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212581
Thu, 10/13/2011 - 12:33
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https://oananews.org//node/212581
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Red carpet gala to open ADFF today
Abu Dhabi, Oct 13, 2011 (WAM) - The fifth Abu Dhabi Film Festival (ADFF) will begin tonight with a red carpet gala at Fairmont Hotel, just outside Abu Dhabi according to a report in "Khaleej Times."
However, the 10-day film extravaganza will not be presenting any of the famous international movie stars whom the ADFF used to bring here in previous years.
“The real stars of the opening gala are the people who come to enjoy it,” said Eissa Saif Al Mazrouei, Director of Special Projects at the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH), the “creator” of ADFF.
Among the people who will walk the red carpet tonight are Evan Rachel Wood, a much-loved American actress for her roles in independent movies, the Egyptian actor Mahmoud Abdel Aziz, and director, screenwriter and producer Nabil Maleh, considered the father of modern Syrian cinema and the president of ADFF’s narrative feature competition jury.
Later on, Michael Winterbottom, one of the most active English filmmakers who directed Welcome to Sarajevo, Wonderland and 24 Hour Party People (all nominated for Palm D’Or at Cannes Film Festival) will come to the festival. If the likes of Natalie Portman and Robert De Niro are missing this year, the festival will certainly not disappoint movie buffs in the film selections. “There are so many stupid, vulgar, violent movies released in cinemas. What we are going to see in this festival is something that is not stupid, something worth spending two hours in a dark room experiencing,” said Peter Scarlet, the executive director of ADFF.
The festival will begin with Monsieur Lazhar, a Canadian movie by Philippe Falardeau.
A charming drama about healing hearts, the story is told through the story of an Algerian teacher who becomes the substitute for a group of traumatised school students.
The unfinished film of Atia and Mohammed Daradji, In My Mother’s Arms presented in the ADFF 2010, is now competing for the festival’s documentary awards. A film produced with the support of Sanad, the development and post-production fund of ADFF, In My Mother’s Arms has already won acclaims at Toronto Film Festival for its touching story of a young boy who tries to help a group of orphan children in Baghdad, against all odds.
Steven Soderbergh’s Contagion, with an A-list cast of Marion Cotillard, Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburn, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Winslet, will be presented uncut under the Showcase programme, along with 24 other outstanding productions including The Double, a Michael Brandt film starring Richard Gere, Topher Grace and Martin Sheen.
Workshops, public discussions and various other film-related events will take place during the festival. – Khaleej Times
However, the 10-day film extravaganza will not be presenting any of the famous international movie stars whom the ADFF used to bring here in previous years.
“The real stars of the opening gala are the people who come to enjoy it,” said Eissa Saif Al Mazrouei, Director of Special Projects at the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH), the “creator” of ADFF.
Among the people who will walk the red carpet tonight are Evan Rachel Wood, a much-loved American actress for her roles in independent movies, the Egyptian actor Mahmoud Abdel Aziz, and director, screenwriter and producer Nabil Maleh, considered the father of modern Syrian cinema and the president of ADFF’s narrative feature competition jury.
Later on, Michael Winterbottom, one of the most active English filmmakers who directed Welcome to Sarajevo, Wonderland and 24 Hour Party People (all nominated for Palm D’Or at Cannes Film Festival) will come to the festival. If the likes of Natalie Portman and Robert De Niro are missing this year, the festival will certainly not disappoint movie buffs in the film selections. “There are so many stupid, vulgar, violent movies released in cinemas. What we are going to see in this festival is something that is not stupid, something worth spending two hours in a dark room experiencing,” said Peter Scarlet, the executive director of ADFF.
The festival will begin with Monsieur Lazhar, a Canadian movie by Philippe Falardeau.
A charming drama about healing hearts, the story is told through the story of an Algerian teacher who becomes the substitute for a group of traumatised school students.
The unfinished film of Atia and Mohammed Daradji, In My Mother’s Arms presented in the ADFF 2010, is now competing for the festival’s documentary awards. A film produced with the support of Sanad, the development and post-production fund of ADFF, In My Mother’s Arms has already won acclaims at Toronto Film Festival for its touching story of a young boy who tries to help a group of orphan children in Baghdad, against all odds.
Steven Soderbergh’s Contagion, with an A-list cast of Marion Cotillard, Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburn, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Winslet, will be presented uncut under the Showcase programme, along with 24 other outstanding productions including The Double, a Michael Brandt film starring Richard Gere, Topher Grace and Martin Sheen.
Workshops, public discussions and various other film-related events will take place during the festival. – Khaleej Times
