Abu Dhabi Film Festival


The Abu Dhabi Film Festival, formerly the Middle East International Film Festival, was an international film festival which started in 2007. The event was held annually in October in the city of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The ADFF aimed to showcase the best films from the region alongside standout productions from prominent international filmmakers. Since 2012, the festival had been part of the Abu Dhabi Media Zone Authority, specifically under Media Zone Events and powered by its partner company, twofour54. It was officially scrapped after eight versions in 2015.

Inaugural festival

The first festival debuted with 152 movies and 186 screenings shown in five Abu Dhabi venues. The festival started in 2007 with the support of H.E. Mohammed Khalaf AL Mazroui as General Director of the ADACH, and Nashwa Al Ruwaini as Executive Director. In 2008, Imad DeirAtany, a talented Lebanese filmmaker and marketer joined the team with more than 200 staff members that empowered the festival's brand.

Re-branding

In 2010, ADACH has developed the Festival's brand, allowing it to showcase more effectively with Dubai Film Festival, Doha Tribeca Film Festival, Cannes, etc. With the changes came the move from MEIFF to Abu Dhabi Film Festival.

Headlining features

With a new branding scheme, the 2010 ADFF is making a strong effort to break out from a cluttered festival junket in the Persian Gulf region. This year there are six feature films and two documentaries that are attracting a considerable amount of industry buzz.
In a Better World by the Danish filmmaker Susanne Bier, takes a look at the lives of two families in small-town Denmark as they become intertwined through an uneasy friendship of two boys. The official Canadian entry to the Oscar also bows in Abu Dhabi. Incendies, directed by Denis Villeneuve, is based on a play by Canadian-Lebanese writer Wajdi Mouawad, and tells the story of a mother’s cryptic will that forces her grown children to confront the prospect that the father they thought dead is alive, and that they have a brother. From Egypt is Messages from the Sea by Daoud Abdel Sayed, which follows the story of Yehya, who returns to Alexandria, the city of his youth following the death of his mother, where he encounters the new face of the ancient, portrayed as a decaying metropolis. Cirkus Columbia, is also considered an Oscar contender. Directed by Danis Tanovic, who won the Best Foreign Language Oscar with his film No Man’s Land in 2002. Cirkus Columbia follows a wealthy ex-pat who comes home to his small village in Yugoslavia in 1991.
Two documentary films, both dealing with current tensions in the Middle East, are highlighting the 2010 Abu Dhabi Film Festival. , directed by American director Harry Hunkele and produced by American Emmy-award winning producer Arick Wierson, tells the story of the secret closed door negotiations and power-plays that enabled U.S. President Jimmy Carter to forge the historic Camp David Peace Treaty between Israel and Egypt. The film stars Jimmy Carter, former U.N. Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, CNN anchorman Wolf Blitzer, and, in a rare on camera appearance, former U.S. Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger. The Oath is documentary from director Laura Poitras that tells the tale of two men, Abu Jandal and Salim Ahmed Hamdan, whose meeting launched them on juxtaposed paths with Al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, 9/11, US military tribunals and the U.S. Supreme Court.
There are two major Hollywood features opening at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival. Making its world premier is Secretariat, directed by Randall Wallace, starring Diane Lane and John Malkovich is an adopted biopic of the eponymous racehorse Secretariat. Making its Middle East premiere is Fair Game, starring Naomi Watts and Sean Penn and directed by Doug Liman, the political thriller tells the real-life story of Valerie Plame, American CIA agent outed by the Bush Administration in an effort to discredit revelations of falsified evidence in the lead-up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Celebrity involvement

The Abu Dhabi Film Festival is known for attracting a bevy of big Hollywood names, including noteworthy director Michael Greenspan, as well as actors such as Uma Thurman and Adrien Brody attended in 2010.

Press

In October, 2009, the UK Guardian published an article about the origins and intent of the MEIFF. The article noted that although the host country, Abu Dhabi, at present has only a small indigenous film-making industry, the film festival could serve a variety of constructive purposes.

