British Council Film Screenings - The Documentary Series in Abu Dhabi

The British Council is hosting a documentary series at Vox Cinemas in Abu Dhabi and the line up looks great. Oh, how I wish this could also come to Dubai.

The theme of the documentary series is Perspectives and Retrospectives and includes a series of award winning regional and international documentaries.

Thursday, 9th May 2013 at 7.00 pm - Opening night, films from the Gulf

  • Works of early Bahraini documentary filmmaker Khalifa Shaheen
  • Between two banks by Nujoom Alghanem
  • The falcon and stage of hope by Khalid Siddiq

The opening night will include a panel discussion on History of Cinema in the Gulf and Documentary Film Production in the Region, with Khalifa Shaheen, Khalid Siddiq and Khalid Al-Budour, moderated by Nezar Andari. 

Friday, 10th May 2013
7.00 pm - The Omar Amiralay tribute
The Chickens (42 mins)
A Plate of Sardines (17 mins) 

9.00 pm - I am Breathing by Emma Davie and Morag McKinnon (72 mins)

I am Breathing will be followed by Q&A with Professor Noé Mendelle from the Scottish Documentary Institute, moderated by Ozge Calafato.

The discussion will focus on Neil Platt's battle with the Motor Neurone Disease and Noe's observations on the effects of his deteriorating condition on his family, the challenges the filmmaker faced when shooting the film and the global awareness campaign they started around it.


Saturday, 11th May 2013
7.00pm - Divorce Irania Style by Kim Longinotto and Zibar Mir-Hosseini (80 mins) 

9.00 pm - Retrospective on early Palestinian documentaries  

  • Scenes from under occupation in Gaza by Moustafa Abu Ali (13 min)   
  • They don’t exist by Moustafa Abu Ali (24 min)
  • Palestine in the eye by Moustafa Abu Ali (25 min)
  • Children nevertheless by Khadijeh Habashneh (23 min)

Retrospective on Early Palestinian programme is followed by Q&A with Khadijeh Habashneh, moderated by Prof. Alia Yunis. The discussion will explore the historical, artistic and political significance of the early works by revolutionary Palestinian filmmakers. Khadija Habashneh, late Moustafa Abu Ali's wife, will elaborate on the starting points for these filmmakers, their challenges and their achievements


Sunday, 12th May 2013
7.00 pm - In the Shadow of a Man by Hanan Abdulla (65 min)

9.00 pm - Town of Runners by Jerry Rothwell (86 min) 


Monday, 13th May 2013
7.00 pm - How Much Does Your Building Weigh, Mr Foster? by Carlos Carcas (78 min)  

9.00 pm - Layali Bala Noom (Sleepless Nights) by Elaine Raheb (128 min) 

Tuesday, 14th May 2013 at 7.00 pm - Closing Night
Official release of the trailer of Champ of the Camp by Mahmoud Kaabour

Champ of the Camp is a feature-length documentary on the contestants of an X Factor-like singing competition that takes place in the UAE’s labor camps. The film follows talented and charismatic laborer-crooners from the Asian subcontinent as they hone their vocal skills at labor accommodations and on work sites, and entertain dreams of stardom over the course of the competition. 


Searching for Sugar Man by Malik Bendjelloul (86 min)

 

Event details
Dates: 09-14th May, 7pm and 9pm
Venue: Vox Cinemas, Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi

www.britishcouncil.org/uae-arts-documantary-series-abu-dhabi

www.uae.voxcinemas.com