Thursday, Apr 27, 2017

Abu Dhabi: The 27th edition of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) offers visitors a refreshed experience of the Black Box Cinema project by celebrated Emirati filmmaker Nawaf Al Janahi, which has returned to the fair for the fourth consecutive year.

Comprising a diverse selection of Emirati and Arabic short films, the Black Box Cinema programme was developed exclusively as a platform to highlight the local cinema scene, filmmaking artistry, and new talent across the UAE and the wider region, said a press release issued by the organisers on Thursday.

At this year’s edition of the fair, the Black Box Cinema features 15 films from seven Arab nations: Qatar, Jordan, the UAE, Palestine, Lebanon, Tunisia, and Egypt. The films average from 9 minutes to 26 minutes in length, delivering powerful stories in a poignant and succinct format designed to leave visitors with a strong impression.

Screened on an hourly basis from 10am to 8pm every day of the fair except for Friday, on which screenings will be held from the fair’s opening at 4pm through to 8pm, the Black Box Cinema offers visitors insight into the creative vision of filmmakers as they cover a variety of relevant topics across contemporary society.

Featured films such as Congratulations, The Waiting Room and The Choice touch on the subject of how families deal with secrets, loss and opportunity among themselves. Delving into more personal territory, films such as Submarine and Among Others present portraits of two individuals as they are affected by polarising external circumstances. Shedding light on the unique experience of youth in an array of coming-of-age stories are Wintery Spring, More Than Two Days and animated feature Karouma.

Reflecting the international spirit of the fair, several films in the programme are products of creative collaboration across borders including Turtles Are Always Home, a short film on the meaning of home presented by Qatar, Lebanon and Canada; the Jordanian-German collaborative production The Parrot; and an Arabic-language adaptation of Raymond Carver’s Bicycles, Muscles, Cigarettes titled Five Boys And A Wheel produced between Jordan and Palestine.

The Black Box Cinema has been an immensely popular attraction for visitors to the fair for four consecutive years, providing visitors of all backgrounds, families and school students an opportunity to reflect upon different perspectives presented by creative minds across the region. The Black Box Cinema can be found in Hall 10 at stall F50.

Staff Report

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