As the 69th edition of the Cannes Film Festival draws to a close, we catch up with Shivani Pandya, the managing director of the Dubai International Film Festival, a long-time visitor to the glitzy event on the French Riviera.
She shared the latest news from the UAE Pavilion at the event, gave us the lowdown on this year’s locally supported movies – and explained just what exactly the organisers of one film festival get up to when they visit another one.
What is the role of the Dubai International Film Festival, at home in the UAE and in the wider film world?
For us, our mandate is to be a cultural event for the people of the UAE and the wider GCC.
That’s our key thing, but we also want to really develop cinema, so we look at elements such as getting universities on board to help them understand film and bringing in volunteers, up to developing the film market itself on a more industry level.
We focus on Arab cinema because we take the view that if we create a community where Arab filmmakers are coming to Dubai and showcasing their films it will help aspiring filmmakers from the Gulf region to come together and create projects together.
So we have three key elements: being a great cultural event, developing the local film industry and putting Dubai and the UAE on the map for the entertainment industry itself.
Why are you at Cannes? What does the boss of one film festival do at another film festival?
Typically, one festival comes to another festival to see films that they might not see otherwise.
Especially here in Cannes, there are so many films presented from all over the world – whether it’s part of the main selection or part of the market.
So we’re looking at films that might be finished, or might not, and if we see something good, that’s really important from a programming point of view.
Also, we have a strong relationship with the Cannes’ producers’ network through the Dubai Film Connection, so we bring out producers to network with other producers from around the world, as well as funding organisations.
In addition, we have four producers this year from the Dubai Film Market, who get to show up to 20 minutes of their films to distributors and producers from around the world and hopefully pick up distribution and partnerships further down the line.
Also, of course, we want to promote Diff, and the UAE as a destination and market, so we have the UAE Pavilion here, with the Sharjah Children’s Film Festival, the Dubai Film and TV Commission, Dubai Studio City, Dubai Film Market and Image Nation Abu Dhabi all present to push that side.
Is there any big news you can share about this year’s Diff?
Sadly not right now, but over the next couple of weeks and months you can expect quite a few announcements. We started a lot of discussions earlier this year that we’ve concluded here, and are in the process of signing deals – so don’t worry, you’ll be the first to know.
What have been your personal highlights of Cannes this year?
DFM Goes to Cannes got a lot of hype because of the films we selected. For us, any publicity is good publicity. We like to support documentaries and we think if we’re supporting a documentary, it means they’re telling a story that should be heard.
After coming to Cannes for many years, how do you think international perceptions of the Arab film industry have changed?
I think the Arab film industry is definitely gaining momentum, and I’m proud to have had a role in that.
I’ve really seen the difference in perception over the years. As a region, we have a lot of films presented in programmes in Cannes. The Europeans, and the French in particular, have always been open to Arab cinema and now we’re talking to Germany and to the Nordic states.
The Malmo Arab Film Festival [in Sweden] even had an event in the UAE Pavilion this year to interact with Arab filmmakers, and that’s a great relationship to have.
I think there’s a huge change in the way people are looking at Arab cinema and a huge improvement in the quality of Arab cinema. There’s far more support than there was previously and what’s great is that now, there is a huge number of Arab events and organisations supporting Arab cinema, whereas in the past it was only European institutions.
There has been a total change in dynamics and a much bigger delegation in the industry from the Arab world. It’s great to see.
