Dubai International Film Festivals Muhr Arab Shorts Competition Shortlists 15 Compelling, Controversial Stories From Gulf, Levant, Egypt, Maghreb

Fifteen short films from the Arab world on subjects ranging from rebellion to abortion have been shortlisted for the Muhr Arab Shorts competition at the Dubai International Film Festival 2010. The in-competition selection, which includes seven world premieres, three Middle East premieres and four Gulf premieres, will screen to the public from December 12 to 19 prior to the Muhr Awards ceremony on December 20, 2010.

The shortlisted films are from the UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Syria, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt – and from France, the United Kingdom and Canada.

Erfan Rashid, Director of DIFF’s Arab Programme, said the films present a compelling showcase of narratives reflective of everyday life across the Middle East and North Africa as well as Arab life abroad.

“Judging by the quality of the entries, we can expect a very intense and closely-fought competition this year,” Rashid said. “We are seeing some outstanding work from both established directors and actors as well as newcomers, which is great news for our audiences.”

Masoud Amralla Al Ali, Artistic Director of the Dubai International Film Festival said: “Shorts are a great medium to communicate powerful ideas and observations, as is reflected in this year’s selection of films in the Muhr Arab Awards in-competition. All the films also reflect the evolution of the region’s filmmakers, drawing on their narrative strength from their everyday life and capitalizing on modern technology. The impact of these movies is potent, and indeed, a true reflection of life in the Middle East today.”

Filmed in the northern emirates, Khalid Al Mahmood’s Sabeel tells the story of two young boys who live with their elderly grandmother in the mountains of the UAE. Spending their days tending their vegetables and then selling produce on the road, they have to earn enough money to buy medicine for their sick grandmother. The film, which won a script prize at the 2010 Gulf Film Festival, debuted at the Locarno International Film Festival earlier this year, and went on to win the Best Short Film award at the New York Film Eurasian Festival last week. Sabeel is also in the Muhr Emirati competition.

From the United Kingdom, Habibti features an all-star cast including Hiam Abbass, Jimmy Akingbola and Yasmine Al-Massri under the direction of Nour Wazzi. The film follows a conservative woman who pays a surprise visit to her estranged daughter in London and is shocked to find her living with a boyfriend.

From Lebanon, Elie Kamal’s 2½ narrates the story of a working-style mother, who exists on the breadline, trying to make ends meet amidst the hustle and flow of everyday life in Beirut. At the end of a long, hot, summer’s day, she survives a horrific and devastating attack.

A beautifully-told little vignette, Sabine El Chamaa’s Un Mardi (A Tuesday) has a masterfully structured narrative. One sunny Tuesday morning in Beirut, an elderly lady walks out of an elegant boutique, wearing an expensive black dress she has not paid for. A policeman stops her and the story begins.

From Egypt, Omar Robert Hamilton’s Maydoum depicts the story of Sharif, who gets on the first plane home to Cairo when he hears his cousin is to sell their grandmother’s land. On arrival, he finds himself faced with old arguments and new decisions in a changing country. A poised and elegantly executed ensemble piece, this is a small film of understated, emotionally-nuanced brilliance.

Egyptian director Mohamed Ramadan’s 7awas (Senses) depicts the story of Souad, a young nurse, who falls in a one-sided love relationship with a comatose patient, Hassan, while Aayesh, by Saudi Arabian filmmaker Abdullah Al-Eyaf, is about a middle-aged man working as a morgue security guard in a big hospital. His is a mundane, lonely life, until one day his daily routine changes abruptly for ten minutes, radically altering the course of his life.

In Bahiya.. Wa Mahmoud (Bahiya.. & Mahmoud) Zaid Abu Hmadan explores love in old age, and the hidden beauty of relationships that survive a lifetime. Bahiya and Mahmoud appear to take each other for granted, until one day, when their mutual dependency is tested to the limit. The film is a co-production from Jordan, the UAE and Lebanon.

From Morocco, Adil El Fadili’s Courte Vie (Short Life) is a sweet film about a plucky young man named Zhar, whose mother dies while giving birth to him. Despite being born under a bad sign, Zhar grows into a sincere and brave hearted young man in this eloquent, witty, and subtly profound film.

Algerian filmmaker Abdenour Zahzah’s debut fiction film Garagouz, Mokhtar earns his living as a puppeteer, aided by his son. Using his old van, he moves between schools scattered in the Algerian countryside, encountering the prejudices and obstacles of others as he goes.

