Making Movies in Abu Dhabi
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Saker Ballroom A

The film industry in Abu Dhabi is expanding as fast as the city itself. Representatives from some of the key organizations responsible for this explosive growth present an overview of their initiatives in this panel discussion. They also explore the opportunities and challenges facing filmmakers seeking to finance and produce features in Abu Dhabi and the Gulf region, as well as what is needed to continue to develop the UAE’s film industry. Panelists include (left to right) Mohammed Al Otaiba, head of ImageNation Abu Dhabi; David Shepheard, director of the Abu Dhabi Film Commission; Wayne Borg, Deputy CEO of twofour54; and Marie-Pierre Macia, director of ADFF’s SANAD development and post-production fund. 

Measured Improvisation: A Master Class with Abderrahmane Sissako
11:30 AM – 13:00 PM
Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Saker Ballroom A

“I think it is a film that tells the story of man,” Abderrahmane Sissako has said of his Cannes Un Certain Regard-winning film Waiting for Happiness, “and I think that man everywhere is somewhat the same.” Such is the filmmaking philosophy behind one of the leading voices in world cinema today. With his allegorical approach and inimitable style, Sissako has captured the imagination of not only his fellow West Africans, but also the world. Join us for this rare opportunity as the revered writer/director, whose internationally acclaimed films include Le Jeu (1990), October (1993), Rostov-Luanda (1997) Life on Earth (1998) and Bamako (2006), discusses how improvisation with non-professional actors functions as a definitive rewriting of the script.  

Scoring the Moon: A Master Class with Air
2:00 PM – 3:15 PM
Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Saker Ballroom A

Air, the French duo of Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel, have been creating ethereal, genre-defying music since their debut in 1998 with the album Moon Safari. Fittingly, these musical pioneers were selected to compose and perform a new score for the Cannes premiere of the landmark full-color restoration of Georges Méliès’ 1902 masterpiece, A Trip to the Moon. Air are no strangers to the film world, having won critical and popular acclaim for their score to Sofia Coppola’s 2000 debut The Virgin Suicides. Join us for a trip into the world of film scoring as Air discuss their work on both Coppola’s narrative drama and a fantastical piece of motion picture history. Co-presented by the French Embassy, Abu Dhabi. 

Beyond Hollywood and Bollywood:
The Future of Independent Cinema in the Region
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Saker Ballroom A

The market for independent films is in constant fluctuation. In the Middle East and North Africa region, what’s the secret to success for films that are not produced by Hollywood or Bollywood? Join us as experts from international sales companies and regional distributors discuss the types of films they are drawn to, their relationships with film festivals and the decision-making process behind deals for films in the MENA region. Panelists include (left to right) Gianluca Chacra, CEO of Front Row Filmed Entertainment; Michael Werner, chairman of Fortissimo Films; Frederic Sichler, president of Pacha Pictures; Mahi Golchin-Depala, managing director of Phars Film; and Hisham F. Alghanim, general manager of Kuwait National Cinema Co.  

From Script to Screen: Writing and Directing
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Saker Ballroom A

Michael Brandt and Derek Haas are the writing team behind such hit films as Wanted and 3:10 to Yuma. Their latest writing collaboration, The Double (below), marks Brandt’s directorial debut. The film stars Richard Gere, Topher Grace and Martin Sheen and makes its world premiere at ADFF. Join us for a candid conversation with Brandt and Haas as they discuss how they broke into the business, share the benefits and challenges of writing with a partner, and offer advice on writing and directing feature films. Moderated by Jason Mirch, development executive for ImageNation. Co-presented by ImageNation.   

