Stay 4, Pay 3’ promotion which includes some of the best beach and city hotels in Dubai. The package includes accommodations for four nights for the price of three, airport transfers to and from the hotel by private car, and an Arabian Adventures welcome pack, apart from numerous other benefits. This promotion can only be availed during DSF with prices starting from just $55 per person per night based on double occupancy,” he added.

“The Emirates package during DSF 2011 is a unique ‘Stay 4, Pay 3’ promotion including some of the best known hotels in Dubai. The package includes accommodation for four nights for the price of three, airport transfers to and from the hotel, and an Arabian Adventures welcome pack, apart from numerous other benefits. This promotion can only be availed during DSF with prices starting from just $55 per person per night,” he added.

The latest statistics from the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) in Dubai show a 20% increase in the number of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) visitors staying at Dubai hotels during the first six months of 2010 compared to the same period in 2009. Also, figures of visitors from Egypt were up by 5% and by 26% from India during the same period.

The number of hotels and hotel apartments increased by 7% to 566 establishments in the period between January to June 2010, compared to 530 establishments in the same period in 2009. This saw total hotel rooms increase from 58,188 rooms to 67,369, marking a 16% increase of 9181 rooms, according to the same statistics.
 

Eminent International Film And Cultural Personalities To Judge 4th Gulf Film Festival Competitions

The Gulf Film Festival, the home of bold, experimental and contemporary cinema from the Arabian peninsula, has announced two eminent jury panels comprising filmmakers, authors and critics to select standout voices in local, regional, and international short films, documentaries, and feature films.

The Festival, slated for April 14 to 20, 2011 at Dubai Festival City, features two key competitions: The Gulf Competition, for films by Gulf filmmakers and students, or filmmakers of other nationalities with films that showcase the region; and the inaugural International Competition for Short Films open to films and filmmakers from around the world. Nearly half a million dirhams will be distributed as prize money to the winners in the various categories.

The Gulf Competition jury comprises veteran Egyptian filmmaker Magdy Ahmed Aly, with Emirati poet and author Ahmed Rashed Thani, and Iraqi filmmaker Kais Al-Zubaidi. The international short film competition committee will be headed by Montserrat Guiu Valls, Managing Director of the Festival de Cine de Huesca, with Bahraini filmmaker Bassam Al-Thawadi and Lebanese film critic Hauvick Habechian as members.

Masoud Amralla Al Ali, Festival Director, said: “The Gulf Film Festival competitions present a compelling array of films that underscore the rich talent from our region and, with the first international shorts competition, the Festival will also showcase new places and voices and filmmaking trends from around the world. The analysis and recommendations from these accomplished jury members will serve as a roadmap for filmmakers in their continuing quest to make films that can cut through all barriers and find global acceptance.”

Aly, whose filmography includes The Nile Birds, The World, My Love, The Hero, Fawzeya’s Secret Recipe and A Girl’s Secret, is renowned for his films investigating controversial subjects. The Egyptian director has recently begun filming The Square, inspired by events and people involved in the January 25 revolution.

A poet and former cultural journalist, Ahmed Rashed Thani has worked in several cultural institutions since 1990. An alumnus of the UAE University, he has also written plays and books including Blood of the Candle (Sharjah, 1991), Edges of the Rooms (Beirut, 1998), The Morning Sitting on the Sea (Sharjah, 2003), and Comes the Night and Carries Me (Beirut, 2007).

Award-winning Iraqi-born filmmaker Kais Al-Zubaidi has worked across cinema disciplines as a cinematographer, editor, author, critic and director in Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Germany. His filmography includes the well-known trilogy Men Under the Sun and Palestine: The Record of a People. Al-Zubaidi has also served as a jury member for the Cairo, Damascus, Leipzig and Paris film festivals. 

Al-Thawadi’s storied career in television and cinema includes producing and directing the seminal films to emerge from Bahrain, including The Barrier, considered the first feature film made in Bahrain; Visitor and A Bahraini Tale.

