He was very nice about it. Indeed, he said it with an apologetic smile. But it was still like a kick in the teeth: "No, thank you."
It's impossible to believe that three little words can pack such a big punch.
"But you've got to have one. I packed it myself."
"No, truly, you're very kind, but I don't want one."
And away he went. Leaving behind one crestfallen Abu Dhabi Film Festival (ADFF) volunteer and the "goodie bag" I had meticulously filled.
OK, fair enough, it wasn't jammed with A-list goodies like those pictured in Oasis on Sunday. There were no offers of a shave and manicure, nor a BlackBerry 9990. There weren't even any T-shirts. To be honest, it wasn't packed with much at all, really. It held a programme along with a pen, a notebook and sheets of A4 paper providing useful information about the film industry. But even so, it was part of me. It was one of dozens of bags I had filled during my first few hours of being a volunteer for the fifth annual festival.
The film director, whose name I shall keep to myself so as not to embarrass him further, was, however, the only person not to accept one out of all those who entered the registration room on the lower floor of the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr hotel.
Jordan Gelber, one of the stars of the movie Dark Horse, which screened at Marina Mall on Sunday night and can be seen again this afternoon at Abu Dhabi Theatre, was delighted. In fact, so delighted was he that when the film's director, Todd Solondz, walked into the room, he announced: "Todd, this is the bag man. You must take one."
As I handed him the bag, the man from New Jersey, who is said to be dark and thought-provoking, looked, right at that moment, very dark and extremely thought-provoking. He stared at it with some degree of doubt written all over his face.
"You must take it; the bag man packed it," insisted Gelber, who has appeared in shows including Law & Order: Criminal Intent and The Sopranos, and who plays the angry 35-year-old Abe in Dark Horse. Solondz had celebrated his 52nd birthday the day before so maybe he looked upon it as a late birthday gift and gratefully accepted it before he and Gelber put their names down for a trip to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
Maybe they'll take the bags with them, I thought.
Roget's Thesaurus will tell you that to volunteer is to offer your services free of charge. I have been brought up believing in never volunteering for anything, but the many hundreds of residents - from students to expatriate wives who had seen advertisements at their universities or women's clubs - who volunteered to work for the film festival all this week were all clearly enjoying themselves.
Karen Patricolo's husband is a surgeon so, maybe because of this, or more likely because she likes to keep busy while helping others, she is a serial volunteer. Rather than spending all her free time drinking coffee or shopping at malls, Karen likes to be useful. Much of her time is spent in Abu Dhabi hospitals helping with patients, whether it is playing in the hospital playroom with cancer-stricken children, or laughing and joking with seriously ill patients while taking them on at computer games.
"I suppose you could say that this is a bit of light relief for me, but I just love it," the mother from Hertfordshire in England said. "When I heard the ADFF was looking for people to help out, I just had to apply."
Karen was joined in manning the registration desk by Nikhil Nuttap, a 24-year-old Indian student who was born in Abu Dhabi. They were making sure the filmmakers, whether actors, directors or producers, were issued with the right badges and accreditation. After they had done their bit, it was my job to pounce with one of my bags.
Nikhil has just completed his Master's degree in risk management at a university in London and rather than "just sit around watching telly", he decided to offer his services to the ADFF. The fact that he's a film fanatic also had something to do with it. He was a willing and able volunteer, chasing about for anyone who needed anything.
"I love it," he grinned. "You never know who is going to walk through that door. It's very exciting."
Volunteers start at about 9.30am and usually work through to about 2pm when they are replaced by the second shift who finish at about 10pm. They are asked to do everything from ushering patrons into the cinema or, like myself, packing goodie bags. I had volunteered to do a "double shift" mainly because I wanted to "work the red carpet" at Abu Dhabi Theatre. This particular evening, the theatre was showing The Moth Diaries, starring Lily Cole, Sarah Bolger and Sarah Gadon, and I was looking forward to making sure neither the photographers nor the fans stepped on the carpet. Now proudly wearing a "volunteer's red shirt" I also, of course, wanted to glimpse some very attractive actresses. Maybe they might be carrying one of my bags instead of one of the exclusive designer clutches they might have found in their A-list version.
But before that could happen, Cliodhna Fullam, the festival's audience development manager, had given me the task of surveying some of the film fans. I started at the outdoor cinema at the Fairmont - a wonderful setting being used for the first time at the festival, which I discovered was, to many, more alluring than Marina Mall or the Abu Dhabi Theatre - and finished at the Abu Dhabi Theatre. These surveys, I was told, were very important because the views of the fans mattered to the organisers of the festival. If the fans don't like something, then the ADFF will try to rectify that next year.
Surprisingly, everyone I approached was willing to give up their time to answer my questions. One woman was so willing to talk, I could not get away - and so I missed the actresses on the red carpet.
