The UK/UAE Short Film Festival officially launched last night at the Four Seasons Hotel in Abu Dhabi with screenings of eight short films – four by UK film makers and four Emirati, jointly sponsored by the British Council and Image Nation Abu Dhabi.
The films will now head off on a tour of the Northern Emirates, offering residents of RAK, Fujairah, Um Al Quwain and Al Ain a rare opportunity to watch local and international short films in their local community.
The shorts represent a broad spectrum of the movie viewing experience, from Abdulrahman Al Madani's study of the relationship between an infirm elderly Arab woman and her Filipina maid, Beshkara, to Shola Amoo's stylised and poetry-infused study of Othello in context of modern race relations, Dear Mr Shakespeare.
The travelling festival is part of the UK/UAE Year of Collaboration 2017, and although details are still under wraps for now, film fans can look forward to further collaboration between the two film making communities at this year’s Dubai International Film Festival, which promises a strong British theme to the line-up, which will be announced later this month.
The screenings were preceded by a day of panels, discussions and workshops as part of the UK/UAE Film Symposium, which featured speakers including local film makers Nawaf Al Janahi and Nayla Al Khaja, UK film makers Shola Amoo, Mike Forshaw and BAFTA-winner Caroline Bartleet, Image Nation chief Michael Garin and dignitaries including the British Ambassador to the UAE Philip Parham.
An audience of local film makers, industry figures and students heard discussions about the role of the modern film maker, using film as a tool for cultural exchange and the ongoing efforts to establish the UAE as a regional, and ultimately global, hub for film making.
The conversations certainly raised some interesting points – Garin seemingly softening his stance on the idea of legislation to get locally produced films into cinemas was an interesting observation, as the Image Nation chief has previously been a staunch opponent of government-driven schemes such as France's one euro tax on Hollywood film tickets to support the French film industry.
Ultimately, though, talking shops don’t get films made, and Al Janahi perhaps put it most succinctly when he noted: “Such events and talks are crucial to move forward, and I hope the efforts extend towards film co-productions between the UK and the UAE.”
For audiences, however, the big question will be where they can see the films next, and the tour moves forward as follows:
Monday, November 13, 6pm: RAK Cultural Centre
Tuesday, November 14, 6pm: Fujairah Cultural Centre
Wednesday, November 15, 6pm: Um Al Quwain Cultural Centre
Thursday, November 16, 6pm: Al Ain, Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
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Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
