DIFF at The Pavilion - Focus on Iran

Still from Felicity Land

The second edition of Dubai International Film Festival's monthly film screenings at The Pavilion will focus on Iran. Three films will be screened from 24th-26th September and each one will be followed by a Q&A discussion (all films will be sub-titled in English). 


Here's the line up: 

Monday, 24th September - Felicity Land (2011) 

Yasi, who has problems in her marriage with Mohsen, decides to celebrate Mohsen’s birthday to remind him of some past memories. She plans everything for a great party, but not all goes as she wishes.

 

www.maziarmiri.com/en/works/felicity_land 



Tuesday, 25th September - The Mourning (2011)  

 

The poignant story of a hearing-impaired couple suddenly left with the responsibility of caring for their nephew. While visiting her sister and brother-in-law, the boy’s mother and father argue in the middle of the night and drive away suddenly. The following day, the boy searches for his parents with his aunt and uncle, who wonder where their guests have gone and why they would leave their son behind?  

Wednesday, 26th September - There Are Things You Don't Know (2010)   

 

The story of a secluded taxi driver in Tehran which is awaiting an earthquake: he has chosen to distance himself from society and to be passive so as not to be hurt. He views the society’s incidents through cuts from the lives of his passengers. 

Event details
Dates: 24th-26th September  at 7.30pm
Venue: The Pavilion Downtown, Dubai Emaar Boulevard, Downtown Dubai (location map)
Phone: +971 4 4477025
Free entry and seating is on a first come, first sit basis.





www.dubaifilmfest.com
www.pavilion.ae 

Diving off the Burj

Not sure how I missed this, but I just watched the Visa Go World commercial featuring US Olympics Diver David Boudia "diving" off the Burj Khalifa, you know, the tallest building in the world.

Not sure if I was so engrossed watching the Olympics on TV that made me miss this during its over 3 million views online. Anyway, if you missed it too, here it is: 

Visa Olympics London 2012: David Boudia Team Visa Athlete Commercial - Very High Dive

 

David Boudia makes over 25,000 practice dives a year; which is like diving off the tallest building in the world over 180 times. All of the practice is in anticipation of the one perfect dive when the lights are shining brightest at the London 2012 Olympic Games. See if practice makes perfect and follow David's journey. 

 
But this isn't the first commercial depicting a dive scene off an iconic building in Dubai. Burj Al Arab's Leave the Ordinary Behind was released last year. Here it is: 

Burj Al Arab - Leave the Ordinary Behind

 

In this spot our hero is seen walking out onto the Al Muntaha restaurant atop the Burj Al Arab and then performing a high dive, twisting as he goes we step in and out of the hotel highlighting it's beautiful architecture both inside and out.

So there you have it, we have not one, but two commercials with dive scenes off two iconic buildings in Dubai (btw, in case you don't know, "burj" is the Arabic word for "tower").  

DIFF at The Pavilion - Entertainment Legends

 

Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) will start a new series of monthly film screenings at The Pavilion from August to December. The theme for this month's screenings is "Entertainment Legends" with a focus on musical icons. 

It's good to see DIFF organising film screenings leading up to the festival in December, and I really hope they continue after the festival. But I do question the choice of venue to screen these films. The Pavilion has a small theatre with beanbag seating that fits 60 people. Why not screen these films in a proper cinema theatre? We've got plenty of cinemas with good sound systems that can accommodate more people. 

Whilst I try to figure out the answers, here's the line up for August. Spread the word. 

Monday, 27th August - Nowhere Boy (2009)

Nowhere Boy tells the story of Lennon’s (Aaron Johnson) teenage years from 1955–1960 and the start of his journey to becoming a successful musician. The story also examines the impact on his early life and personality of the two dominant females in his childhood – his Aunt Mimi (Kristin Scott Thomas), and his mother, Julia (Anne-Marie Duff).