A founding member of the GCC Cinema Society and a graduate of the Higher Institute of Cinema in Cairo, Al Thawadi is also the founder and director-general of the first Arab Cinema Festival in Bahrain and served on the jury of the Arab Film Festival in Paris. He is currently the Head of the Drama and Documentary section at Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation.

Habéchian’s relationship with cinema began at the age of eight. A self-taught director, he made his debut in the film industry after writing “Consumed,” comprising the writings of major film journals such as the Cahlers du Cinema, and “Positive,” before discovering the works of Jean-Piere Goux-Pelletan and Samir Nassari. He began his career as a film critic for renowned newspapers and the Francophone Lebanese, before heading the weekly page of the Daily Reference section of film for Annahar newspaper in 2005. He has covered major film festivals including Cannes, Venice and Berlin, and directed numerous episodes of the series “Al-Arabiya Al-Adassa” for Al Jazeera news.

Finally, actress Guiu Valls represents the 39-year-old Festival de Cine de Huesca, one of Spain’s premiere short film festivals. A specialist in film conservation and restoration, she is also former director of the Native American Film and Video Festival in Barcelona and has served on festival juries in Tehran, Madrid and Amman.

The Gulf Competition is for films from the Arabian peninsula, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Yemen and Iraq. The Student Competition is open to works made or produced by students during their academic study, or as part of a college project. Entries in the Gulf Competition are invited in three categories: Feature Films, Short Films, and Documentaries. Students compete in short films and documentaries only, while international films compete in short films only.

The fourth edition of the Gulf Film Festival will be held from April 14 to 20, 2011, at the InterContinental Hotel and Grand Cinemas at Dubai Festival City. The 2011 Festival includes out-of-competition segments, a master class by renowned director Abbas Kiarostami, a celebration for French director Gerard Courant, and other special events. All films are free and open to the public. The festival is supported by Dubai Culture & Arts Authority and is held in association with Dubai Studio City. More details are available online at www.gulffilmfest.com.
 

Residents And Tourists Alike Soak Up Festival Atmosphere At Deira City Centre During DSF 2011

 Visitors to Deira City Centre, one of Dubai’s most popular malls, embrace the spectacular shopping and entertainment options this Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) 2011. Residents and tourists alike are soaking in the festival atmosphere at Deira City Centre with its retailers’ special offers and promotions, including its own weekly prize draws for AED 300,000 and solid gold bars for shoppers who spend AED 300 or more. Add to this, arts and crafts workshops for kids, roaming entertainment and live cultural dance shows on Centre Stage.

So far, 4 shopping sprees and 4 solid gold bar winners have been awarded, with further winners to be announced up to 20 February when DSF officially ends.

“Each year we try to create something unique that also excites visitors far and wide for the Dubai Shopping Festival, and 2011 is no exception. This year we combine cultural dance acts from around the globe, ultimate shopping promotions from retailers and kids activities so that we cater for the entire family. Our ultimate aim is to show the international appeal of the Dubai Shopping Festival not only through our international retailers but through the entertainment & cultural shows on offer,” said Deira City Centre VP Fuad Al Najjar.

(Record crowds flock Centre Stage at Deira City Centre during DSF 2011) Kid’s activities run from 10am until 4pm daily on Centre Stage before live performances take over from 5pm until 9.30pm. In partnership with the Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment (DEPE), the mall also offers roaming entertainment featuring parades, percussion groups, carnival acts, dancers and street performers. All these activities really bring home the Dubai Shopping Festival spirit that is in its 16th year, which Deira City Centre, as part of Majid Al Futtaim Properties, has supported since its inception.

With over 115,000 square meters of retail space and over 370 diverse retailers, Deira City Centre is known by residents and tourists as a the place you love to shop most. Shoppers can expect the perfect balance of international brands and local favorites, ensuring that everyone’s taste and budgets are met. To this end, our retailers are going the extra mile this DSF preparing special promotions and gifts for shoppers to further increase their shopping value and experience.
 

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

 

3rd Gulf Nights At Gulf Film Festival Urge Emirati Filmmakers To Explore New Layers In Story-Telling

While Emirati films have broke through quality barriers and achieved tremendous growth in the past few years, the country’s filmmakers must focus on exploring new layers in story-telling and not let complacency creep in, the 3rd Gulf Nights held on the sidelines of the fourth Gulf Film Festival heard.