ADFF 2011 Black Pearl Award winners

;Short Narrative Competition:
First Prize – SOUL, directed by Fatma Abdulla
Second Prize – DREAMS OF RICE, by Yasser Al Neyadi and Hana Al Shatri
Third Prize – TELEPHONI, directed by
Special Jury Award – RANEEN, directed by Maitham Al Musawi
Best Emirati Film – SOUL, directed by Fatma Abdulla
Best Script – SINGLE MALE, by Imad DeirAtany / DREAMS OF RICE, by Yasser Al Neyadi and Hana Al Shatri
Best Cinematography – WIND, directed by Waleed Al Shehhi
;Short Documentary Competition:
– , by Mansour Al Dhaheri
Second Prize – PHOTON, by Awadh Al Hamzani
Third Prize – A NIGHT TO REMEMBER, by Fahmi Farahat
Special Jury Award – LETTERS TO PALESTINE, by Rashid Al Marri
;Student Short Narrative Competition:
First Prize – MAHER’S CAMERA, by Mansour Al Badran
Second Prize – MAD CAMEL, by Mohammed Fikree
Third Prize – DINNER #7665, by Salma Serry
;Student Short Documentary Competition:
First Prize – 6 ON 18, by Salma Serry
Second Prize – LAYERS, by Manal Wicki
Third Prize – LAHJATNA, by Mariam Al Nuaimi
;International Short Film Competition
The Short Film Competition showcases inspired narrative, documentary and animated short films by emerging and esteemed international filmmakers, providing a vital source of support for the short film genre.
The 2011 selection featured 31 films from 23 countries, as well as two newly launched awards for producers of short films.
Best Narrative – A MARRIAGE, directed by Henning Rosenlund
Best Documentary – WRITTEN IN INK, directed by Martin Rath
Best Animation – LUMINARIS, directed by Juan Pablo Zaramella
Shared with
SPECKY FOUR-EYES, directed by Jean-Claude Rozec
Best Film from the Arab World – FAREWELL EXILE, directed by Lamia Alami
Best Producer – Arben Zharku for THE WEDDING TAPE
Best Producer from the Arab World – YACINE BOUAZIZ for TOMORROW, ALGIERS?

MEIFF 2009 Black Pearl Award winners

In 2009, 16 Black Pearl awards were given in 3 major categories. Also given were also 7 Jury Special Mention awards, and one Audience Choice Award. Among all entries worldwide, the best film winners were as follows:
The Black Pearl Award for Best Narrative Film - $100,000

The Black Pearl Award for Best Documentary Film - $100,000

The Black Pearl Award for Best Narrative Short - $25,000

The Black Pearl Award for Best Narrative Short - $25,000

MEIFF 2008 Black Pearl Award winners

The Black Pearl for Best Narrative Film - $200,000

Disgrace

Director: Steve Jacobs. Producers: Anna Maria Monticelli, Emile Sherman, Steve Jacobs
The Black Pearl for Best Documentary – $150,000

Stranded

Director: Gonzalo Arijon. Producer: Marc Silvera
The Black Pearl Special Jury Prize- $125,000

Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love

Director and Producer: Elisabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
The Black Pearl for Best Actress - $75,000

Fawzia: A Special Blend

Actress: Ilham Shaheen
The Black Pearl for Best Actor - $75,000

Wild Blood

Actor: Luca Zingaretti
The Black Pearl for Best Artistic Contribution - $75,000

Laila's Birthday

Screenwriter: Rashid Masharawi
The Black Pearl Audience Choice Award

Saving Luna

Co-Directors: Suzanne Chisholm & Michael Parfit. Producer: Suzanne Chisholm
The Black Pearl for Best Narrative - Short Film- $75.000

The View

Co-Directors: Hazim Bitar & Rifqi Assaf. Producer: Amman Filmmakers Cooperative
The Black Pearl for Best Documentary – Short Film- $75.000

Breadmakers

Director: Yasmin Fedda. Producers: Jim Hickey & Robin Mitchell
The Black Pearl for Best Animation- Shot Film- $75.000

Jacinta

Director: Karla Casteneda. Producer: Luis Tellez
The Black Pearl for Best Narrative – Student Films – $25.000

Illusion

Director: Burhan Qurbani. Producer: Fabian Gasmia
The Black Pearl for Best Emerging Filmmaker – Student Films- $25.000

Lullaby

Director: Serena Abi Aad. Producer: IESAV

SANAD