While the region around it has descended in political chaos and religious strife, Dubai continues to flourish and prosper, becoming an oasis of harmony and progress, where the natives constitute less than 12% of its multinational inhabitants. Its international film festival (DIFF), which was launched 12 years ago, in order to enhance understanding and form … Continue reading Dubai International Film Festival empowers female directors in the Middle East
Festivals
Sundance movies explore the terrifying impact of authority on human behaviour
Participating movies in the Sundance film festival are usually made on shoestring budgets and often by first-time directors, but they are rich in their substance, bold in their themes and unique in their subjects. This year, movies have touched on controversial issues such as nature vs nurture (Stockholm, Pennsylvania), homosexuality (I am Michael, D Train), … Continue reading Sundance movies explore the terrifying impact of authority on human behaviour
Great performances but no clear winner at Toronto International Film Festival
In the last 10 days, hundreds of thousands of film fans and experts descended on Toronto charged with great expectations and hopes to discover next year’s potential Best Picture Oscar winner. Armed with their precious tickets, they stood patiently for hours in long lines in the sweltering heat, longing to witness film history again. On … Continue reading Great performances but no clear winner at Toronto International Film Festival
Why does Toronto International Film Festival matter?
Last week, Venice Film Festival rocked the film industry with the opening of Alejandro Gonzales Iñárritu’s "Birdman," which has become an instant favourite to dominate next year’s Oscars. Other movies such as Reese Witherspoon's starrer “Wild” and Alan Turin's biopic “The Imitation Game” generated no lesser enthusiasm following their premieres at the Colorado-based Telluride Film … Continue reading Why does Toronto International Film Festival matter?
Overlapping Dark Themes at the Cannes Film Festival
Following a limping opening with the controversial biopic “Grace of Monaco,” that was panned by the critics, condemned by the royal family of Monaco, and avoided by its American distributor Harvey Weinstein who was glaringly absent from the red carpet, the 67th Cannes Film Festival picked up steam and offered a delicious feast of international … Continue reading Overlapping Dark Themes at the Cannes Film Festival
How New Wave was François Truffaut’s cinema?
In its 18th edition, Colcoa (City of Lights, City of Angels) Film Festival, which is considered the biggest French film festival outside of France, screening this year 61 films this year, celebrated the legacy of iconic French director, François Truffaut, who passed away 30 years ago, with a screening of one of his movies The … Continue reading How New Wave was François Truffaut’s cinema?
What is buzzing in the 30th Sundance Film Festival?
Every year, tens of thousands of filmmakers, film lovers, buyers, executives and party goers flock to Park City in Utah, braving the subzero temperature, to attend the Sundance Film Festival, which has become the epicentre of independent cinema since it was founded 30 years ago by Robert Redford in order to give a platform for … Continue reading What is buzzing in the 30th Sundance Film Festival?
Toronto Film Festival ignites the race to the Oscars
In the last few years, The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has increasingly become more of a barometer for Oscar contenders than a platform to discover small movies that often rely on festivals to gain some attention. Films are not measured by creative quality or commercial viability anymore but by their Oscar potential - a … Continue reading Toronto Film Festival ignites the race to the Oscars
Lebanese and Iranian Directors take the spotlight at the Jerusalem Film Festival.
The Jerusalem Film Festival, held at the Cinematheque, a modern four-story building built into a hill overlooking the walls of the old city, is the most important film event in Israel. In the last 30 years, it has screened hundreds of Israeli movies, some of which went on to win major awards around the world, … Continue reading Lebanese and Iranian Directors take the spotlight at the Jerusalem Film Festival.
Lack-Lustre Rome Film Festival Divides Critics with its Winning Choice
When Marc Muller, the former artistic director of Venice of Film Festival, which attracts the brightest stars from Hollywood and beyond, took over Rome Film Festival this year, many expected to see Rome glittering with the most luminous names in the film business, but having spent 5 days at the festival, I didn’t glimpse any … Continue reading Lack-Lustre Rome Film Festival Divides Critics with its Winning Choice
Husam (Sam) Asi 