The line-up for the inaugural Red Sea International Film Festival has been announced.
Saudi Arabia’s first major film festival, established three years ago, will return to the Unesco World Heritage Site of Jeddah Old Town, bringing together the best new work in world cinema with new voices from the kingdom.
Overall, 138 films from 67 countries are scheduled to play to audiences across the 10-day festival, including 25 world premieres. It runs from December 6 to 15.
The festival opens with Cyrano, the latest film from British director Joe Wright (Atonement). Written by Erica Schmidt, based on her 2018 stage musical, it’s a reimagining of the classic 1897 play Cyrano De Bergerac, a tale of shyness and love.
Cyrano stars Game of Thrones’ Peter Dinklage as the titular lovelorn wordsmith who helps the handsome, tongue-tied Christian (Kelvin Harrison Jr) woo the beautiful Roxanne (Haley Bennett) with a string of love letters.
Other major titles playing include Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Lost Daughter, which took Best Screenplay at the Venice Film Festival in September and stars Olivia Colman, Dakota Johnson and Jessie Buckley in an intriguing story of motherhood and loss.
The period drama The Colour Room will unspool, starring Bridgerton’s Phoebe Dynevor as the ceramics artist Clarice Cliff.
Ana Lily Amirpour, best known for A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, will present fantasy-thriller Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon. Starring Kate Hudson, the New Orleans-set film will also play in the International Spectacular section.
Three major Arab films take centre stage in the Gala strand. Set in the backstreets of an Amman neighbourhood, the pulsating thriller The Alleys is the directorial debut of writer-director Bassel Ghandour, who previously wrote and produced the 2014 First World War drama Theeb.
It will be followed by Memory Box, co-directed and written by Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige, a highly personal drama that reflects on those who escaped the Lebanese Civil War. Also playing will be Nabil Ayouch’s rap drama Casablanca Beats, the first Moroccan dramatic film to play in competition at the Cannes Film Festival. The screening will be followed by a live performance from five young rappers from the movie.
The festival will close with the world premiere of Bara El Manhag, from Egyptian director Amr Salama, who previously co-directed the award-winning documentary Tahrir 2011: The Good, The Bad & The Politician. His latest film, starring Maged El-Kidwani, Rubi and Asma Abul-Yazid, is a light-hearted fantasy about an orphan child who decides to break into a haunted house, only to befriend the ghost he finds inside.
Sixteen films from around the globe will play in the Red Sea Competition, bringing together established directors and new voices. Among those filmmakers who will compete for the Golden Yusr Award is Palestinian-born Hany Abu-Assad, whose 2005 film Paradise Now was nominated for an Oscar. His latest film, Huda’s Salon, is a feminist thriller, and follows a young mother named Reem (Maisa Abd Elhadi) whose journey to a salon in Bethlehem turns into a nightmare when she is blackmailed by the owner.
Iranian debut director Panah Panahi, son of the acclaimed filmmaker Jafar Panahi, will also compete in the section with his acclaimed debut Hit the Road, which has been named Best Film at the BFI London Film Festival. A rambunctious road movie, it stars Hassan Madjooni and Pantea Panahiha as the parents, who are undertaking a hazardous – and sometimes heartwarming – journey with their children through Iran in a borrowed car.
Other filmmakers competing include several from the Mena region. Farha is the feature debut from Jordanian filmmaker Darin Sallam. A story set in 1948 Palestine, it focuses on a girl, 14, hiding out in a locked cellar as war erupts in her village. Ali Suliman, who also features in Huda’s Salon, co-stars.
Writer-director Samir Nasr’s prison drama, Sharaf, receives its world premiere at the festival, adapted from the novel of the same name by acclaimed Egyptian writer Sonallah Ibrahim.
Another world premiere in the section is Al Hadi Ulad-Mohand’s Moroccan drama Life Suits Me Well, which was one of 14 films playing in the festival to receive a grant from the Red Sea Fund.
The festival will also celebrate women in film, with two very special talents being honoured. The first is Saudi filmmaker Haifaa Al-Mansour, best known for her debut, Wadjda, the first feature film to be shot entirely in the kingdom. She has since gone on to scale the international filmmaking scene, recently directing Ethan Hawke in TV miniseries The Good Lord Bird.
The second honouree is acclaimed Egyptian actress Laila Eloui. Best known for her roles in I Love Cinema and Girl’s Love, she will join the festival for a masterclass to unpack her fascinating career.
