Iraqi resilience on show at Diff

Beneath the strife that makes headlines in Iraq is a rich culture of cinema that is being showcased at the Dubai International Film Festival (Diff) 2009.

The films My Father, My Uncle and Collapse have opened to critical acclaim at Diff, and have set the tone for the thematic and narrative brilliance characterising the Iraqi films at the festival.

Diff Artistic Director Masoud Amralla Al Ali said the films demonstrate the resilience of the country's creative professionals, who continue to pursue their passion and create tales that touch human hearts.

Worth watching today at 6.45pm is director Hadi Mahood's Collapse, about the ruination of Iraqi culture after the 2003 fall of the regime and the plight of artists and arts institutes.

Kick Off is about a friendly football match between Arab and Kurdish boys in an Iraqi refugee camp that turns sour. It screens on Tuesday at 8pm.

In Al Ajniha Assaghira (Little Wings) screening tomorrow at 2pm, director Rashid Masharawi visits Baghdad to meet the young children forced to work around the city drawing parallels between them and youngsters in Gaza. And Mein Vater Mein Onkel (My Father, My Uncle), by Christoph Heller, will be screened again tomorrow (3.15pm). All films are on show at Mall of the Emirates.

Showing at Diff 2009 today

DMC AMPHITHEATRE

8pm: Generasi Biru (Indonesia)

FIRST GROUP THEATRE

7.15pm: Le Herisson (France)

10.30pm: Wahed-Sefr (Egypt)

MADINAT ARENA

7pm: Budrus (USA)

CINESTAR CINEMAS, MALL OF THE EMIRATES

12.15pm: The Silver Fez (South Africa)

12.30pm: Tehran Bedoune Mojavez (France/Iran)

1pm: Ddang-ui Yeo-ja (South Korea)

3pm: Kama Kkal Ashair (Palestine)

3.30pm: Chou Sar (France/Lebanon/Palestine)

3.30pm: Malaysian Gods (Malaysia)

3.45pm: Mother (South Korea)

3.45pm: Kutty Srank (India)

4pm: City of Life (UAE)

4pm: Piombo Fuso (Italy)

4.15pm: Lan (China)

4.15pm: 1428 (China)

6.30pm: Lost Paradise in Tokyo (Japan)

6.45pm: 2009 Muhr Arab Documentary 3

6.45pm: Al Mihna (UK/Iraq/Italy/UAE)

7pm: Prince of Tears (Taiwan)

7pm: Welcome (France)

7pm: Moon (UK)

7pm: Once Upon a Time Proletarian: 12 Tales of a Country (China)

7pm: Dorogie Moi Deti (Kazakhstan)

7.30pm: Sham Moh (Malaysia/Hong Kong/South Korea)

9.15pm: Adieu Gary (France)

9.30pm: Les Plages D'Agnes (France)

9.30pm: Afwah Wa Araneb (Egypt)

9.45pm: Lola (France/Philippines)

9.45pm: 2009 Muhr Arab Shorts 3

9.45pm: 12 Angry Lebanese: The Documentary (Lebanon)

10pm: 2009 Muhr Arab Documentary 1

10pm: Arab-French Rendez-vous

10pm: Faces of Seoul (South Korea/USA)

10pm: La Teta Asustada (Spain/Peru)

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