Eight Arab short films have made the official selection of the Palm Springs International Shortfest this year, the largest film festival for shorts in the United States.
The award-qualifying festival is scheduled to take place virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic from Tuesday, June 16 to Monday, June 22. It will feature 332 films from 69 countries on its website for free. The selections were made from more than 6,000 submissions, organisers say.
Here's a closer look at the Arab films selected.
'Arabian Alien' by Meshal Al Jaser (Saudi Arabia)
Arabian Alien tells the story of Saad, a Muslim married man, who gets over his depression after a space alien is introduced into his life. In an interview with The National, Al Jaser said that he has been inspired by his own experience of living in Riyadh. The film, which was shot in Los Angeles, is running in competition for the Best of the Festival award.
'Give up the Ghost' by Zain Duraie (Jordan)
Zain Duraie's Give up the Ghost has already won the best Arab short film award at El Gouna Film Festival and has screened at a number of film festivals around the world. The film explores the story of a couple facing the difficulties of infertility, starring Maria Zreik and Ziad Bakri. In an interview with The National, Duraie said that the story was inspired by a couple she knew. "I felt like I had an obligation to write about it," she said. The film is in competition for Best Live-Action Short over 15 Minutes.
'Henet Ward' by Morad Mostafa (Egypt)
Halima, a Sudanese henna painter, and her seven-year-old daughter Ward get caught up in the craziness at a Giza home as they prepare a bride for her wedding. The film is running in competition for Best Live-Action Short over 15 Minutes.
'Ome' by Wassim Geagea (Lebanon)
Ome follows the story of nine-year-old Elias whom after the death of his mother, goes to extreme lengths to bring her back from heaven. The film has already won Best Fiction Short at the Tampere Film Festival and the Silver Star for Best Short Film at El Gouna Film Festival.
'So What if the Goats Die' by Sofia Alaoui (Morocco)
Abdellah, a young shepherd living in the mountains, is forced to brave the snow in order to get food and save his cattle. Once he gets to the village, he faces a supernatural phenomenon. It has won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. The film is running in competition for Best International Short.
'Soukoon' by Farah Shaer (Lebanon)
The short film tells the story of Mariam, who worries that she might be pregnant while her marital life struggles. While this isn't Shaer's first short, the director is working on her first fiction feature film. Soukoon premiered at the Telluride Film Festival and is currently running in competition for the Best of the Festival Award and the Best Student International Short.
'Stallions of Palestine' by Elise Coker (Palestine)
This 30-minute short documentary is about a young Palestinian horse breeder named Abdel Naser Musleh and his family, who navigate the difficulties of raising Arabian horses in the West Bank. The film is running in competition for the Local Jury Award.
'The Present' by Farah Nabulsi (Palestine)
This Palestinian-British filmmaker Farah Nabulsi's first debut short production. The film tells the story of Yousef, played by Saleh Bakir, who decides on his wedding anniversary to go with his daughter Yasmine to buy a gift for his wife. As he goes between soldiers, segregated roads and checkpoints, it shows you what it means to go shopping under occupation. In an interview with The National, Nabulsi said that "the film is about human dignity and the importance of dignity and what it means for someone to continuously be dehumanised." The Present has won the Audience Award for Best International Short at Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, Best Live-Action Short award at the Cleveland International Film Festival and the audience award at the Brooklyn International Film Festival. The film is currently running in competition for the Bridging the Borders award.
To see the full selection of films, click here.
Company%20profile
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- 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
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- 600-seat auditorium
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- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
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The biog
Full name: Aisha Abdulqader Saeed
Age: 34
Emirate: Dubai
Favourite quote: "No one has ever become poor by giving"
Turkish Ladies
Various artists, Sony Music Turkey
Company Profile
Company name: OneOrder
Started: October 2021
Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Industry: technology, logistics
Investors: A15 and self-funded
New Zealand squad
Tim Southee (capt), Trent Boult (games 4 and 5), Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson (games 1-3), Martin Guptill, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Colin Munro, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, Blair Tickner
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Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
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A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
More on Quran memorisation:
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, second leg:
Liverpool (0) v Barcelona (3), Tuesday, 11pm UAE
Game is on BeIN Sports
A cheaper choice
Vanuatu: $130,000
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Benefits: No tax, no restrictions on dual citizenship, no requirement to visit or reside to retain a passport. Visa-free access to 129 countries.
Seven tips from Emirates NBD
1. Never respond to e-mails, calls or messages asking for account, card or internet banking details
2. Never store a card PIN (personal identification number) in your mobile or in your wallet
3. Ensure online shopping websites are secure and verified before providing card details
4. Change passwords periodically as a precautionary measure
5. Never share authentication data such as passwords, card PINs and OTPs (one-time passwords) with third parties
6. Track bank notifications regarding transaction discrepancies
7. Report lost or stolen debit and credit cards immediately
Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
Results:
CSIL 2-star 145cm One Round with Jump-Off
1. Alice Debany Clero (USA) on Amareusa S 38.83 seconds
2. Anikka Sande (NOR) For Cash 2 39.09
3. Georgia Tame (GBR) Cash Up 39.42
4. Nadia Taryam (UAE) Askaria 3 39.63
5. Miriam Schneider (GER) Fidelius G 47.74
THE%C2%A0SPECS
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AT4 Ultimate, as tested
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
