Entertainment | Film & Cinema
Saudi short to make debut at DIFF
Attention, the 3-minute film by a Syrian director, looks at the implications of radicalism for future generations.
- Staff Report
- Published: 23:31 May 3, 2009
Attention, the 3-minute film by a Syrian director, looks at the implications of radicalism for future generations
"Attention", the sole entry from Saudi Arabia in this year's Dubai International Film Festival, will make its Middle East premiere at DIFF 2005 this month as part of the Festival's Arabian Shorts programme.
The 3-minute animated film, written, produced and directed by first-time Syrian director Akram Agha, tells the story of how children and childhood could be compromised if terrorism continues to plague the world.
"Attention is simply a gloomy vision of what could happen if terrorism and radicalism rule the world," the Saudi-based Syrian filmmaker said. The short film is classified as a Saudi Arabian entry since it was produced and funded there.
Screenings
Although the film was screened at the Fantoche International Animation Film Festival in Switzerland and the International Leipzig Festival for Documentary and Animated Film in Germany, Agha said the Dubai Film Festival is a great opportunity to show the film to Arab audiences for the first time.
Arabian Shorts chief programmer Mohammad Maklouf said the film represents a universal statement on the horrors of war and should not be interpreted in any other way.
"I wanted to screen this film primarily because it is made by a young Arab filmmaker, and that is the crux of this section and of the Dubai Film Festival: to encourage young Arab filmmakers," Maklouf said.
"It's also a creative and powerful first film with a keen insight, the kind of film that helps to change the damaging stereotypes of Arabs and Muslims."
The Arabian Shorts programme this year includes 13 short and documentary films from throughout the Arab world.
The second Dubai International Film Festival will be held from December 11 to 17 and will feature 98 films including features, retrospectives and short films.
DIFF 2005 is divided into 12 categories - including five new sections - each focusing on a particular type of film.
Tickets are available at Festival Box Offices in the Madinat Theatre at Souk Madinat Jumeirah, in the lobby of Building 2 at Dubai Media City, and at CineStar Cinemas at Mall of the Emirates and Deira City Centre.
Tickets can also be purchased on the Dubai Film Festival website www.dubaifilmfest.com.
A selection of review will be printed in Tabloid. write2tabloid@gulfnews.com |
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