The Doha Film Festival Line-Up
29 October 2009
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The inaugural Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF) announced today it will open with a special screening of director Mira Nair's Amelia, a thrilling account of legendary aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart starring two-time Academy Award® winner Hilary Swank and Golden Globe® winner Richard Gere.
Organisers also revealed the 32 films that will comprise the rest of the Festival’s film slate. 12 of the films have roots in the Middle East and the balance is a diverse selection of acclaimed titles from the international festival circuit, from both emerging and established directors. The DTFF will run from October 29 to November 1, 2009 in Doha, Qatar.
Festival activities will be centred at the internationally-acclaimed, I.M. Pei-designed Museum of Islamic Art, an architectural homage to modernity and history that underscores the unique character of Doha.
In addition, open-air screenings around the city will include a showing of the 1969 Egyptian film, The Mummy (Al-Momia). This classic, a restored print presented by Martin Scorsese’s World Cinema Foundation, will be shown outdoors at the Souq Waqif, a traditional Middle Eastern bazaar in the heart of Doha.
The film program is highlighted by such titles as Cairo Time, starring Patricia Clarkson, A Serious Man, the critically hailed new film from Academy Award® winners Joel and Ethan Coen, and The Informant! from director Steven Soderbergh, a Warner Bros. release starring Matt Damon.
Festival organisers also announced that in its first year, 31 of the 33 films in the line-up will be eligible for two audience-based awards each carrying unrestricted cash prizes amounting to $50,000 (USD).
Audience award winners will be announced at DTFF’s closing night ceremony on November 1, 2009. During the ceremony, the Festival will also announce a screenplay development and filmmaker grant programme, illustrating its commitment to develop and support filmmakers year-round in the region.
So for all you film festival fans take a look at whats playing over the next few days.
- About Elly (Darbareye Elly), directed and written by Asghar Farhadi. (Iran) Qatar Premiere. Sepideh (Golshifteh Farahani) plans a weekend getaway with friends and invites her son’s kindergarten teacher, Elly (Taraneh Alidousti) to join, but a well-intentioned game of romance quickly turns tragic when she disappears.
Saving face overtakes telling the truth as fear and guilt ensnare the group in mystery and lies. Winner of the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival’s Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature. In Persian with English and Arabic subtitles.
- Amelia, directed by Mira Nair, written by Ronald Bass and Anna Hamilton Phelan. (USA) Special Screening. From acclaimed director Mira Nair comes the thrilling story of Amelia Earhart, the woman who changed the face of aviation forever.
Amelia chronicles Earhart (Two-time Academy Award® winner Hilary Swank) from her childhood roots in rural Kansas, through her early days as an adventurous student of the most respected male aviators, and to her rise to fame and subsequently heartbreaking disappearance on her world-renowned mission around the world in 1937.
Golden Globe® winner Richard Gere stars as Earhart’s husband, promoter and publishing magnate George P. Putnam and Ewan McGregor stars as her long time friend and lover, pilot Gene Vidal. In English with Arabic subtitles. Fox Searchlight.
- Assila, directed by Thamer Al Zedi, written by Fedina Lydia and Itiqal Al Tair. (Hungary, UAE, Lebanon, Egypt) World Premiere. Iraqi filmmaker Al-Zaidi creates a stunning and artistic world to take families on an animated journey into the life of beautiful mare, Assila.
Abandoned as a filly and facing death, Assila finds happiness when rescued by village children. When her new life is threatened years later, Assila is forced to run the most challenging race of her life. With themes of family, loyalty, love and courage, Assila is an inspirational story for the whole family. In Arabic with English subtitles.
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