[Discussion] DIFF 2009: Dubai International Film Festival 2009

[ak]

Made a list of 10 Films You Must See At the 2009 Dubai International Film Festival.

List has trailers and notes.

[h.rashid]

Hello everybody,

my name is Haider Rashid, my feature film "Tangled Up in Blue" (Al-Mihna) is premiering at DIFF on Sunday; it's a UK/Iraq/UAE/Italy co-production. Screening on Sunday 13th at 6.45pm at MOE5 and Tuesday 15th at 7pm at MOE12.

"Tangled Up in Blue" is a drama of urban alienation set in an austere and chaotic London. The son of a world-renowned Iraqi writer struggles with his conscience as he plans to publish a book by exploiting his assassinated father's fame, while wrestling with his unrequited love for his best friend.
TANGLED UP IN BLUE explores themes of exile, love, war, friendship and solitude with a blue-tinged realism.

It's a film many people can relate to especially in a city like Dubai. It talks about all of us who live away from their land or feel distance within their cities. It's a film that makes realism and its strength.
Exile is induced in a family; it is rooted in its mentality and behaviour; it influences its children’s future, for good or ill. A country that is lost for the parents becomes a dream for the children; a dream that no matter how much they try to re-live and regain will never come true: the dream of a lost country.

It's a strong film that stays with you for a long time; it is raw, real and proud of it. Please come and see it at one of our two screenings, you won't regret it. I will be in Dubai from the 13th to the 17th and it would be great to meet you guys.

For further information go to www.tangledfilm.com or for festival tickets go to www.tangledfilm.com/dubai to be redirected to the film page on the DIFF website.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

Thank you,

Haider

[madali]

Good luck on your film, Haider.

[h.rashid]

Thank you madali. Please come along if you can, you won't regret it.

www.tangledfilm.com/dubai

[ak]

Haider, I will be at DIFF and available to talk to you about your film -- one of our goals at WearetheMovies.com is to help promote independent filmmakers in the region.

Send me a PM, if you like.

[ayaa1977]

Made a list of 10 Films You Must See At the 2009 Dubai International Film Festival.

List has trailers and notes.

I checked out the list and it is certainly unconventional and versatile. Anyone can list the obvious but it takes someone like AK to root for the underdog.  

[shariqq]

My DIFF 2009 Calendar

Thu, Dec 10
16:00 – 17:21      Gulf Voices
19:00 – 20:18      North
22:00 – 23:42      Cedar Boys


Fri, Dec 11
16:30 – 18:33      My Dear Enemy
19:00 – 21:00      Kamui
22:00 – 23:20      Metropia


Sat, Dec 12
13:15 – 14:52      Half mg Nicotine
16:15 – 18:30      Well Done Abba
18:45 – 20:45      The Message
22:00 – 23:37      Amreeka


Sun, Dec 13
12:30 – 13:53      Tehran Without Permission
13:00 – 14:35      Earth's Women
15:45 – 17:54      Mother
19:00 – 20:37      Moon
22:00 – 23:40      The Milk of Sorrow
21:15 – 22:30      Farewell Gary


Mon, Dec 14
13:00 – 14:28      Heiran
15:15 – 17:20      Mother & Child
18:30 – 20:20      Brothers
22:00 – 23:34      Nymph


Tue, Dec 15
13:30 – 15:04      At The End of Daybreak
15:45 – 18:15      A Prophet
18:45 – 20:33      the Man Who Sold The World
22:00 – 00:08      Broken Embraces


Wed, Dec 16
13:30 – 14:33      After the Downfall
15:15 – 17:01      The Barons
18:45 – 20:26      Little Soldier

[ayaa1977]

I see that you kept the good stuff for the last days, or perhaps you had too. It seemed that you kept yourself too busy. How was the last two days by the way? Anything interesting? Have you seen Nine the opening film?

[kaytee]

I am envious...

[shariqq]

@Ayaa: Just one day yet. The first day of DIFF (9th Dec in this case) is only for the opening night screening, which is not really worth it mostly. Nine was the movie this year that I did not watch.

Today, or rather yesterday, was the first productive day at DIFF. Write-up on it soon.

@Kaytee: Try to plan next year's December from now

[shariqq]

Day 1 report is up on the main site.

[ak]

Ladies and gents, how about the world's *first* review of Emirati filmmaker Ali F. Mostafa's City of Life? The world premiere takes place as a Gala Screening tonight at 8pm.

[ayaa1977]

Day 1 report is up on the main site.

great effort Shariqq. Keep'em coming!

[shariqq]

Had to skip Half mg Nicotine today; stuff came up

[shariqq]

It's over! Will try to make a list of my Top & Bottom movies soon...