Festival Guide Middle East International Film Festival October 8

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Festival Guide

Middle East International Film Festival October 8-17

This Guide is also available in Arabic. Ten Days. One City. Welcome to MEIFF A Crossroads of Cinema.

October 8-17 About MEIFF

The Middle East International Film Festival (MEIFF) was established in 2007 and is presented annually in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH).

MEIFF’s mission is to affirm the key place Abu Dhabi holds as an emerging cultural center and to foster the growth of its local film community.

Under the leadership of new Executive Director Peter Scarlet, the Festival celebrates cinema in all its forms by creating a vibrant forum for storytellers from the Middle East and from around the world.

Please visit www.meiff.com

About ADACH

The Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) is the government institution in charge of conserving and promoting the heritage and culture of Abu Dhabi. ADACH aspires to harness the pride of Abu Dhabi’s people by developing the Emirate as a capital of art and culture. ADACH devotes all its resources to the preservation of cultural treasures, as well as the encouragement of Emirati and international art, music, literature, and cinema. ADACH creates and promotes projects that allow the sharing of cultural traditions and experience from all over the world.

ADACH has a holistic vision of culture, which embraces both tangible and intangible heritage. This vision is open to everyone – in the Arab world and beyond.

Please visit www.adach.ae

02 www.meiff.com 03 Program Description Table of Contents

Galas Special Programs Page Sections

These high-profile and highly anticipated films, representing the Our special presentations are highlighted by “Laugh Till It Hurts,” 03 Welcome to MEIFF world’ s major filmmaking centers, from Paris to Bollywood and a screening of four hilarious silent films with live keyboard 04 Program Description from Cairo to Hollywood, promise excitement, glamour, and stars accompaniment – a first for Abu Dhabi. In addition, a series 06 How to Festival on the red carpet. of Master Classes presented by renowned figures from the international film world offers a chance to go deeper into film history and film culture – with more surprises to come. 08 Galas Narrative Feature Competition 12 Narrative Feature Competition 18 Documentary Feature Competition “What in the World Are We Doing to Our World?” 24 World Cinema Showcase Chosen for their remarkable vision and the freshness of their storytelling, these new fiction films are the work of a diverse 30 Special Programs group of beginning and established filmmakers from the Middle The power of film to educate, inform, and inspire is central to this 32 “What in the World Are We Doing to Our World?” East and around the world. group of films that help us understand the global environmental 34 New Cinema from Turkey crisis and call for us to take action to protect our planet for future 37 Short Film Competition Narrative Feature films compete for the following Black Pearl generations. 40 Emirates Film Competition Awards: Best Narrative Film, Best New Narrative Director, Best Middle Eastern Film, Best New Middle Eastern Narrative Director, 42 Special Events Best Actor, and Best Actress. New Cinema from Turkey 43 Index 45 Daily Screening Schedule Documentary Feature Competition Chosen by the editors of the vanguard Turkish film magazine 51 Sponsors Altyazı, this selection of recent films shows a remarkable burst of cinematic creativity from a place that has long been at the Whether recording major events or uncovering little-known crossroads between the Middle East and Europe, offering an stories, whether focusing on social issues or personal outstanding example of the success of a small, local film industry. explorations, the filmmakers in this section demonstrate the power of nonfiction filmmaking to help us understand each other and our world. > An updated version of this publication will be available during the Festival with added information about festival Short Film Competition programs, jurors, celebrity guests, and panels.

Documentary Feature films compete for the following Black > Log onto www.meiff.com for daily updates about the Festival. Pearl Awards: Best Documentary Film, Best New Documentary Both a training ground for up-and-comers and a familiar terrain Director, Best Middle Eastern Documentary, Best New Middle to which established directors return to explore new approaches, Eastern Documentary Director. short films often take us closest to the essence of the art of cinema. The films in this competition – including two programs World Cinema Showcase of student projects – come from all over the world and represent an amazing diversity of visions and styles that are sure to surprise and delight. Content Advisory: Selected from among the year’s festival award winners and As at all international film festivals, some of the films have not G Suitable for all ages international highlights, these narratives and documentaries, Short films compete for the following Black Pearl Awards: Best been officially rated and may not be appropriate for all ages or all screening out of competition, offer a rich and exciting view of Narrative Short, Best Documentary Short, Best Middle Eastern viewers. As a service to festival attendees, MEIFF has devised the 15 + Suitable for ages 15 and up what is happening in filmmaking around the globe today. Short, and three Best Student Short prizes. following rating system: 18 + Suitable for ages 18 and up

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Locations Ticket Prices

MEIFF ‘09 will have screenings at the following locations: General Screenings – AED 20

• Emirates Palace Auditorium Gala Screenings at Emirates Palace – AED 30 • Cinestar Cinemas, Marina Mall (Theaters 1-5) • Grand Cinema, Abu Dhabi Mall (Theater 1) Students and Seniors (65 and over) – AED 10 • ID required Additional festival events will take place at the MEIFF Festival Tent at the Emirates Palace, on the main terrace behind the hotel. Package of 10 vouchers – AED 150 The MEIFF Festival Tent is open to the public throughout the • Vouchers are good for all screenings, except opening and festival. closing night galas, which are by invitation only.

Festival Pass – AED 200 • Good for all screenings, except opening and closing night galas, which are by invitation only.

How to Buy Tickets Ticketing Policies

Ticket sales start September 28. • Tickets may be purchased using cash, MasterCard, or Visa. • No exchanges or refunds on purchased tickets, vouchers, On the Internet at www.meiff.com. or passes. • All screenings are subject to change without notification. In person every day from noon to 10 pm at any of the four We will do our best to publicize changes on festival box offices: www.meiff.com. Free Festival Shuttle Service Shuttle Routes: • All screenings are general admission seating – there are • Emirates Palace Hotel – at the main entrance lobby, no reserved seats. MEIFF will operate a free shuttle bus service throughout the Route A travels from the Emirates Palace Hotel, to the Marina and on the auditorium level • You must be seated 15 minutes before the scheduled festival (October 8 -17) between each of the three theater Mall, then to the InterContinental Hotel, and back to the Emirates • Cinestar Cinemas, Marina Mall – main box office screening time. Late admission is at the discretion of the locations – the Emirates Palace Hotel, Marina Mall, and Abu Palace, from 8:00 am to 2:00 am, every 15 minutes. • Grand Cinema, Abu Dhabi Mall – main box office theater manager. Dhabi Mall – as well as the InterContinental Hotel. Route B travels from the Emirates Palace Hotel, to the Tickets may be purchased at any box office until three hours InterContinental Hotel, then to the Marina Mall, and back to the before screening time. After this time, tickets will only be Emirates Palace, from 8:00 am to 2:00 am, every 15 minutes. available at the theater where the film is being screened. Route C travels between Marina Mall and Abu Dhabi Mall, from 2:00 pm to 2:00 am, every 30 minutes.

Stand-by Tickets: If tickets for a screening are no longer available, a limited number of “stand-by” tickets may be made available at the box office 15 minutes before the scheduled screening time.

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Opening Night Centerpiece Gala Closing Night

Blue Anthony D’Souza

Capitalism: A Love Story Michael Moore

The Informant! Steven Soderbergh

The Men Who Stare at Goats Grant Heslov

Scheherazade, Tell Me a Story Director / Screenwriter: Ahmed Maher Music: Fathy Salama Directors: Jacques Perrin, Jacques Cluzaud Director: Grant Heslov Cast: George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Kevin Producer: Egyptian Ministry of Culture Cast: Omar Sharif, Cyrine Abdel Nour, Khaled El Screenwriters: Jacques Perrin, Jacques Cluzaud, Screenwriter: Peter Straughan Spacey, Jeff Bridges, J. K. Simmons, Robert Patrick Yousry Nasrallah Cinematographer: Marco Onorato Nabawy, Amr Waked, Sherif Ramzy, Basma François Sarano, Stéphane Durand, Laurent Debas Producers: George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Editor: Tamer Ezzat Producers: Jacques Perrin, Nicolas Mauvernay Paul Lister Shorts Editors: Catherine Mauchain, Vincent Schmitt Cinematographer: Robert Elswit Robert Rodriguez Music: Bruno Coulais Editor: Tatiana S. Riegel

The Traveler Ahmed Maher Nearing the end of his life, Hassan realizes he can recall only three days. In The team behind Winged Migration returns with their most breathtaking In this quirky dark comedy inspired by a real-life story you will hardly believe This film is also part of the Narrative Feature Competition 1948, Hassan (Khaled El Nabawy) begins his first job by delivering a telegram film to date – a trip across and through the oceans themselves. Jacques is true, astonishing revelations about a top-secret wing of the U.S. military − see p 12. to Port Said’s great beauty, Nour (Lebanese pop singer Cyrine Abdel Nour), Perrin (who also produced Microcosmos) and Jacques Cluzaud have worked come to light when Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor), a reporter based in Iraq, who becomes the love of his life – but for only one night. In 1973, middle- with three different teams for several years on the world’s oceans, shooting encounters Lyn Cassady, an enigmatic Special Forces operator on a mind- aged Hassan gets a phone call from a woman who sounds exactly like Nour. thousands of hours of footage of a myriad assortment of creatures: dolphins, boggling mission. According to Cassady (Academy Award® winner George When he meets the young woman, Nadia, he suspects he may be her father. sperm whales, giant squids, and more. For Perrin, “this proliferation of life Clooney), an experimental U.S. military unit, the New Earth Army, is changing In 2001, the elderly Hassan (now played by Omar Sharif) meets Nadia’s is extraordinary. But the danger in showing these beautiful images is that the way wars are fought. A legion of “Warrior Monks” with unparalleled son, Ali. Their similarities convince Hassan he has met his grandson – but they give the impression that everything is wonderful. So we have to show psychic powers can read the enemy’s thoughts, pass through solid walls, and suddenly, Ali disappears… both the exuberance and frailty of the ocean.” Wondrous, imaginative, and even kill a goat simply by staring at it. Bob joins Cassady on a mission to find ultimately life-affirming,Oceans lights up the screen with its images and the program’s founder, Bill Django (Oscar® nominee Jeff Bridges), and meets Although set against the backdrop of key moments in Egypt’s recent obvious love for the beauty this world offers. “The first lesson children should Django’s rival, psychic Larry Hooper (two-time Oscar® winner Kevin Spacey) history, The Traveler is about the personal, not the political. This enormously be taught is to really look at nature,” Perrin says. “If they are to protect it later, and his personal militia of super soldiers. To survive this wild adventure, impressive debut is a moving meditation on a man’s fumbling search for his they have to appreciate it and love it.” Bob will have to outwit an enemy he never thought possible. The Men Who identity, which reflects that of his nation. Stare at Goats was inspired by Jon Ronson’s nonfiction bestseller of the same —JS name, an eye-opening and often hilarious exploration of the government’s —Peter Scarlet attempts to harness paranormal abilities to combat its enemies.

Born in Cairo in 1968, Ahmed Maher studied both painting and film in Rome, and was the At the age of 27, Jacques Perrin, already an established actor, worked as a producer on Costa American actor, writer, and producer Grant Heslov began his career acting on television, recipient of the 1992 Grand Prix de Rome for artistic creativity in cinema. Before directing Gavras’ Oscar®-winning Z (1969). Since then, having produced 36 films and acted in more making appearances in many well-known series in the 1980s and the ’90s before breaking The Traveler, his first narrative feature, he worked as an editor, writer, and film-school teacher than 120, Perrin decided to step behind the camera in 2001 to co-direct the international into films includingTrue Lies (1993) and Enemy of the State (1997). For Good Night and Good in several countries. He is a member of UNESCO’s Observatory for Cultural and Audiovisual box-office hitWinged Migration with Jacques Cluzaud, a successful television director of Luck he received an Oscar® nomination for Best Picture (as producer) and shared another Communication in the Mediterranean (OCCAM) and is also the founder of the production nature documentaries. Oceans is their second collaborative effort. with George Clooney for Best Screenplay. house Elbeat.

MEIFF would like to thank the writers of the film synopses: Thursday, October 8, 8:00 pm Friday, October 9, 6:30 pm Tuesday, October 13, 9:30 pm Friday, October 16, 9:30 pm Saturday, October 17, 8:00 pm Sean Axmaker, Andrew Grant, Rasha Salti, Jason Sanders. Emirates Palace [TR1] Cinestar 4 [TR2] Emirates Palace [OC1] Cinestar 2 [OC2] Emirates Palace [MG1]

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Blue Capitalism: A Love Story The Informant! The Messenger Scheherazade, Tell Me a Story Shorts 15+ G 15 + 18 + 15 + G (Ehky ya Schahrazad)

Director: Anthony D’Souza Music: A. R. Rahman Director / Screenwriter: Cinematographers: Dan Marracino, Director: Steven Soderbergh Cinematographer: Peter Andrews Director: Oren Moverman Music: Nathan Larson Director: Yousry Nasrallah Cast: Mona Zaki, Mahmoud Director / Screenwriter / Editor: Cast: Jimmy Bennett, Jake Short, Screenwriters: Anthony D’Souza, Cast : Sanjay Dutt, Akshay Michael Moore Jayme Roy Screenwriter: Scott Z. Burns Editor: Stephen Mirrione Screenwriters: Oren Moverman, Cast: Ben Foster, Woody Screenwriter: Wahid Hamed Hemeda, Hassan El Raddad, Sawsan Robert Rodriguez Kat Dennings, Trevor Gagnon, Jasmine D’Souza Kumar, Zayed Khan, Lara Producers: Kathleen Glynn, Michael Editors: John Walter, Conor O’Neill, Producers: Michael Jaffe, Howard Music: Marvin Hamlisch Alessandro Camon Harrelson, Samantha Morton, Producer: Kamel Abu Ali Badr, Rehab El Gamal, Sanaa Akroud Producers: Robert Rodriguez, Devon Gearhart, Jolie Vanier, Rebel Producer: Dhilin Mehta Dutta, Katrina Kaif Moore Alex Meillier, Tanya Ager Meillier, Braunstein, Kurt Eichenwald, Cast: Matt Damon, Melanie Lynskey, Producers: Mark Gordon, Lawrence Jena Malone, Eamonn Walker Cinematographer: Samir Bahsan Elizabeth Avellán Rodriguez Cinematographers: Laxman Uttekar, Executive Producers: Bob Weinstein, Jessica Brunetto Gregory Jacobs, Jennifer Fox Clancy Brown, Patton Oswalt, Tony Inglee, Zach Miller Editors: Mona Rabi Music: Robert Rodriguez, Carl Thiel, Pete Zuccarini Harvey Weinstein Music: Jeff Gibbs Executive Producers: George Hale, Frank Welker, Scott Bakula Cinematographer: Bobby Bukowski Music: Tamer Karawan George Oldziey Editor: Shyam Salgaonkar Clooney, Michael London, Jeff Skoll Editor: Alex Hall

Bollywood’s first underwater thriller hits Abu Twenty years after Roger & Me, Michael Moore A biochemist exposes his company’s role in an Ben Foster is an Iraq War veteran who faces the A successful television hostess (Mona Zaki) A nerdy, picked-on boy’s life changes when a Dhabi in Anthony D’Souza’s hyper-charged returns to the topic of corporate dominance international price-fixing conspiracy in this black emotional minefield of civilians dealing with the turns her camera on women across the social rainbow-colored rock falls from the sky that remake of The Deep, featuring megastars Sanjay and the disastrous impact it has on the lives comedy – based on a true story. As whistleblower death of a loved one in this refreshing perspective spectrum in this brilliantly honest wake-up call grants all wishes to anyone who holds it, in this Dutt, Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, and former of everyday Americans. Using his trademark Mark Whitacre, who harbors dark secrets of his on the casualties of war. Oren Moverman about oppression in Egyptian society. Borrowing out-of-control kid’s film from Robert Rodriguez, Miss Universe Lara Dutta. Three friends seek a sardonic humor, Moore goes after the very system own, Matt Damon gives a stellar performance in (screenwriter of I’m Not There) makes a confident the stories-within-stories framework of Arabian the director of Spy Kids, El Mariachi, and Planet sunken treasure surrounded by deadly sharks that led to the current economic meltdown, and one of Steven Soderbergh’s finest and funniest directorial debut with this poignant story of men Nights, this taboo-breaking commercial film Terror. With William H. Macy and James Spader. – and deadlier humans. Music by A. R. Rahman asks what price America must pay for its love of works. in uniform nursing wounds and haunted by loss, scandalized Egypt with its risky portrait of female (Slumdog Millionaire) and Kylie Minogue. capitalism. both physical and emotional. sexual desire and male–female relationships. —JS —AG —JS —AG —SA —JS

Mumbai-based director Anthony D’Souza’s previous Michael Moore has become so well-known for his Sex, lies, and videotape (1989) was a festival and commercial Based in New York, Oren Moverman is best known for Yousry Nasrallah began his career as assistant to directors Robert Rodriguez has carved a unique niche since his experience has been mainly in the area of television, provocative and highly successful documentaries and smash and made Steven Soderbergh the face of co-writing Todd Haynes’ I’m Not There (2007) and Ira Sachs’ Volker Schlöndorff and Youssef Chahine; he now makes no-budget debut El Mariachi (1992) helped kick-start the music videos, and advertising. He has directed 52 episodes speaking tours that he claims a place on the American independent film; he has had a productive, varied, and Married Life (2007). The Messenger is his first directorial politically charged films that deal with themes of leftism, American indie film movement. From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) of Ripley’s Believe It or Not, shot for the U.S. and aired on political scene. His Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004) is the highest- often very successful career since. Erin Brockovich and effort. Islamic fundamentalism, and expatriation, including The and Sin City (2005) reached huge audiences; hit family films AXN in the Southeast Asian regions. He has also directed grossing documentary of all time. Traffic (2000) earned him twin Oscar® nominations for Best Gate of the Sun (2004) and The Aquarium (2007). including Spy Kids (2001) have featured collaborations with around 85 commercials for various leading brands. Blue is Director (and a win for the latter). his own children. his first feature film.

