ABU DHABI // Next week's Middle East International Film Festival will highlight the achievements of female Arab directors in a series of screenings.
The Arab Women Directors programme, an important feature of the nine-day event in Abu Dhabi, will be presented by Rima al Mismar, the Lebanese critic, and dedicated to Randa Chahal Sabbag, the acclaimed director who died in August. Sabbag's last film, The Kite, won the Venice Film Festival award - the Silver Lion - in 2003, and will be the first film screened. Set in the Druze area of the Golan Heights, the film follows two young lovers as they struggle against religious divides and cultural traditions.
Nashwa al Ruwaini, the festival director, told the state news agency, WAM: "We believe that we should be responsible for giving Arab women directors the chance to showcase their splendid capabilities to the world; and we hope that this event will work as an ideal platform for all of them and help them reach out to the maximum audience possible. We hope, in addition, that it will encourage other emerging talents to make the effort to show off both themselves and their experiences."
Other films in the programme include the Palestinian production Always Look Them in the Eyes, by Azza el Hassan, a documentary examining communication networks between Palestinians and Israelis. Also featured is the 1991 production of Albert Cossery's Second World War novel Beggars and Gentlemen, directed by Asmaa el Bakri.
One of the most anticipated screenings is the animated film My Son, by Lina Ghaibeh, the Danish-Lebanese director.
Other films in the programme include Marock, by Laila Marrakchi; Khmissa, by Molka Mahdaoui; Behind the Mirror, by Nadia Cherabi, Our Heedless Wars, also by Sabbag, Pret A Porter Imm Ali, by Dima el Horr, The Silence of the Palace, by Moufida Tlatli and Thread of Life, by Razam Hijazi.
The festival, in its second year, brings together more than 100 films from around the world.
Another programme - 60 Years since the Division of Palestine - will show 16 non-Arab productions, including documentaries, shorts and narrative screenings.
These include: Intifada - Road to Freedom, by Sarah Montgomery, which tells the story of the Palestinian uprising against the Israeli military occupation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip; Letters from Palestine, a 2003 documentary featuring 10 stories of day-to-day life for Palestinians, a collaboration by 11 directors; Everyday by Marco Puccioni; Gaza Ghetto - Portrait of a Palestinian Family, by Pea Holmquist; Genet in Chatila, by Richard Dindock; I Came to Palestine, by Robert Krieg; and On Our Land and Voices from Gaza, by Antonia Caccia.
lmorris@thenational.ae
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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The specs
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.
Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.
The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
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Founder: Areej Selmi
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Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
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Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
Mubalada World Tennis Championship 2018 schedule
Thursday December 27
Men's quarter-finals
Kevin Anderson v Hyeon Chung 4pm
Dominic Thiem v Karen Khachanov 6pm
Women's exhibition
Serena Williams v Venus Williams 8pm
Friday December 28
5th place play-off 3pm
Men's semi-finals
Rafael Nadal v Anderson/Chung 5pm
Novak Djokovic v Thiem/Khachanov 7pm
Saturday December 29
3rd place play-off 5pm
Men's final 7pm
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BRAZIL SQUAD
Alisson (Liverpool), Daniel Fuzato (Roma), Ederson (Man City); Alex Sandro (Juventus), Danilo (Juventus), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Emerson (Real Betis), Felipe (Atletico Madrid), Marquinhos (PSG), Renan Lodi (Atletico Madrid), Thiago Silva (PSG); Arthur (Barcelona), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Fabinho (Liverpool), Lucas Paqueta (AC Milan), Philippe Coutinho (Bayern Munich); David Neres (Ajax), Gabriel Jesus (Man City), Richarlison (Everton), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Willian (Chelsea).
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Scores
Wales 74-24 Tonga
England 35-15 Japan
Italy 7-26 Australia
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Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now