A wide scope of regional films has been announced for this year’s Dubai International Film Festival.
The ‘Gulf Voices’ programme, part of the December 10-17 festival, aims to support “unapologetic” Arab filmmakers who bring something new to the table.
“We look for those directors and actors who can tell a distinctive, powerful story that encapsulates the dreams and desires of Arab society in an honest and thought-provoking manner,” said Diff artistic director Masoud Amralla in a press release.
Themes such as death, guilt, identity and social alienation are tackled through a variety of lenses.
From the UAE, Emirati filmmaker Ahmad Abdul Qader premieres Tomorrow, a documentary about the making of Tomorrow/Bokra, one of the most successful charity songs to come out of the Middle East. The song, which has more than 10 million views on YouTube, features 24 artists, was produced by Quincy Jones and Badr Jaafar.
Bahraini film Central Market, Saudi Arabian film Bus 321 and Iraqi film A Long Night were three efforts supported by Diff’s post-production Enjaaz programme.
Central Market follows a young grocery delivery boy who tries to strike gold by milking a goat, while Bus 321 highlights the guilt and torment of a bus driver who runs over a young student and struggles to move on. A Long Night, in its world premiere, follows the story of a mother and her children who flee to a refugee camp on the Iranian border, set against the backdrop of the failed Kurdish revolution of 1975. In the camp, an Iranian officer tries to abuse his authority.
Other Iraqi films include Hassan in Wonderland, It Is White, and Rain on Jeekor. The first two films explore themes of war, while the last gives a biographical account of famed Arab poet Badr Shakir Al Sayab, who died at the age of 38.
Three Kuwaiti films, Carpet, Falafel Cart and Sandarah will also show at the festival. Carpet follows Hammoud, a carpet salesman who faces familial problems after becoming involved in theft, forcing him to re-evaluate his choices. Falafel Cart follows the story of a hidden falafel salesman who, after stumbling across a strange flower, becomes passionate about cooking again. In Sandarah, an animated short, a young and artistic photographer is forced into the army, where he finds himself surrounded by hardened soldiers.
Compulsory, a film by Saudi Arabian director Mohammad Al Faraj, tells the story of a social reject named Ahmad, who considers doing something radical after discovering organ donation. And in a dark twist, Qarar, by Qatari filmmaker Ali Al Ansari, follows a couple who live in a post-apocalyptic world, and whose every decision could mean life or death.