Wednesday, October 14, 9:30 pm Friday, October 16, 9:30 pm Monday, October 12, 9:30 pm Saturday, October 10, 9:30 pm Thursday, October 15, 10:00 pm Saturday, October 10, 4:00 pm Emirates Palace [BL1] Emirates Palace [CA1] Emirates Palace [IN1] Emirates Palace [ME1] Emirates Palace [SC1] Emirates Palace [SH1]

Saturday, October 17, 2:30 pm Friday, October 16, 7:00 pm Friday, October 16, 9:00 pm Cinestar 1 [CA2] Grand Abu Dhabi Mall [ME2] Cinestar 3 [SC2]

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10 to 11 Pelin Esmer This film is also part of the New Cinema from Turkey program − see page 34.

Bombay Summer Joseph Mathew

Buried Secrets Raja Amari

Cooking with Stella Dilip Mehta

Heliopolis 10 to 11 Bombay Summer Buried Secrets Heliopolis G 15 + 18 + Cooking with Stella G G Ahmed Abdalla (11’e 10 Kala) (Dowaha) Hipsters Turkey, France, Germany | 2009 | 110 mins USA | 2009 | 103 mins Tunisia, France, Switzerland | 2009 | 91 mins Canada | 2009 | 103 mins Egypt | 2009 | 103 mins Turkish w/ Arabic, English Subtitles | Color | 35 mm Hindi, English w/ Arabic, English Subtitles | Color | 35 mm Arabic w/ English, Italian Subtitles | Color | 35 mm Hindi, English w/ Arabic, English Subtitles | Color | 35 mm Arabic w/ English Subtitles | Color | 35 mm Valery Todorovsky Gulf Premiere Middle East Premiere Middle East Premiere International Premiere Middle East Premiere Huacho Alejandro Fernández Almendras Director / Screenwriter: Pelin Esmer Cast: Nejat İşler, Mithat Esmer, Director / Screenwriter: Production Designer: Satish Director / Screenwriter: Raja Amari Cinematographer: Renato Berta Director: Dilip Mehta Production Designer: Tamara Director / Screenwriter / Editor: Cast: Khaled Abol Naga, Hany Producers: Pelin Esmer, Nida Karabol Tayanç Ayaydın, Laçin Ceylan, Joseph Mathew Chipkar Producers: Dora Bouchoucha, Nicolas Editor: Pauline Dairou Screenwriters: Deepa Mehta, Dilip Deverell Ahmed Abdalla Adel, Yousra El Lozy, Hanan Akdeniz, Tolga Esmer, Özkan Yılmaz Savaş Akova, Sinan Düğmeci Producers: Joseph Mathew, Sanjay Cast: Tannishtha Chatterjee, Jatin Wadimoff, Serge Lalou, Cyriac Auriol, Music: Philippe Héritier, Eric Rug Mehta Cast: Don McKellar, Seema Producer: Sherif Mandour Metaweh, Mahmoud El Lozy, Last Ride Cinematographer: Özgür Eken Bhattacharjee Goswami, Samrat Chakrabarti, Lina Chaabane Menzli, Julie Gayet, Cast: Hafsia Herzi, Sondos Cinematographer: Giles Nuttgens Biswas, Lisa Ray, Shriya Saran, Cinematographer: Mahmoud Lotfi Christine Solomon Glendyn Ivin Editors: Ayhan Ergürsel, Pelin Esmer, Cinematographer: Amol Rathod Gaurav Dwivedi Nadia Turincev Belhassen, Wassila Dari, Rim El Editor: Gareth C. Scales Vansh Bhardwaj, Maury Music: Amir Khalaf Cem Yıldırım Editor: Pallavi Singhal Executive Producer: Eric Zaouali Benna, Dhaffer L’Abidine Music: Mychael Danna, Amritha Chaykin Art Director: Naz Erayda Music: Mathias Duplessy Fernandes Bakshi The Long Night Hatem Ali In 10 to 11, Pelin Esmer relates the story of her Director Joseph Mathew navigates the Three tradition-bound women haunt an isolated Two Canadian diplomats in New Delhi discover Heliopolis is a unique Cairo neighborhood whose No One Knows About Persian Cats uncle Mithat, focusing particularly on his passion social turbulence of Mumbai in the throes of estate – and its modern new owners – in this their cook is skimming more than just the milk glamorous past is fading with every day and Bahman Ghobadi for collecting memories from the randomness modernization in this story of a confident career atmospheric Tunisian thriller, equal parts family in this deliciously wry battle between servants becomes almost a character in this bittersweet series of intertwined tales. Five characters, each of daily details. It gets harder, however, once his woman (Tannishtha Chatterjee of Brick Lane) psychodrama, coming-of-age melodrama, and served, co-scripted by Fire’s Deepa Mehta wrestling with a conundrum, will spend the evening Northless deteriorating health begins to trouble him and attracted to a handsome painter (Jatin Goswami) and Gothic horror tale. Rising star Hafsia Herzi with her brother Dilip (in his directorial debut). Rigoberto Pérezcano obliviously crisscrossing paths. Ahmed Abdalla’s first impedes his efforts. Finally, he is forced to pass his tangled up in the criminal underworld. (The Secret of the Grain) joins a stunning cast of A comical concoction of Indian cuisine, cooking, feature is a bold herald of Egypt’s rising generation errands on to his doorman, Ali, who resorts to a actresses in this parable of traditional values, and master/servant relationships. of independent filmmakers, and a labor of love from Son of Babylon different path. —SA contemporary mores, and awakening desire. crew and cast, including Khaled Abol Naga, one of Mohamed Al-Daradji —JS Egypt’s leading male stars. —AC —JS Third Person Singular Number —RS Mostofa Sarwar Farooki

The Time That Remains Elia Suleiman

The Traveler Ahmed Maher After studying sociology in İstanbul, Pelin Esmer started Born in India, now residing in Brooklyn, Joseph Mathew Raja Amari studied French literature in her native Tunis Born in New Delhi but now a Canadian citizen, Dilip Mehta Since 1999, Egyptian-born Ahmed Abdalla has been This film plays as the Opening Night of the Festival writing, producing, and directing documentaries in 2002 studied economics but then began making films. His first and then Paris, and began directing short films in 1995. was an award-winning photojournalist before sharing working as an editor, visual effects supervisor, and credits − see page 8. with The Collector, and following with the award-winning two films were the documentaries The Last Season: The Life Her feature debut Satin Rouge (2002) was selected for production duties on sister Deepa Mehta’s Earth (1998) designer on commercial Egyptian films. Heliopolis is his The Play (2006). and Demolition of Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium (2002) and the Berlinale Forum and won Best Film at the Torino Film and Water (2005), and directing the documentary The first feature film as a director. True Color Crossing Arizona (2006). Festival and Best New Director at the Seattle Film Festival. Forgotten Woman (2008). Oussama Fawzi

The Warrior and the Wolf Tian Zhuangzhuang

White Material Friday, October 9, 9:45 pm Saturday, October 10, 6:30 pm Wednesday, October 14, 6:30 pm Sunday, October 11, 9:30 pm Monday, October 12, 6:30 pm Claire Denis Cinestar 1 [101] Emirates Palace [BO1] Emirates Palace [BU1] Emirates Palace [CO1] Emirates Palace [HE1]

Sunday, October 11, 3:45 pm Sunday, October 11, 9:45 pm Thursday, October 15, 3:45 pm Thursday, October 15, 9:45 pm Tuesday, October 13, 3:00 pm Cinestar 4 [102] Grand Abu Dhabi Mall [BO2] Cinestar 4 [BU2] Cinestar 2 [CO2] Cinestar 4 [HE2]

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Hipsters The Long Night No One Knows About Persian Cats Northless 18 + Huacho G Last Ride 18 + G G G (Stilyagi) (Al Lail Altaweel) (Kasi az Gorbehaye Irani Khabar Nadareh) (Norteado)

Director: Valery Todorovsky Music: Konstantin Meladze Director / Screenwriter: Editors: Sébastien de Sainte Croix, Director: Glendyn Ivin Cast: Hugo Weaving, Tom Director: Hatem Ali Cast: Khaled Taja, Amal Arafah, Director / Costume Designer: Cast: Negar Shaghaghi, Director: Rigoberto Pérezcano Cinematographer: Alejandro Screenwriter: Yuri Korotkov Cast: Oksana Akinshina, Anton Alejandro Fernández Almendras Alejandro Fernández Almendras Screenwriter: Mac Gudgeon Russell, John Brumpton, Mick Screenwriter / Producer: Haitham Hakki Najah Safkouni, Basel Khayat, Bahman Ghobadi Ashkan Koshanejad, Hamed Screenwriters: Edgar San Juan, Cantu Producers: Leonid Lebedev, Leonid Shagin, Evgeniya Brik, Maxim Producers: Bruno Bettati, Elise Jalladeau Music: Pablo Pinochet Producers: Nicholas Cole, Antonia Coulthard, Rachel Francis, Cinematographer: Mohamed Mgrawi Hatem Ali, Anissa Daoud, Screenwriters: Bahman Ghobadi, Behdad, Babak Mirzakhani, Rigoberto Pérezcano Editor: Miguel Schverdfinger Yarmolnik, Vadim Goryainov, Valery Matveev, Ekaterina Vilkova, Igor Co-producers: Christoph Friedel, Cast: Clemira Aguayo, Manuel Barnard Anita Hegh Editor: Raoof Zaza Salim Sabri, Rafik Sbeï Roxana Saberi, Hossein M. Abkenar Kourosh Mirzaei, Pouya Producer: Edgar San Juan Sound: Pablo Tamez Todorovsky Voynarovsky Michel Reilhac Hernandez, Alejandra Yanez, Cinematographer: Greig Fraser Music: Kinan Abo Afash Cinematographer: Touraj Aslani Hosseini Executive Producers: Sergio Castro Cast: Harold Torres, Alicia Cinematographer: Roman Vasyanov Cinematographer: Inti Briones Cornelio Villagran, Manuel Editor: Jack Hutchings Editor: Hayedeh Safiyari Hector Hernandez-Pons, Alejandro Laguna, Sonia Couoh, Luis Editor: Alexey Bobrov Hernandez, Wilson Valdebenito Music: Paul Charlier Sound Editor: Nezamodin Kiaei Martinez-Gallardo Cardenas

In this colorful musical set in an oppressive 1950s Naturalism rarely looks as beautiful onscreen Set against the natural beauty of the southern Three long-term political prisoners are suddenly A daring look at the illegal world of Iran’s Andrés, a young man from Oaxaca, fails repeat- Soviet Union, teenagers embrace American as in this sun-kissed tale of a rural family’s daily Australian countryside, this feature debut from released – but why, and what awaits them? This independent music scene, No One Knows About edly to illegally cross the Mexican border with the culture as a form of rebellion. When straight-laced reality, ranging from farmhouses to tourist traps, award-winning short filmmaker Glendyn Ivin is a elegant drama from controversial director Hatem Persian Cats follows Negar and Ashkan, young United States. He gears up for one last attempt Mels meets anti-establishment Polly, he is unable highways to schoolyards. Keenly attuned to the gritty and lyrical portrait of a criminal on the run Ali is a searing portrait of contemporary Syrian life musicians who find that pursuing their art is near- after befriending two women in Tijuana whose to resist her kaleidoscopic world of fashion, jazz rhythms of work and the unspoken poetry of day- (Hugo Weaving, in a riveting performance) and and politics, yet universal in its intellectual, politi- impossible on home soil and soon forge plans husbands successfully crossed and left them music, and swing dancing. Romantic, cool, and to-day life, Huacho is a major new work of Chilean his 10-year-old son (Tom Russell) who both loves cal, and moral angst. to escape. Gritty and fast-paced, Ghobadi’s film behind. Focusing as much on the why as he does sexy, Hipsters is a toe-tapping ode to the timeless cinema. and fears him. paints a vivid portrait of a hidden Tehran. the how, director Rigoberto Pérezcano explores the often difficult relationships between those themes of love and freedom. —JS who stay and those who feel obligated to provide —JS —SA —AG a better life for their families. —AG —AG

Valery Todorovsky debuted as a director with Mortuary Car A film critic, photographer, and journalist prior to Glendyn Ivin has been directing commercials and music Born in 1962, Hatem Ali has taught theater, written plays One of the most lauded Iranian directors working today Mexican writer/director Rigoberto Pérezcano started as (1989), and followed with the acclaimed films Love (1991) becoming a filmmaker, Alejandro Fernández Almendras is videos for Exit Films in Australia for the last 10 years. His and short stories, and directed successful and award- and a pioneer of Kurdish cinema, Bahman Ghobadi’s first a documentarian but has lately combined elements of and Katya Ismailova (1994), a modern-day version of Lady the director of several award-winning short films. Huacho Cracker Bag won the Palme d’Or for short film at Cannes. winning television series in his native Syria. More recent feature, A Time for Drunken Horses (2000) won the Cannes narrative and nonfiction. His XV en Zaachila (2003) was Macbeth of the Mtsensk District. Hipsters is his first musical. is his debut feature film. Last Ride is his feature film debut. forays into film include the short film Passion (2005) and Caméra d’Or. His other films include Turtles Can Fly (2004) nominated for an Ariel Award for Best Short Documentary. Selena (2009). and Half Moon (2006).

