What is ADFF all about?
You can see a movie any day in theaters, on television, on your
computer and maybe even on your phone. Humor to horror, Hollywood
to Bollywood, heart-pounding blockbusters to heart-breaking
romances - audiences here in the UAE already have access to a
remarkable diversity of film choices. So what makes the Abu Dhabi
Film Festival special?
Most importantly, we encourage you to come October 13-22 to see
for yourself. But in the meantime, here are several factors we
think make the film-festival experience so exciting.
First, the selection: ADFF programmers spend
thousands of hours combing through films from around the world,
looking for particularly noteworthy examples of cinematic magic.
Some are chosen for their originality, others for their timeliness,
artistry, emotional depth, innovation or any of countless other
attributes. But regardless of their genre or topic, all exhibit
something truly remarkable in filmmaking - and audiences might not
otherwise have encountered these fascinating films gleaned from
every corner of the world. So if you're looking for cinematic fare
that's smart, quirky or simply out-of-the-ordinary, you'll find it
here!
ADFF also pays special attention to developments in Arab cinema,
fostering the region's distinctive film culture and celebrating its
achievements with a global audience. This year, nearly half of the
Festival's program of short and feature-length films is from the
Arab world, providing local audiences the chance to explore and
understand what is exciting and distinctive about Arab film
culture.
Then there's the advantage of access: Filmmakers attend nearly
every screening during the 10-day Festival and take questions from
the audience at special post-screening Q&A sessions. And be on
the lookout for movie stars from the Arab world and beyond who
attend screenings and participate in the Festival's special
events.
Festivals like ADFF often include "premiere" screenings, giving
audiences the rare chance to be among the first to see a new work.
World premieres mark the very first time a film has been shown
publicly anywhere, while international premieres indicate its debut
outside its country of origin. Middle Eastern premieres are a
film's inaugural screening in the region. This year, nearly
one-third of the Festival's programming was a world or
international premiere, with much of the remainder comprising
Middle Eastern premieres.
And perhaps the most prominent element in popular imagination:
Film festivals are renowned for the excitement percolating around
the red carpet, and ADFF is no exception with celebrities,
camera-toting press, eager fans and all the glamor you'd expect of
an international celebration of cinema.
But don't take our word for it: We encourage you to come and
experience ADFF for yourself. Whether you're a cinephile or a
Festival first-timer, we're confident that we'll have something to
interest you!