A Master Class with American Filmmaker Todd Solondz
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Saker Ballroom A

Todd Solondz has been pushing the boundaries with his character-driven dark comedies for more than 15 years. In 1995 he won great critical acclaim for the independent feature Welcome to the Dollhouse. In 1998, his film Happiness brought both controversy and numerous international awards. Solondz continues to write and direct edgy, provocative independent films, including Storytelling (2001), Palindromes (2004) and Life During Wartime (2009). Screening at ADFF following its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, his most recent film, Dark Horse, offers Solondz’s latest acerbic observations on family conflict and tortured romance. Join this one-of-a-kind filmmaker for an intimate discussion of his craft and career. Co-presented by the U.S. Embassy, Abu Dhabi.  

The Arab Spring and Its
Effects on Filmmaking
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Saker Ballroom A

In the wake of the Arab Spring that swept through the region in the past year, how have filmmakers, and consequently regional cinema, fared in response to the political and social changes and upheaval? Has filmmaking been more engaged? Have rules of production changed? Are we to expect a new artistic paradigm? Join acclaimed filmmakers from the Middle East and North Africa region in a discussion on the Arab Spring and its effect on filmmaking.   

A Conversation with Göran Hugo Olsson : A Case-Study of Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Saker Ballroom A

How relevant is the Black Power movement of the 1960s and ’70s to different parts of the world today? Well, very. “When I started working on the Mixtape,” says Swedish director Göran Hugo Olsson, “friends said, ‘demonstrations and revolutions, that’s history that belongs to the ’60s – those will never again be useful tools in changing the world.’” Since Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 premiered at Sundance in January, we learned the opposite was true. Not only has the Arab Spring changed the region, but huge demonstrations have taken place in Israel, Spain, Greece and riots erupted in England. And now Occupy Wall Street has started in the United States. Join us in a conversation with Göran Hugo Olsson, who will discuss the timeliness of his film, share his invaluable insight on documentary filmmaking and the necessities of film archives, and also screen Kairo, a short film he co-directed with Tarik Saleh in 1998. 

Naguib Mahfouz: Man of Cinema
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Saker Ballroom A

Naguib Mahfouz, the man and the writer, had a unique relationship with cinema. This panel investigates this relationship, which is but a fragment of Mahfouz’s creative world. Experts will address Mahfouz’s contribution to Arab cinema as a novelist and scriptwriter, present a comparative study of his work that was adapted into Mexican cinema, and offer a critical review of the films of Salah Abu Seif and Hassan Al Imam, who were deeply inspired by Mahfouz. This event will also serve as a launchpad for the book Naguib Mahfouz: Man of Cinema, published by ADFF. Panelists include writers Samir Farid, Kamal Ramzi and Wael Abdel Fatah, each of whom contributed essays to the book, and Abboud Abou Jawde, who designed the posters for Mahfouz’s films. Moderated by Intishal Al Timimi, ADFF’s senior programmer of Arabic films.   

From the Freezer to the Furnace
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Saker Ballroom A

After working on the BBC’s Frozen Planet for more than three years, BBC Natural History Unit’s producer/director Fredi Devas is now filming the new BBC series Wild Arabia. Join us for a conversation with the intrepid filmmaker about his experiences filming in both polar regions and now in the deserts of Arabia. This is a rare opportunity to see clips from Frozen Planet ahead of its release date, showing new perspectives on some of the most charismatic animals on Earth. Fredi also covers many of the novel filming techniques used to capture these sequences and how these and other emerging methods will be employed to film the spectacular wildlife and landscapes of the Arabian peninsula. Co-presented by ImageNation and Abu Dhabi Film Commission.   

From Shorts to Features
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Saker Ballroom A

For many filmmakers, short films provide a necessary springboard to generating interest and securing funding for a feature project. But what are the challenges of making the leap from shorts to features? What new artistic demands are placed on the writer, director and others? Is it possible to work with the same group of people, or will you require new producers and a new crew? How do the expectations for the final product change? Join a diverse group of directors as they share their experiences, offer advice for budding filmmakers, and discuss current trends and issues facing the short film industry. Panelists include Nawaf Al-Janahi (director of Sea Shadow, pictured) and other ADFF filmmakers.