Friday, October 16, 9:15 pm Saturday, October 10, 3:15 pm Sunday, October 11, 9:30 pm Sunday, October 11, 6:30 pm Thursday, October 15, 7:00 pm Tuesday, October 13, 9:30 pm Cinestar 1 [HI1] Cinestar 1 [HU1] Cinestar 1 [LA1] Emirates Palace [LO1] Emirates Palace [NC1] Cinestar 1 [NO1]

Saturday, October 17, 3:30 pm Monday, October 12, 7:00 pm Friday, October 16, 12:45 pm Monday, October 12, 9:15 pm Friday, October 16, 6:15 pm Wednesday, October 14, 3:15 pm Cinestar 2 [HI2] Cinestar 1 [HU2] Cinestar 1 [LA2] Cinestar 4 [LO2] Cinestar 1 [NC2] Cinestar 1 [NO2]

014 www.meiff.com 015 Narrative Feature Competition

Son of Babylon Third Person Singular Number The Time That Remains True Color The Warrior and the Wolf White Material G 15 + G G 18 + (Ibn Babil) (Al Zaman Al Baqi) (Bil Alwan Al Tabiyya) (Lang Zai Ji) 15 +

Director: Mohamed Al-Daradji Editor: Pascale Chavance Director: Mostofa Sarwar Farooki Cast: Nusrat Imrose Tisha, Mosharaf Director / Screenwriter: Elia Suleiman Music: Pierre Mertens, Christian Director: Oussama Fawzi Cast: Karim Qasem, Muna Hala, Director: Tian Zhuangzhuang Cast: Maggie Q, Jô Odagiri, Director: Claire Denis Cast: Isabelle Huppert, Christophe Screenwriters: Jennifer Norridge, Music: Kad Ackouri Screenwriters: Mostofa Karim, Rashed Uddin Ahmed, Abul Producers: Elia Suleiman, Michael Monheim Screenwriter: Hani Fawzi Saeed Saleh, Intisar, Ferial Youssef, Screenwriter: Christine To Chi-Long Chung Hua Tou Screenwriters: Claire Denis, Marie Lambert, Isaach De Bankolé, Nicolas Mohamed Al-Daradji, Mathel Kasea Cast: Yassir Talib, Shazada Hussein, Sarwar Farooki, Anisul Haque Hayat, Lekha Haque Gentile Cast: Ali Suliman, Elia Suleiman, Producer: Majid Youssef Yousra El Lozy Producer: William Kong N’diaye Duvauchelle, William Nadylam Producers: Isabelle Stead, Atia Bashir Al-Majid Cinematographer: Subrata Ripon Executive Producer: Hani Farsi Saleh Bakri, Menashe Noy, Avi Cinematographer: Tariq Al Tilmesani Cinematographer: Wang Yu Producer: Pascal Caucheteux Al-Daradji, Dimitri de Clercq Editor: Titash Shaha Cinematographer: Marc-André Batigne Kleinberger, Yasmine Haje, Leila Editor: Wenders Li Cinematographer: Yves Cape Editor: Guy Lecorne Cinematographers: Mohamed Music: Leemon Editor: Véronique Lange Muammar Music: Stuart S. Staples Al-Daradji, Duraid Al-Munajim Production Designer: Golam Kibria

A willful young boy and his just-as-obstinate Must a single, independent woman always be Palestinian director Elia Suleiman (Divine During four years at a Cairo art school, Youssef comes A significant departure from the meditative films In a country torn by civil war, a white woman grandmother journey across Iraq in search of treated as an outcast in Bengali society? This is the Intervention) returns with a similarly immaculate, of age as his aspirations to be an artist run up against he is best known for, Tian Zhuangzhuang’s latest (Isabelle Huppert) refuses to abandon her their missing loved one. This stunning new work question posed in Third Person Singular Number. A comically deadpan examination of life as an Israeli the society’s prevailing taboos, the encroachment work is a richly emotional, magical tale about a plantation, although French nationals are urged from the director of Ahlaam is a testament to the romantic drama and musical that on the surface Arab in Nazareth from 1948 to today. Based on of religious conservatism in higher education, and brave soldier and a mysterious widow who has to flee. Director Claire Denis marshals beautiful continuing search for justice and closure after tells of a young woman torn between two lovers, his father’s diaries and his own reminiscences, the the cynicism and defeatism with which his teachers the power to take his mind to a place of legends. but troubling images to explore the intensely Saddam Hussein’s fall. it delicately addresses a complex cultural issue. film tells the story of a young rebel forced into respond to him. Without compromise or inhibition, Visually thrilling and passionate, The Warrior emotional world of post-colonial Africa, whose exile who returns to Nazareth as an adult to find this courageous film asks basic questions about the and the Wolf is a deeply moving journey into allure is “a kind of drug, intoxicating yet perilous, —JS —AG more apathy than anger. Suleiman chronicles right and freedom to imagine in a society overrun by China’s past. that never leaves the system” (Variety). history with devastating absurdity and wit. the moral high ground of religiosity. —RS —AG —AG —JS

Mohamed Al-Daradji was born in Baghdad and studied With his unconventional style, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki is Palestinian director Elia Suleiman is best known for his Oussama Fawzi began his film career as an assistant to A master Fifth Generation filmmaker (The Horse Thief, 1986; Claire Denis was raised in Africa and studied film at film in the Netherlands and UK. His debut Ahlaam (2005), a leader in contemporary Bengali cinema. The pioneer of Cannes Grand Jury Prize winner Divine Intervention (2002). directors such as Hussein Kamal and Ashraf Fahmy. His The Blue Kite, 1993; Springtime in a Small Town, 2002), Tian the IDHEC in Paris. Her debut feature Chocolat (1988) a narrative set in Iraq and one of the first films shot there chabial (“the movie hawkers”), Farooki creates films that Finding levity in sobering situations, he’s been compared 1996 debut Asphalt Kings was awarded a prize at the Zhuangzhuang has a history of running afoul of Chinese was internationally acclaimed; her other provocative, after the U.S. invasion, won worldwide acclaim. incorporate everyday colloquial language and address to both Jacques Tati and Buster Keaton. Locarno Film Festival. His third feature, I Love Cinema censors. Banned from making films, his sentence was character-driven films include Beau travail (1999), middle class angst and Muslim guilt and redemption. (2004), is the prequel to True Color. eventually withdrawn due to pressure from abroad. Vendredi soir (2002), and L’intrus (2004).

Friday, October 9, 6:30 pm Thursday, October 15, 9:30 pm Tuesday, October 13, 6:30 pm Wednesday, October 14, 9:00 pm Friday, October 16, 6:30 pm Saturday, October 10, 9:45 pm Emirates Palace [SB1] Cinestar 1 [TH1] Emirates Palace [TI1] Cinestar 1 [TC1] Emirates Palace [WA1] Cinestar 1 [WH1]

Saturday, October 10, 4:00 pm Friday, October 16, 9:45 pm Friday, October 16, 3:45 pm Thursday, October 15, 6:30 pm Saturday, October 17, 1:00 pm Sunday, October 11, 7:00 pm Cinestar 4 [SB2] Grand Abu Dhabi Mall [TH2] Cinestar 2 [TI2] Cinestar 1 [TC2] Cinestar 3 [WA2] Grand Abu Dhabi Mall [WH2]

016 www.meiff.com 017 Documentary Feature Competition

1958 Ghassan Salhab

The Age of Stupid Franny Armstrong This film is also part of the “What in the World Are We Doing to Our World?” program − see page 32.

All My Mothers Ebrahim Saeedi and Zahavi Sanjavi

Being Here Mohamed Zran

Carioca 1958 The Age of Stupid Being Here Carioca G G All My Mothers G G G Nabiha Lotfy (Hamey-e Madaran-e Man) (Vivre ici) The Cove Lebanon | 2009 | 66 mins UK | 2009 | 89 mins Iran, Iraq | 2008 | 60 mins Tunisia | 2009 | 124 mins Egypt | 2009 | 60 mins Arabic, English, French w/ English Subtitles | Color and B&W | English w/ Arabic Subtitles | Color | DigiBeta Kurdish w/ Arabic, English Subtitles | Color | DigiBeta Arabic w/ English Subtitles | Color | 35 mm Arabic w/ English Subtitles | Color | DigiBeta Louie Psihoyos DigiBeta | Gulf Premiere Gulf Premiere International Premiere World Premiere World Premiere This film is also part of the “What in the World Are We Doing to Our World?” program − see page 32. Director / Screenwriter: With: Zahia Salhab, Aouni Kawas Director / Screenwriter: Editor: David G Hill Directors / Screenwriters: Director / Screenwriter / Director: Nabiha Lotfy Ghassan Salhab Franny Armstrong Music: Chris Brierley Ebrahim Saeedi, Zahavi Sanjavi Producer: Mohamed Zran Producer: Sunny Land Film Double Take Producer: Lizzie Gillett Cinematographer: Sarmad Louis With: Pete Postlethwaite, Jeh Producer: Abbas Ghazali Cinematographer: Jean Claude Couty Editors: Ahmed El Kassas, Exective Producers: John Battsek, Wadia, Jamila Bayyoud, Adnan Johan Grimonprez Editor: Simon El Habre Cinematographer / Editor: Editor: Mousef Taleb Mohamed Fawzy, Zaki Aref Peter Armstrong, Bruce Goodison, Bayyoud, Alvin DuVernay Music: Vasks, Wooden Shjips, Scelsi, Ebrahim Saeedi With: Tahar Zran, Simon Haddad, Hadi With: Mahmud Amin El Alem, Adel Emily James, Andrew Ruhemann III, Piers Guy, Layefa Malin, Asmahan Cinematographer: Lawrence Music: Hossein Alizadeh Boufalga, Begacem Daoui, Fatma Bent Siwi, Sonallah Ibrahim, Galal Amin, Fernand Pareau Yousry Nasrallah The Frontier Gandhi: Badshah Khan, Gardner Narrator: Aram Mostofi Garaa, Bachir Chalby A Torch for Peace T. C. McLuhan 1958 marks two events: first, the birth of the The year is 2055, and Earth has been ravaged Filmmakers Ebrahim Saeedi and Zahavi Sanjavi A hardware shop in southeast Tunisia is the A cinematic tribute to Tahia Carioca has been long Goodbye, How Are You? filmmaker in Senegal; second, the beginning, by climate change. In once-frozen Antarctica, combine archival footage with eyewitness unlikely arena for some pertinent political and overdue. Veteran documentary filmmaker Nabiha Boris Mitić in his parents’ native country of Lebanon, of a an archivist combs through a video library to accounts to detail Saddam Hussein’s vicious philosophical discussions in Mohamed Zran’s Lotfy takes up the challenge in this rare treat. serious internal conflict that will result in a long determine why humankind failed to heed the campaign against Iraqi Kurds during the 30- heartfelt tribute to conversation, philosophy, and Wrongly described as the Arab world’s Marilyn In Berlin series of civil wars. The film1958 , then, is an warnings regarding global warming. Blending year reign of the Baathist regime. The recent peace. A teacher, an artist, a marriage-fixer, and Monroe, Carioca was not only a pioneering Michael Ballhaus, Ciro Cappellari intertwining of a private history with national fact and fiction,The Age of Stupid is a cautionary unearthing of mass graves and the existence of others debate life, love, and politics in this smiling dancer and actress, she was also a rebel and a histories that mixes themes covering exile, documentary that aims to shatter complacency villages almost exclusively populated by women tribute to the true values of the Middle East. militant. Neighbors colonization, and Lebanese politics. and encourage change before it is too late. highlight just how efficient Hussein’s campaign Tahani Rached was. —JS —RS —Jean-Pierre Rehm, FIDMarseille 2009 —AG On the Way to School —AG Orhan Eskiköy, Özgür Doğan This film is also part of the New Cinema From Turkey Program − see page 34.

Port of Memory Kamal Aljafari

The Shock Doctrine Born in Dakar, educated in Paris, Ghassan Salhab is the Franny Armstrong’s uncompromising first documentary Ebrahim Saeedi’s work as cinematographer on the Tunisian-born Mohamed Zran’s early short film The Stone With nearly 50 feature films on her resumé, Nabiha Lotfy Michael Winterbottom, Mat Whitecross director of four feature films, all set in Beirut. In addition to detailed the infamous McDonald’s libel trial. Shelved by documentary Pearl’s Dream won him an award at the Breaker (1990) was screened at Cannes. His feature The is one of the most prolific female directors in Egyptian filmmaking, Salhab also teaches film courses in Lebanon legal action in 1997, McLibel was finally broadcast on the first-ever Kish Documentary Film Festival. All My Mothers Prince (2004) was nominated for an award at the Cairo Film film history. A champion of the Egyptian New Wave, she We Were Communists and has written articles for several magazines. BBC and released theatrically worldwide to great acclaim is his first feature film. Co-director Zahavi Sanjavi studied Festival; other work has been showcased on ARTE and at also helped create the Association of Egyptian Women Maher Abi Samra in 2005. at the Russian State Institute of Cinematography (VGIK) in the Berlinale. Filmmakers. Moscow. (Work in progress − out of competition)

Friday, October 9, 9:00 pm Tuesday, October 13, 9:45 pm Sunday, October 11, 7:15 pm Monday, October 12, 9:00 pm Tuesday, October 13, 4:00 pm Cinestar 2 [191] Cinestar 2 [AG1] Cinestar 2 [AL1] Cinestar 2 [BE1] Emirates Palace [CR1]

Saturday, October 10, 1:00 pm Friday, October 16, 6:45 pm Monday, October 12, 1:30 pm Wednesday, October 14, 3:45 pm Wednesday, October 14, 4:15 pm Cinestar 1 [192] Cinestar 2 [AG2] Cinestar 1 [AL2] Cinestar 2 [BE2] Cinestar 3 [CR2]

018 www.meiff.com 019 Documentary Feature Competition

Photo credit: Oceanic Preservation Society, Louie Psihoyos Double Take The Frontier Gandhi: Badshah In Berlin The Cove 15 + G G Goodbye, How Are You? 15 + G Neighbors G Khan, A Torch for Peace (Dovidjenja kako ste?) (Giran)

Director: Louie Psihoyos Music: J. Ralph Director: Johan Grimonprez Sound Designer: Ranko Paukovic Director / Screenwriter / Producer: Director / Cinematographer / Directors: Michael Ballhaus, Ciro Cappellari Music: Terranova Director: Tahani Rached Music: Tamer Karawan Screenwriter: Mark Monroe With: Richard O’Barry, Louie Screenwriters: Johan Grimonprez, Cast: Ron Burrage, Mark Perry T. C. McLuhan Producer: Boris Mitić Screenwriters: Michael Ballhaus, Ciro With: Angela Winkler, Nele Winkler, Screenwriters: Tahani Rached, Sound: Sameh Gamal Producers: Fisher Stevens, Psihoyos, Simon Hutchins, Tom McCarthy Cinematographer: Sanjay Agrawal Screenwriters: Boris Mitić, Cappellari, Herbert Schwarze Alexander Hacke, Danielle di Mouna Assaad With: Adel Siwi, Ala’ Al-Asawny, Paula DuPré Pesmen Charles Hambleton, Joe Producer: Emmy Oost Editor: Alex Shuper The Belgrade Aphoristic Circle Producers: Joerg Schulze, Arndt Potdevin Picciotto, Maybrit Illner, Dimitri Producer: Karim Gamal El Din Mahmud Amin El Alem Executive Producer: Jim Clark Chisholm, Mandy-Rae Cruikshank Editors: Dieter Diependaele, Music: David Amram Editors: Boris Mitić, Aleksandar Uhrin Cinematographers: Michael Ballhaus, Ciro Hegemann, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Executive Producer: Mona Assaad Cinematographer: Brooke Aitken Tyler Hubby Narrator: Om Puri Music: Pascal Comelade Cappellari Jeff Mills Cinematographer: Nancy Abdel-Fattah Editor: Geoffrey Richman Music: Christian Halten Narrator: Nebojsa Glogovac Editor: Karl Riedl Editor: Mohamed Samir

This spectacular documentary thriller is a work Johan Grimonprez’ experimental documentary The little-known story of non-violent activist The wittiest, blackest political aphorisms of The city of Berlin has gone through tremendous Neighbors delves into the history of Garden City, of investigative reporting filled with the stuff of is a fascinating found-footage fabrication, an Badshah Khan, a Pashtun warrior who became the modern era are saluted in this entertaining changes in the 20 years since the Berlin Wall once a new outpost for the indigenous colo- spy films. Pre-dawn raids, hidden cameras, and essay that envisions Alfred Hitchcock as an Pakistan’s answer to Mahatma Gandhi, is brought Serbian travelogue detailing how citizens use fell, and it remains in a state of constant flux. nial elites, now an isolated inlet detached from secret-ops missions expose a Japanese village’s unwilling victim of the political and cultural to life in this remarkable documentary, filmed language to critique – and resist – the madness of Cinematographers Michael Ballhaus (who was the city of Cairo. Masterfully avoiding cheap secret dolphin slaughter and its ties to a national shifts of the Cold War era. Comprised of newsreel across Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India, and politics. A fascinating essay-film in the tradition of born in Berlin) and Ciro Cappellari have created a nostalgia, director Tahani Rached travels from cover-up. Audience Award Winner, Sundance Film footage, period television programs, and clips featuring interviews with Hamid Karzai, Pervez Chris Marker and Jean-Luc Godard, and a primer poetic cinematic essay, a love letter to the vibrant the opulent salons of the haves to the makeshift Festival. of the master and his films, Double Take playfully Musharraf, and other key South Asian figures. on Balkan intellectual thought, resistance, and metropolis and its inhabitants. rooftop living rooms of the have-nots. examines the catastrophe culture that invaded Narrated by Indian acting legend Om Puri. history. —JS every American home in the 1950s. —AG —RS —JS —JS —AG

Highly-regarded photographer Louie Psihoyos, especially Belgian-born writer-director Johan Grimonprez’ innovative T. C. (Teri) McLuhan, a native of Canada based in New York, While working as a reporter for Agence France Presse This is the feature-film directorial debut for Michael Born in Cairo in 1947, Tahani Rached directed 20 films known for his undersea work at National Geographic for documentary Dial H-I-S-T-O-R-Y (1997) won him Best is a filmmaker and author specializing in ethnography and in war-torn former Yugoslavia, Belgrade-based and self- Ballhaus, award-winning cinematographer for directors between 1981 and 2004 while living in Canada. In 2005, 18 years, has shot covers for many major magazines. His Director at both San Francisco and Toronto Film Festivals; mysticism. Her films include The Shadow Catcher (1974) taught filmmaker Boris Mitić (Pretty Dyana , 2003) decided Rainer Werner Fassbinder and Martin Scorsese (as well as she returned to Egypt and directed These Girls. recent focus has been documenting ocean activism. Looking for Alfred (2005) won several accolades including and The Third Walker (1978). to “dedicate the rest of his life to family, football, and many others). Co-director Ciro Cappellari, born in Buenos Neighbors is the second documentary feature she has shot an Independent Spirit Award for Best Experimental Film. creative documentaries.” Aires, has worked as a director, cinematographer, and in her homeland. screenwriter.

