Film festival: top picks

In its second year, the Middle Eastern International Film Festival is proving to be a big draw, both in terms of films on offer and celebrity attendance. Last night's opening gala, The Brother Bloom, set a trend of star sightings and quality cinema that will continue through the event.

This year's festival has expanded to 10 days and the total prize money on offer for its Black Pearl Awards has been raised to more than $1 million (Dh3.6m).

Executive Director Nashwa Al Ruwaini says such steps are needed to establish the festival, itself part of Abu Dhabi's plan to position itself as a regional capital of culture. "The inaugural event was a huge challenge as starting a new festival that aims for a predominant role in the international festival world is not easy with over 3000 other festivals every year," she told media. "We aspire to serve the art of film from all over the world. This year we promise an experience not to be missed for cinema lovers and interesting initiatives that will cater to industry professionals," she added.

For those too busy at the office to catch more than an odd film or event, Emirates Business offers a few fine picks.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11

GANDHI

Sir Richard Attenborough's hit 1982 biopic about Mahatma Gandhi, a man who took on an empire with nothing but truth, non-violence and indomitable will, has now been dubbed in Arabic and will be screened at a show which lead actor Sir Ben Kingsley is expected to attend.

Catch it: 1.30pm, Emirates Palace


THE DOVE'S LOST NECKLACE

MEIFF pays tribute to Tunisian director Nacer Khemir with the screening of this film, the second feature in his desert trilogy. It has been billed a visually ravishing folktale reminiscent of The Thousand And One Nights. The period piece is set in the 11th century and revolves around calligraphy student Hassan, who comes across a fragment of manuscript that promises to reveal the secrets of love when assembled in its entirety.

Catch it: 10pm, Abu Dhabi Mall


SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12

WAR CHILD

Hip-hop star Emmanuel Jal was one of thousands of child soldiers in the brutal two-decade civil war in Sudan. In his five years on the front, he witnessed countless atrocities and committed some himself before being rescued. This moving documentary tells his tale of survival and redemption through positive music.

Catch it: 9.30pm, Marina Mall


WILD BLOOD

At dawn on April 30, 1945, five days after the Nazis left Italy, two dead bodies were found on the outskirts of Milan. Executed by partisans, Osvaldo Valenti (Luca Zingaretti) and Luisa Ferida (Monica Bellucci) were stars of the Fascist-endorsed "white telephone" cinema. Addicts with a tendency towards promiscuity, their private lives were as wild as the villainous, depraved characters they portrayed.

Catch it: 9.30pm, Emirates Palace


MONDAY, OCTOBER 13

HASIBA

With Hasiba, MEIFF celebrates Damascus as the 2008 Cultural Capital of the Arab World. This is director Rimon Butrous's third film and is based on writings by Arab novelist Khairi Al-Zahabi. With a strong cast including Jiana Eid and Sulaf Fawakherji, Hasiba depicts historical events between 1927 and 1950 through the eyes of several Damascene women who aspire to a better future.

Catch it: 6pm, Emirates Palace

VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA

Just as New York City was the backdrop in Woody Allen's Manhattan, Barcelona is the scene for the romantic adventures of Americans Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) – after the Spanish city put up €1million towards the film's budget. In Allen's latest, the two develop a relationship with flamboyant artist Juan (Javier Bardem) while on holiday. Things get messy when Juan's beautiful but insane ex-wife (Penelope Cruz, whose performance is expected to earn her an Oscar nom) comes to stay.

Catch it: 9pm, Marina Mall


TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14

GULABI TALKIES

Noted Indian director Girish Kasaravalli's Kannada-language film is based on a short story by feminist writer Vaidehi. Village midwife Gulabi is passionate about watching films. When her husband runs with a second wife, she spends her days at the cinema until she brings home a colour TV to watch films, and her neighbours and husband join her. A strong script and fine cast perfectly
reflect the aspirations of India's villagers.

Catch it: 11am, Emirates Palace

CINÉMA VÉRITÉ WITH CATHERINE DENEUVE

The International Rendezvous Cinéma Vérité is an annual platform bringing together prominent film professionals, politicians and opinion leaders to address social issues. Top French actress Catherine Deneuve will attend this session, in partnership with the United Nations Refugee Agency, where she will speak about her experience in Lebanon while filming Je Veux Voir, directed by Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige. The film will also be screened.

