Inkheart
When: Sunday, December 14 at 6.15pm and Wednesday, December 17 at 6pm
Where: Souk Madinat Theatre (Sunday) and at Festival City (screen 8)
Time: 106 mins
Rating: 8+
Cast: Andy Serkis, Brendan Fraser, Eliza Hope Bennett, Helen Mirren, Jim Broadbent, Paul Bettany, Rafi Gavron and Sienna Guillory
Plot: All 12-year-old Meggie wants is for her father, Mo (Fraser) to read her a story.
But unaware of her father's rare and powerful talent to read a book and bring the book's characters to life, she ends up in a spot of bother.
Capricorn (Serkis), a ruthless villain who wants to possess Mo's skill for his own benefit, kidnaps Meggie and holds her hostage. Now, Meggie discovers she has inherited her father's marvellous ability — and sets about launching a daring rescue.
Gnomes and Trolls: The Secret Chamber
When: Today at 6.30pm
Where: Mall of the Emirates (screen 5)
Time: 75 mins
Plot: An animated flick which follows Junior, a teenage gnome who invents peculiar gadgets in his tree-house laboratory, on a heroic journey to recover stolen food which was stolen by trolls.
Junior and his best friend Sneaky, a crow, head out on an adventure across vast landscapes, encountering bizarre animals along the way. Chock full of fast action, touching themes, and slapstick humour, Gnomes And Trolls is perfect for people of any age.
Inu To Watashi No Ju No Yakusoku (10 Promises to My Dog)
When: Saturday, December 13, at 12noon
Where: Mall of the Emirates (screen 12)
Time: 117 mins
Rating: 6+
Plot: Twelve-year old Akari falls in love with a puppy and names her Socks, and her mother explains ten promises every dog-owner should solemnly respect.
After tragically losing her mother, Akari must now also come to terms she will also lose Socks. It works resonant social themes into a genuinely touching and ultimately very moving story.
The Seven of Daran: The Battle of Pareo Rock
When: Friday, December 12 at 3.15pm
Where: Madinat Arena (gala screening)
Time: 86 mins
Rating: 6+
Cast: Caroline Goodall, Johann Harmse and Kertrice Maitisa
Plot: Jimmy is an 11-year old European boy who goes to South Africa with his mother, a busy executive in charge of establishing a golf resort. Following a strange chance encounter with a street child, Charita, Jimmy gets lost in the sprawling town market and finds himself confronted with Seraf, a mysterious speaking giraffe.
Before long, Jimmy is on an adventurous trip through the African jungle with a magical medallion and must where avert a war between the two African tribes.
Horrorfest at DIFF
Nosferatu
Rhythms and Reels
The movie theatre is completely dark. All around you fellow patrons are decked out in their Halloween best (or, more accurately, worst) and on screen the cult classic film from 1922 Nosferatu begins.
Then the music starts — not from the soundtrack as we've become accustomed to, but provided by the band Terminatryx. Like the movie, the band is mainly known to those who hang out in darker spots.
Maybe because of this fact, there is a special bond between the film and the music. Both dark. Both disturbing. And both outwardly frightening, but immensely artistic once you look beyond the obvious. And not as scary.
The following year, at the same festival, The Cabinet of Dr Caligary was screened. It was equally moving. This experience won't appeal to those who go to the cinema to switch off. No, here you are confronted with a picture from a previous age that fuses, live, with music from the present one. This union, depending on the artists involved, could be a magical one – elevating both the film and the music to levels not experienced where a filmmaker is involved, puppeteering your emotions through the subtle use of music.
— By Eduan Maggo
Meet: Myrna Makaaron, programmer Cinema for Children
"Small people are the future. The future of film making, cinema statistics and the world of movies," said Makaaron.
A Lebanese filmmaker and actress, M0akaaron completed her filmmaking studies in Beirut before going to study theatre at the Sorbonne in Paris.
"The children's section is just the baby of the festival so it's really hard to select the films as we only have a limited number to show."
No stranger to the movie scene, Makaaron has appeared in several Lebanese and Arabic films and has also been involved in the organisation of a number of film weeks and festivals.
"I am very excited about the section this year as we have some fabulous stars coming for children's films, including Brendan Fraser and the child star Eliza Bennett. Inkheart is definitely worth a watch by kids, parents and adults alike."
The last film Makaaron directed, BerlinBeirut (2004), was screened at more than 65 festivals and won nine awards.
"I would advise everyone to catch the gala screening of The Seven of Daran as it is wonderful is so many ways. Talking giraffes being the highlight."
- By Kelly Crane, Staff Reporter