Saturday, October 10, 6:45 pm Friday, October 9, 6:15 pm Tuesday, October 13, 6:45 pm Sunday, October 11, 9:45 pm Wednesday, October 14, 10:00 pm Saturday, October 10, 9:30 pm Cinestar 2 [CV1] Cinestar 2 [DT1] Cinestar 2 [FR1] Cinestar 2 [GO1] Cinestar 2 [IB1] Cinestar 2 [NE1]

Monday, October 12, 4:00 pm Tuesday, October 13, 3:45 pm Thursday, October 15, 3:30 pm Thursday, October 15, 4:15 pm Friday, October 16, 3:30 pm Sunday, October 11, 3:45 pm Cinestar 1 [CV2] Cinestar 1 [DT2] Cinestar 1 [FR2] Cinestar 2 [GO2] Cinestar 1 [IB2] Cinestar 1 [NE2]

020 www.meiff.com 021 Documentary Feature Competition

On the Way to School Port of Memory The Shock Doctrine We Were Communists G G 15+ G (Iki Dil Bir Bavul) (Minaa Elzakira) (Shyoaeen Kounna)

Directors / Producers: Orhan With: Emre Aydın, Zülküf Director / Screenwriter: Editor: Marie Heléne Mora Directors: Michael Winterbottom, Sound Designer: Director: Maher Abi Samra Eskiköy, Özgür Doğan Yıldırım, Zülküf Huz, Kamal Aljafari Sound: Gilles Laurent Mat Whitecross Joakim Sundstrom Producer: Jinane Dagher Screenwriter / Cinematographer: Rojda Huz, Vehip Huz Producers: Levon Melikian, With: Salim Bilbesi, Fatmeh Based on the book by: Naomi Klein Narrator: Kieran O’Brien Co-Producer: Serge Lalou Orhan Eskiköy Kamal Aljafari, Zeljko Karajica, Bilbesi, Sadika Bilbesi, Angel Producers: Andrew Eaton, Alex With: Naomi Klein Cinematographer: Claire Mathon Editors: Orhan Eskiköy, Thomas Marie-Pierre Macia, Juliette Hamati, George Khleifi, Ashraf Cooked, Avi Lewis Editor: Carine Doumit Balkenhol Lepoutre Saqer Cinematographer: Ronald Plante Sound Engineer: Moncef Taleb Production Designer: Özgür Doğan Cinematographer: Jacques Besse Editor: Paul Monaghan Sound Editor: Rana Eid

On the Way to School is an extraordinary film that Port of Memory is a story rarely told, about the The team of Michael Winterbottom and Mat A reflection on the intersecting destinies of documents the contradictions of modern Turkey emptying of Jaffa, a thriving urban and economic Whitecross returns with their most intriguing comrades once bound by ideals, We Were and its historical debate on the Kurdish problem. port city in pre-1948 Palestine, of its indigenous provocation to date, an adaption of Naomi Communists examines the legacy of Lebanon’s The film chronicles the journey of a young, first- residents. Aljafari’s film follows his family Klein’s best-seller, which argues that U.S. “disaster civil war and its post-war present. Artistically and time Turkish-language teacher from the western after they receive an order to evacuate their capitalism” promotes its free-market agenda on politically audacious, Maher Abi Samra’s incisive part of the country who is sent to a remote home in Ajami, Jaffa’s once-wealthy sea-front the backs of disasters, whether natural or man- and tender film travels the chimeric and daunting Kurdish village in the southeast to be the sole neighborhood. Radically poetic, Port of Memory made. A challenging, powerful vision of the world reality of Lebanon’s fractured landscape. teacher in the village school. is a reflection on the absurdity of being at once economy today. absent and present. —RS —ÖG —JS —RS

Orhan Eskiköy and Özgür Doğan are both graduates of A graduate of the Academy of Media Arts in Cologne, Michael Winterbottom’s work is prolific, varied, and A former photojournalist for Agence France Presse and Ankara University. Eskiköy now works at the Centre of Germany, Kamal Aljafari is a recipient of a Sundance often crucial: His verité docudramas In This World (2003) Reuters, Maher Abi Samra has directed several shorts Distance Education as a Video Production Expert, while Documentary Fund grant. His films include Visit Iraq (2003) and award-winning The Road to Guantánamo (2006) and feature-length documentaries, including Women of Doğan is a Research Assistant at the Middle East Technical and the award-winning The Roof (2006). pushed the boundaries of how war and refugees are Hezbollah (2000), and Shatila Roundabout (2004). University. depicted on film. Mat Whitecross has directed and edited several British films and TV episodes; he edited Michael Winterbottom’s Nine Songs (2004), then co-directed with him on Guantánamo.

Wednesday, October 14, 7:15 pm Monday, October 12, 6:45 pm Sunday, October 11, 4:00 pm Thursday, October 15, 7:00 pm Cinestar 2 [ON1] Cinestar 2 [PO1] Emirates Palace [SD1] Cinestar 2 [WE1]

Thursday, October 15, 6:45 pm Thursday, October 15, 12:45 pm Wednesday, October 14, 6:00 pm Cinestar 4 [ON2] Cinestar 1 [PO2] Cinestar 1 [SD2]

022 www.meiff.com 023 World Cinema Showcase

About Elly Asghar Farhadi

Burma VJ − Reporting from a Closed Country Anders Østergaard

Farewell Christian Carion

Honeymoons Goran Paskaljević

Kerala Café ©DreamLab Films Coordinating Director: Ranjith Burma VJ − Reporting from a Closed Country About Elly G G Farewell G Honeymoons G Kerala Café G (Darbareye Elly) (Burma VJ − Reporter i et lukket land) (L’ affaire Farewell) (Medeni Mesec) My Heart Beats Only for Her Mohamed Soueid Iran | 2009 | 119 mins Denmark | 2008 | 84 mins France | 2009 | 113 mins Serbia, Albania | 2009 | 95 mins India | 2009 | 124 mins Farsi w/ English Subtitles | Color | 35 mm Burmese, English w/ English Subtitles | Color | HDCAM French, Russian, English w/ English Subtitles | Color | 35 mm Serbian, Albanian, Italian w/ English Subtitles | Color | 35 mm Malayalam w/ English Subtitles | Color | 35 mm Middle East Premiere Middle East Premiere Middle East Premiere Middle East Premiere World Premiere Ponyo Hayao Miyazaki Director / Screenwriter: Cast: Golshifteh Farahani, Director: Anders Østergaard Editors: Janus Billeskov-Jansen, Director: Christian Carion Editor: Andrea Sedlackova Director / Screenwriter / Producer: Cast: Lazar Ristovski, Coordinating Director / Screenwriter: Producer: Shankar Ramakrishnan Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Asghar Farhadi Taraneh Alidousti, Shahab Screenwriters: Anders Østergaard, Thomas Papapetros Screenwriters: Christian Carion, Music: Clint Mansell Goran Paskaljević Mira Banjać, Petar Bozović, Ranjith Cinematographer: Manoj Pillai Producers: Asghar Farhadi, Hosseini, Merila Zarei, Mani Jan Krogsgaard Music: Conny Malmqvist Eric Raynaud Cast: Emir Kusturica, Guillaume Cinematographer: Milan Spasić Vlasta Velisavljević, Nebojsa Directors: Shaji Kailas, Lal Jose, Editor: Vijai Sanakar Sapphire Mahmoud Razavi Haghighi, Peyman Moadi, Producer: Lise-Lense Moller Producers: Philippe Boeffard, Bertrand Canet, Ingeborga Dapkunaite, Editor: Petar Putniković Milovanović, Bujar Lako B. Unnikrishnan, Anwar Rashid, Music: Biji Bal Lee Daniels Cinematographer: Hossein Jafarian Rana Azadivar, Ahmad Cinematographers: Simon Plum, Faivre, Christophe Rossignon David Soul, Dina Korzun, Philippe Music: Rade Krstić Shyamparasad, M. Padmakumar, Cast: Mammooty, Pritvi Raj, Dilip, Editor: Hayedeh Safiyari Mehranfar, Saber Abar The Burmese VJs Cinematographer: Walther van Magnan Production Designers: Zelko Revathy, Anjali Menon, Uday Ananthan, Suresh Gopi, Jyotirmayi, Jagathy Music: Andrea Bauer den Ende Antović, Durim Neziri Shankar Ramakrishnan Sreekumar The Red Riding Trilogy:

Red Riding 1974 Set during a weekend getaway at the Caspian In 2007, Buddhist monks in Rangoon led a Christian Carion’s tense, fact-based drama Two hopeful couples – one Albanian, one Popular director/screenwriter Ranjith Julian Jarrold Sea, About Elly follows a group of college friends peaceful anti-government uprising against the features a riveting Emir Kusturica as a KGB officer Serbian – end up entrapped in European border masterminded this omnibus film, the first such Red Riding 1980 celebrating the return from abroad of their friend military dictatorship of Burma. A group of video and Guillaume Canet as a civilian who becomes a incidents in this political parable and love story collaborative effort in Malayalam cinema. Ten James Marsh Ahmed. When one guest, Elly, mysteriously journalists armed only with cell phones and go-between passing the intelligence that brings from one of Serbia’s most acclaimed filmmakers. directors each contribute a story around the Red Riding 1983 disappears, the joyous occasion quickly becomes digital cameras secretly filmed the demonstra- down the Iron Curtain. Carion provides a human Goran Paskaljević’s soulful discourse on a new common theme of journeys. The result is a mosaic Anand Tucker one filled with suspicion and half-truths. tions, at the risk of torture and imprisonment. This face to the real-life spy game and the people generation of immigrants is the first joint Serbian- of life in modern-day Kerala, and a showcase Asghar Farhadi’s award-winning feature is a tension-filled documentary about oppression and sacrificed in the name of national security. Albanian film production in history. of the leading lights (including superstars The September Issue probing psychodrama and an astute portrait of censorship illustrates the power of independent Mammootty and Rahman) in the Malayalam film R. J. Cutler contemporary Iran. media in struggles against totalitarian regimes. —SA —JS industry.

Tales from the Golden Age —AG —AG —SA Cristian Mungiu, Răzvan Mărculescu, Hanno Höfer, Ioana Uricaru, Constantin Popescu

Valentino: The Last Emperor Matt Tyrnauer

Wild Grass Asghar Farhadi launched his career with successful Anders Østergaard found early success in his native A former employee of the French Ministry of Agriculture, Goran Paskaljević (Cabaret Balkan, 1998) directed Ranjith penned cult films like Devasuram (1993) and Alain Resnais Iranian radio and film productions. His films Dancing Denmark with documentaries like The Magus (1999) Christian Carion is the director of the successful The Girl 15 features before leaving his native Yugoslavia in 1992. Nanadam (2002) and has since added directing and acting in the Dust (2003) and Beautiful City (2004) won festival (winner, Best Documentary at the Odense Film Festival), from Paris (2001) and Joyeux Noël, a film nominated for The collapse of the Milosević regime saw his permanent to his resumé. For Kerala Café, he invited 10 directors to The Wind Journeys awards; Fireworks Wednesday (2006) drew acclaim before Gasolin’ (2006), and Tintin and I (2003), a portrait of Hergé, both an Oscar® and a Golden Globe. return to Belgrade. participate – from respected veterans (Shaji Kailas and Lal Ciro Guerra release in Europe and the USA. creator of the famed comic strip. Jose) to young talents (Anwar Rashid and Anjali Menon) to first-time filmmakers (Shankar Ramakrishnan). Yuki & Nina Nobuhiro Suwa, Hippolyte Girardot

Thursday, October 15, 4:00 pm Monday, October 12, 10:00 pm Thursday, October 15, 10:00 pm Saturday, October 10, 10:15 pm Friday, October 9, 4:00 pm Emirates Palace [AB1] Cinestar 3 [VJ1] Cinestar 3 [FA1] Cinestar 4 [HO1] Cinestar 5 [KE1]

Saturday, October 17, 3:45 pm Thursday, October 15, 4:00 pm Friday, October 16, 4:00 pm Tuesday, October 13, 6:00 pm Thursday, October 15, 9:15 pm Cinestar 3 [AB2] Cinestar 3 [VJ2] Grand Abu Dhabi Mall [FA2] Cinestar 4 [HO2] Grand Abu Dhabi Mall [KE2]

024 www.meiff.com 025 The Red Riding Trilogy: “One of the most ambitious works of 2009 or any recent year… a tragic achievement that surpasses that of The Godfather,” wrote famed critic David Thomson when these World Cinema Showcase films (originally made for British TV) were shown for the first time on the big screen at the Telluride Film Festival in early September. Each of them is a complete work on its own, but they should be seen in chronological order for maximum impact. Adapted by Tony Grisoni (Terry Gilliam’s regular screenwriter) from David Peace’s cult crime novels, The Red Riding Trilogy is a must-see for any fan of great acting, film noir, and contemporary drama.

Photo credit: Anne Marie Fox My Heart Beats Only for Her Ponyo Precious: Based on the Novel Red Riding 1974 Red Riding 1980 Red Riding 1983 G G 18 + 18 + 18 + 18 + (Ma Hataftu Li Ghayriha) (Gake no ue no Ponyo) ‘Push’ by Sapphire

Director / Executive Producer: Director / Screenwriter: Hayao Miyazaki Director: Lee Daniels Cinematographer: Andrew Dunn Director: Julian Jarrold Cast: Andrew Garfield, David Director: James Marsh Cast: Warren Clarke, Paddy Director: Anand Tucker Music: Barrington Pheloung Mohamed Soueid Producer: Toshio Suzuki Screenwriter: Geoffrey Fletcher Editor: Joe Klotz Screenwriter: Tony Grisoni Morrissey, John Henshaw, Screenwriter: Tony Grisoni Considine, James Fox, David Calder, Screenwriter: Tony Grisoni Cast: David Morrissey, Lisa Cinematographer / Editor: Music: Joe Hisaishi Producers: Lee Daniels, Gary Magness, Music: Mario Grigorov Producers: Wendy Brazington, Anthony Flanagan, Warren Producers: Wendy Brazington, Nicholas Woodeson, Ron Cook Producers: Wendy Brazington, Howard, Chris Walker, Shaun Pamela Ghanimeh Voices by: Tina Fey, Cate Blanchett, Sarah Siegel-Magness Cast: Gabourey Sidibe, Mo’Nique, Andrew Eaton, Anita Overland Clarke, Jennifer Hennessy Andrew Eaton, Jamie Nuttgens, Andrew Eaton, Jamie Nuttgens, Dooley, Jim Carter, Warren Sound and Music: Nadim Mishlawi Matt Damon, Liam Neeson, Betty White, Executive Producers: Oprah Winfrey, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey, Cinematographer: Rob Hardy Kate Ogborn, Anita Overland Kate Ogborn, Anita Overland Clarke Noah Lindsey Cyrus Tyler Perry, Lisa Cortes, Tom Heller Sherri Shepherd, Lenny Kravitz Editor: Andrew Hulme Cinematographer: Igor Martinovic Cinematographer: David Higgs Music: Adrian Johnston Editor: Jinx Godfrey Editor: Trevor Waite

