2. Emirati Film Review

2. EMIRATI FILM REVIEW
April 7-9, 2017

Once again, Emirati Film Review organized by Nahda Foundation, in partnership with Image Nation and Arab Film Studio from Abu Dhabi, will take place at Kino Pod Baranami. This remarkable event allows Polish viewers to discover the creative talent within the growing film industry in United Arab Emirates. The review will also take place in Kino Kosmos, in Katowice.

The festival will open with Majid al Ansari’s psychological thriller Zinzana, one of the most known Emirati films in years. Next, the viewers will see a coming-of-age road movie, awarded at IFF in Dubai Going to Heaven directed by Saeed Salmeen. Third day of the review includes a screening of Ali Khaled’s documentary The Lights of Rome telling a story of the Emirati national football team, which made history and brought unforgettable moments to the lives of its fans. Khaled’s film will be followed by a set of short films showing the delicate structure of human relationships and letting the audience look into the fears haunting artists.

On Friday night, the viewers will have a chance to attend a Q&A session with a special guest of the festival - Gehad Darwish, representing Image Nation Abu Dabi, one of the leading media and entertainment companies in the Arabic-speaking world.

The event is held under the honorary patronage of the United Arab Emirates Embassy in Poland.

On April 8-9, Emirati Film Review is also going to visit Kino Kosmos in Katowice.

All films will be presented in original version, with Polish and English subtitles.

PROGRAMME:

Friday, April 7, 2017

19.00 ZINZANA | ZINZANA
dir. Majid al Ansari, United Arab Emirates 2015, 96’
Guest: Gehad Darwish, representing Image Nation Abu Dhabi production company
Q&A session (in English) will be held by dr Karolina Rak.

Saturday, April 8, 2017
19.00 GOING TO HEAVEN | SAYER AL JANNAH
dir. Saeed Salmeen, United Arab Emirates 2016, 90’

Sunday, April 9, 2017
19.00 THE LIGHTS OF ROME | ANWAR ROMA
dir. Ali Khaled, United Arab Emirates 2016, 61’

20.30 SET OF SHORT FILMS, 67’

THE CHOICE | THE CHOICE
dir. Eman Talal Al Sayed, United Arab Emirates 2016 , 11'

MADE OF CLAY | MADE OF CLAY
dir. Fayssal Bin Sahli, United Arab Emirates 2015, 10’

OMNIA | OMNIA
dir. Amena Al Nowais, United Arab Emirates 2015, 9’

OSHA'S GIFT | OSHA'S GIFT
dir. Hind Abdullah, United Arab Emirates 2016, 9'

PINK CLOUDS | PINK CLOUDS
dir. Samah Al Kadi, United Arab Emirates 2013, 19’

SALMA’S DINNER | SALMA’S DINNER
dir. Nujoom Al Ghanem, United Arab Emirates 2012, 9’

TICKETS:

20 PLN (regular)

15 PLN (discount)

Entry pass (4 screenings): 44 PLN

* To buy the Entry pass online, please contact our box office (kasa@kinopodbaranami.pl)

ABOUT THE FILMS:

GOING TO HEAVEN | SAYER AL JANNAH
dir. Saeed Salmeen, United Arab Emirates 2016, 90’

(in Arabic with Polish and English subtitles)

IFF in Dubai: Muhr Emirati Award for the best film
Alexandria Film Festival: Special Jury Award
Kabes International Film Festival: Najiba Al Hamrouni Award
Figueira Film Art Festival: special mention for the best actor (Jumaa Al Zaabi)

After his mother dies and his father remarries, 11-year-old Sultan feels lost. His stepmother doesn’t give him the enough warmth. The only person, who can give him the love he needs is his beloved grandmother. Unfortunately, his family hasn’t been in touch with her for a long time, so the boy decides to find her. He runs away from home with his friend, Saud and together they go on a journey to Fujairah where they hope to find Sultan’s grandmother.

Multiple award winning film starring the best Emirati actors has been shown at 28 film festivals since its premiere, getting the highest praises.

THE LIGHTS OF ROME | ANWAR ROMA
dir. Ali Khaled, United Arab Emirates 2016, 61’

(in Arabic with Polish and English subtitles)

On October 28, 1989 in Singapore a team of young football players made history, unexpectedly qualifying for the World Cup in 1990. This remarkable documentary presents the historical and emotional journey of the “golden generation of football players”. It’s the only Emirati national team, which made it to the World Cup.

ZINZANA | ZINZANA
dir. Majid al Ansari, United Arab E 2015, 96’

(in Arabic with Polish and English subtitles)

IFF in Dubai: official selection
IFF in Berlin: Variety Award for the Mid-East Filmmaker of the Year (Majid al Ansari)
Digital Studio Awards 2016: best content capture, best editing

Talal Mohamed is trapped in a prison cell in a small town, without his documents and with a few bruises left after last night’s events. Not being able to make bail appears to be the least of his problems. In order to save his family, he’s forced to take part in a complicated game with a psychopathic officer.

SET OF SHORT FILMS, 67’

THE CHOICE | THE CHOICE
dir. Eman Talal Al Sayed, United Arab Emirates 2016 , 11'

(in Arabic and English)

IFF in Dubai: Muhr Award for the best film in AFS Narrative competition

Eman Talal Al Sayed’s directorial debut. When her Emirati father passes away, Lauren is asked to fly to the UAE for the first time to meet with her father’s family and sort out her inheritance. However, to claim her rights, she is expected to cleanse her father's "mistake".

MADE OF CLAY | MADE OF CLAY
dir. Fayssal Bin Sahli, United Arab Emirates 2015, 10’

(in Arabic with English subtitles)

The Short Film Awards 2015: official selection for the documentary short film competition

A passionate young stop-motion artist pursues his dream of creating art, and attempts to gain his father’s acceptance for his work. He tries to uncover his father’s past to unravel the truth behind his resentment, during which he learns something about his own future.

OMNIA | OMNIA
dir. Amena Al Nowais, United Arab Emirates 2015, 9’

(in Arabic with English subtitles)

Muhr Emirati Awards 2015: Best Muhr Emirati Short (Amena Al Nowais)

A young Egyptian woman, is still struggling from a childhood trauma that left her with emotional and physical scars, and incapable of love. In this short documentary, she regains memories from the incident before returning home to pursue filmmaking.

OSHA'S GIFT | OSHA'S GIFT
dir. Hind Abdullah, United Arab Emirates 2016, 9'

(in Arabic with English subtitles)

Ashwaq Abdullah is a successful Emirati artist who discovers a new sense of what art means by attending an art therapy session and befriending Osha, a very special girl.

PINK CLOUDS | PINK CLOUDS
dir. Samah Al Kadi, United Arab Emirates 2013, 19’

A study of the tender and bitter emotions of an old woman in her loneliness, accompanied only by her professional caretaker, as they both learn more about true human connection.

SALMA’S DINNER | SALMA’S DINNER
dir. Nujoom Al Ghanem, United Arab Emirates 2012, 9’

Abu Dhabi Film Festival: official selection for EFC Short Narrative Competition

Made by an Emirati poet and short film director, Nujoom Al Ghanem. Salma spends a whole day cooking a feast. We don’t know for whom is she preparing the meal or whether her guest will even come.

ORGANIZER:

Nahda Foundation

CO-ORGANIZERS:

Kino Pod Baranami

Kino Kosmos

Image Nation

Arab Film Studio

PARTNERS:

Emirati Cinema Campaign

Support Arab Cinema

Institute of Middle and Far East Studies, Jagiellonian University

English Language Institute, University of Silesia