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Festival Announces Third Line-up in Popular Section
Dubai, November 25, 2014 – Spectacular stories, renowned actors and amazing feats of cinema are set to descend on Dubai, as part of the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) ‘Cinema of the World' segment this December. Each year the selection of films from the world's brightest directors, producers and scriptwriters, attract thousands of cinemagoers to the Festival's showings.
DIFF today announced the third line-up for the segment, which brings together filmmakers from all walks of life and diverse corners of the globe.
Directed by Academy Award ® Nominee director Alejandro G. Iñárritu, ‘Birdman' or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance is a black comedy that tells the story of an actor (Michael Keaton) – famous for portraying an iconic superhero – as he struggles to mount a Broadway play. In the days leading up to opening night, he battles his ego and attempts to recover his family, his career, and himself. Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Andrea Riseborough, Amy Ryan, Emma Stone and Naomi Watts star in what promises to be one of the most original films of the year.
Russell Crowe's long awaited directorial debut ‘The Water Diviner', is an epic historical adventure set four years after the devastating battle of Gallipoli during World War I. Crowe plays an Australian farmer called Joshua Connor, who travels to Istanbul to find out the fate of his sons who were reported missing in action.
J.C. Chandor's ‘A Most Violent Year' is a thriller set in New York City during the winter of 1981, statistically one of the most violent years in the city's history. The film follows the lives of an immigrant (Oscar Isaac) and his family trying to expand their business and capitalize on opportunities as the rampant violence, decay, and corruption of the day drag them in and threaten to destroy all they have built. This highly anticipated film features stellar performances from Jessica Chastain and Oscar Isaac.
‘I'm Steve Lopez' by Rajeev Ravi is the coming-of-age tale of Steve Lopez, the teenage son of an influential police officer. Steve's fairly predictable life is changed when he happens to witness a fight between two rival gangs and helps take an injured man to the hospital. The events lead him into the world of the gangsters: a world of crime, but also, a world with an intricate web of inter-relationships.
Writer-Director Jamshid Mahmoudi's debut feature and Afghanistan's entry for the foreign-language Academy Awards category ‘A Few Cubic Metres of Love' tells the story of a factory in the outskirts of Tehran which illegally employs Afghan asylum seekers.
Saber, a young Iranian worker, meets Marona, daughter of Abdolsalam, an Afghan worker. A love story unfolds; the conclusion of which no-one can foretell.
The main character in Céline Sciamma's ‘Girlhood' is Marieme who is oppressed by her family setting, dead-end school prospects and the boys' law in a tough suburban neighborhood of Paris. Marieme starts a new life after meeting a group of 3 free-spirited girls. She changes her name, her dress code, and quits school to be accepted in the gang, hoping that this will be a way to freedom.
Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement co-direct and star in the hilarious horror mockumentary ‘What we do in the Shadows', about a trio of vampires living in a New Zealand suburb who struggle to adapt to life in the 21st century. They have rent to pay, a schedule for household chores to stick to, and parties to attend. So essentially, they're just like anyone else — except that they're immortal vampires who must feast on human blood.
‘Snow', directed by Mehdi Rahmani presents a view of Iran's struggling middle class. Returning from military service out of town, Omid returns to his family home to find it in shambles. His family was once affluent but has since fallen destitute. A suitor is arriving from abroad to propose to his sister, the family's only daughter. His mother is trying all that she can to cover up their current situation before he arrives, but the skeletons in their closet won't stay buried.
Also from Iran is Reza Dormishian's ‘I'm Not Angry!' a heart-breaking love story set in Tehran, in the middle of the political protests. The film follows Navid, an Iranian Kurd living in Tehran, as he meets Setareh during the protests that erupt following the 2009 elections. They continue their political activism at their university until one day Navid is expelled. To cap it all, referencing his poverty, Setareh's father tells him to stay away from his daughter. The ending is both shocking and unexpected.
‘The Good Lie', directed by Philippe Falardeau, sheds a light on the life of children orphaned by the brutal Civil War in Sudan that began in 1983. These young victims travelled as many as a thousand miles on foot in search of safety. Fifteen years later, a humanitarian effort brings 3,600 lost boys and girls to America. Reese Witherspoon stars alongside Sudanese actors many of whom were also children of war.
In Bikas Ranjan Mishra's ‘Four Colors', set in the dark hinterland of India, Santu wants to go to school like his older brother Bajarangi. When Bajarangi returns from boarding school on holiday, he exposes Santu to the dreams of city life. But Santu's destiny was pre-written in a village that's steeped deep in caste-hierarchy and debauchery.
In the inspirational drama ‘X+Y,' directed by Morgan Matthews, Nathan, a socially awkward teenage math prodigy struggles to connect with people. Without the ability to understand love or affection, Nathan finds new confidence and new friendships when he lands a spot on the British squad at the International Mathematics Olympiad.
Masoud Amralla Al Ali, DIFF Artistic Director, said: “We are delighted with the incredible slate of films we've selected for the ‘Cinema of the World' segment. Year on year this programme continues to excite and enthrall our ever-enthusiastic audiences. These works of cinematic genius, sourced from all across the globe, may very well go on to secure high-profile awards, and DIFF moviegoers will have a wonderful chance to view these films way in advance of their theatrical releases.”
Nashen Moodley, DIFF's Director of the Cinema of the World programme, continued: “One of the greatest aspects of this segment is its ability to offer something for everyone. DIFF's audiences are very discerning; and I'm sure they will enjoy the hand-picked selections we've made this year.”
All films will screen as part of DIFF's 11th edition, to take place from December 10 to 17, 2014. Schedules can be found on the DIFF website: www.dubaifilmfest.com
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