Fares, a 23-year old man falls into a coma after a serious car accident. As he lies motionless, his mind travels deep down into his subconscious, a place where reality and the imagination intertwine. Tunisian director Mehdi Barsaoui’s Moftaraq (Sideways) explores how far along this fantastic journey will go on.

From Syria comes Amar Chebib’s Mish Mush (Apricots), the story of a determined young Syrian poet, who decides to flee his country, fed up with labyrinthine bureaucracy, conservative family, military draft and, to top it all off, a reluctant lover. En route to Lebanon, he discovers himself in an unexpected place, an apricot orchard.

From Canada, Halima Ouardiri’s Mokhtar, based on the eponymous folktale, is the story of a young boy who lives with his family of goatherds in a remote Moroccan village. One day, the boy finds an injured owl and decides to keep it, despite the fact that the owl is considered a bad omen. Mokhtar’s new pet becomes a symbol of rebellion against his family and an icon of his fledgling independence.

The quest to find a corkscrew to open a bottle of beverage for a celebratory home-coming is at the heart of Amal Kateb’s On Ne Mourra Pas (We Will Not Die). Made in France and set in Oran, Algeria, the film follows Kabul-returned Salim. To celebrate his reunion with his beloved, Salim pulls out a bottle of beverage brought back from Afghanistan.

Lastly, in Kuwaiti filmmaker Abdullah Boushahri’s May Al Jannah (Heaven’s Water), Tawfiq, a peddler, loves a yellow fish at a shop. While there, he meets a girl in the second month of her pregnancy. Brought together by the love of the fish, he helps her to get rid of the fetus and spends time with her while she aborts in a car lost in the bustle of the city.

A three-member international jury will select a final trio of films from these 15: the first-place winner will receive US$30,000; and a special jury prize winner and second prize winner will receive US$20,000 and US$10,000 respectively. The Muhr Arab Awards also include juried competitions in features and documentaries, in addition to shorts.

The seventh edition of Dubai International Film Festival 2010 will be held from December 12 to 19. DIFF 2010 is held in association with Dubai Studio City. Dubai Duty Free, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai Pearl, Emirates Airline and Madinat Jumeirah are the principal sponsors of DIFF. The Festival is supported by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority. Accreditation for DIFF 2010 is now open at www.dubaifilmfest.com.

DIFF 2010 box office locations are: CineStar Mall of the Emirates, the Madinat Souk and at the CNN Building in Dubai Media City. Tickets can also be purchased through DIFF’s Dial-a-Ticket service at (04) 391 3378 and from the website, www.dubaifilmfest.com.

International Character Show Stories Of Spongebob At Dubai Festival City Till August 7

The international character show SpongeBob SquarePants’ Stories of SpongeBob is being staged at Dubai Festival City for free till August 7, when Dubai Summer Surprises 2010 will conclude.

Show timings are 4:30pm and 6:30pm (Saturday to Wednesday) and 4:30pm, 6:30pm and 8pm (Thursday and Friday). There are no shows on Mondays.

International Character Show Stories Of SpongeBob Attracts Crowds To Dubai Festival City

The international character show SpongeBob SquarePants’ Stories of SpongeBob is attracting crowds to Dubai Festival City as the show continues at the Festival Centre. Brought exclusively by the Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment, the show is free and runs until August 7 when Dubai Summer Surprises ends.

Show timings are 4:30pm and 6:30pm (Saturday to Wednesday) and 4:30pm, 6:30pm and 8pm (Thursday and Friday). There are no shows on Mondays.
 

International Character Show Stories Of Spongebob To Begin July 22 At Dubai Festival City

Following the huge success of Nickelodeon’s Dora The Explorer’s Best Friends Day, SpongeBob SquarePants’ Stories of SpongeBob is all set to take the stage at Dubai Festival City from July 22 to August 7 when Dubai Summer Surprises will conclude. Brought exclusively by the Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment, the show is free and among the many international highlights of this year’s DSS.

Yousif Mubarak, Chief Operations Officer of Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment said, “Dubai Summer Surprises has been at the forefront of organizing quality entertainment events for families and shows like Stories of SpongeBob reflect our commitment in providing entertainment for varied visitor segments. A significant aspect of this show is that families can enjoy world-class entertainment for free.”