Other scheduled guests will include French cinema icon Catherine Deneuve and Egyptian actress and singer Yousra, whose incredible body of work stretches to more than 80 films. She will grace a masterclass to discuss her distinguished career, one that has earned her more than 50 awards from festivals around the globe. The often-controversial work of Argentinian-French director Gaspar Noe, whose latest film, Vortex, had its premiere to much acclaim earlier this year in Cannes, will also be under discussion in what promises to be a fascinating in-conversation.
The festival has also made good on its promise to showcase emerging filmmakers, with a Short Competition in which 18 films will compete. A mix of animation and live action, eight of which are by female filmmakers, it will include the shorts Space Woman, the story of a retiring teacher in Tripoli from Lebanese-French director Hadi Mousally; animated tale The Pyramid, from Egyptian filmmaker Mohamed Ghazala, about a man trying to build an inverted pyramid; and refugee tale Zawal from Saudi Arabian director Mujtaba Saeed.
There are a host of other sections for audiences to dive into, including Red Sea Treasures, Red Sea Immersive and Red Sea Episodic, but also the Red Sea Souk, a film market for producers, distributors and sales agents to connect across the region. As inaugural events go, it looks to be a tempting prospect for the film-savvy public and industry players alike.
Red Sea International Film Festival runs from December 6-15. More information is available at redseafilmfest.com
Ukraine%20exports
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Company%20profile%20
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S
Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900
Engine: 937cc
Transmission: Six-speed gearbox
Power: 110hp @ 9,000rpm
Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km
The figures behind the event
1) More than 300 in-house cleaning crew
2) 165 staff assigned to sanitise public areas throughout the show
3) 1,000 social distancing stickers
4) 809 hand sanitiser dispensers placed throughout the venue
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Bio
Born in Dibba, Sharjah in 1972.
He is the eldest among 11 brothers and sisters.
He was educated in Sharjah schools and is a graduate of UAE University in Al Ain.
He has written poetry for 30 years and has had work published in local newspapers.
He likes all kinds of adventure movies that relate to his work.
His dream is a safe and preserved environment for all humankind.
His favourite book is The Quran, and 'Maze of Innovation and Creativity', written by his brother.
How to come clean about financial infidelity
- Be honest and transparent: It is always better to own up than be found out. Tell your partner everything they want to know. Show remorse. Inform them of the extent of the situation so they know what they are dealing with.
- Work on yourself: Be honest with yourself and your partner and figure out why you did it. Don’t be ashamed to ask for professional help.
- Give it time: Like any breach of trust, it requires time to rebuild. So be consistent, communicate often and be patient with your partner and yourself.
- Discuss your financial situation regularly: Ensure your spouse is involved in financial matters and decisions. Your ability to consistently follow through with what you say you are going to do when it comes to money can make all the difference in your partner’s willingness to trust you again.
- Work on a plan to resolve the problem together: If there is a lot of debt, for example, create a budget and financial plan together and ensure your partner is fully informed, involved and supported.
Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Scoreline
Ireland 16 (Tries: Stockdale Cons: Sexton Pens: Sexton 3)
New Zealand 9 (Pens: Barrett 2 Drop Goal: Barrett)
RACE CARD
6.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Dirt) 1,200m
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,900m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (D) 2,000m
8.15pm: Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,600m
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m
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Manchester City (0) v Liverpool (3)
Uefa Champions League, quarter-final, second leg
Where: Etihad Stadium
When: Tuesday, 10.45pm
Live on beIN Sports HD
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.5-litre%20V12%20and%20three%20electric%20motors%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2C015hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2C500Nm%20(estimate)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Eight-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Early%202024%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh2%20million%20(estimate)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi
“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
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
Earth under attack: Cosmic impacts throughout history
- 4.5 billion years ago: Mars-sized object smashes into the newly-formed Earth, creating debris that coalesces to form the Moon
- 66 million years ago: 10km-wide asteroid crashes into the Gulf of Mexico, wiping out over 70 per cent of living species – including the dinosaurs.
- 50,000 years ago: 50m-wide iron meteor crashes in Arizona with the violence of 10 megatonne hydrogen bomb, creating the famous 1.2km-wide Barringer Crater
- 1490: Meteor storm over Shansi Province, north-east China when large stones “fell like rain”, reportedly leading to thousands of deaths.
- 1908: 100-metre meteor from the Taurid Complex explodes near the Tunguska river in Siberia with the force of 1,000 Hiroshima-type bombs, devastating 2,000 square kilometres of forest.
- 1998: Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 breaks apart and crashes into Jupiter in series of impacts that would have annihilated life on Earth.
-2013: 10,000-tonne meteor burns up over the southern Urals region of Russia, releasing a pressure blast and flash that left over 1600 people injured.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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