The Arab Film Days 2015 celebrate five years
In April 2015 the Arab Film Days will celebrate its fifth anniversary, and we are planning to celebrate in style with the newest films of the highest quality from the region. Our project managers have just returned from the film festival in Abu Dhabi with updates of the hottest trends in the marked right now. With an ever increasing audience we are delighted to give you a full extra day of screenings at this years festival from 16th-19th April.
The Abu Dhabi Film Festival and the Dubai International Film Festival are the most important arenas for films from and about the region. Both festivals have funds for financing film which makes them able to buy rights for red carpet world premiers. This years festival was no less glamorous. While some of the films did not succeed expectations, a lot did capture our attention.
The highlights
These are some of the highlights. First we have Theeb from Jordan, a film by Naji Abu Nowar and the only Arab contribution to the film festival in Venice this year. The film takes place in the deserts in Jordan and the focus of attention is Theeb – the youngest son of the tribe leader. He is on a journey to blow up the train tracks the Turkish army use to supply their troops with weapons.
Theeb is masterfully directed. With quivering tension and impressing action it examines how the Bedouin way of life came under pressure from the modern society. A must-see-film about betrayal and friendship.
Another highlight was The Man from Oran by Lyès Salem. The film takes a closer look at some of the most important historical events in Algeria; the country’s 30 years long struggle against the French occupation and it´s own struggle against political and economical corruption. The Man from Oran is a gripping story about how winners write history and how power can corrupt.
Cows versus the occupation forces
Other favourites were found in the documentary section. The Palestinian The Wanted 18 by Amer Shomali and Paul Cowan, charmed us the most. It is a story about 18 cows responsible for causing severe headache for the IDF military during the first intifada. What do cows really have to do with the Palestinian non-violent resistance, you might ask? You will find the answer in this experimental documentary about the Christian village Beit Sahour on the West bank. The village refused to pay taxes and started to produce its own illegal milk. This is the story about the Christian cows that challenged the power of the Israeli occupation forces.
Another interesting documentary is the Egyptian Mother of the Unborn by Nadine Salib. In the centre of the story we find Hanan – a woman unable to have children. Without luck she has tried everything Western medical science and the local superstitions has to offer a pour Egyptian woman. Her high spirit, good mood and courage can not hide the sorrow and bitterness of being childless in a dusty village where children is the essence of life and femininity.
In the last four years we have delivered the best of the newest films together with mind-blowing debates that hopefully have challenged your perceptions of this turmoil region. We promise that we will continue to raise the standards for the future. Stay tuned for an equally exciting and varied anniversary program soon to be released - perhaps there will be some surprises too! Our project managers welcomes you to the Arab Film Days 16th-19th April 2015.