In Stories of SpongeBob, Patchy the Pirate agrees to share his most prized treasure with the audience – his favorite stories under the sea, all about his favorite absorbent friend SpongeBob SquarePants! As Patchy regales the audience with his stories, SpongeBob, Patrick and Squidward appear, reenacting these classic scenes. Show timings are 4:30pm and 6:30pm (Saturday to Wednesday) and 4:30pm, 6:30pm and 8pm (Thursday and Friday). There will be no shows on Mondays.

Kids and families in the Middle East can tune in and watch SpongeBob SquarePants on Nickelodeon Arabia. The Arabic language channel is dedicated to kids aged 2-14 years old and is available free-to-air via Arabsat and Nilesat.
 

International Character Show Stories Of SpongeBob Gets A Rousing Welcome At Dubai Festival City

International character show SpongeBob SquarePants’ Stories of SpongeBob got a rousing welcome as the first show took the stage at Festival Centre in Dubai Festival City on July 22. Brought exclusively by the Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment, the show is free and runs until August 7 when Dubai Summer Surprises will conclude.

In Stories of SpongeBob, Patchy the Pirate agrees to share his most prized treasure with the audience – his favorite stories under the sea, all about his favorite absorbent friend SpongeBob SquarePants! As Patchy regales the audience with his stories, SpongeBob, Patrick and Squidward appear, reenacting these classic scenes. Show timings are 4:30pm and 6:30pm (Saturday to Wednesday) and 4:30pm, 6:30pm and 8pm (Thursday and Friday). There will be no shows on Mondays.

Kids and families in the Middle East can tune in and watch SpongeBob SquarePants on Nickelodeon Arabia. The Arabic language channel is dedicated to kids aged 2-14 years old and is available free-to-air via Arabsat and Nilesat.

 

Dubai Summer Surprises To Host International Character: Shows Dora The Explorer And Stories Of Spongebob

The Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment is bringing two international character shows this summer with Nickelodeon’s Dora The Explorer’s Best Friends Day and SpongeBob SquarePants’ Stories of SpongeBob being staged during the ongoing Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS). The shows are free and among the many international highlights of this year’s DSS.

Yousif Mubarak, Chief Operations Officer of Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment said, “Dubai Summer Surprises has been at the forefront of organizing quality entertainment events for families and shows like Dora’s Best Friends Day and Stories of SpongeBob reflect our commitment in providing entertainment for varied visitor segments. A significant aspect of these shows is that families can enjoy world-class entertainment for free.”

Dora, the Latina heroine of the renowned televised character series Dora the Explorer, is all ready to set out on another exciting musical adventure with her best friend Boots in Dora The Explorer show at Mirdif City Centre (Central Galleria) from July 6 to July 21. SpongeBob SquarePants, star of the popular Nickelodeon animated television series of the same name, is also performing this DSS in the Stories of SpongeBob show at Dubai Festival City (Festival Sqaure) from July 22 to Aug 7.

Staged in the UAE for the first time, Dora the Explorer and her best friend Boots celebrate Best Friend’s Day by celebrating the day together for a picnic on Rainbow Rock. But first they need to find it! The exciting, educational adventure begins as Dora and Boots set off on a musical adventure with the help of the audience to find their special picnic spot using English and Spanish vocabulary.

Show timings are 4:30pm and 6:30pm (Saturday to Wednesday) and 4:30pm, 6:30pm and 8:30pm (Thursday and Friday). There will be no shows on Mondays.

In Stories of SpongeBob, Patchy the Pirate agrees to share his most prized treasure with the audience – his favorite stories under the sea, all about his favorite absorbent friend SpongeBob SquarePants! As Patchy regales the audience with his stories, SpongeBob, Patrick and Squidward appear, reenacting these classic scenes. Show timings are 4:30pm and 6:30pm (Saturday to Wednesday) and 4:30pm, 6:30pm and 8:30pm (Thursday and Friday). There will be no shows on Mondays.

Kids and families in the Middle East can tune in and watch Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants on Nickelodeon Arabia. The Arabic language channel is dedicated to kids aged 2-14 years old and is available free-to-air via Arabsat and Nilesat.
 

World Of Stories Takes On A 3D Theme As DSS Signature Event Begins June 18 At Mercato

World of Stories, a signature event of Dubai Summer Surprises 2010, is all set to take audiences on a magical journey when it begins on June 18 at Mercato. Taking popular tales to audiences in malls through stage shows, World of Stories this year features the theme of the famous character Alice and transports viewers into her exciting wonderland. Show timings are 4:30pm, 5:30pm, and 7:30pm. World of Stories will go on till June 29 and is open to visitors for free.

Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment, an agency within the Department of Economic Development in Dubai, stated that ‘World of Stories’ is one of the most significant summer events as it gives children an opportunity to experience the thrill of tales and fantasies when the stage comes alive with popular cartoon characters. The whole concept of tales is to impart valuable lessons to children and World of Stories makes the experience more enjoyable for the whole family.

DEPE also emphasized the fact that it always strives to develop the event and add new exciting elements, hence, the distinctive nature of this year’s World of Stories is the incorporation of the 3D theme where several popular cartoon characters are depicted in a 3D form making them appear life-like.

Rana Jaser, PR and Corporate Communications Manager of Mercato said, “Mercato is very pleased to host this event. ‘World of Stories’ is an event that falls right into the longstanding commitment of Mercato to present its shoppers and visitors with exciting and entertaining events that cater to all family members and complement the festivities of DSS 2010. In addition, Mercato will have a plethora of events during the coming weeks of DSS that will surely reaffirm its posture as a leading family destination for shopping and leisure in UAE.”

Characters portrayed through the 3D theme of “World of Stories” this year include Sinbad, Aslan, Sleeping Beauty, Pinocchio, Snow White, Bambi, Mr Tumnus, Ali Baba, Cinderella, Aladdin, Robin Hood, Dorothy, Tinkerbell, Peter Pan, Dumbo, Mary Poppins, and Harry Potter. Visitors to Mercato will be welcomed by a 3D magic eye gallery through the walkway leading to the Porto Vecchio area. The gallery will be open throughout mall hours.

Children that love art and craft can head to the balcony above the stage where the area will be themed on the Mad Hatter’s Tea party from Alice in Wonderland. Numerous art and craft activities are being organised throughout the event from 3pm to 5:30pm and from 6pm to 8pm.

Apart from seeing their favourite cartoon characters live on stage, children can also hear exciting stories in the storytelling area between 3 and 3:30pm and from 6:15pm to 7:10pm. To add to all the excitement, a caterpillar mascot will roam the mall every hour giving mall visitors a photo opportunity.
 

World Of Stories Officially Opens To Crowds Of Children

World of Stories, a signature event of Dubai Summer Surprises 2010 officially opened to crowds on Saturday, June 19 at Mercato. The event was attended by Yousif Mubarak, Chief Operations Officer of Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment, in addition to crowds of children and members of the Modhesh Friends Club.

World of Stories this year features the theme of the famous character Alice and transports viewers into her exciting wonderland. Show timings are 4:30pm, 5:30pm, and 7:30pm. World of Stories will go on till June 29 and is open to visitors for free.

Characters portrayed through the 3D theme of “World of Stories” this year include Sinbad, Aslan, Sleeping Beauty, Pinocchio, Snow White, Bambi, Mr Tumnus, Ali Baba, Cinderella, Aladdin, Robin Hood, Dorothy, Tinkerbell, Peter Pan, Dumbo, Mary Poppins, and Harry Potter. Visitors to Mercato will be welcomed by a 3D magic eye gallery through the walkway leading to the Porto Vecchio area. The gallery will be open throughout mall hours.

Children that love art and craft can head to the balcony above the stage where the area will be themed on the Mad Hatter’s Tea party from Alice in Wonderland. Numerous art and craft activities are being organised throughout the event from 3pm to 5:30pm and from 6pm to 8pm.

Apart from seeing their favourite cartoon characters live on stage, children can also hear exciting stories in the storytelling area between 3 and 3:30pm and from 6:15pm to 7:10pm. To add to all the excitement, a caterpillar mascot will roam the mall every hour giving mall visitors a photo opportunity.
 

World Of Stories To Conclude On June 29

World of Stories, a signature event of Dubai Summer Surprises 2010, concludes on June 29 at Mercato. The event features exciting stage show based on the theme of the famous character Alice and transports viewers into her exciting wonderland. Show timings are 4:30pm, 5:30pm, and 7:30pm.

For the first time in a World of Stories event, cartoon characters are being portrayed through a 3D theme. Children can get up and close with Sinbad, Aslan, Sleeping Beauty, Pinocchio, Snow White, Bambi, Mr Tumnus, Ali Baba, Cinderella, Aladdin, Robin Hood, Dorothy, Tinkerbell, Peter Pan, Dumbo, Mary Poppins, and Harry Potter. Visitors to Mercato will be welcomed by a 3D magic eye gallery through the walkway leading to the Porto Vecchio area. The gallery will be open throughout mall hours.