The expanded UAE film section at the Dubai International Film Festival will cover a range of topics - from love to murder and everything in between.
From exciting thrillers to comedic documentaries, the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) has something for everyone
this year. The line-up of Emirati Voices has been announced by DIFF, which will be held from December 9 to 16, and will
highlight the best contributions by Emirati filmmakers.
Difficult choice
Masoud Amralla Al Ali, DIFF's artistic director and director general of competition for the Muhr Awards for Excellence in
Arab Cinema, commented on this year's selection: "This year we expanded the selection of films from five to nine films,
because the choice was very difficult to make and the films were so diverse thematically.
"We also changed the title of the segment to Emirati Voices from Emerging Emiratis; the films that we received were not films from 'emerging' talents, but rather fully developed voices that were pushing to be heard. They are sophisticated in story-telling and cinematography, and offer a fascinating view into Emirati life," he said.
Manhood
Two documentaries in the programme serve up very different subject matter: from Shamma Abu Nawas and Sahar Al Khatib, who shared credits for writing, producing, shooting and editing, comes I'm a Man, a comedic look at the notion of Emirati manhood in which everyone has something to say.
From the pink T-shirt wearing male hairstylist to the traditional-minded woman who claims that "any man considering a manicure might a well get a sex change operation", there's something scandalous in this film for everybody.
Rehab Omar Ateeq's Between Two Suns deals with class consciousness; the film is about three subjects, two of whom have been unfortunate in life, while the third does not appreciate his good fortune. The film won a prize for Student's Documentary Film in the Emirates Film Competition 2007.
Moving away from the non-fiction lens, two thrillers will keep audiences glued to their seats: 100 Miles, the seventh fiction
film from Mustafa Abbas, is a thriller about a young schizophrenic who is hired to murder an old rival for raping a girl, only to discover he is entirely innocent.
The rival
Heartless comes from writer Yousef Ebrahim and director Ahmad Zain; the film depicts an estranged husband and his wife who
want to kill each other. The wife's mad brother is being used for this task. Who will win?
Love in all its guises also runs through these films: Al Ghobna, written by Talal Mahmood and Saeed Salmeen Al Murry, the film's director and producer, deals with the elevating qualities of love.
The Birthday Gift depicts the love between a husband and wife in an unexpected time and place, and its effect on the couple's son.
Lost innocence
Many of the films for Emirati Voices at the Dubai International Film Festival have to do with lost innocence, or innocence at
risk of violence. Mohammad Abdullah Al Hammady wrote, produced and directed Houjas, about a girl's virginity at risk.
Stuck Face, written, produced and directed by Manal Ali Bin Amro, depicts a girl who hides herself away because of her
haunting memories of a past trauma.
Writer/director Hamad al Hammadi's Ashes deals with what happens when you discover that your achievements are nothing but ashes.
About DIFF
The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) was launched in December 2004 under the theme: Bridging Cultures. Meeting Minds.
DIFF is a not-for-profit cultural event, presented and organised by the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority.
The past three editions of DIFF have presented more than 250 films, documentaries and shorts from more than 48 countries.
DIFF 2007
The fourth edition of the Dubai International Film Festival will take place from December 9-16 and will present the best of
Arab and international cinema in the feature film, shorts and documentary formats.
