The Francophone Film Festival is returning to Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Running from March 25 to 31, the event will feature 11 French-language films encompassing various genres ranging from drama to comedy.
All works, chosen under the theme “belonging”, will be screened in Dubai’s Cinema Akil, while Abu Dhabi’s Alliance Francaise will show select titles on March 27.
The festival will open with the timely Swiss drama Olga.
The 2021 production follows the life of Olga (Anastasia Budiashkina), a Ukrainian gymnast aged 15 living in exile in Switzerland. Struggling to fit in with the Swiss national team, her life and loyalties are upended when the Euromaidan protests begin in Ukraine in 2013.
Other highlights include 2020's Sisters (screening on March 26 and 31), which looks at the relationship of three siblings who travel to Algeria in search of their long-lost brother.
With 2019 French drama 14 Days and 12 Nights, screening on March 27 and 29, the action moves to Vietnam. After her adopted child Clara dies, stepmother Isabelle travels to Hanoi to learn about her daughter's culture and to search for her biological mother.
Screening on the festival's last day is the 2021 psychological drama Madeleine Collins, which explores the double life of Judith (Virginie Efira) who raises two separate families in Switzerland and France.
The Francophone Film Festival is part of wider UAE cultural events in celebration of the annual UN French Language Day, observed internationally on March 20.
Expo 2020 Dubai will mark the occasion with a range of events under the banner of International Francophonie Day.
These include workshops and cultural displays held in 13 pavilions spanning France, Belgium, Canada, Lebanon, Morocco and Gabon.
An official ceremony will also take place at 4.30pm at the Al Wasl Plaza before a closing concert at the Jubilee Stage by French DJ Willy William and Canadian singer Marie Mai.
More information on the Francophone Film Festival is at cinemaakil.com
Match info:
Burnley 0
Manchester United 2
Lukaku (22', 44')
Red card: Marcus Rashford (Man United)
Man of the match: Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United)
THREE
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Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
The rules of the road keeping cyclists safe
Cyclists must wear a helmet, arm and knee pads
Have a white front-light and a back red-light on their bike
They must place a number plate with reflective light to the back of the bike to alert road-users
Avoid carrying weights that could cause the bike to lose balance
They must cycle on designated lanes and areas and ride safe on pavements to avoid bumping into pedestrians
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Simran
Director Hansal Mehta
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Soham Shah, Esha Tiwari Pandey
Three stars
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – UAE won by 36 runs
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
