Clint Eastwood’s mega-hit American Sniper was the top film at North American movie houses for a second week, despite controversy over what some feel is a jingoistic message and graphic violence. The war drama, based on the true story of Iraq War Navy Seal Chris Kyle, earned US$64.4 million (Dh2.3billion) this weekend, industry estimates showed, after last weekend’s massive haul of nearly $90 million – a record January opening. Nearly half of all movie tickets sold over the weekend were for American Sniper and all told, the film has so far earned more than $200 million since its release, giving it bona fide blockbuster status. – AFP
Abu Dhabi Festival announces special ticket prices
Abu Dhabi Festival fans now have the opportunity to take advantage of discounted and packaged tickets for the month long events beginning on March 3. True to the festival's education ethos, students can save up to 50 percent on tickets for events across the programme, while adults can make use of packaged tickets. Combos includes a jazz concert by legend Sergio Mendes (March 20) and the festival's final concert by Maysaa Karra (April 2). Opera lovers can book a package featuring a performance by tenor Juan Diego Flórez (March 23) and Mozart's Opera The Magic Flute on March 28. All performances mentioned take place at Emirates Palace. Visit www. timeouttickets.com for more details. – The National staff
Palestinian docu wins Doing Good contest
A Palestinian documentary has won a major award in the Doing Good Competition organised by the United Nations Volunteer Program (UNV) and the broadcaster MBC. Lebanon based Palestinian filmmakers Dana Abu Rahma and Jenan Dagher received the Innovation and Creativity gong in a special gala ceremony held recently at Dubai's Sofitel The Palm. Their short documentary, A Folktale of Palestine, focuses on relationships that endured despite the Israeli occupation and uses various story telling techniques ranging from archival material to animation. "All challenges are opportunities if they were treated to create solutions," said the ceremony's special guest, the United Nations Secretary- General's Special Envoy on Youth Ahmad Alhendawi. "The real wealth lies in the existing knowledge of the youth, especially now that we are in dire need of talented youth in this day and age". Held for the second time, the annual Doing Good Competition aims to empower the region's youth and a showcase for their talents. For details go to www.unv.org. – The National staff
Salim Khan rejects top Indian award
Veteran Bollywood screenwriter Salim Khan, Salman Khan’s father, has snubbed the Indian government with his refusal to accept the Padma Shri award, the country’s fourth-highest civilian honour. Khan told the Indian Express that the award doesn’t “match his status and his body of work”. Khan, 79, is best-known for his collaborations with fellow screenwriter Javed Akhtar, who was awarded the Padma Shri in 1999 and the Padma Bhushan (India’s third-highest civilian honour) in 2007. The duo, popularly known as Salim-Javed, wrote the scripts for dozens of films in the 70s and 80s. Meanwhile actors Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan were among those named for Padma Vibhushan awards, India’s second-highest civilian honour.– The National staff
Shabana Azmi: it’s a good time for women in Indian cinema
Veteran actress/social activist Shabana Azmi has expressed hope for women in Hindi cinema, observing that roles are becoming substantial for them and are being written for all age groups. “I am very hopeful. I feel the roles are becoming substantial in films that are women-centric, and even the films themselves,” Shabana said here Sunday evening at a special session of the Kolkata Literary Meet. “I think it is a very important time for Hindi cinema because roles are being written for all age groups. Earlier 30 was the end of a women’s career. But today the roles are opening up and they are available, so I do think that happy times are here,” she said. – IANS
