Diff 2011: Meeting audience expectations

Saturday promises a day of fun for little ones, profound cinema experiences for adults, and an evocative musical journey for music lovers at the eighth Dubai International Film Festival (Diff).The day’s screenings start with two spectacularly different films: The first, a collection of multi-ethnic narratives by seven internationally acclaimed directors from the Balkans and the Middle East about Istanbul     (Do Not Forget Me Istanbul) and the other, the directorial debut of a female Indian filmmaker, Shalini Usha Nair, who presents the troubled mindset of a man whose perfect life is turned upside down following a terrible accident with Akam, which made its world premiere at Diff.The little ones would have a delightful treat in Arthur Christmas,  a 3D animated family comedy that reveals the incredible and never-before-seen answer to every child’s question — how does Santa deliver all those presents in one night? Not to be missed is the world premiere of A Cloud in a Glass of Water, the newest movie starring Gamil Rateb, Diff’s Lifetime Achievement Honouree. Discover the depths of acting that has made Rateb a truly cross-over Arab artist with legions of admirers from across the world.George Clooney fans as well as literature lovers will find delight in the “Cinema of the World” red carpet gala, The Descendants, directed by Alexander Payne. The tragic-comedy has Clooney playing Matt King, a lawyer and land owner confronted by a series of crises and ill-prepared to tackle any of them. A hot contender for the Academy Awards, the film’s red carpet gala at Diff will be attended by Payne and lead actress Shaliene Woodley.If you love cinema,   The Story of Film: An Odyssey offers an insightful overview of the history of international cinema, from the silent era to the modern digital age. The 15-hour film is screened over multiple days, and features fascinating clips and interviews with legendary global icons.Fable of the Fish is a Tagalog film that presents the new and daring face of cinema from the Philippines. Director Adolfo Borinaga Alix Jr brings a surreal tale and gives it contemporary flavour with the tale of a poor woman’s dream of becoming a mother — only, she gives birth to a fish. Climate change and its impact on the farming community is the theme of a compelling documentary, The Land Beneath the Fog, which makes its world premiere at Diff.Habibi Rasak Kharban, a modern day take on the tragic romantic tale of Layla and Majnun, is the first fiction feature set in Gaza in over 15 years. The film by Susan Youssef was produced with the support of Diff’s post-production fund, Enjaaz.The Mexican Suitcase, directed by Trisha Ziff, is a fascinating film that uses the discovery of three suitcases containing negatives of images shot by three friends and die-hard anti-fascists, which went missing in Europe at the start of the World War II. The film adds to the history of the War with archive footage, memories of survivors, refugees and the contemporary search for mass graves.Neil Young Journeys, the Rhythm & Reels screening at Diff, open for free to the public at The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residence (8pm) is the third film in the Neil Young trilogy by Jonathan Demme. Audiences can enjoy his wonderful performances from his album Le Noise, interspersed with scenes of Young driving around his hometown as he chats with the director.