Guided by a notebook and sketchy Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little This brave adaptation pulls no punches. At its In this ruthless English neo-noir, directed by Big-city cop Peter Hunter (Paddy Considine, When another young girl disappears in conditions autobiographical notes, a son retraces his father’s Mermaid, animation legend Hayao Miyazaki heart is Claireece “Precious” Jones – morbidly Julian Jarrold and set in the dreary, post-industrial Dead Man’s Shoes, in a note-perfect performance) similar to those of the 1974 murders, a hard- journeys among the ranks of revolutionary heads to the seas with this ecstatic fairy tale of a obese and pregnant for the second time with her landscape of 1974 northern England, someone is takes up the “Yorkshire Ripper” case, but has to case detective (David Morrissey) and a slow- fighters in Lebanon in the 1970s. Borrowing its little goldfish princess who dreams of becoming own father’s baby. When she is forced to attend murdering young girls, but the police seem more contend with resistance from the insulated local moving solicitor (Mark Addy) begin to realize title from one of Fatah’s anthems, My Heart Beats a human girl and the small boy who becomes her an alternative education program, she finds interested in hounding local gypsies and Irish community. Directed by James Marsh (Man on that evil may not only be still on the loose, but Only for Her delves into the scantily recorded friend. Ponyo’s dazzling images pulse with the hope in unlikely places. Precious is an acting and than solving the crimes. When a young journalist Wire) in a cool, modernist aesthetic, Red Riding flourishing. Directed by Anand Tucker,Red Riding experience of Fatah’s famous Student Brigade – warmth of friendship, childhood, and Miyazaki’s emotional tour-de-force. An Audience Award investigates, he uncovers a web of deception. 1980 moves deeper into the shadowy world and 1983 is a fitting, chilling end to the remarkable men once epic heroes but now disappeared, lost, deep respect for the earth. winner at Sundance. moral ambiguity of England at the time. trilogy, which has been compared to such or anonymous. —JS masterworks as The Wire and The Sopranos. —JS —AG —JS —JS —RS

A film critic and author of books on Lebanese cinema, Hayao Miyazaki has created many of Japan’s most popular, Lee Daniels ran his own health care company at 21 before After working for 10 years as a BAFTA-nominated After directing a few quirky documentaries for the Anand Tucker, born in Bangkok, began in television as Mohamed Soueid has been directing feature films since beloved, and critically acclaimed animated films; Disney’s becoming a talent agent and then producer, eventually television director in the U.K., Julian Jarrold made BBC, James Marsh ventured into feature filmmaking director of the hit series The Late Show. A multiple award 1990. He is also known for his autobiographical trilogy re-releases of Princess Mononoke (1999) and Spirited Away finding great success with the Oscar®-winning Monster’s his feature-film debut with Kinky Boots (2005), which with Wisconsin Death Trip (1999). His successful 2007 winner, he has directed films both in the U.K. (Hilary and (Tango of Yearning, Nightfall, Civil War), which he made (2002) – winner of the Oscar® for Best Animated Feature – Ball (2000), The Woodsman (2004), which won an award at was followed by Becoming Jane (2007), starring Anne documentary, Man on Wire, was an Oscar®, BAFTA, and Jackie, 1998) and the United States (Shopgirl, 2005). between 1998 and 2002. have brought him box-office success in the West. Cannes, and directorial debut Shadowboxer (2006). This is Hathaway. Independent Spirit Award winner. the second feature he has directed.

Tuesday, October 13, 6:30 pm Friday, October 9, 3:30 pm Monday, October 12, 6:30 pm Friday, October 9, 10:00 pm Saturday, October 10, 10:00 pm Sunday, October 11, 10:00 pm Cinestar 1 [MH1] Cinestar 4 [PN1] Cinestar 4 [PR1] Cinestar 3 [R74] Cinestar 3 [R80] Cinestar 3 [R83]

Wednesday, October 14, 1:00 pm Saturday, October 10, 7:00 pm Thursday, October 15, 9:15 pm Cinestar 1 [MH2] Grand Abu Dhabi Mall [PN2] Cinestar 4 [PR2]

026 www.meiff.com 027 World Cinema Showcase

Wild Grass The Wind Journeys Yuki & Nina The September Issue 15 + Tales from the Golden Age G Valentino: The Last Emperor G G G G (Amintiri din Epoca de aur) (Les herbes folles) (Los viajes del viento)

Director: R. J. Cutler With: Anna Wintour, Thakoon Directors: Cristian Mungiu, Răzvan Editors: Dana Bunescu, Theodora Director: Matt Tyrnauer Sound: Peter Miller Director: Alain Resnais Production Designer: Saulnier Director / Screenwriter: Ciro Guerra Cast: Marciano Martínez, Yull Directors / Screenwriters: Nobuhiro Sound: Dominique Lacour, Raphaël Producers: R. J. Cutler, Panîchgul, André Léon Talley, Grace Mărculescu, Hanno Höfer, Ioana Uricaru, Penciu, Ioana Uricaru Producers: Matt Tyrnauer, Matt Kapp, Cast: Valentino Garavani, Screenwriters: Alex Reval, Cast: Sabine Azéma, André Producers: Cristina Gallego, Diana Núñez Suwa, Hippolyte Girardot Girardot Laurent Herbiet Dussollier, Anne Consigny, Robert Debitetto, Robert Sharenow Coddington Constantin Popescu Music: Hanno Höfer, Laco Jimi Frederic Tcheng Giancarlo Giammetti, Gwyneth Bustamante Cinematographer: Josée Deshaies Cast: Noë Sampy, Arielle Moutel, Producer: Jean-Louis Livi Emmanuelle Devos, Mathieu Editor: Ivan Wild Editors: Hisaka Suwa, Laurence Tsuyu, Hippolyte Girardot, Marilyne Cinematographer: Robert Richman Screenwriter: Cristian Mungiu Cast: Tania Popa, Liliana Mocanu, Executive Producer: Carter Burden Paltrow, Elizabeth Hurley, Cinematographer: Eric Gautier Amalric, Michel Vuillermoz Editor: Azin Samari Producers: Cristian Mungiu, Oleg Mutu Alexandru Potocean, Teodor Corban, Cinematographer: Tom Hurwitz H.M. the Empress Farah Pahlavi, Music: Mark Snow Cinematographer: Paulo Andrés Briaud Canto Music: Craig Richey Cinematographers: Liviu Marghidan, Emanuel Parvu, Calin Chirila Editors: Bob Eisenhardt, Frederic Vicomtesse Jacqueline de Ribes Sound: Jean-Marie Blondel, Pérez Music: Lily Margot, Doc Mateo Oleg Mutu, Alexandru Sterian Tcheng Gérard Hardy, Gérard Lamps Music: Ivan “Tito” Ocampo

As editor of Vogue, Anna Wintour is the fashion The most acclaimed New Wave today is in full The sparkling world of haute couture comes to In French New Wave auteur Alain Resnais’ latest An elderly musician and his teenage apprentice Two little girls, one French and one Eurasian, industry’s most powerful player. Each fall the flourish in this picaresque quintet from Romania’s life in this globetrotting portrait of fashion icon film, middle-aged Georges finds the stolen embark on a journey to return an accordion must deal with the devastating effects of divorce magazine releases its most important issue, and brightest new directors, led by Cannes-winning Valentino, the Italian designer who has dressed handbag of Marguerite, a strong-willed dentist in this musical road trip across Colombia’s in this co-directed effort by Nobuhiro Suwa and its impact is greater than that of any other single Cristian Mungiu (4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days). everyone from Jackie O to Princess Diana to and pilot. This incident triggers a series of remarkable natural beauty. Through cloud- Hippolyte Girardot. When Yuki learns that her publication. Filmmaker R. J. Cutler’s documentary Five delightfully absurdist tales of life during Gwyneth Paltrow. Directed by a longtime Vanity increasingly absurd scenarios, with a sense of capped mountains, parched deserts, and teeming parents are separating, she and her best friend offers a candid, revealing look at Wintour and the the repressive Ceauşescu era brim with wit, Fair editor with remarkable access to Valentino’s playfulness that calls to mind recent works by forests, the two discover the spirits, music, and Nina devise a plan to keep the parents together. arduous, demanding process behind the creation camaraderie, and laughter. luxurious world of high glamour and high living, Charlie Kaufman and Michel Gondry. Wild Grass is culture of Colombia. When that fails, the two flee to the woods, where of the September 2007 issue. this is a tribute not just to the lush life of fashion, a whimsical, candy-colored fantasia that speaks magical things happen… —JS but to its hard work and constant invention. to the intricacies of romance and the irrepressible —JS —AG vitality of love. —AG —JS —AG

An Emmy, Peabody, and GLAAD Award–winning producer Cristian Mungiu won the Palme d’Or at Cannes for Matt Tyrnauer studied film at Wesleyan University, but Alain Resnais is one of France’s most distinctive and highly After making a series of award-winning short films, Ciro Hiroshima-born auteur Nobuhiro Suwa is best known for and director, R. J. Cutler began his career by producing The 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (2007) and leads a flourishing began as a writer at Spy under Graydon Carter, for whom regarded auteurs, and a major director of the French New Guerra directed his first feature, The Wandering Shadows his studies of duality in films such as M/Other (1999) and War Room (1993) for D. A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus. Romanian New Wave to which his up-and-coming he would work again at both the New York Observer and Wave. His films include Night and Fog (1955), Hiroshima (2004), which won prizes at nine international film 2/Duo (1997). Co-director Hippolyte Girardot is a French He made his directorial debut with A Perfect Candidate collaborators also belong. Vanity Fair. After an illustrious career in print, he now turns Mon Amour (1959), and Last Year at Marienbad (1961). festivals. The Wind Journeys is his second feature. actor who has worked with such directors as Jean-Luc (1996). his journalistic eye to filmmaking. Godard, Claude Berri, and Arnaud Desplechin.

Friday, October 9, 9:30 pm Tuesday, October 13, 9:00 pm Friday, October 9, 7:15 pm Wednesday, October 14, 6:30 pm Friday, October 9, 9:30 pm Wednesday, October 14, 9:15 pm Emirates Palace [SE1] Cinestar 4 [TA1] Cinestar 1 [VA1] Cinestar 4 [WI1] Cinestar 4 [WJ1] Cinestar 4 [YU1]

Saturday, October 10, 7:15 pm Friday, October 16, 3:30 pm Monday, October 12, 4:00 pm Thursday, October 15, 4:00 pm Friday, October 16, 7:15 pm Cinestar 4 [SE2] Cinestar 4 [TA2] Emirates Palace [VA2] Grand Abu Dhabi Mall [WI2] Cinestar 4 [YU2]

028 www.meiff.com 029 Special Programs Master Class Master Class Master Class Master Class Special Program

Master Classes:

The Cosmic Symphony: How to Use the Original Vibrations of the Big Bang in Film Scoring and Why Modes (Maqam) from the Middle East Are a Direct Link to the Origin of the Universe Richard Horowitz and Sussan Deyhim

From New Orleans Jazz to the Egyptian Hijaz David Amram

Preserving the Film Heritage of the Photo credit: Laurie Lieber Richard Horowitz and Sussan David Amram: Paolo Cherchi Usai: Neil Brand: “Laugh Till It Hurts” Arab World G Paolo Cherchi Usai Deyhim: The Cosmic Symphony From New Orleans Jazz to the Preserving the Film Heritage of the The Silent Pianist Speaks The Silent Pianist Speaks Egyptian Hijaz Arab World Neil Brand

For this master class, Richard Horowitz and The legendary David Amram will share his vast Digital technology has revolutionized the Pianist, composer, and veteran silent film It is always a joy as a pianist to fly on the coattails of Sussan Deyhim will talk about their creative experience and repertoire in composing music work of film archives and museums, allowing accompanist Neil Brand adds historian and these comic geniuses – my music is improvised and so process, illustrated by clips from their films. for film. Amram brought his long commitment unprecedented access to their collections. raconteur to his resumé with a tribute to the different every performance – but always, with films Special Program: They will especially highlight how their scores to fusing classical, jazz and world music, However, digital film conservation is also a filmmakers of the silent era and the musicians of this caliber and the sound of an audience laughing have been influenced by Middle Eastern music. including music of the Middle East, to his double-edged sword, in that it is much more who brought sounds to the silents. Brand as hard as it can, the experience of film and music “Laugh Till It Hurts” Deyhim will present selections from her eight score for director T. C. McLuhan’s The Frontier expensive than analog conservation, and it is offers a unique approach to the appreciation working together is as good as it gets. scores in collaboration with Shirin Neshat, Gandhi: Badshah Kahn, A Torch for Peace (which much less secure. Besides, many countries in the of silent film and the art of accompaniment including Turbulent in which she also starred, is screening at MEIFF ’09 in the Documentary world do not have a national film archive at all. as he reflects on his 25-year career playing for —Neil Brand and will also show clips of her performances Feature Competition). He will discuss this (There are only four in the entire Arab world!) silent cinema and illustrates the art of movie with the Polish Radio Orchestra and the work along with that of his classic film scores, What needs to be done in order to permanently music by improvising for clips and providing Four greats of silent two-reel comedy are celebrated Krakow Symphony. Horowitz will explain the illustrated with clips from the films. Amram will preserve the images of the 20th century? It is his own live commentary. It is a program of in this program: the comic poetry of Charlie Chaplin importance of Middle Eastern music, tracing also treat the audience to a mini-concert with not just a matter of technology and money, but history, commentary, music and movies, filled in The Immigrant (1916); the ingeniously constructed the use of Arabic modes (maqam) back to the performances on instruments used in his scores also of political and strategic alliances among with humor and stories from the orchestra pit gags of Buster Keaton in One Week (1920); the dapper Big Bang to explain why the music has such including the dumbek (Middle Eastern “chalice the nations. This master class will expose and as told by one of the world’s leading silent film urban charm of Charley Chase in Mighty Like a Moose a deeply moving effect on us. He will also drum”), shenai (an Indian woodwind), and discuss some of the major issues at stake. accompanists. (1926); and the innovative and surreal creations describe the experience of having his studio on various Middle Eastern flutes. Amram’s goal is of Charles Bowers in Egged On (1926). All with live the set of Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Sheltering to inspire audiences to have pride in their own —Paolo Cherchi Usai —SA keyboard accompaniment by Neil Brand. Sky during the shoot in Morocco and his music and heritage while appreciating others, mentorship with author Paul Bowles. and to realize the fundamental harmony and —SA unity in all music worldwide. The Immigrant Charles Chaplin | USA | 1916 Composer and musician Richard Horowitz lived in Paris David Amram is an American composer, conductor, and Paolo Cherchi Usai is Director of the Haghefilm Foundation Neil Brand has been playing piano for silent movies for and Morocco for 12 years, studying Middle Eastern musician with a career spanning six decades of pioneering in Amsterdam. Co-founder of the L. Jeffrey Selznick 25 years and is one of the leading professionals in the One Week flute and music theory. His film soundtracks include in many genres and working with some of the biggest School of Film Preservation at George Eastman House art of improvised silent film accompaniment. In addition Buster Keaton | USA | 1920 The Sheltering Sky (Bernardo Bertolucci, 1990) and names in music and film. He has mastered numerous in Rochester, New York, and of the Pordenone Silent to the many silent shorts and features he has scored Three Seasons (Tony Bui, 1999). Composer, vocalist, and instruments and composed hundreds of symphonies, Film Festival in Italy, he is author of Silent Cinema, An and performed for live showings and DVD releases, he Mighty Like a Moose performance artist Sussan Deyhim studied dance in her operas, and film soundtracks. Early in his career Amram Introduction and the experimental feature ﬁlm Passio has composed scores for numerous films, TV and radio Leo McCarey | USA | 1926 native Iran, and Europe, before moving to New York and collaborated with Jack Kerouac and was one of the first (2007), adapted from his book The Death of Cinema. His programs, and theater productions, written two award- incorporating music, new vocal languages, and film into musicians to combine jazz and poetry in the 1950s; during latest book is Film Curatorship: Archives, Museums, and winning musicals, and scripted eight radio plays, including Egged On her performances. She has appeared on soundtracks this time he also innovated the use of world influences the Digital Marketplace, co-authored with David Francis, a biographical drama about Stan Laurel. Charles R. Bowers, Harold Muller | USA | 1926 including The Last Temptation of Christ (Martin Scorsese, in classical music. Later, Amram scored Pull My Daisy Alexander Horwarth, and Michael Loebenstein. 1988) and The Stoning of Soraya M (Cyrus Nowrasteh, (Robert Frank, Alfred Leslie, 1959), Splendor in the Grass 2008). The two have collaborated on recordings since (Elia Kazan, 1961), and The Manchurian Candidate (John Duration: 86 mins. 1981, including the score for Any Given Sunday (Oliver Frankenheimer, 1962). He has also collaborated with Stone, 1999) and Tobruk (Václav Marhoul, 2008), which Leonard Bernstein, Dizzy Gillespie, Charles Mingus, Willie won them the Golden Lion from the Czech Academy of Nelson, and Tito Puente. Film. Presented in association with

Monday, October 12, 11:00 am Tuesday, October 13, 11:00 am Wednesday, October 14, 11:00 am Thursday, October 15, 11:00 am Friday, October 16, 4:00 pm Festival Tent, Emirates Palace [MA1] Festival Tent, Emirates Palace [MA2] Festival Tent, Emirates Palace [MA3] Festival Tent, Emirates Palace [MA4] Cinestar 5 [LH1]

030 www.meiff.com 031 “What in the World Are We Doing to Our World?”