Hosted every night from 12 am to 1.30 am, ‘Gulf Nights,’ attended by filmmakers, industry experts and the public, is one of the hugely popular public forums held at the film festival, organized under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture).

The third Gulf Nights focused on ‘Khaleeji 2011’ with several Emirati filmmakers attending the discussion, moderated by Nasser Al-Yaqoobi. Eliciting strong and insightful responses from the participants, the session observed that Emirati films have achieved significant growth – both in terms of numbers and the overall quality of content.

The participants said this growth can be attributed to the evolution of new filmmaking technology as well as the growing interest by a larger number of Emiratis in cinema, led by initiatives such as Dubai International Film Festival and Gulf Film Festival.

However they urged the Emirati filmmakers not to go for the easy way out but to take concerted efforts and time to improve the standards. One of the areas that will further strengthen Emirati cinema is by exploring new themes.

Commenting on the overall quality of films, the participants noted that Iraqi filmmakers, despite the environment they operate in, have astonishing talent and are making compelling films. Although reflecting the social realities, most of the films tend to portray only negative and depressing aspects, the participants said. They also said that some filmmakers tend to borrow ideas liberally or resort to creating basic reportage without exploring in depth the situation at hand.

GFF 2011 is being held at the InterContinental Hotel, Crowne Plaza and Grand Cinemas at Dubai Festival City. The Festival includes a Gulf competition, student competition, out-of-competition segments including children’s cinema, and other special events. All the 153 films from 31 nations screened at GFF 2011 until April 20 are free for entry for the public.

The Gulf Film Festival box office is open from 10.30 am to 10 pm daily at the Grand Cinemas Dubai Festival City. All patrons are welcome to up to two tickets per person on a first-come, first-served basis. The full schedule of films is also available online at www.gulffilmfest.com.

The Gulf Film Festival is supported by Dubai Culture & Arts Authority and is held in association with Dubai Studio City.
 

Skywards Dubai International Jazz Festival 2011 Ties Up Its 9th Edition With More Sold Out Shows And An Ascending Attendance Record!

A total of 19 days of intensive music shows started up with the Dubai Shopping Festival 2011 opening day at the Walk JBR on January 20th, 2011 with the Blues Edition of the Jazz World, which featured 9 nights and 18 bands introducing an international and local mix of the best Blues artists and performers. This official associated event of the Skywards Dubai International Jazz Festival 2011 attracted a larger crowd this year, topping more than 10,000 fans enjoying the outdoor free concerts.

The du Jazz Garden event followed with its breathtaking Jazz shows throughout 7 nights at Dubai Media City. The collaboration between Chillout Productions and the British Council showcased the best of UK Jazz scene with the 7 bands flocking from the UK to share the best of their repertoires and Jazz music stock. The closing acts featured another 7 stirring international smooth Jazz bands.

The main gigs were of great attraction to a huge crowd due to the rich line-up and artists profiles. Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, with Alison Moyet and Mica Paris, made the opening night of the main gigs an outstanding success! The sold out show welcomed a hunger crowd eager to indulge with such real quality music and entertainment.

The second night scored another success! The Grammy Award winning star Macy Gray wowed the crowd with her astonishing presence on stage, her show exceeded all expectations getting the fans on their toes asking for more!

Lifehouse stars added on to the night’s exciting mood putting a greatly exciting show attracting thousands of fans heading from all across the region to experience the best of Lifehouse on stage!

Mindi Abair & Peter White performance revived all Jazz sensations during their show that was the perfect start of the night.

Straight from winning their Grammy for best performance by a pop duo for the single ’Hey Soul Sister’, the award-winning band Train glazed the Skywards stage with an outstanding show and interactive presence, following the appealing performance of Joshua Radin and the talented diva Jessy J.

The Skywards International Jazz Festival 2011 surely marked another successful edition due to its rich line-up and collection of names as well as its associated events gathering more than 45000 fans throughout its 19 days of festivities and promising even another thriving edition in 2012 with loads of WOW activities and line-up.