In addition, the film shows the first meeting of Lennon with future Beatles Paul McCartney (Thomas Brodie Sangster) and George Harrison (Sam Bell), and the development of their friendship and musical partnership.

nowhereboy.com

Tuesday, 28th August - Marley (2012)

Marley is the definitive life story of the musician, revolutionary, and legend, from his early days to his rise to international superstardom. Made with the support of the Marley family, the film features rare footage, incredible performances and revelatory interviews with the people that knew him best.

From Academy Award-winning director Kevin Macdonald (One Day In September, The Last King of Scotland) comes the story of a towering figure of musical history, whose music and message has transcended different cultures, languages and creeds to resonate around the world today as powerfully as when he was alive.

bobmarleymovie.com

Wednesday, 29th August - The Festival Express (2003)

In the summer of 1970, a chartered train crossed Canada carrying some of the world’s greatest rock icons. The Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, The Band, Buddy Guy, and others lived (and partied) together for five days, stopping in major cities along the way to play live concerts.

The film combines live footage shot during the 1970 concerts, as well as aboard the train itself, interspersed with present-day interviews with tour participants sharing their often humorous recollections of the events. 

festivalexpress.com

Event details
Dates: 27th-29th August  at 7.30pm
Venue: The Pavilion Downtown, Dubai Emaar Boulevard, Downtown Dubai (location map)
Phone: +971 4 4477025
Free entry 

www.dubaifilmfest.com
www.pavilion.ae

Dubai - City on the Move by Geoff Tompkinson

It's been a while since I posted a timelapse video shot in Dubai. Dubai - City on the Move by Geoff Tompkinson is part of his 'Round the World in Timelapse' project. Enjoy this whirlwind tour of Dubai. 

www.gtimage.com
www.facebook.com/gtimage


 

[via laughingsquid.com]

Supplications by Katarina Premfors at The Empty Quarter

© Katarina Premfors - Prayer at Batmaloo Bus Station - Kashmir, India 2009

One of my favourite Dubai based photographers, Katarina Premfors has her first solo exhibition at The Empty Quarter. "Supplications", which means humble request or prayer is an exhibition that reflects the many facets of Ramadan and is on till 16th August. 

In an interview with Katarina Premfors, she explains that the idea behind Supplication came from the definition of the word itself.

A humble request is a bit like thanksgiving in reverse. Inside we remember to be thankful for everything we have, but at the same time there is also a tacit humble request for our good fortune to continue. This seems fitting for Ramadan, which, in a way, is a kind of prolonged act of devotion.

Here are some of the photos that are on display at the exhibition. 

© Katarina Premfors - Reading in Kashmir - Kashmir, India 2010

© Katarina Premfors - Lesson - Dubai, UAE 2012

© Katarina Premfors - Resting Bus Driver - Dubai, UAE 2009

© Katarina Premfors - Chilling - Dubai, UAE 2011

© Katarina Premfors - At the Market - Hadramaut, Yemen 2009

© Katarina Premfors - Melons at Market - Dubai, UAE 2008

© Katarina Premfors - Moon rising in Desert - Dubai, UAE 2010

© Katarina Premfors - Ramadan Tent - Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE 2005

© Katarina Premfors - Sana'a at Dusk - Sana'a, Yemen 2010 

Exhibition details:
Dates: On till 16th August 2012
Venue: The Empty Quarter, Gate Village, Bldg 2, DIFC Dubai, UAE 
Phone: +971 4 323 1210





www.katarinapremfors.com
www.theemptyquarter.com

Ramadan Kareem 2012

© Hind Mezaina - Say a little prayer

Ramadan Kareem to everyone celebrating this holy month.

When Ninjas Cook - Brownie Caramel Ice Cream

It's summer time in Dubai and it's unbearably hot out there. This video by When Ninjas Cook making Brownie Caramel Ice Cream is an ideal soluion to cope with this weather. 

My solution to enduring the heat of the summer. Stock up on Ice cream, and not any ice cream, EXTREME Ice cream.

Brownie Caramel & Chocolate Ice cream. 

Ice cream always tastes good when there’s lots of gooey yummy variations inside it, and as complicated as it sounds preparing something like this is not hard as it sounds.

Simple Prepare some brownies and slice them up into cubes, prepare some caramel and chocolate, and simply stir it in some soft Ice cream and enjoy.   