But that's the life of a volunteer: all work and no glory. Yet not one of us complained. We were there to do a job - to offer our services for no charge. At least I got a free bag out of it at the end of the night.
Oh, and if you're an actor or director or producer and found that you were missing a pen and a notebook in your goodie bag, I'm sorry - I had to use them to take notes for this article.
Mica
Director: Ismael Ferroukhi
Stars: Zakaria Inan, Sabrina Ouazani
3 stars
RESULTS
Bantamweight:
Zia Mashwani (PAK) bt Chris Corton (PHI)
Super lightweight:
Flavio Serafin (BRA) bt Mohammad Al Khatib (JOR)
Super lightweight:
Dwight Brooks (USA) bt Alex Nacfur (BRA)
Bantamweight:
Tariq Ismail (CAN) bt Jalal Al Daaja (JOR)
Featherweight:
Abdullatip Magomedov (RUS) bt Sulaiman Al Modhyan (KUW)
Middleweight:
Mohammad Fakhreddine (LEB) bt Christofer Silva (BRA)
Middleweight:
Rustam Chsiev (RUS) bt Tarek Suleiman (SYR)
Welterweight:
Khamzat Chimaev (SWE) bt Mzwandile Hlongwa (RSA)
Lightweight:
Alex Martinez (CAN) bt Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR)
Welterweight:
Jarrah Al Selawi (JOR) bt Abdoul Abdouraguimov (FRA)
Scoreline
Syria 1-1 Australia
Syria Al Somah 85'
Australia Kruse 40'
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
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
All the Money in the World
Director: Ridley Scott
Starring: Charlie Plummer, Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Williams, Christopher Plummer
Four stars
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
Australia tour of Pakistan
March 4-8: First Test, Rawalpindi
March 12-16: Second Test, Karachi
March 21-25: Third Test, Lahore
March 29: First ODI, Rawalpindi
March 31: Second ODI, Rawalpindi
April 2: Third ODI, Rawalpindi
April 5: T20I, Rawalpindi
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Oppenheimer
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
The%20specs
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Draw:
Group A: Egypt, DR Congo, Uganda, Zimbabwe
Group B: Nigeria, Guinea, Madagascar, Burundi
Group C: Senegal, Algeria, Kenya, Tanzania
Group D: Morocco, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Namibia
Group E: Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania, Angola
Group F: Cameroon, Ghana, Benin, Guinea-Bissau
UK%20-%20UAE%20Trade
%3Cp%3ETotal%20trade%20in%20goods%20and%20services%20(exports%20plus%20imports)%20between%20the%20UK%20and%20the%20UAE%20in%202022%20was%20%C2%A321.6%20billion%20(Dh98%20billion).%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThis%20is%20an%20increase%20of%2063.0%20per%20cent%20or%20%C2%A38.3%20billion%20in%20current%20prices%20from%20the%20four%20quarters%20to%20the%20end%20of%202021.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20UAE%20was%20the%20UK%E2%80%99s%2019th%20largest%20trading%20partner%20in%20the%20four%20quarters%20to%20the%20end%20of%20Q4%202022%20accounting%20for%201.3%20per%20cent%20of%20total%20UK%20trade.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Details
Article 15
Produced by: Carnival Cinemas, Zee Studios
Directed by: Anubhav Sinha
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, Sayani Gupta, Zeeshan Ayyub
Our rating: 4/5
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
The biog
Family: He is the youngest of five brothers, of whom two are dentists.
Celebrities he worked on: Fabio Canavaro, Lojain Omran, RedOne, Saber Al Rabai.
Where he works: Liberty Dental Clinic
HER%20FIRST%20PALESTINIAN
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Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Company profile
Company name: Suraasa
Started: 2018
Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker
Based: India, UAE and the UK
Industry: EdTech
Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding
Manchester United v Club America
When: Thursday, 9pm Arizona time (Friday UAE, 8am)
The biog
Fatima Al Darmaki is an Emirati widow with three children
She has received 46 certificates of appreciation and excellence throughout her career
She won the 'ideal mother' category at the Minister of Interior Awards for Excellence
Her favourite food is Harees, a slow-cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled wheat berries mixed with chicken
Getting there
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly to Johannesburg or Cape Town daily. Flights cost from about Dh3,325, with a flying time of 8hours and 15 minutes. From there, fly South African Airlines or Air Namibia to Namibia’s Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport, for about Dh850. Flying time is 2 hours.
The stay
Wilderness Little Kulala offers stays from £460 (Dh2,135) per person, per night. It is one of seven Wilderness Safari lodges in Namibia; www.wilderness-safaris.com.
Skeleton Coast Safaris’ four-day adventure involves joining a very small group in a private plane, flying to some of the remotest areas in the world, with each night spent at a different camp. It costs from US$8,335.30 (Dh30,611); www.skeletoncoastsafaris.com