The Age of Stupid Franny Armstrong This film is also part of the Documentary Feature Competition − see page 18.

Chameleon Beach Adam Schmedes

The Cove Louie Psihoyos This film is also part of the Documentary Feature Competition − see page 18.

Earth Whisperers Mother Earth Kathleen Gallagher Chameleon Beach Earth Whisperers Mother Earth Plastic Planet G G Food, Inc. 15 + The Gift of Pachamama G G (Kamaeleonernes Strand) (Earth Whisperers Papatuanuku) (El regalo de la pachamama) Food, Inc. Robert Kenner Denmark | 2008 | 52 mins New Zealand | 2009 | 73 mins USA | 2008 | 93 mins Bolivia, Japan, USA | 2008 | 102 mins Austria | 2009 | 52 mins English | Color | DigiBeta English | Color | HDCAM English | Color | HDCAM Quechua w/ English Subtitles | Color | DigiBeta English | Color | 35 mm Gulf Premiere International Premiere Middle East Premiere Middle East Premiere Middle East Premiere The Gift of Pachamama Toshifumi Matsushita Director: Adam Schmedes Editors: Gael Hemery, Jes Paul, Director / Screenwriter: Sound: Tim Brott Director: Robert Kenner Editor: Kim Roberts Director / Producer / Story: Director/ Screenwriter: Music: The Orb Plastic Planet Screenwriters: Adam Bor Thierry Kathleen Gallagher With: Rita Tupe, Craig Potton, Isla Producers: Robert Kenner, Music: Mark Adler Toshifumi Matsushita Werner Boote With: Werner Boote, Theo Colborn, Schmedes, Peter I. Lauridsen Music: Nicklas Schmidt, Cinematographers: Alun Bollinger, Burgess, Gerry Findlay, Alan Mark, Elise Pearlstein With: Eric Schlosser, Michael Cast: Christian Huaygua, Fanny Producers: Thomas Bogner, Daniel Fred Vom Saal, Margot Wallstrom Werner Boote Cinematographers: Adam Jes Paul, Morten Alfred Hoirup Mike Single Hugh Wilson, Jim O’Gorman, Charles Executive Producers: Pollan, Gary Hirshberg, Joel Mosques, Francisco Gutiez, Zuta Schmedes, Toby Strong, Narrator: Linford Brown Editors: Gaylene Barnes, Richard Lord Royal, Kay Baxter, Makere Ruka William Pohlad, Robin Schorr, Salatin Luis Mamani Cinematographer: Thomas Kirschner Frej Schmedes Music: Aroha Yates-Smith, Richard Jeff Skoll, Diane Weyermann Editors: Ilana Goldschmidt, Tom Nunns, Bob Bickerton Cinematographer: Richard Pearce Pohanka, Cordula Werner

Remarkable high-definition photography gets The environmental documentary Earth Whisperers Experts Michael Pollan (The Omnivore’s Dilemma) The indigenous culture and traditions of the Forget the Stone Age, welcome to the Plastic Age. viewers up-close-and-personal with a lovable Mother Earth focuses on 10 visionary New and Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation) anchor this Andean Quechua people are brought to life in Personable filmmaker Werner Boote hosts this group of African chameleons on a Mediterranean Zealanders who set out to prove that a shift in stomach-churning, fast-paced examination of this loving environmental fable for children, set wry, alarming journey across Europe, China, the beach in this absorbing nature documentary. This consciousness can have a healing effect on our the big business behind your food, which will amidst the salt fields and mountain villages of United States, and India to discover that most March of the Penguins on sand, not ice, captures environment. Poignant, moving, and beautifully definitely change the way you look at (and for) Bolivia’s spectacular altiplano. A young boy travels omnipresent, long-lasting of all substances − never-before-seen moments in nature with shot, it is a powerful demonstration of what your next meal. Scarier than any horror film,Food, across Bolivia with a salt caravan, discovering its plastic − and how it may very well be taking over breathtaking intimacy and beauty, and showcases can be achieved through belief, dedication, and Inc. is alarming, inspirational, and utterly essential ancient cultures, traditional rituals, and immense the earth. Music by The Orb. some remarkable creatures. passion. for everyone who, well, eats. spirituality. —JS —AG —JS —JS —JS

Taking a new approach to wildlife and science A published poet and playwright in New Zealand and Robert Kenner has been writing, producing, and directing Toshifumi Matsushita studied law in Japan and film at Werner Boote, born in 1965 in Vienna, was an assistant documentaries, Adam Schmedes creates a sense of Australia, Kathleen Gallagher came to prominence in 2000 documentaries that explore the history and social issues New York University while working in the Japanese film director for Robert Dornhelm and Ulrich Seidl for many identification by following a single animal throughout his with her short Jimmy Sullivan. Her 2004 documentary of the United States for 25 years, winning multiple awards industry as a producer. Eventually he founded his own years. Since 1993 he has been writing and directing films films and viewing modern society from the animal’s point Breath of Peace won the Sonja Davies Peace Award. for his work on The American Experience and for National company, Dolphin Productions. His short documentaries focusing primarily on music and the arts. of view. Geographic. Big Chief (1992) and Voodoo Kingdom (1997) won awards at the Tokyo Video Festival.

Tuesday, October 13, 7:00 pm Monday, October 12, 7:15 pm Friday, October 16, 6:30 pm Wednesday, October 14, 7:00 pm Thursday, October 15, 7:15 pm Cinestar 3 [CH1] Cinestar 3 [EA1] Cinestar 3 [FO1] Cinestar 3 [GI1] Cinestar 3 [PL1]

Friday, October 16, 4:15 pm Tuesday, October 13, 4:30 pm Saturday, October 17, 1:00 pm Thursday, October 15, 1:00 pm Friday, October 16, 1:00 pm Cinestar 3 [CH2] Cinestar 2 [EA2] Cinestar 2 [FO2] Cinestar 2 [GI2] Cinestar 2 [PL2]

032 www.meiff.com 033 New Cinema from Turkey

10 to 11 Pelin Esmer This film also is part of the Narrative Feature Competition − see description on page 12.

Autumn Özcan Alper

Dot Derviş Zaim

Milk Semih Kaplanoğlu

My Only Sunshine Autumn Dot Milk My Only Sunshine Pandora’s Box G G 15+ 15 + G Reha Erdem (Sonbahar) (Nokta) (Süt) (Hayat Var) (Pandora’nın Kutusu) On the Way to School Turkey, Germany | 2008 | 106 mins Turkey | 2009 | 78 mins Turkey, France, Germany | 2008 | 102 mins Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece | 2008 | 121 mins Turkey, France, Germany, Belgium | 2008 | 112 mins Turkish, Georgian, Hemshin w/ English Subtitles | Color | 35 mm Turkish w/ English Subtitles | Color | 35 mm Turkish w/ English Subtitles | Color | 35 mm Turkish w/ English Subtitles | Color | 35 mm Turkish w/ English Subtitles | Color | 35 mm Orhan Eskiköy, Özgür Doğan Gulf Premiere Gulf Premiere Gulf Premiere Gulf Premiere This film is also part of the Documentary Feature Competition − see description on page 18. Director / Screenwriter: Özcan Alper Raife Yenigül, Serkan Keskin, Nino Director / Screenwriter: Cast: Numan Acar, Cem Director / Producer: Semih Kaplanoğlu Director / Screenwriter / Editor: Cast: Önder Açıkbaş, Levent Yılmaz, Director: Yeşim Ustaoğlu Production Designers: Producer: F. Serkan Açar Lejava, Arda Diraz Derviş Zaim Aksakal, Begüm Birgören Screenwriter: Semih Kaplanoğlu, Orçun Reha Erdem Elit İşcan, Erdal Beşikçioğlu Screenwriters: Yeşim Ustaoğlu, Elif Taşçıoğlu, Serdar Yılmaz Cinematographer: Feza Çaldıran Producers: Baran Seyhan, Bayazıt Gülercan, Nadi Güler, Köksal Cinematographer: Florent Herry Sema Kaygusuz Cast: Tsilla Chelton, Derya Pandora’s Box Editor: Thomas Balkenhol Derviş Zaim Hikmet Karagöz, Serhat Kılıç, Cinematographer: Özgür Eken Music: Orhan Gencebay Cinematographer: Jacques Besse Alabora, Onur Ünsal, Osman Yeşim Ustaoğlu Music: Yuri Rydahencko, Ayşenur Cinematographer: Ercan Yılmaz Şener Kökkaya, Mehmet Ali Editor: François Quiqueré Production Designer: Ömer Atay Editor: Franck Nakache Sonant, Övül Avkıran, Tayfun Kolivar, Sumru Ağıryürüyen Music: Mazlum Çimen Nuroğlu, Settar Tanrıöğen, Sound Designer: Marc Nouyrigat Music: Jean-Pierre Mas Bademsoy, Nazmi Kırık Cast: Onur Saylak, Megi Kobaladze, Mustafa Uzunyılmaz Cast: Melih Selçuk, Başak Köklükaya Summer Book Seyfi Teoman

Wrong Rosary Set against the backdrop of fall in the mountains Dot is the absorbing fifth feature by Derviş Milk, the second film in Semih Kaplanoğlu’s My Only Sunshine marks the fullest realization Three adult siblings set out on a journey from Mahmut Fazıl Coşkun of the Black Sea region, Autumn is a meditation Zaim. The narrative concerns a gifted young “Yusuf trilogy,” tells the story of young Yusuf’s yet of Reha Erdem’s unusual style. The seemingly İstanbul to Turkey’s Black Sea Region, hoping to on the prolonged loss of a young life. The film calligrapher who becomes involved in the theft internal struggle over leaving home. Although familiar story of a 14-year-old girl turns uncanny find their aging mother, who is reportedly lost in follows Yusuf, who finally returns home after he of a valuable ancient Quran, but the film stands he is dependent on his home, his routine, and through Erdem’s expert manipulation of the the mountains surrounding her village. Instead is released from prison on medical grounds. An out as a visual experiment. Its stark imagery is set what is secure and well-known to him, Yusuf also soundtrack. As the teenage girl attempts to cope of the expected generational dramatics, the film The initial screening of six of the features will exceptionally modest and lyrical first feature entirely against the white backdrop of a salt lake, desires to get away from the familiar, to face the with the lack of love around her, an impossible shifts course to show the unusual bond that be preceded by a short film from Turkey, as by Özcan Alper, Autumn leaves a solid mark on and its strong style imitates ihcam, a calligraphy “new” that is hidden behind the mountains and mix of sounds guarantees the novelty of both the develops between the grandmother and her noted below. contemporary cinema in Turkey. technique in Islamic arts. buildings of his hometown. experience and the emotional response that this urban teenage grandson, a genuine and unbiased film provides. human connection. Pandora’s Box won the Grand Death of the Poet —ÖG —ÖG —FY Prize at the San Sebastian Film Festival. —AB Elif Ergezen [before Autumn] —ZD Milk and Chocolate Senem Tüzen [before Summer Book]

The Sacrifice Ali Betil [before Wrong Rosary] Özcan Alper, born in 1975, made his first short, Born in 1964, Derviş Zaim won several national and In addition to filmmaking, Semih Kaplanoğlu (born in Reha Erdem, born in 1960, graduated from Paris 8 After making several award-winning shorts in Turkey, Semolina Halva Grandmother (2001), entirely in Hemshin, an Armenian international awards for his first feature, Somersault in a 1963) has published numerous articles on contemporary University with a degree in film studies, and then a M.A. Yeşim Ustaoğlu made her feature film debut with The Trace Ezgi Kaplan [before Pandora’s Box] dialect spoken in northeast Turkey. It won several awards, Coffin (1996). He currently teaches film at İstanbul Bilgi art and cinema, and from 1996 to 2000 wrote a column in plastic arts. He shot his first feature-length film, the (1994). She also received recognition for her 1999 film which enabled him to make Autumn, his first feature film. and Bosphorus Universities. entitled “Encounters” for the national daily Radikal. French–Turkish co-production Oh Moon, in 1989. His 2006 Journey to the Sun, which won many festival awards. Turnout feature Times and Winds earned international acclaim. Fırat Mançuhan [before Dot]

The Waiting Emine Emel Balcı [before Milk] Friday, October 9, 4:15 pm Tuesday, October 13, 9:15 pm Sunday, October 11, 6:30 pm Sunday, October 11, 9:15 pm Wednesday, October 14, 9:45 pm Programmers for New Cinema from Turkey: Cinestar 1 [AU1] Cinestar 3 [DO1] Cinestar 1 [MI1] Cinestar 4 [MY1] Cinestar 3 [PA1] Senem Aytaç, Gözde Onaran, Altyazı Monthly > Preceded by the short Death of the Poet | 18 mins > Preceded by the short Turnout | 15 mins > Preceded by the short The Waiting | 15 mins > Preceded by the short Semolina Halva | 11 mins Cinema Magazine Monday, October 12, 7:00 pm Writers for New Cinema from Turkey synopses: Saturday, October 10, 9:45 pm Wednesday, October 14, 9:45 pm Tuesday, October 13, 7:00 pm Grand Abu Dhabi Mall [MY2] Thursday, October 15, 6:30 pm Gülengül Altıntaş, Abbas Bozkurt, Ayşa Ciftçi, Grand Abu Dhabi Mall [AU2] Grand Abu Dhabi Mall [DO2] Grand Abu Dhabi Mall [MI2] Grand Abu Dhabi Mall [PA2] Zeynep Dadak, Berke Göl, Övgü Gökçe, Fırat Yücel.

034 www.meiff.com 035 New Cinema from Turkey Short Film Competition

Program 1: MYSTERY G Program 2: EMOTION G Total running time: 118 mins. Total running time: 137 mins.

“Short films go to the heart of creation. In the art of short film anything is possible. In our contemporary world surrounded by images, short filmmakers combine imagination and talent to create a fresh point of view on our dynamic universe.

