DOHA: The Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF) team yesterday announced renowned director Mira Nair's "Amelia" as the choice for opening night film, as well as a host of 33 films and sidebars that comprises the rest of the festival's slate.
DTFF has also confirmed the attendance of two well-known Arab directors: Elia Suleiman and Mohamed Al Daraji.
Opening the festival is highly acclaimed director Mira Nair's "Amelia," based on the life of aviation pioneer, feminist and author Amelia Earhart and her mysterious disappearance, which has already been getting Oscar buzz that is brewing fast. The film stars two-time Academy Award winner Hilary Swank.
The film, which won't be shown internationally until January next year, also chronicles Earhart's childhood roots in rural Kansas, through her early days as an adventurous student of the most respected male aviators, and to her rise of fame and subsequently heartbreaking disappearance on her mission around the world in 1937. Golden Globe winner Richard Gere stars as Earhart's husband, promoter and publishing magnate George P Putnam and Ewan McGregor stars as her long time friend and lover, pilot Gene Vidal. The film, which is in English, will have Arabic subtitles.
The festival will showcase a total of 33 films with sidebar films, 12 of which have roots in the Middle East and eight of them were produced by Arab filmmakers. The list includes a diverse selection of acclaimed titles from the international festival circuit, from both emerging and established directors.
The DTFF will run from October 29 to November 1. Opening night will take place at the Museum of Islamic Art.
Amanda Palmer, executive director of DTFF, said the DTFF team has programmed the slate with the local audience at the "forefront of our minds. We are creating an exciting and varied film festival experience by bringing some of the best Arab and international films to Doha."
"The film programme was curated through a true collaboration between our programming team in Doha and New York. We believe the line-up for our first festival reflects the genuineness of that cultural partnership and is embodied in the remarkable diversity and aesthetic range of the work," said Geoff Gilmore, Chief Creative Officer of Tribeca Enterprises.
Suleiman and Al Daraji have already confirmed their attendance, Palmer said during the media conference at the MIA.
The festival organisers also announced that in its first year, 31 of the 33 films in the line-up will be eligible for two audience-based awards each carrying unrestricted cash prizes amounting to $50,000. Audience award winners will be announced at the DTFF's closing night ceremony on November 1. During the ceremony, the Festival will also announce a screenplay development and filmmaker grant programme, illustrating its commitment to develop and support filmmakers year-round in the region.
The DTFF team said they will be organising workshops on animation and acting and will be inviting students to participate. The workshops will be held under the tutelage of DTFF's Community Outreach Programmer award-winning film-maker Scandar Copti.
The DTFF is the brainchild of H E Sheikha Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.
By Joyce C Abaño
© The Peninsula 2009
