Opening credits at Dubai film fest

There were tantrums and tears before bedtime when this year's Dubai International Film Festival (Diff) programmers were put on the spot.

"It's unreasonable to ask me to pick just one film I think people should see," said one before demanding the rules be changed.

"If I have only one favourite film, then I shouldn't be doing this job," rattled down the line before the calm call-ended beep was all that was left.

Oh, the drama. And here was me thinking this story was going to be easy.

The good news is this year's festival programmers are brilliant people with fabulously quirky personalities. Most importantly, they're weirdly fanatical about film.

"I believe that our programming this year not only offers something for everyone, it also offers new, very interesting, unusual and surprising films," says Masoud Amralla Al Ali, Diff's Artistic Director.

"If I could choose one word to describe our 2010 programme, it would be ‘discovery'. We have discoveries of new talents, new styles and new collaborations."

This year's segments are Cinema of the World, Cinema of Asia/Africa, Celebration of Indian Cinema, Cinema for Children, Arabian Nights and In Focus — Mexico.

tabloid! caught up with the people in charge of each segment to get the inside line on what to watch this year and why.

Nashen Moodley: director for Asia/Africa

What qualifies you to be a programmer?
There are no formal qualifications for becoming a programmer. Being passionate about cinema.

Why is it such a good job?
Well, I get to watch films for a living, which is not a bad thing.

Why did these films make the cut?
As always, we looked for innovative films which say something about the world; films that were stylistically daring; and for new talent.

Why is it important these films are screened at Diff?
It allows the Dubai audience exposure to the films they would not otherwise be able to see, and gives filmmakers an important opportunity to engage with their audiences.

Don't miss in this segment?
End of Animal (Dec 14, MoE 5, 6.45pm; Dec 15, MoE 8, 4pm).

Don't miss at the festival?
Cairo Exit (Dec 16, Madinat Arena, 9pm; Dec 18, MoE 8, 6.30pm).

Antonia Carver: consultant programmer for Arabian Nights

What qualifies you to be a programmer?
A love of cinema; a willingness to watch five feature films and a dozen shorts a night; some years of trying to see as much Arab cinema as possible.

Why is it such a good job?
For the buzz of coming across a gem of a new film or a hugely talented young filmmaker for the first time.

Why did these films make the cut?
It's hard to summarise the choices — particularly this year, which is marked by such diversity in styles, approaches and themes. They made the cut for their integrity, originality, subject matter, attention to narrative and cinematography.

Why is it important these films are screened at Diff?
The Arab programmes are at the heart of Diff, and we're so proud of our track record as the first and largest festival in the Gulf. These are films that often relate directly to the audience, to our experiences here in the Arab world.

Don't miss from this segment?
I can't only have one! Hamama (Dec 15, MoE 5, 6.45pm; Dec 17, MoE 4, 6pm), September Rain (Dec 13, MoE 2, 6.30pm; Dec 17, MoE 5, 5.45pm), and Garagouz. (Dec 18, MoE 6, 6.30pm; Dec 19, Sun, MoE 4, 12.30pm).

Don't miss at the festival?
Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (Dec 15, MoE 1, 9.45pm; Dec 17, MoE 9, 9.15pm).

Myrna Maakaron: programmer of Cinema for Children

What qualifies you to be a programmer?
In my case, being a filmmaker helps a lot. But simply the passion for films.

Why is it a fun job?
You have the chance to watch so many films and discover some others that the public will never have the chance to see.

What made the cut and why?
Five films made the cut because they were the best and most beautiful films for children from 2009 and 2010. Eleanor's Secret (Dec 18, The Walk, JBR, 6pm, free screening) sees fairy tale characters come to life to go on a breathtaking adventure with a boy from France. Better still, it'll be screened in open air on Jumeirah Beach.

Why is it important these films are screened at Diff?
Mainly because they are screened for the children, an audience that is often forgotten in the Arabic regions. Diff gives the children the chance to discover stories from countries they never visited.

