October 13, 2011 saw the grand opening of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival (ADFF) 2011. This year the festival ran from October 13-22. Filmmakers and film enthusiasts attended this much talked about and much anticipated (one of my personal favorites) festival in the heart of the UAE. Check out home page of the festival here: www.abudhabifilmfestival.ae/video-abu-dhabi-2011-time-lapseand watch the TIME LAPSE: 'ABU DHABI 2011'... It's amazing!!! photos from last year's festival, ADFF 2010,...
UAE native director Nawaf Al-Janahi will have is premier to his latest film, SEA SHADOW (2011) at Abu Dhabi Film Festival (13 - 22 October 2011)World Premiere: Wednesday, 19 October 2011 (Time: 21:30, Location: Abu Dhabi Theater)Second Screening: Thursday, 20 ...
Last night, October 13, 2011, saw the grand opening of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival (ADFF) 2011. This year the festival will run from October 13-22. Filmmakers, stars, film professionals, press, politicians, royalty, civilians, even the Sheikh himself will attend this much talked about and much anticipated (one of my personal favorites) festival in the heart of the UAE. Check here for dailies and headlines of the festival.
Check out home page of the festival here:
www.a...
The Circle Conference at Abu Dhabi 2010.photo by Vanessa McMahon
Nawaf Al-Janahi News...
"Sea Shadow with Empire & FortissimoAbu Dhabi, 27 August 2011...
...In one of the most important steps in supporting Emirati cinema, Imagenation Abu Dhabi has signed two exclusive deals to distribute Nawaf Al-Janahi's new feature film "Sea Shadow", and its other locally produced films. The first deal is with Empire International who will handle the distribution to theaters and on DVD throughout the Arab world, while the second deal is with Forti...
The interest of Hollywood towards third world countries is this: culture teeming with untold stories and cheaper venues and labor.
You’ve heard of films shot in Canada and less expensive states like Michigan, but with the US economy on a tailspin what does it mean for filmmakers here?
Many Hollywood executives have looked overseas to keep the profits rolling in and the cash inside their o...
Cannes 2011 part life... Abu Dhabi party. Washington DC exec Joel (in Cannes on holiday) shields his innocent eyes from Cannes debauchery. lol. :-)photo by Vanessa McMahon
Cannes 2011 part life... Abu Dhabi party. Three producers- Wael, Philippe and Matt :-)photo by Vanessa McMahon
Cannes 2011 part life... Abu Dhabi party. DJ Kinky D rockin' it till the wee hours!photo by Vanessa McMahon
Cannes 2011 part life... Abu Dhabi party. Tom D. getting down. :-)photo by Vanessa McMahon
Producer Wael showing off his 16 bullets after Egypt revolution at Abu Dhabi party, Cannes 2011photo by Vanessa McMahon
Cannes 2011 part life... Abu Dhabi party. Producer Della getting down. :-) (she'll kill me for this!) lol!photo by Vanessa McMahon
Cannes 2011 part life... Abu Dhabi party. Director Bader Ben Hirsi getting down. :-)photo by Vanessa McMahon
I posted this article (below) back in October after having attended the screening of this documentary, Back Door Channels: The Price of Peace (2009), at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival 2010. In light of the recent controversy in Egypt and impinging further contention, I feel that this film could not have been released at a better time, nor can it be more relevant. A fellow filmmaker and Cairo native stated this in regards to the situation as is today: "The difference betwee...
Director: Luiza Parvu.
Adina tries to make a birthday for herself, but this is not an easy job for a lonely bus ticket saleswoman, living alone in the old apartment of her late parents. She finds an unusual way of spending the day, when she decides to call a professional party entertainer agency.The Birthday is a sincere and sensitive short film about the need to get close to someone and, at the same time, the impossibility of doing it. The motivation of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival Short Competition jury, who awarded this film with the 2nd Prize was: 'The jury found this film effectively acted and directed to express a young woman's sense of isolation, but there is a stubborn hope in despair which resonated with us.'
After a week in Abu Dhabi for the Abu Dhabi Film Festival (October 14-23) 2010, I am now in London for the BFI LFF.
While screening films here at the BFI LFF, I took the opportunity to go outside of the festival to see Blumhouse Productions' latest super hit, 'Paranormal Activity 2'. And wow, what a pleasant surprise! I love this film. While I appreciated the first, I rave about the sequel. Many people I talk to roll their eyes when they hear 'Paranormal Acti...
After a week in Abu Dhabi for the Abu Dhabi Film Festival (October 14-23) 2010, I am now in London for the BFI LFF. While screening some fantastic (and some not so fantastic) films here at the BFI LFF, I took the opportunity to go outside of the festival to see Blumhouse Productions' latest super hit, 'Paranormal Activity 2'. And wow, what a pleasant surprise! I love this film. While I appreciated the first, I rave about the sequel. Most people I talk to roll their eyes when they hear 'Paranorm...
So, here is my way late up to date on The Circle Conference in Abu Dhabi at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival during October 13-15, 2010...
What a great and informative time this was. It took place at the Intercontinental Hotel in Abu Dhabi and received renowned filmmakers from around the world on panel to discuss the future of international cinema today. The topics of rhetorical (and sometimes highly debatable) conve
Humid hot over the top...where it was all at during the ADFF 2010, The Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi!
Read about The Circle Conference here:
http://www.fest21.com/en/blog/vanessa_mcmahon/jason_blum_speaks_on_independent_features_in_global_market
David Shepheard closes The Circle Conference in Abu Dhabi on October 15, 2010. Stay tuned for
write up on the conference later today. A great and dense meeting of filmmakers from all over the
world discussing new innovative world cinema and, most pressing, pan-Arabic cinema including new
trans-media, 3D, changes in narrative cinema, independent and studio cinema- well, frankly just
about everyth
October 23, 2010 sees the closing of the 2010 Abu Dhabi Film Festival.
Read news and press release coverage of entire festival here:
http://www.abudhabifilmfestival.ae/en/press/press-releases
Director Harry Hunkele and producer Matthew Tollin make a Q and A for their hot and controversial film at the 2010 Abu Dhabi Film Festival.
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Back Door Channels: The Price of Peace (2009).
'Back Door Channels' is a creatively made documentary about the 'back door' (unofficial meetings) Camp David Accords which took place between USA, Egypt and Israel in 1979. It features never before seen footage of the numerous meeting...
Director Harry Hunkele and producer Matthew Tollin make a Q and A for their hot and controversial film at the 2010 Abu Dhabi Film Festival.
Back Door Channels: The Price of Peace (2010).
'Back Door Channels' is a creatively made documentary about the 'back door' (unofficial meetings) Camp David Accords which took place between USA, Egypt and Israel in 1979. It features never before seen footage o
Gérard Depardieu stars in the film Potiche (2010) which screened in the Emirates Palace theater this week in Abu Dhabi. Gerard made the audiences laugh with his good humor and pot belly.
The film was an average family comedy taking place in 1977. Funny at moments and a bit bland for its stark more spicy competition.
Wow! What a place for a film festival! This was a special festival aimed at the discussions and concerns on new world cinema and most importantly, new pan-Arabic cinema.
When I arrived in Bahrain airport and passed through customs, the customs officer asked my reason for heading further for Abu Dhabi. I told him I was to attend the Abu Dhabi film festival for a conference on new Arabic cinema. He laughed in my fa