Khaleej Times Online

16 Arab films with big ideas

By a staff reporter

9 December 2004

DUBAI — The 16 Arab short films, being screened during the Festival, have unlimited dreams and horizons; even though they are brief, they are films with big ideas and they are a kaleidoscope of Arab culture and Arab concerns, said Festival programmer Mohamed Maklouf yesterday.

Maklouf, a UK-based filmmaker, film critic, international jury member and founder director of the Arab Screen Independent Film Festival, is widely regarded as one of the region's experts on Arab short and documentary films.

"At the Dubai International Film Festival, people will get an opportunity to watch unique films that reflect Arab hopes and concerns," he said of the 16 short films being screened during the Festival. "These films will make them think, contemplate, laugh and even cry," he added.

. . .

The second series of Arabian shorts, including 16 Hours in Baghdad and Sign of Belonging will be screened at 10pm tonight at the Jumeirah Beach Auditorium, and the third series which includes Hopefully For The Best, Tough Luck, BerlinBeirut and T for Terrorist, will screen at 10pm tomorrow at the Jumeirah Beach Auditorium. A special selection of UAE shorts will also be screened at 5.30pm today at the Madinat Theatre.

http:/AmmanFilmmakers.alif.com