A single animal can often communicate the splendour and suffering of the entire natural world.
Al Sidr Environmental Film Festival showcases several such remarkable creatures, among them a snow leopard, a falcon, a river otter, a hen and a donkey. Each of them provides a story that comes as a microcosm of the human relationship to the planet.
This interconnectedness is the prime focus of the festival this year, which is taking place under the theme All Living Beings. The three-day festival will be held at the Arts Centre at NYUAD from next Friday. It is being co-organised by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, with the support of the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi.
“I chose films that are independent, creative cinema but that can appeal to the wider public,” filmmaker and academic Nezar Andary, artistic director of Al Sidr Environmental Film Festival, says. “The programme shows our interconnection with animals. It’s not looking at these typical social impact documentaries. It's actually looking at how we connect to animals through our own perspective.”
International films and classics
Sarvnik Kaur’s Against the Tide (2023) will be the opening feature film of the festival. The documentary centres on two Koli fishermen in Mumbai whose friendship is threatened as the ecosystem they depend on is ruined. Other international screenings include Pema Tseden’s Snow Leopard (2023). The Tibetan film revolves around a father and his son who argue whether to kill the snow leopard that killed their sheep.
Kawasuo (2023) by Akihito Izuhara, meanwhile, is an animation that focuses on a Japanese river otter who tries to communicate with a girl as the world verges on a flood from the weight of consumer products. Another animation is The Red Turtle (2016), directed by Michael Dudok de Wit. The Oscar-nominated film is the only Studio Ghibli production to have been made outside of Japan. It tells the story of a man stranded on a desert island who meets a red turtle.
Other classics showing include Kes (1969) by British filmmaker Ken Loach. The film revolves around a 15-year-old boy in Yorkshire who is bullied at school and abused at home, but finds solace with Kes, his pet kestrel falcon. The film’s screening on October 25 will be followed by a discussion with Mark J Beech, a renowned palaeontologist and archaeologist who lives in the UAE. Beech will connect the film to the ancient falconry in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, John Abraham's Donkey in a Brahmin Village (1977) lays bare human injustice and cruelty. In the film, a college professor adopts a foal after its mother is killed, challenging the norms of his village by bringing it back to live with him. The donkey is soon viewed as the reason why unfortunate events start taking place in the village. The film is the closing feature of the festival and will be followed by a talk from NYUAD professor George Jose.
Regional and local films
The festival also boasts a robust local and regional selection this year, chiefly due to its collaborations. With Lebanon’s Reef Festival, the Al Sidr Environmental Film Festival will present two moving shorts. Tree of Hell (2024) begins with the director Raed Zeno discovering the tree growing in front of his house is an invasive species that threatens the diversity of Lebanon’s forest. Zeno begins to find out more about this tree with the help of a specialist when the country comes under attack by Israel.
“There’s an allegorical level to the film,” Andary says. “It makes a connection between what is an invasive species, and when you push that a little bit, you start thinking about [what] Lebanon and Palestine [are going through]. There’s a very strong metaphor in the film that connects to the situation in Lebanon right now.”
The other short film is Shift (2024) by Sherine Raffoul and Moussa Shabandar. It tells the story of Chadi Saad, a former hunter who has become a protector of wildlife in the Lebanese mountains. His shift in perspective was inspired by the beauty of the birds he once hunted, as well as philosophical readings.
The festival will also show two local short films developed by the UAE platform Climate Tribe. Co-creating with Nature (2024) explores designer Reema Al Mheiri’s practice of repurposing discarded fish scales as lamps, while The Beekeeper’s Journey (2024) follows ecologist Aisha Hareb Al Dhaheri as she seeks to raise awareness about the precious ecosystem of bees.
Talks and activities
While films are at the core of Al Sidr, panel discussions and activities are also highlights of the programme, and aim to hone an environmentally conscientious attitude.
On the eve of the festival, experts from the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi will speak about marine biodiversity in the UAE, highlighting its importance and the challenges it faces. The talk will take place at 6.30pm on Thursday in the Blue Hall at NYUAD.
The staff of the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, meanwhile, will examine narratives related to natural history. The panel will underscore the role of it in honing our sense of interconnectedness. It will take place at the same venue at 3pm next Sunday.
An immersive kayak experience is also taking place from 3pm on Friday, offering participants the chance to explore the mangrove forest on-site in Al Reem Island.
Al Sidr Environmental Film Festival is running at Arts Centre at NYUAD from October 25 to 27
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RACE CARD
6.30pm: Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm: Meydan Sprint – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (Turf) 1,000m
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8.15pm: UAE Oaks – Group 3 (TB) $125,000 (D) 1,900m
8.50pm: Zabeel Mile – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,600m
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10pm: Al Shindagha Sprint – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (D) 1,200m
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2018 ICC World Twenty20 Asian Western Regional Qualifier
Saturday results
Qatar beat Kuwait by 26 runs
Bahrain beat Maldives by six wickets
UAE beat Saudi Arabia by seven wickets
Monday fixtures
Maldives v Qatar
Saudi Arabia v Kuwait
Bahrain v UAE
* The top three teams progress to the Asia Qualifier
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
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Results
Stage 7:
1. Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal - 3:18:29
2. Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep - same time
3. Phil Bauhaus (GER) Bahrain Victorious
4. Michael Morkov (DEN) Deceuninck-QuickStep
5. Cees Bol (NED) Team DSM
General Classification:
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates - 24:00:28
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers - 0:00:35
3. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 0:01:02
4. Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:01:42
5. Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo - 0:01:45
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
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Sinopharm vaccine explained
The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades.
“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.
"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."
This is then injected into the body.
"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.
"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."
The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.
Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.
“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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October 3: v Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC
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The bio
Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district
Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school
Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family
His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people
Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned
Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
What's in the deal?
Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024
India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments
India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S
Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900
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Transmission: Six-speed gearbox
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Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Past winners of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
2016 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2015 Nico Rosberg (Mercedes-GP)
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2011 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2010 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2009 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
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The biog
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Age: 59
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Favourite book: Father of our Nation: Collected Quotes of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
Thing you will miss most about the UAE: My friends and family, Formula 1, having Friday's off, desert adventures, and Arabic culture and people
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
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1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
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Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
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Info
What: 11th edition of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship
When: December 27-29, 2018
Confirmed: men: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Kevin Anderson, Dominic Thiem, Hyeon Chung, Karen Khachanov; women: Venus Williams
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae, Virgin megastores or call 800 86 823
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UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
