Zindeeq wins DIff's best Arab film gong

Michel Khlefi's story of a Palestinian filmmaker wins the award for best feature film in the Arab category.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid, the chairman of Dubai Art and Culture Authority, left, and Abdulhamid Juma, the chairman of the Dubai International Film Festival, right, attend the closing ceremony of the Dubai International Film Festival.

DUBAI // The curtain fell on the Dubai International Film Festival last night and Zindeeq, Michel Khlefi's story of a Palestinian filmmaker, won the award for best feature film in the Arab category, and Brillante Mendoza's Lola was selected as best feature film in the Asia/Africa category at the closing ceremonies. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, made an appearance at the ceremony along with Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid, the chairman of the Dubai Art and Culture Authority.

Said Bey won best actor for The Man Who Sold The World, and the best actress was Nisreen Faour for Amreeka. Other Muhr Arab awards included best screenplay, Mariam Naoum for Wahed-Sifr (One-Zero) from Egypt; best editor, Ahmed Dawood for Asafeer al Neel (The Nile Birds) from Egypt; best composer to Le Trio Joubran for Adieu Gary, from France; and best cinematographer to Nancy Abdel Fattah for Wahed-Sifr.

Muhr is Arabic for young horse, and the design of the award statues, a horse's head, reflects Arabian and Emirati cultural heritage. Emirati talent was also praised: Mohammed Hassan Ahmad was awarded best Emirati talent; the most promising Emirati female filmmaker was Manal Bin Amro; and most promising Emirati male filmmaker was Nawaf al Janahi. [e-mail]