DAY 7: Award-Winning Films presented in today's programme

Highlights for Wednesday, October 29, 2014

•    World Premiere of SANAD-Funded Documentary PIRATES OF SALÉ
•    Festival winner films THE WONDERS, SIVAS and LEVIATHAN 
•    Press Meetings with Short Filmmakers

Abu Dhabi, UAE – October 28, 2013: The World Premiere of SANAD-funded documentary PIRATES OF SALÉ, directed by Merieme Addou and Rosa Rogers, will feature at VOX 4 at 21:15. The film depicts a group of Moroccan street children who set themselves outside social constraints to join a circus which transforms the young lives. The magical world of the circus is seen through the eyes of teenage acrobats and aerialists. 

Abu Dhabi’s film aficionados have the chance to attend the premiere of London Film Festival-awarded Russian production LEVIATHAN by director Andrey Zvyagintsev today. (VOX 5 at 18:15). The film, competing in the Abu Dhabi Film Festival’s Narrative Competition, won Best Script Award in Cannes earlier this year. 

The film, a tragic drama of corruption and strong-armed tactics in contemporary Russia, represents its maker’s belief that “Whatever society each of us lives in, we will all be faced one day with the following alternative: Either live as a slave or live as a free man.” Co-producers Alexander Rodnyansky and Sergey Melkumov along with actor Alexey Serebryakov will be present for audience interaction after the screening. Zvyagintsev’s last film ELENA was screened at ADFF in 2011. 

Turkish director Kaan Mujdeci‘s debut feature film SIVAS, which won Special Jury Award at the Venice Film Festival, transports you to the bloody and illegal sport of dog fighting shot in the steppes of Eastern Turkey. The film included in the New Horizons category of the festival will have its MENA premiere at VOX 6 at 18:45. 
Also included in the ADFF New Horizons Competition and screening tonight is Winner of the Grand Jury Prize in Cannes, THE WONDERS (VOX 6 at 21:15), 

directed by Italian filmmaker Alice Rohrwacher. It centres on a German-Italian family of bee-keepers and 12-year-old Gelsomina in particular. A coming of age drama, the film also dwells on the fading away of family traditions and occupations. 

THE RIOT CLUB is a critique of the debauched British aristocratic class which exercises unchecked power, wealth and privilege. The film, directed by Danish director Lone Scherfig, is included in the Narrative Competition of the festival (VOX 5 at 21:30).

Debut documentary NATIONAL DIPLOMA (VOX 4 at 18:45) directed by Dieudo Hamadi depicts the rampant corruption in Congo’s education system when for most students, a diploma spells the difference between a menial existence in future or to move up in life. The film director along with producer Marie Balducci will be present for a Q&A after the film. 

2001 Algerian-French INCH’ALLAH DIMANCHE (VOX 2 at 18:30) directed by Yamina Benguigui is the film of the day included in the Special Programs/Arab Diaspora segment, while the 1977 French classic THE MAN WHO LOVED WOMEN (VOX 2 at 21:15) is the one scheduled in the Special Programs/Francois Truffaut segment.

Hubert Canaval’s film ENERGIZED (VOX 1 at 19:00) raises the problematic of the primary methods of energy production; whether from oil, gas, nuclear or hydroelectric, each method affects the environment and people causing rampant illness, unemployment and species extinction. The director brings to the fore potent human-interest stories with crisp delivery of facts, and debates the options before us. The film is featured in ADFF 2014 Showcase. 

Characterised by majestic cinematography, the US production included in the Festival’s Showcase section called DAMNATION, co-directed by Ben Knight and Travis Rummel, raises the issue of dams, which were yesteryears’ symbols of national pride. The film debates whether dams adversely affect environmental health in the long run. (VOX 9 at 21:00) 

TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT in the ADFF Showcase by co-directors Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne, who have won the coveted Palme d’Or at Cannes twice, will be screened at VOX 1 at 21:30. Actor Fabrizio Rongione will attend the film screening.   

MEET THE SHORT-FILM MAKERS

At Emirates Palace Press Centre at 13:00 to 13:30, the press can meet all directors of this year’s Short Film Competition for photos and interviews. Alice Kharoubi, Programmer of the Short Film Competition, will be present. 

From 13:30 to 14:00, the Filmmakers of the Emirates Film Competition will gather for the press as well. This offers a unique opportunity to get to know the upcoming talent from the Gulf region. 

The Abu Dhabi Film Festival runs from October 23 until November 1. The Ceremony for the winners of the Black Pearl Awards will take place on October 31.