Those who might like a taste of the film festival experience without leaving home could do worse than simply dress up in a fancy outfit, run a red carpet beside the sofa and set a camera flash to go off in their face every three seconds. OSN has teamed up with the festival to show the cream of the crop of short films that have been screened at the festival over the years. The shorts are being shown every Thursday and Friday evening at 8pm on OSN Movies Festival, followed by a double-bill of feature-length films.
***
The festival's VIP gift room, where well-known people (and even people you probably don't recognise) can go and get stuff for nothing, has a very structured approach: the more famous you are, the more you can have. Most visitors left happy with the contents of their goodie bag(s), but one individual was so angry at not making the top tier (and no, you probably wouldn't be able to put a name to the face), that he (or she) phoned up later to complain about not receiving a free BlackBerry PlayBook like the top level A-listers. The word "spoilt" springs to mind.
But the lounge did come to one attendee's aid. Our sources reveal that while Topher Grace arrived safe and sound in Abu Dhabi, his luggage didn't, and the actor visited the lounge seeking help in finding something to wear.
***
Todd Solondz might not be the first person you'd expect to break into song, his films touching on the somewhat less joyous aspects of life. But after he said that as a child he would sing along to The Sound of Music, one member of his masterclass audience at the Fairmont asked if he might like to give a quick rendition. Happily, the US director declined. "One of the things I love about getting old is that you're not so deluded," he said.
***
Lily Cole, the red-haired British model-turned-actress who has been in the capital for the Middle East premiere of the Gothic tale The Moth Diaries, now plans to focus her energy on films. "I haven't been modelling for the last four to five years. Right now, I'm doing a film in London, so we'll see what happens with that." Cole plans to draw on the history of art degree she earned from Cambridge University, having graduated in June.
"For me, art is art, you know? Whether it's paintings, or books or films. Having studied art, I really know that I want to do this for the rest of my life. Even though I might not need my degree for the purpose of a CV, I can at least bring what I've learnt with me," she said.
* Saeed Saeed, Alex Ritman and Mary Louise Olson
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
'Of Love & War'
Lynsey Addario, Penguin Press
Teri%20Baaton%20Mein%20Aisa%20Uljha%20Jiya
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Amit%20Joshi%20and%20Aradhana%20Sah%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECast%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Shahid%20Kapoor%2C%20Kriti%20Sanon%2C%20Dharmendra%2C%20Dimple%20Kapadia%2C%20Rakesh%20Bedi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Bert van Marwijk factfile
Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder
Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia
Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Barcelona v Liverpool, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE).
Second leg
Liverpool v Barcelona, Tuesday, May 7, 11pm
Games on BeIN Sports
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
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
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
The design
The protective shell is covered in solar panels to make use of light and produce energy. This will drastically reduce energy loss.
More than 80 per cent of the energy consumed by the French pavilion will be produced by the sun.
The architecture will control light sources to provide a highly insulated and airtight building.
The forecourt is protected from the sun and the plants will refresh the inner spaces.
A micro water treatment plant will recycle used water to supply the irrigation for the plants and to flush the toilets. This will reduce the pavilion’s need for fresh water by 30 per cent.
Energy-saving equipment will be used for all lighting and projections.
Beyond its use for the expo, the pavilion will be easy to dismantle and reuse the material.
Some elements of the metal frame can be prefabricated in a factory.
From architects to sound technicians and construction companies, a group of experts from 10 companies have created the pavilion.
Work will begin in May; the first stone will be laid in Dubai in the second quarter of 2019.
Construction of the pavilion will take 17 months from May 2019 to September 2020.
More from Neighbourhood Watch
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
RESULT
Manchester United 2 Burnley 2
Man United: Lingard (53', 90' 1)
Burnley: Barnes (3'), Defour (36')
Man of the Match: Jesse Lingard (Manchester United)
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
THE%20HOLDOVERS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlexander%20Payne%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Paul%20Giamatti%2C%20Da'Vine%20Joy%20Randolph%2C%20Dominic%20Sessa%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