Check out this other yummy video by When Ninjas Cook I posted on this blog a few months ago.  

www.whenninjascook.tumblr.com

Loaded - Just Good Music: 1st Birthday Celebrations

Loaded, Dubai's monthly "indie night" is celebrating it's first birthday this Friday, 29th June at Casa Latina (Hotel Ibis Al Barsha). The night is a mish mash of a wide range of music that you don't get to hear in other clubs in Dubai like electro, indie rock, 70s rock, 50s rock n roll, hip hop and drum n bass.  

For the past year, I've gone to most of the Loaded nights and usally have a very good time friends listening and goofing around on the dance floor to some of our favourite songs. Loaded gets bonus points when they screen some of my favourite 1980s films projected on a large screen. The last one I went to showed Goonies and I couldn't get my eyes off the screen.

But there are nights when we get the same old playlist and I just wish the Loaded DJs challenge themselves by playing something new and different and not just play a few new hits early on in the night. 

Anyway, here's wishing Loaded a happy birthday and wishing them many more. If you want to listen and dance to some good ol' classics and to some future classics, head over to Loaded. I hope there will be cake.

Will leave you with one of my favourite songs and music video. Hope this gets played on Friday. (I've been trying to find an excuse to share it here with you for a while, so now is a good a time as ever.)

Kings Of Convenience - I'd Rather Dance With You

Event details
Date: Friday, 29th June, 9.00pm - 3.00am
Venue: Casa Latina, Ibis Hotel in Barsha, Dubai (location map)
Free entry.  

www.facebook.com/seeyounextfriday

DUST x PRISM present Doc Daneeka at The Music Room on 29th June

Doc Daneeka will be playing in Dubai this Friday, 29th June, thanks to club night hosts DUST and PRISM. He will be playing at The Music Room along with Dubai based DUST and PRISM DJs, Mr Yeti, Puzzl, Essarai and Wriggly Scott. 

Doc Daneeka is based in Berlin but originally from Swansea. He ust finished touring in the US and Canada Tour with Addison Groove, alongside dates across the UK, Europe, China, Australia and New Zealand. One of his most recent gigs was at Sonar in Barcelona.  

Doc Daneeka's brand of syncopated beats, polyrhythms and bass are almost impossible to avoid getting physical to.

His music has gained support from artists and DJs such as Mary Anne Hobbs, Jackmaster, Oneman, Sinden, Skream, Gilles Peterson, James Zabiela, Martyn, Roska & Untold.

I've been listening to his music for the past few days and it's all very groovy. If you want to listen and dance to some new music in Dubai, I strongly you suggest you go to The Music Room this Friday.  


 

   

 

 

Event details
Date: Friday, 29th June 2012, 9.00pm-3.00am
Venue: The Music Room, Majestic Hotel, Bur Dubai (location map)
Ticket: AED 60  



 

www.facebook.com/docdaneeka
www.soundcloud.com/docdaneeka
www.dustdxb.com
www.weareprism.com
www.tenthousandyen.com

Film Screening - Requiem

Community Cinema is back this month, hosting a documentary called Requeim by Living Ocean Productions. The screening will happen on Tuesday, 26th June at VOX Cinemas in Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. The film will be followed by a panel discussion. 

Community Cinema's aim is to use film screenings as a platform to bring individuals from the community to engage in framing current and relevant social issues, exposing different angles and sharing ideas to facilitate solutions.  

Reckless killers? Senseless carnage? Terror and Dread? Not hardly. REQUIEM documents the true nature and purpose of one of the most misunderstood predators on our planet -- the shark. Follow the discovery of an underwater photographer from Hawaii as she becomes familiar with the extraordinary beauty, power and skills of one of the most infamous classification of sharks - the REQUIEM Family. 

Event details
Date: Saturday, 26th June. Doors open at 7.00pm, film starts at 7.30pm
Venue: VOX Cinemas, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai
 
 

www.livingoceanproductions.com/shark-film-requiem
www.facebook.com/communitycinemame
www.communitycinema.me
www.voxcinemas.com