These often unheralded cinema talents gather all their energy to express themselves with a unique perspective on our global society. Discover original and exciting short films from all over the world.” Summer Book Wrong Rosary G G – Alice Kharoubi Aqualorious! Fatenah (Tatil Kitabı) (Uzak Ihtimal) Nikolaj Tarp Ahmad Habash MEIFF Short Film Programmer Denmark | 2009 | 13 mins Palestine | 2009 | 30 mins Turkey | 2008 | 92 mins Turkey | 2009 | 93 mins Danish w/ English Subtitles | Color | DigiBeta Arabic, English, Hebrew w/ English Subtitles | Color | DigiBeta Turkish w/ English Subtitles | Color | 35 mm Turkish w/ English Subtitles | Color | 35 mm Gulf Premiere UAE Premiere Competition Babel The First Film Hendrick Dusollier Panah Panahi Program 1 – Mystery France, China | 2009 | 16 mins Iran | 2009 | 24 mins Director / Screenwriter: Cast: Taner Birsel, Tayfun Günay, Director: Mahmut Fazıl Coşkun Cast: Nadir Sarıbacak, Görkem No Dialogue | Color | HDCAM Farsi w/ English Subtitles | Color | DigiBeta Seyfi Teoman Harun Özüağ, Ayten Tökün, Osman Screenwriters: Tarık Tufan, Yeltan, Ersan Uysal Focus on something strange. Life becomes Cinematographer: Arnau Valls İnan Görkem Yeltan, Bektaş Topaloğlu, crazy in the flicker of an eye. Colomer Cinematographer: Refik Çakar Careful with that Power Tool Mother (Matka) Editor: Çiçek Kahraman Editor: Çiçek Kahraman Jason Stutter Jakub Piatek Sound: İsmail Karadaş Music: Rahman Altın Program 2 – Emotion New Zealand | 2009 | 2 mins Poland | 2009 | 11 mins What moves us deeply can also bring us closer No Dialogue | Color | 35 mm Polish w/ English Subtitles | Color | HDCAM together. Glory at Sea The Other Ones (De Andre) Bearing the autobiographical stamp of Seyfi Wrong Rosary tells a slow-paced, simple story of a Benh Zeitlin Hisham Zaman Teoman, Summer Book looks at life in the young muezzin who gets appointed to İstanbul, Program 3 – Struggle USA | 2008 | 25 mins Norway | 2009 | 18 mins English | Color | HDCAM provinces from the inside and tries to come to where he falls in love with a Catholic woman. Personal struggles can remind us how to savor Norwegian w/ English Subtitles | Color | 35 mm life. terms with it. After the patriarch dies, leaving Unlike its predecessors, which typically discuss The Herd She the Policeman questions about some missing money and a the complex and ever-changing role that religion Ken Wardrop Maryam Jum’a mysterious mistress, 10-year-old Ali, his brother plays in contemporary Turkey’s problematic Ireland | 2009 | 5 mins Jordan | 2009 | 14 mins Veysel, and their uncle Hasan will all have to process of westernization, Wrong Rosary does not Student Short Competition English | Color | DigiBeta Arabic w/ English Subtitles | Color | DigiBeta spend a long, hot summer making some serious present faith as a source of constant battle, and Experience short films directed by students Home The Six Dollar Fifty Man choices about their lives. therein lies its significance. from all over the world. Exploring universal Matt Faust Mark Albiston & Louis Sutherland themes, these fresh and dynamic short films USA | 2009 | 6 mins New Zealand | 2009 | 15 mins —GA —BG will embark you on a journey through Life. English | Color | HDCAM English | Color | 35 mm These programs reveal new filmmaking talent The Taxidermist Spring 89 (Rabie 89) perhaps destined for a brilliant future. Bert & Bertie Ayten Amin UK | 2009 | 22 mins Egypt | 2009 | 25 mins Short Films will contend for these Black Pearl English | Color | HDCAM Arabic w/ English Subtitles | Color | DigiBeta awards and prizes: Best Narrative Short, Best Three Sisters and Andrey Seyfi Teoman, born in Kayseri, Turkey, in 1977, studied at Mahmut Fazıl Coşkun was born in 1973, studied film at Documentary Short, Best Middle Eastern Short, Boris Despodov, Andrey Paounov the Polish National Film School in Lodz. He is working on the University of California, Los Angeles, and received his and three prizes for Best Student Short. Bulgaria, Germany | 2009 | 14 mins his second feature, Our Grand Despair, which was selected Master’s degree from İstanbul Bilgi University. He works No Dialogue | Color | 35 mm to the 2009 Cannes Film Festival’s L’Atelier. professionally as a documentary and commercial director. Tripoli, Quiet (Trablos Al-Hada) Rania Attieh, Daniel Garcia Lebanon | 2009 | 15 mins Arabic w/ English Subtitles | Color | HDCAM

Saturday, October 10, 6:30 pm Monday, October 12, 9:30 pm Friday, October 9, 7:00 pm Saturday, October 10, 7:00 pm Cinestar 1 [SU1] Cinestar 1 [WR1] Cinestar 3 [C11] Cinestar 3 [C21] > Preceded by the short Milk and Chocolate | 25 mins > Preceded by the short The Sacrifice | 17 mins Saturday, October 10, 3:45 pm Sunday, October 11, 3:30 pm Tuesday, October 13, 9:45 pm Wednesday, October 14, 7:00 pm Cinestar 2 [C12] Cinestar 2 [C22] Grand Abu Dhabi Mall [SU2] Grand Abu Dhabi Mall [WR2]

036 www.meiff.com 037 Short Film Competition Meet the Directors of the Short Films

Program 3: STRUGGLE G Student Program 1 G Student Program 2 15+ Total running time: 117 mins. Total running time: 82 mins. Total running time: 115 mins.

Mark Albiston Ayten Amin Ravin Asaf The Six Dollar Fifty Man Spring 89 Kidnap Factory

Rania Attieh Emine Emel Balcı Bert & Bertie Tripoli, Quiet The Waiting The Taxidermist

Ali Betil Elena Bychkova Bartek Cierlica The Sacrifice Surprise The Grave-Diggers

Walls Saad Jasim Nikolaj Tarp Senem Tüzen Ken Wardrop Iraq | 2009 | 9 mins Aqualorious! Milk and Chocolate The Herd Arabic w/ English Subtitles | Color | DigiBeta

Sunday, October 11, 7 pm Monday, October 12, 4:15 pm Tuesday, October 13, 1:30 pm Hisham Zaman Benh Zeitlin Çağla Zencirci Cinestar 3 [C31] Cinestar 2 [S11] Cinestar 2 [S21] The Other Ones Glory at Sea Ata

Monday, October 12, 3:45 pm Tuesday, October 13, 4:15 pm Wednesday, October 14, 12:45 pm Cinestar 3 [C32] Cinestar 3 [S12] Cinestar 2 [S22]

038 www.meiff.com 039 Emirates Film Competition Program 1: Program 2: Program 3: Program 4: Shorts - UAE Competition G Shorts - GCC Competition G Features Competition G Features Competition 18+ Total running time: 96 mins Total running time: 101 mins Total running time: 110 mins Total running time: 129 mins

The Abu Dhabi Film Commission is pleased to present the 9th Emirates Film Competition, which aims to encourage the production of short, feature, documentary, and animated films by Emirati filmmakers. It also provides an opportunity for GCC nationals and non-nationals to discuss and share their work with each other, as well as participate in short master classes and workshops. Through a number of funding initiatives, travel Al Hamra Island in the Eyes of Three Men & a Woman The Hotel The Fifth Chamber Ouija bursaries to film festivals and assistance Emirati Filmmakers Abedel Muhsen Al Dhabaan Hani Al Shaibani Maher Al Khaja Ahmed Zain & Ahmed Arshi with distribution, the Emirates Saudi Arabia | 2009 | 13 mins UAE | 2009 | 57 mins UAE | 2008 | 128 mins UAE | 2009 | 25 mins Arabic w/ English Subtitles | Color | MiniDV Arabic w/ English Subtitles | Color | DigiBeta Arabic w/ English Subtitles | Color | HDCAM Film Competition will continue to Arabic w/ English Subtitles | Color | HDCAM World Premiere World Premiere World Premiere provide production opportunities for UAE Premiere emerging Emirati filmmakers who Young Sadness Whiteness Our Right to Ride have completed a short, feature, or Hani Al Shaibani Khaled Al Kalbani Hanan Al Mohairi documentary film. UAE | 2009 | 15 mins Oman | 2009 | 9 mins UAE | 2009 | 51 mins Arabic w/ English Subtitles | Color | DigiBeta Arabic w/ English Subtitles | Color | HDCAM Arabic w/ English Subtitles | Color | HDCAM UAE Premiere World Premiere Middle East Premiere

Paradise Evening Burning Flowers Juma Al Sahili Mohammed Ibrahim Mohammed

Crossing Whispers of Sin Ali Jamal Abdulrahman Al Khalifi

Key Yassin Ahmed Zain Gamal Al Gheilan

Temporary Drought Yasser Saeed Al Neyadi

UAE | 2009 | 15 mins Arabic w/ English Subtitles | Color | HDCAM UAE Premiere

Monday, October 12, 1:15 pm Tuesday, October 13, 1:15 pm Wednesday, October 14, 1:15 pm Thurday, October 15, 1:15 pm Cinestar 3 [EC1] Cinestar 3 [EC2] Cinestar 3 [EC3] Cinestar 3 [EC4]

040 www.meiff.com 041 Special Events Index

MEIFF Industry Initiative MEIFF Festival Tent The Circle Listed by Director October 8-17 October 8-17 October 9-11

In addition to offering an exciting The MEIFF Festival Tent is open to all Abu Dhabi Film Commission in A G Abdalla , Ahmed p. 13 Gallagher, Kathleen p. 32 program of films for local audiences, festival guests and to the public from conjunction with MEIFF presents The Al-Daradji, Mohamed p. 16 Garcia, Daniel p. 37 P MEIFF is also dedicated to supporting noon to 2 am. The Tent is located on the Circle Conference 2009. The Circle is a Al Dhabaan, Abedel Muhsen p. 40 Ghaemi, Pegah p. 38 Padmakumar, M. p. 25 Al Gheilan, Gamal p. 40 Ghobadi, Bahman p. 15 Panahi, Panah, p. 37 and shaping the region’s film industry. main terrace behind the Emirates Palace development initiative aimed at creating Al Kalbani, Khaled p. 40 Giovanetti, Guillaume p. 38 Paounov, Andrey p. 37 This year MEIFF has invited film industry Hotel, overlooking the hotel’s gardens, new filmmaking opportunities in the Al Khalifi, Abdulrahman p. 40 Girardot, Hippolyte p. 29 Paskaljević, Goran p. 25 Al Mohairi, Hanan p. 41 Goldman, Jon p. 38 Pérezcano, Rigoberto p. 15 professionals from all over the world to private beach, and the Arabian Gulf. Middle East. The Circle Conference brings Al Neyadi, Yasser Saeed, p. 40 Grasso, Santiago ‘Bou’ p. 38 Perrin, Jacques p. 09 attend the festival and discover what together top producers, financiers, Al Sahili, Juma p. 40 Grimonprez, Johan p. 20 Piatek, Jakub p. 37 Al Shaibani, Hani pp. 40, 41 Guerra, Ciro p. 29 Popescu, Constantin p. 28 Abu Dhabi has to offer. MEIFF’s industry The crossroads of the festival, the Tent executives, and filmmakers from around Albiston, Mark p. 37 Psihoyos, Louie p. 20 activities give film professionals the serves as the location for many MEIFF the world. Ali, Jamal p. 40 H chance to see new works of filmmakers events including master classes and Ali, Hatem p. 15 Habash, Ahmad p. 37 R Aljafari, Kamal p. 22 Helvey, Gregg p. 38 Ramakrishnan, Shankar, p. 25 from the Middle East and to meet and special screenings. In addition, the Tent The international entertainment Alper, Özcan p. 34 Heslov, Grant p. 09 Ranjith, p. 25 network with local filmmakers and offers hospitality in the best tradition community comes to Abu Dhabi to share Amari, Raja p.13 Höfer, Hanno p. 28 Rached, Tahani p. 21 Amin, Ayten p. 37 Rashid, Anwar, p. 25 producers in order to forge alliances for of Abu Dhabi. The various rooms of the their knowledge in The Circle with events Ananthan, Uday p. 25 I Resnais, Alain p. 29 future collaborations. Tent, along with its outdoor veranda, such as Panel Discussions, Master Classes, Armstrong, Franny p. 18 Ivin, Glendyn p. 14 Revathy, p. 25 Arshi, Ahmed p. 40 Rodriguez, Robert p. 11 have spaces to relax, lounge and enjoy Collaboration Lunches, and the Shasha Asaf, Ravin p. 38 J Runarsson, Runar p. 38 MEIFF’s industry program complements live music and entertainment, DJs, Grant Pitch Competition. Attieh, Rania p. 37 Jamal, Ali p. 40 Runnel, Pirkko p. 38 Jarrold, Julian p. 27 Abu Dhabi’s other film initiatives − Abu refreshments, high tech screening B Jasim, Saad, p. 38 S Dhabi Film Commission, Imagenation, rooms, and much more to be announced The Circle Conference 2009 is presented in Balcı, Emine Emel p. 35 Jose, Lal, p. 25 Saeed, Yasser p. 40 Ballhaus, Michael p. 21 Jum’a, Maryam p. 37 Saeedi, Ebrahim p. 19 and twofour54 − to affirm the key place throughout the festival. partnership with Imagenation Abu Dhabi. Bert & Bertie, p. 37 Salhab, Ghassan p. 18 Abu Dhabi holds as an emerging cultural Betil, Ali p. 36 K Samra, Maher Abi p. 23 Boote, Werner p. 33 Kaempfer, Olivier p. 38 Sanjavi, Zahavi p. 19 center, to foster the growth of its local For more information on the Tent, visit Bychkova, Elena p. 38 Kailas, Shaji p. 25 Schmedes, Adam p. 32 and regional film community, and to www.meiff.com. Kaplan, Ezgi p. 35 Sen, Supriyo p. 38 C Kaplanoğlu, Semih p. 35 Soderbergh, Steven p. 10 promote Abu Dhabi as a key player on the Cappellari, Ciro p. 21 Keaton, Buster p. 31 Soueid, Mohamed p. 26 international film scene. Carion, Christian p. 25 Kenner, Robert p. 33 Stutter, Jason p. 37 Chaplin, Charles p. 31 Kren, Marvin p. 38 Suleiman, Elia p. 16 Cierlica, Bartek p. 38 Sutherland, Louis p. 37 Cluzaud, Jacques p. 09 L Suwa, Nobuhiro p. 29 Connolly, Rob p. 38 Llado, Elisabet p. 38 Shyamparasad, p. 25 Coşkun, Mahmut Fazıl p. 36 Lotfy, Nabiha p. 19 Cutler, R. J. p. 28 T M Tarp, Nikolaj p. 37 D Magdy, Ahmed p. 38 Teoman, Seyfi p. 36 Daniels, Lee p. 26 Maher, Ahmed p. 18 Tian Zhuangzhuang p. 17 Denis, Claire p. 17 Mançuhan, Fırat, p. 34 Todorovsky, Valery p. 14 Despodov, Boris p. 37 Mărculescu, Răzvan p. 28 Tucker, Anand p. 27 Doğan, Özgür p. 22 Marsh, James p. 27 Tüzen, Senem p. 36 D’Souza, Anthony p. 10 Mathew, Joseph p. 12 Tyrnauer, Matt p. 28 Dufresne, Damien p. 38 Matsushita, Toshifumi p. 33 Dusollier, Hendrick p. 37 McCarey, Leo p. 31 U Dyachenko, Dmitri p. 38 McLuhan, T. C. p. 20 Unnikrishnan, B. p. 25 Mehta, Dilip p. 13 Uricaru, Ioana p. 28 E Menon, Anjali, p.25 Ustaoğlu, Yeşim p. 35 Erdem, Reha p. 35 Mitić, Boris p. 21 Ergezen, Elif p. 34 Miyazaki, Hayao p. 26 W Eskiköy, Orhan p. 22 Mohammed, Mohammed Ibrahim p. 40 Wardrop, Ken p. 37 Esmer, Pelin p. 12 Moore, Michael p. 10 Whitecross, Mat p. 22 Moverman, Oren p. 11 Winterbottom, Michael p. 22 F Muller, Harold p. 31 Farhadi, Asghar p. 24 Mungiu, Cristian p. 28 Z Farooki, Mostofa Sarwar p. 16 Zaim, Derviş p. 34 Faust, Matt p. 34 N Zain, Ahmed p. 40 Fawzi, Oussama p. 17 Nasrallah, Yousry p. 11 Zaman, Hisham p. 37 Fernandez Almendras, Alejandro p. 14 Zeitlin, Benh p. 37 O Zencirci, Çağla p. 38 Østergaard, Anders, p. 24 Zran, Mohamed p. 19

