| The National

From volunteer to talent

Abu Dhabi Film Festival couldn't exist without the tireless work of the many, many volunteers and seasonal staff that keep everything held together behind the scenes, a fact that was recognised by the festival director Ali Al Jabri in his opening speech preceding the premiere of From A to B on Thursday night.

For at least one volunteer, however, things have changed pretty dramatically.

Fadi Rifaai, who spent last year’s festival helping guests from around the world to make the most of the event, received a call from the organisers over the summer to see if he would be available to return to his role this year.

His response? “I’ll have to check with my agent. I’m kind of starring in the opening film.”

Rifaai made his feature film debut in Ali F Mostafa's From A to B.

As far as we could tell, he wasn’t handing out programmes.

Star turn

Bahraini filmmaker Hala Matar raised a few eyebrows at last year's edition of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival when she arrived with a debut short, Streetcar, starring Chloe Sevigny (Kids) and Buck Henry (The Graduate). Of course, that kind of thing would never happen again, said everyone, until she entered her new short, Desire, into this year's Emirates Film Competition. It stars none other than the star of the Jackass television show and films, Johnny Knoxville.

So how does Matar keep pulling off these casting coups?

“I typically approach fun and curious actors that I think my projects would resonate with them,” she says. “My screenplays tend to have surreal elements and absurdist humour with a very strong aesthetic that I think entices them.”

From A to B sells out; third screening added

The Abu Dhabi Film Festival opened on Thursday with the gala screening of From A to B, the sophomore film from Emirati director Ali F Mostafa. This was followed by a sold-out public screening at Vox Cinemas Marina Mall on Friday night.

The movie, the first home-produced movie to open the festival, was well received by audiences (see www.thenational.ae/adff for our review). Demand for tickets was so high that, in a break with festival tradition, a third screening has been added at Vox at 9.15pm on Saturday, November 1. The producers also announced before Thursday's screening that the movie would be released in cinemas across the Middle East on January 1.

cnewbould@thenational.ae

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What is Folia?

Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.

Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."

Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.

In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".

There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.

While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."