After a highly successful inaugural event last year, the European Film Screenings are back for a bigger and better second edition, offering audiences in Abu Dhabi and Dubai a chance to see a selection of the best new and recent movies from 18 countries.
The event’s organiser Alessandra Priante told us about the idea behind the free event and what we can look forward to this year.
How did the European Film Screenings come about?
The idea was very simple: last year, when I was the cultural expert to the Gulf for the Italian Government, located at the Italian Embassy in AD, I came up with the idea to celebrate the best of European culture during the Italian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and what better way than cinema?
The result was incredible and it really showed how much the UAE community is “hungry” for these kind of events where, simply, you can go to a cinema a watch a film from a distant country which you would not know how to access otherwise. I sincerely hope also this year we will make people happy.
How was last year’s event received? What is new this year?
Last year we tried having a theme for the event, but in reality when you put together a program, diversity is really what makes it special, thus more appreciated. This year we focused on highlighting the latest production from Europe and let each Embassy come up with a shortlist of what they considered the best recent films from their countries.
Also let’s not forget the Emirati shorts, whose selection this year has been curated by the Emirati Cinema Campaign initiative. With a claim like “We simply want to tell everyone, in the UAE, and the whole world, about Emirati cinema”, what better partner would I look for?
What is also new this year is that in recognition of the great success of last year, we have Novo Cinemas UAE as main partner, hand in hand with us in this adventure and we have received the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development. All this represents a lot for us and a greater commitment to the communities of the UAE and to the vision of the country as a real multicultural hub, inspired by the principles of tolerance, understanding and cultural diversity.
Is it difficult to co-ordinate with so many countries and people and assemble a cohesive event?
My work has been easy and hard at the same time – we had an increase in the participation from 13 Embassies to 18, more films, more programming days, more everything.
Together with the amazing Nicole Bintner, ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, who has fully endorsed and supported the event within Luxembourg’s semester of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union and with the great support of the EU Delegation to the UAE, with Ambassador Patrizio Fondi and his team, we were able to pull the show together one more time.
And we can never thank enough the participating Embassies for their goodwill, dedication and enthusiasm. The beautiful thing about this experience is the fact that it’s a collective effort. It’s really something done “by the people, for the people”.
What are your personal highlights from this year’s movies?
This year's program makes me particularly happy: there are more national box-office hits, comedies, family films, animation at its best and documentaries. My personal take is definitely towards the incredible animation films coming from Luxembourg, starting from the Song of the Sea, the opening film – which, by the way, is a true European coproduction since it has five countries in the production credits (the biggest one is Luxembourg) and is directed by an Irish director, Tomm Moore. Or our "family" films, such as Honig Im Kopf from Germany, Finn from the Netherlands and Antboy from Denmark. Not forgetting the great nordic comedies we have in the program, such as The Grump from Finland or The 100 year old man who climbed…, both big box office hits in their countries and hopefully very entertaining for local audiences.
Does the festival have a wider goal or purpose?
I would say that we all have a wider goal but the beauty of it is that this goal shapes up from simple achievements. The core of this experience for me is the energy that accompanies it, an energy of cooperation, dialogue, commitment, true passion for cinema. I expect only good things to come out of it.
• The European Films Screenings are at Novo Cinemas at WTC Mall in Abu Dhabi, and Ibn Battuta Mall in Dubai. Tickets are free on a first-come-first-served basis
Each feature film will be preceded by a UAE-produced short. This year’s selected movies are:
Sunset State
Mustafa Abbas, 2013
A middle-aged American novelist and a young Emirati student, both in a fragile state of mind, find they have more in common then they think.
The Intruder!
Majid Al Ansari, 2011
A chance night-time encounter in the desert threatens a couple and their unborn child in this short from the director of the upcoming feature film Zinzana.
The Journey
Hana Makki, 2012
A newly arrived Ethiopian maid and her Indian taxi driver share their hopes and dreams on the drive from Abu Dhabi airport.
The Pillars
Moustafa Zakaria, 2011
A recently divorced couple adjust to their new situation in a society in a state of flux.
Sabeel
Khalid Al-Mahmood, 2010
Two boys make their living on the road – a road that will decide their destiny.
Sarab
Mariam Ferouhi, 2012
A lovestruck woman struggles to separate the real world from her dreams.
Once
Nayla Al Khaja, 2012
Hamda takes a huge risk to meet her boyfriend Saeed for the first time – and all does not go according to plan.
Mirrors of Silence
Nawaf Al-Janahi, 2006
A young man struggles to overcome his loneliness in a harsh, modern city.
Half Emirati
Amal Al-Agroobi, 2012
Mixed-nationality Emiratis share their experiences in this documentary by the British-Emirati Al Agroobi.