The Abu Dhabi Film Festival 2010 Opens With Gala Screening of Secretariat

The Abu Dhabi Film Festival (October 14-23) is proud to celebrate the opening of its fourth edition with a Gala Screening of Randall Wallace’s moving and thrilling new drama Secretariat. Screened at Abu Dhabi’s iconic Emirates Palace hotel, the event kicks off ten days of exceptional cinema, featuring 172 films from 43 countries, 32 world premieres and 26 international premieres, as well as a packed program of special events, talks and workshops.

Adrien Brody, Gérard Depardieu, Clive Owen and many of the reigning stars of the Arab film world are travelling to Abu Dhabi for the event and are expected to grace the red carpet tomorrow (October 14). Fathy Abdel Wahab, Ghada Adel and Khaled Abol Naga lead a list of famous names that goes on to include Lebleba, Yehia el Fakharany, Yosra and many more.

Secretariat, starring John Malkovich and Diane Lane, is based on the remarkable true story of the 1973 Triple Crown-winning racehorse, whose success against all odds captured the imagination of people around the world. The plot revolves around housewife Penny Chenery (Lane), who agrees to take over her ailing father’s stables, despite her lack of horseracing knowledge. With the help of veteran trainer Lucien Laurin (Malkovich), Chenery manages to navigate the male-dominated business, ultimately fostering the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years and what may be the greatest racehorse of all time.

In addition to the glitz and excitement of the red carpet, this year’s Opening Night will offer a reminder of how festivals play a vital role in giving the members of the international film community an opportunity to meet and share ideas. Before the main film, there will be a screening of The Accordion, the latest work of the award-winning Iranian director Jafar Panahi, a short made as part of an international project in support of the Universal Declaration of Human rights. But Panahi, who was imprisoned last spring, is still not allowed to travel, so as happened recently at film festivals in Cannes, Venice and New York, the Abu Dhabi Film Festival will screen his film as a gesture of support for the importance of free expression and the open flow of ideas.

In addition to its roster of film screenings, the Festival also features a program of special events held in the Festival Tent at the Emirates Palace hotel and at the beautiful Abu Dhabi Theater. This year, numerous well-known actors and filmmakers from all over the world are coming to Abu Dhabi not just to attend the Festival, but also to share their experiences with the wider community. The Festival is pleased to host exclusive encounters with Abbas Kiarostami, Adrien Brody, Khaled Abol Naga, Lebleba, Julianne Moore, Uma Thurman, Yehia El Fakharany and Yosra. The program also includes a variety of free talks, master classes and live music performances, which will take place in the Festival Tent.

Moreover, the Festival features a return of the popular Family Day, sponsored by E-Vision. Taking place at Abu Dhabi Theater on Saturday, October 23, Family Day will present two special screenings, which are sure to delight both children and grown-ups: Charlie Chaplin’s The Circus (1928) and a program of animated shorts selected from the highlights of the 2010 edition of the world’s leading showcase of animated films, France’s Annecy International Animation Film Festival.

“We look forward to welcoming our esteemed audience and guests here in Abu Dhabi for the fourth edition of our Festival, which represents each year the culmination of our efforts to nurture regional film culture and celebrate the spirit of cultural dialogue and excellence in filmmaking. Arab film is on the rise and, with the help of our newly established SANAD film fund, we are now able to help Arab filmmakers realize their full potential throughout the year,” said Eissa Saif Rashed Al Mazrouei, the Festival’s Project Director.

To find out the latest information about the Festival’s program, please visit our website: www.abudhabifilmfestival.ae.
 

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