cnewbould@thenational.ae
Getting%20there
%3Cp%3EGiven%20its%20remote%20location%2C%20getting%20to%20Borneo%20can%20feel%20daunting%20even%20for%20the%20most%20seasoned%20traveller.%20But%20you%20can%20fly%20directly%20from%20Kuala%20Lumpur%20to%20Sandakan%20and%20Sepilok%20is%20only%20half%20an%20hour%20away%20by%20taxi.%20Sandakan%20has%20plenty%20of%20accommodation%20options%2C%20while%20Sepilok%20has%20a%20few%20nature%20lodges%20close%20to%20the%20main%20attractions.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
PRESIDENTS CUP
Draw for Presidents Cup fourball matches on Thursday (Internationals first mention). All times UAE:
02.32am (Thursday): Marc Leishman/Joaquin Niemann v Tiger Woods/Justin Thomas
02.47am (Thursday): Adam Hadwin/Im Sung-jae v Xander Schauffele/Patrick Cantlay
03.02am (Thursday): Adam Scott/An Byeong-hun v Bryson DeChambeau/Tony Finau
03.17am (Thursday): Hideki Matsuyama/CT Pan v Webb Simpson/Patrick Reed
03.32am (Thursday): Abraham Ancer/Louis Oosthuizen v Dustin Johnson/Gary Woodland
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
SPECS
Nissan 370z Nismo
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 363hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh184,500
Specs%3A%202024%20McLaren%20Artura%20Spider
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THE SPECS
Engine: six-litre W12 twin-turbo
Transmission: eight-speed dual clutch auto
Power: 626bhp
Torque: 900Nm
Price: Dh940,160 (plus VAT)
On sale: Q1 2020
The specs
Price: From Dh529,000
Engine: 5-litre V8
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Power: 520hp
Torque: 625Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.8L/100km
Company%20Profile
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Company%20Profile
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RACECARD
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'Brazen'
Director: Monika Mitchell
Starring: Alyssa Milano, Sam Page, Colleen Wheeler
Rating: 3/5
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Ultra processed foods
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Hili 2: Unesco World Heritage site
The site is part of the Hili archaeological park in Al Ain. Excavations there have proved the existence of the earliest known agricultural communities in modern-day UAE. Some date to the Bronze Age but Hili 2 is an Iron Age site. The Iron Age witnessed the development of the falaj, a network of channels that funnelled water from natural springs in the area. Wells allowed settlements to be established, but falaj meant they could grow and thrive. Unesco, the UN's cultural body, awarded Al Ain's sites - including Hili 2 - world heritage status in 2011. Now the most recent dig at the site has revealed even more about the skilled people that lived and worked there.
Company%20Profile
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SPECS
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Company%20profile
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Confirmed%20bouts%20(more%20to%20be%20added)
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The Details
Kabir Singh
Produced by: Cinestaan Studios, T-Series
Directed by: Sandeep Reddy Vanga
Starring: Shahid Kapoor, Kiara Advani, Suresh Oberoi, Soham Majumdar, Arjun Pahwa
Rating: 2.5/5
Bio:
Favourite Quote: Prophet Mohammad's quotes There is reward for kindness to every living thing and A good man treats women with honour
Favourite Hobby: Serving poor people
Favourite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite food: Fish and vegetables
Favourite place to visit: London
The%20Crown%20season%205
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Company%20Profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
BOSH!'s pantry essentials
Nutritional yeast
This is Firth's pick and an ingredient he says, "gives you an instant cheesy flavour". He advises making your own cream cheese with it or simply using it to whip up a mac and cheese or wholesome lasagne. It's available in organic and specialist grocery stores across the UAE.
Seeds
"We've got a big jar of mixed seeds in our kitchen," Theasby explains. "That's what you use to make a bolognese or pie or salad: just grab a handful of seeds and sprinkle them over the top. It's a really good way to make sure you're getting your omegas."
Umami flavours
"I could say soya sauce, but I'll say all umami-makers and have them in the same batch," says Firth. He suggests having items such as Marmite, balsamic vinegar and other general, dark, umami-tasting products in your cupboard "to make your bolognese a little bit more 'umptious'".
Onions and garlic
"If you've got them, you can cook basically anything from that base," says Theasby. "These ingredients are so prevalent in every world cuisine and if you've got them in your cupboard, then you know you've got the foundation of a really nice meal."
Your grain of choice
Whether rice, quinoa, pasta or buckwheat, Firth advises always having a stock of your favourite grains in the cupboard. "That you, you have an instant meal and all you have to do is just chuck a bit of veg in."
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About Proto21
Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5