Don't miss from this segment?
Since we have a small number of children films, I would rather say don't miss any! I'm cheeky.

Don't miss at the festival?
I saw the trailer for The King's Speech (Dec 12, The Walk, JBR, 8pm, free screening) — a definitely don't miss film.

Dorothee Wenner: programme consultant for the subcontinent

What qualifies you to be a programmer?20 years of curating films for international festivals; being a filmmaker myself.

Why is it such a good job?
It is simply a dream.

Why did these films make the cut?
Diff selects a good number of films from India — we are looking at outstanding work, but also we are keen to represent the diversity Indian cinemas have to offer.

Why is it important these films are screened at Diff?
The UAE has a very strong connection with the subcontinent — the film world being no exception. We are trying to develop Diff as a platform, which can be used to further explore and diversify this market.

Don't miss in this segment?
Difficult question, as I like them all. Electra might be the one, as it left such a long-lasting impression, by blending South-Indian realities with a Greek myth. And all that with a big star cast.

Don't miss at festival?
Poetry by Chang-dong Lee(Dec 17, MoE 6, 6pm; Dec 18, MoE 7, 3.45pm). I haven't seen it yet, but the director is very high on my current favourite directors list, so I will not miss it.

Philip Cheah: programming consultant for Asia/Africa

What qualifies you to be a programmer?
My status as a soon-to-be "world's first blind film critic". A lifetime of watching movies is not a great way to exercise your eyesight.

Why is it such a good job?
It extends my professional training as a social worker. In my professional code of ethics, empathy ranks very high. Watching movies is a way of putting yourself on an equal ground with another person's culture, point of view, idiosyncrasy, emotion.

Why did these films make the cut?
Jo Sung Hee's End of Animal (Dec 14, MoE 5, 6.45pm; Dec 15, MoE 8, 4pm) brings us the feature debut of a director whose short film, Don't Step Out of the House, was shown in last year's Diff. It's one of the most exciting and intriguing debuts.

Daniel Rudi Haryanto's Prison and Paradise (Dec 14, MoE 6, 6pm; Dec 16, MoE 5, 3.30pm) is about the Bali bombing in 2002 and has actual interview footage with the people involved. Some of it will prove very surprising.

Don't miss from this segment?
Mun Jeong-hyun's Yongsan (Dec 13, MoE 8, 10.15pm; Dec 15, MoE 8, 7pm) is a film I fear will be overlooked. It's a shattering look at how idealism has been left by the wayside in recent years.

Don't miss at the festival?
John Torres' We Don't Care About Democracy (Dec 16, MoE 10, 6.30pm; Dec 18, MoE 5, 12.15pm) is a short allegorical film about a couple talking in bed. There's no better film that shows how sex and politics co-exist constantly and it's so well-expressed in this brief moment."

Sheila Whitaker: director of Cinema of the World

What qualifies you to be a programmer?
The same as any (good) programmer — a love of film, a knowledge of film, old and new and lots of experience.

Why is it such a good job?
It is full of surprises.

Why did these films make the cut?
A good film is a good film whatever the budget, and a good film director succeeds in putting all the elements together to create in an emotionally and intellectually satisfying way.

Why is it important these films are screened at Diff?
Because they deserve to be seen and most of them otherwise would not.

Don't miss in this segment?
Difficult — and invidious! But if I have to choose one, Tomorrow Will Be Better (Dec 14, Madinat Arena, 8pm; Dec 17, MoE 1, 6.30pm).

Don't miss at the festival?
The First Movie (Dec 16, MoE 7, 6.45pm; Dec 19, MoE 10, 3.15pm).

Get your tickets

The Diff 2010 box office locations are: CineStar Mall of the Emirates, the Madinat Souk, the CNN Building in Dubai Media City and The Walk at JBR. Tickets can also be purchased through Diff's Dial-a-Ticket service at 04-3913378 and from the website, www.dubaifilmfest.com 

Click here to see the full schedule