Catch it: 4.30pm, Emirates Palace


WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15

CINÉMA VÉRITÉ WITH SUSAN SARANDON

Susan Sarandon attends Spotlight on Women, which features a screening of Shape of Water, and a debate on the power of women in film. The film, narrated by Sarandon, is about an intimate encounter with five different women in Brazil, India, Jerusalem and Senegal and the vibrant alternatives crafted by women in response to environmental degradation, archaic traditions, lack of economic independence and war. Other stars attending include French actress Carole Bouquet, and Egyptian actresses Laila Ulwi and Yousra.

Catch it: 3pm, Emirates Palace


CINÉMA VÉRITÉ WITH JANE FONDA

This formal ceremony is dedicated to intercultural understanding, and includes the awarding of the Cinéma Vérité /MEIFF Lifetime Achievement Award to the actress-activist.

Catch it: 9.30pm, Emirates Palace


THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16

PALESTINE IN FLAMES

Part of the festival's retrospective marking the 60th anniversary of the division of Palestine, Monika Maurer's 1988 film shows the historical and political background of the first Intifada in 1987, and the struggle of the Palestinian people to protect their land. A good place to understand some of the issues at the core of the conflict, the 30-minute documentary shows the importance of culture as an element of resistance and safeguard of Palestinian identity and dignity.

Catch it: 7pm, Marina Mall


KARZZZ

A remake of the 1980 blockbuster by top director Subhash Ghai, Karzzz stars Himesh Reshammiya. The composer-singer-actor plays a man haunted by his past lives, a role originated by Michael Sarrazin in The Reincarnation of Peter Proud (1975), before Rishi Kapoor reinterpreted him as Monty for Ghai's classic. In this new film, Monty is a popular rock star who learns that the mother of his girlfriend (Shweta Kumar) is the woman he married in a previous life (Urmila Matondkar). Cue a cross-generational clandestine affair that turns into a tale of vengeance and karma.

Catch it: 9.30pm, Emirates Palace

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17

DUNYA & DESIE

Directed by Dana Nechustan, this Dutch cross-cultural road picture is filled with upbeat energy and humour, nailing its target teen-girl audience with a well-crafted story of friendship and understanding. Issues of family and fitting in take centre stage as Moroccan Dunya and Dutch Desie, played by Maryam Hassouni and Eva van de Wijdeven, negotiate parental expectations and what it means to straddle two worlds.

Catch it: 4pm, Abu Dhabi Mall


SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18

THE YELLOW HANDKERCHIEF

Academy Award winner William Hurt stars as ex-convict Brett Hanson, who is just released from prison after serving six years for manslaughter. As he tries to reconcile with his troubled past, Brett crosses paths with lonely and troubled teenager Martine (Kristen Stewart) and her friend Gordy (Eddie Redmayne).

Catch it: 9.30am, Emirates Palace


SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19

BODY OF LIES

The closing night gala comes courtesy of director Ridley Scott, whose Body of Lies stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Roger Ferris, the best man US Intelligence has on the ground. He is sent to Jordan to track a high-ranking terrorist.

The intelligent agent is aided by the head of Jordan's covert operations in an uneasy alliance that leads to cultural and moral clashes between the men. Also stars in the film are Russell Crowe, Mark Strong, Golshifteh Farahani, Carice van Houten and Vince Colosimo.

Catch it: 7pm, Emirates Palace



Celeb spotting

From now until October 16, expect to see plenty of superstars in Abu Dhabi, particularly at Emirates Palace, where they are rumoured to be staying during the event. For Hollywood fans, big names expected in the UAE capital, include Sir Ben Kingsley, Antonio Banderas, Melanie Griffith, Adrien Brody and Susan Sarandon. French actress Catherine Deneuve will be representing European cinema. Big Arab stars attending the festival include Emirati actors Samira Ahmed, Ahmed Al Jasmi, Bilal Abdallah and Habib Ghuloum. Representing the rest of Arabia will be Egyptian actress Yusra, as well as Elham Shaheen, Hussein Fahmy and Khaled Saleh.