042 www.meiff.com 043 Index Daily Screening Guide

Listed by Film Title

A Shorts p. 11 10 to 11 p. 12 I Six Dollar Fifty Man, The p. 37 1958 p. 18 Immigrant, The p. 31 Son of Babylon p. 16 About Elly p. 24 In Berlin p. 21 Spring 89 p. 37 Age of Stupid, The p. 18 Informant!, The p. 10 Summer Book, p. 36 Al Hamra Island p. 40 Surprise p. 38 All My Mothers p. 19 K Anna p. 38 Kasia p. 38 T Aqualorious! p. 37 Kavi p. 38 Tales from the Golden Age p. 28 Ata p. 38 Kerala Café p. 25 Taxidermist, The p. 37 Autumn p. 34 Key p. 40 Temporary Drought p. 40 Kidnap Factory p. 38 Third Person Singular Number p. 16 B Three Men and a Woman p. 40 Babel p. 37 L Three Sisters and Andrey, p. 37 Being Here p. 19 Last Ride p. 14 Time That Remains, The p. 16 Blue p. 10 Long Night, The p. 15 To the Sea p. 38 Bombay Summer p. 12 Traveler, The p. 8 Buried Secrets p. 13 M Tripoli, Quiet p. 37 Burma VJ – Reporting from a Closed Country p. 24 Members of the Resistance p. 38 True Color p. 17 Burning Flowers p. 40 Men Who Stare at Goats, The p. 9 Turnout p. 34 Messenger, The p. 11 C Mighty Like a Moose p. 31 U Capitalism: A Love Story p. 10 Milk p. 35 Under Construction, p. 38 Careful with that Power Tool p. 37 Milk and Chocolate p. 36 Carioca p. 19 Mother, p. 37 V Chameleon Beach p. 32 My Heart Beats Only for Her p. 26 Valentino: The Last Emperor p. 28 Cooking with Stella p. 13 My Only Sunshine, p. 35 Cove, The p. 20 W Crossing p. 40 N Wagah p. 38 Neighbors p. 21 Waiting, The p. 35 D No One Knows About Persian Cats p. 15 Walls p. 38 Diplomacy p. 38 Northless p. 15 Warrior and the Wolf, The p. 17 Death of the Poet p. 34 We Were Communists p. 23 Dot p. 34 O Whispers of Sin p. 40 Double Take p. 20 Oceans p. 9 White Material p. 17 On the Way to School p. 22 Whiteness p. 40 E One Week p. 31 Wild Grass p. 29 Earth Whisperers p. 32 Other Ones, The p. 37 Wind Journeys, The p. 29 Egged On p. 31 Our Neck of the Woods p. 38 Wrong Rosary, p. 36 Employment, The p. 38 Our Right to Ride p. 41 Y F P Yassin p. 40 Farewell p. 25 Paradise Evening p. 40 Young Sadness p. 40 Fatenah p. 37 Passage, The p. 38 Yuki & Nina p. 29 Fifth Chamber Ouija, The p. 41 Pandora’s Box, p. 35 First Film, The p. 37 Plastic Planet p. 33 Food, Inc. p. 33 Pleasant Opportunity to Choose, A p. 38 Frontier Gandhi, The p. 20 Ponyo p. 26 Port of Memory p. 22 G Precious p. 26 Gift of Pachamama, The p. 33 Glory at Sea p. 37 R Goodbye, How Are You? p. 21 Red Riding 1974 p. 27 Grave-Diggers, The p. 38 Red Riding 1980 p. 27 Red Riding 1983 p. 27 H Road Apart, A p. 38 Heliopolis p. 13 Herd, The p. 37 S Hipsters p. 14 Sacrifice, The p. 36 Home p. 37 Schautag p. 38 Honeymoons p. 25 Scheherazade, Tell Me a Story p. 11 Hotel, The p. 41 Semolina Halva p. 35 Huacho p. 14 September Issue, The p. 28 She the Policeman p. 37 Shock Doctrine, The p. 22

044 045 Thursday, October 8 Master Classes, Festival Tent Saturday, October 10 Visit www.meiff.com for updates. Emirates Palace Emirates Palace Cinestar 1 Cinestar 2 Cinestar 3 Cinestar 4 Cinestar 5 Grand Abu Dhabi Mall 12pm 12pm Monday, October 12 11:00 am

1pm THE COSMIC SYMPHONY: 1pm 1:00 Richard Horowitz & Sussan Deyhim 1958 2pm 66 Mins 2pm Page 30 MA1 Page 18 192 3pm Tuesday, October 13 3pm 11:00 am 3:15 FROM NEW ORLEANS JAZZ HUACHO 4pm TO THE EGYPTIAN HIJAZ: 90 Mins 3:45 4pm David Amram 4:00 SHORTS PROGRAM 1: 4:00 SHORTS MYSTERY SON OF BABYLON 5pm Page 30 MA2 89 Mins Page 14 HU1 118 Mins 90 Mins 5pm

Wednesday, October 14 Page 37 C12 11:00 am Page 11 SH1 Page 16 SB2 6pm 6pm PRESERVING THE FILM HERITAGE OF THE ARAB WORLD: 6:30 6:30 7pm Paolo Cherchi Usai BOMBAY SUMMER SUMMER BOOK 6:45 7pm 7:00 7:00 Page 31 MA3 103 Mins 92 Mins THE COVE + Milk and Chocolate 93 Mins SHORTS PROGRAM 2: 7:15 PONYO 25 Mins EMOTION THE SEPTEMBER 100 Mins 8pm Thursday, October 15 137 Mins ISSUE 8pm 8:00 Page 12 BO1 Page 36 SU1 11:00 am Page 20 CV1 90 Mins THE TRAVELER Page 37 C21 Page 26 PN2 9pm 125 Mins THE SILENT PIANIST SPEAKS: Page 28 SE2 9pm Neil Brand 9:30 9:30 9:45 Page 8 TR1 THE MESSENGER NEIGHBORS 112 Mins WHITE MATERIAL 105 Mins 10pm Page 31 MA4 100 Mins 9:45 10pm 10:00 AUTUMN RED RIDING 1980 10:15 106 Mins Page 11 ME1 Page 21 NE1 HONEYMOONS Page 17 WH1 93 Mins 11pm 95 Mins 11pm Page 34 AU2 Page 27 R80 12am Page 25 HO1 12am Friday, October 9 Sunday, October 11

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1pm 1pm

2pm 2pm

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3:30 3:30 4pm PONYO 3:45 SHORTS PROGRAM 2: 3:45 4pm 100 Mins 4:00 4:00 NEIGHBORS EMOTION 10 TO 11 4:15 KERALA CAFE THE SHOCK 105 Mins 137 Mins 110 Mins 5pm AUTUMN 124 Mins DOCTRINE 5pm 106 Mins Page 26 PN1 78 Mins Page 37 C22 + Death of the Poet Page 21 NE2 Page 12 102 18 Mins Page 25 KE1 Page 22 SD1 6pm Page 34 AU1 6pm

6:15 6:30 DOUBLE TAKE 6:30 6:30 6:30 7pm SON OF BABYLON 80 Mins THE TRAVELER THE LONG NIGHT MILK 7pm 90 Mins 7:00 125 Mins 94 Mins 102 Mins 7:00 7:00 7:15 SHORTS PROGRAM 1: + The Waiting 7:15 SHORTS PROGRAM 3: WHITE MATERIAL ALL MY MOTHERS 8pm VALENTINO: Page 20 DT1 MYSTERY 14 Mins STRUGGLE 100 Mins 8pm Page 16 SB1 THE LAST EMPEROR 118 Mins Page 8 TR2 Page 15 LO1 Page 35 MI1 60 Mins 117 Mins 96 Mins Page 37 C11 Page 38 C31 Page 17 WH2 9pm Page 28 VA1 Page 19 AL1 9pm 9:00 1958 9:15 9:30 66 Mins 9:30 9:30 9:30 MY ONLY SUNSHINE 10pm THE SEPTEMBER 9:45 THE WIND JOURNEYS COOKING WITH LAST RIDE 9:45 121 Mins 9:45 10pm ISSUE 10 TO 11 10:00 117 Mins STELLA 100 Mins GOODBYE, 10:00 BOMBAY SUMMER 90 Mins 110 Mins Page 18 191 RED RIDING 1974 103 Mins HOW ARE YOU? RED RIDING 1983 103 Mins 11pm 102 Mins 60 Mins 100 Mins Page 35 MY1 11pm Page 28 SE1 Page 29 WJ1 Page 13 CO1 Page 14 LA1 Page 12 101 Page 21 GO1 Page 12 BO2 Page 27 R74 Page 27 R83 12am 12am

Galas World Cinema Showcase New Cinema from Turkey Narrative Feature Competition Special Programs Short Film Competition Documentary Feature Competition “What In The World Are We Doing To Our World?” Emirates Film Competition www.meiff.com 046 047 Monday, October 12 Wednesday, October 14

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1pm 12:45 1pm 1:00 STUDENT SHORTS 2 1:15 MY HEART BEATS 115 Mins 1:15 1:30 EMIRATES ONLY FOR HER EMIRATES 2pm ALL MY MOTHERS FILM COMPETITION 1 86 Mins FILM COMPETITION 3 2pm 60 Mins 96 Mins Page 38 S22 110 Mins Page 26 MH2 3pm Page 40 EC1 Page 41 EC3 3pm Page 19 AL2 3:15 NORTHLESS 4pm 3:45 103 Mins 3:45 4pm 4:00 4:00 SHORTS PROGRAM 3: BEING HERE VALENTINO: THE COVE 4:15 STRUGGLE 124 Mins 4:15 CARIOCA 5pm THE LAST EMPEROR 93 Mins STUDENT SHORTS 1 117 Mins Page 15 NO2 5pm 96 Mins 82 Mins 60 Mins Page 38 C32 Page 19 BE2 Page 28 VA2 Page 20 CV2 6pm Page 38 S11 Page 19 CR2 6pm 6:00 THE SHOCK 7pm 6:30 6:30 6:30 DOCTRINE 6:30 7pm HELIOPOLIS 6:45 PRECIOUS BURIED SECRETS 78 Mins WILD GRASS 103 Mins 7:00 PORT OF MEMORY 109 Mins 7:00 91 Mins 7:00 104 Mins 7:00 7:15 7:15 HUACHO 63 Mins MY ONLY SUNSHINE Page 22 SD2 THE GIFT OF WRONG ROSARY EARTH WHISPERERS ON THE WAY 8pm 90 Mins 121 Mins PACHAMAMA 93 Mins 8pm Page 13 HE1 MOTHER EARTH Page 26 PR1 Page 13 BU1 TO SCHOOL 102 Mins Page 29 WI1 Page 22 PO1 73 Mins 81 Mins Page 14 HU2 Page 35 MY2 Page 33 GI1 Page 36 WR2 9pm Page 32 EA1 Page 22 ON1 9pm 9:00 9:00 BEING HERE 9:15 TRUE COLOR 9:15 9:30 9:30 124 Mins THE LONG NIGHT 9:30 135 Mins 10:00 YUKI & NINA 10pm THE INFORMANT! WRONG ROSARY 94 Mins BLUE IN BERLIN 9:45 92 Mins 9:45 10pm 108 Mins 93 Mins 10:00 128 Mins 96 Mins PANDORA’S BOX DOT + The Sacrifice Page 19 BE1 BURMA VJ Page 17 TC1 112 Mins 78 Mins 11pm 17 Mins 84 Mins Page 15 LO2 + Semolina Halva Page 29 YU1 11pm Page 10 IN1 Page 36 WR1 Page 10 BL1 Page 21 IB1 11 Mins Page 35 PA1 Page 34 DO2 Page 24 VJ1 12am 12am Tuesday, October 13 Thursday, October 15

Emirates Palace Cinestar 1 Cinestar 2 Cinestar 3 Cinestar 4 Cinestar 5 Grand Abu Dhabi Mall Emirates Palace Cinestar 1 Cinestar 2 Cinestar 3 Cinestar 4 Cinestar 5 Grand Abu Dhabi Mall 12pm 12pm

1pm 12:45 1pm PORT OF MEMORY 1:00 1:15 63 Mins THE GIFT OF 1:15 1:30 EMIRATES PACHAMAMA EMIRATES 2pm STUDENT SHORTS 2 FILM COMPETITION 2 102 Mins FILM COMPETITION 4 2pm 115 Mins 101 Mins Page 22 PO2 129 Mins Page 33 GI2 3pm Page 40 EC2 Page 41 EC4 3pm Page 38 S21 3:00 HELIOPOLIS 103 Mins 3:30 4pm 3:45 THE FRONTIER 3:45 4pm 4:00 DOUBLE TAKE 4:30 4:00 GANDHI 4:00 BURIED SECRETS 4:00 CARIOCA 80 Mins EARTH WHISPERERS 4:15 ABOUT ELLY 92 Mins 4:15 BURMA VJ 91 Mins WILD GRASS STUDENT SHORTS 1 Page 13 HE2 5pm 60 Mins MOTHER EARTH 119 Mins GOODBYE, 84 Mins 104 Mins 5pm 73 Mins Page 20 FR2 HOW ARE YOU? Page 20 DT2 82 Mins 60 Mins Page 13 BU2 Page 19 CR1 Page 32 EA2 Page 24 AB1 Page 24 VJ2 Page 29 WI2 6pm Page 38 S12 Page 21 GO2 6pm

6:30 6:30 6:00 6:30 6:30 7pm THE TIME THAT MY HEART BEATS 6:45 HONEYMOONS TRUE COLOR 6:45 PANDORA’S BOX 7pm REMAINS ONLY FOR HER THE FRONTIER 7:00 95 Mins 7:00 7:00 135 Mins 7:00 ON THE WAY 112 Mins 105 Mins 86 Mins GANDHI CHAMELEON BEACH MILK NO ONE KNOWS WE WERE 7:15 TO SCHOOL PLASTIC PLANET 8pm 92 Mins 52 Mins 102 Mins ABOUT PERSIAN COMMUNISTS 81 Mins 8pm Page 16 TI1 Page 26 MH1 Page 25 HO2 CATS Page 17 TC2 40 Mins 52 Mins Page 35 PA2 Page 20 FR1 106 Mins Page 22 ON2 Page 32 CH1 Page 35 MI2 Page 15 NC1 Page 23 WE1 9pm Page 33 PL1 9pm 9:00 9:15 TALES FROM 9:15 9:15 9:30 9:30 DOT THE GOLDEN AGE 9:30 PRECIOUS KERALA CAFE 10pm OCEANS NORTHLESS 9:45 78 Mins 155 Mins 9:45 THIRD PERSON 9:45 109 Mins 124 Mins 10pm 103 Mins 103 Mins THE AGE OF STUPID +Turnout SUMMER BOOK 10:00 SINGULAR NUMBER COOKING WITH 10:00 89 Mins 15 Mins Page 28 TA1 92 Mins SCHEHERAZADE, 123 Mins STELLA FAREWELL 11pm Page 34 DO1 TELL ME A STORY 103 Mins 113 Mins Page 26 PR2 Page 25 KE2 11pm Page 09 OC1 Page 15 NO1 134 Mins Page 16 TH1 Page 18 AG1 Page 36 SU2 Page 13 CO2 Page 11 SC1 Page 25 FA1 12am 12am

1pm 12:45 LAST RIDE 1:00 100 Mins PLASTIC PLANET 2pm 52 Mins Page 14 LA2 Page 33 PL2 3pm Organized By 3:30 3:30 4pm IN BERLIN 3:45 TALES FROM 96 Mins THE TIME THAT THE GOLDEN AGE 4:00 4:00 REMAINS 4:15 155 Mins “LAUGH TILL IT FAREWELL 5pm 105 Mins CHAMELEON BEACH HURTS” 113 Mins Page 21 IB2 52 Mins Page 28 TA2 86 Mins Page 16 TI2 Page 31 LH1 Page 25 FA2 6pm Page 32 CH2

6:15 6:30 NO ONE KNOWS 6:30 7pm THE WARRIOR ABOUT PERSIAN 6:45 FOOD, INC. AND THE WOLF CATS THE AGE OF STUPID 93 Mins 7:00 106 Mins 106 Mins 89 Mins 7:15 THE MESSENGER YUKI & NINA 8pm Page 15 NC2 112 Mins Page 17 WA1 Page 33 FO1 92 Mins Page 18 AG2 Page 11 ME2 9pm Page 29 YU2 9:00 9:15 SCHEHERAZADE, 9:30 HIPSTERS 9:30 TELL ME A STORY 10pm CAPITALISM: 125 Mins OCEANS 134 Mins 9:45 A LOVE STORY 103 Mins THIRD PERSON 120 Mins Page 11 SC2 SINGULAR NUMBER Presenting Sponsor Official Airline Sponsor 11pm Page 14 HI1 123 Mins Page 10 CA1 Page 09 OC2 Page 16 TH2 12am Saturday, October 17

Emirates Palace Cinestar 1 Cinestar 2 Cinestar 3 Cinestar 4 Cinestar 5 Grand Abu Dhabi Mall 12pm

1pm 1:00 1:00 FOOD, INC. THE WARRIOR 2pm 93 Mins AND THE WOLF 106 Mins Gold Sponsors Page 33 FO2 Page 17 WA2 2:30 3pm CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY 120 Mins 3:30 4pm HIPSTERS 3:45 Page 10 CA2 125 Mins ABOUT ELLY 119 Mins 5pm Page 14 HI2 Page 24 AB2

6pm

7pm

8pm Supporting Sponsors 8:00 THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS 9pm 90 Mins

Page 9 MG1 10pm

11pm

12am

Join us everyday from noon to 2 am on the main terrace at the Emirates Palace.