Middle East International Film Festival
Encyclopedia
Abu Dhabi Film Festival is an international film festival
. Created in 2007, the ceremony is held annually in October in Abu Dhabi
, United Arab Emirates
by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH), under the patronage of Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of the ADACH. The ADFF aims to encourage and foster the growth of filmmaking in the Arab world
by showcasing movies from the region alongside standout productions from prominent international filmmakers.
, Yousra, Elham Shaeen, Mostafa Shaban, and Abdulaiziz Al Jazem. The initial MEIFF was produced by Egyptian celebrity host Nashwa Al-Ruwaini. After the 2008 festival, Al-Ruwaini was removed and now serves on the advisory board, and Peter Scarlet, formerly of the Tribeca Film Festival, assumed duties in 2009.
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. Back Door Channels: The Price of Peace
, 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
.
and Adrien Brody
will attend this year´s festival
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.
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
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
. With the goal of encouraging independent and auteur
-based cinema, eligible filmmakers now have access to financial grants, screenwriting and pitch workshops, and personal meetings with industry mentors and experts.
Film festival
A film festival is an organised, extended presentation of films in one or more movie theaters or screening venues, usually in a single locality. More and more often film festivals show part of their films to the public by adding outdoor movie screenings...
. Created in 2007, the ceremony is held annually in October in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...
, United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH), under the patronage of Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of the ADACH. The ADFF aims to encourage and foster the growth of filmmaking in the Arab world
Arab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
by showcasing movies from the region alongside standout productions from prominent international filmmakers.
Inaugural festival
The first festival debuted with 152 movies and 186 screenings shown in five Abu Dhabi venues. A total of 76 feature films and 34 short films from over 35 countries competed for the Black Pearl Awards. Well-known celebrities who showed up for the awards were: Michael Gaston, the British actor Joseph Fiennes, and well known French actress, and Eva Green. Some of the Arabic personalities who attended were:Muna WassefMuna Wassef
Muna Wassef is a Syrian Stage, Film and Television actress. She was born on February 9, 1942, as . She is also a United Nations Goodwill ambassador...
, Yousra, Elham Shaeen, Mostafa Shaban, and Abdulaiziz Al Jazem. The initial MEIFF was produced by Egyptian celebrity host Nashwa Al-Ruwaini. After the 2008 festival, Al-Ruwaini was removed and now serves on the advisory board, and Peter Scarlet, formerly of the Tribeca Film Festival, assumed duties in 2009.
Re-branding
In 2010, UAE based Brash Brands www.brashbrands.com assisted ADACH to develop the Festival's brand, allowing it to compete 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.Sponsorship
The festival is sponsosred by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (often abbreviated as ADACH). It is the institution in charge of conserving and promoting the heritage and culture of Abu Dhabi, and administered by a board of directors chaired by H. E. Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan.Headlining features
With a new branding scheme, and in its second year under the command of Executive Director Peter Scarlet, the 2010 ADFF is making a strong effort to breakout from a cluttered festival junket in the 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
In a Better World
In a Better World is a 2010 Danish-Swedish drama thriller film written by Anders Thomas Jensen and directed by Susanne Bier. The film stars Mikael Persbrandt, Trine Dyrholm, and Ulrich Thomsen in a story which takes place in small-town Denmark and a refugee camp in Africa.A Danish majority...
by the Danish filmmaker Susanne Bier
Susanne Bier
Susanne Bier is a Danish film director best known for her feature films Brothers, After the Wedding and the Academy-Award-winning In a Better World.-Life and work:Susanne Bier was born to Jewish parents in Copenhagen, Denmark...
, 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
Incendies
Incendies is a 2010 Quebec film written and directed by Denis Villeneuve. Adapted from Wajdi Mouawad's play, Scorched, Incendies follows the journey of twin brother and sister as they attempt to unravel the mystery of their mother's life. The film premiered at the Venice and Toronto Film Festivals...
, directed by Denis Villeneuve
Denis Villeneuve
Denis Villeneuve is a Canadian film director and writer. In his early career he won Radio-Canada's youth film competition "La Course Europe-Asie" in 1990-91. He is a three-time winner of the Genie Award for Best Director, for Maelström in 2001, Polytechnique in 2010 and Incendies in 2011...
, 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
Messages from the Sea
Messages from the Sea is a 2010 Egyptian drama film directed by Daoud Abdel Sayed. The film was selected as the Egyptian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 83rd Academy Awards, but it did not make the final shortlist.-Cast:* Basma Ahmad...
by Daoud Abdel Sayed
Daoud Abdel Sayed
Daoud Abdel Sayed is an Egyptian director and screenwriter. He was born in Cairo in 1946. He started as the assistant of Youssef Chahine in The Land...
, 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
Cirkus Columbia
Cirkus Columbia is a 2010 drama film starring Miki Manojlović, Mira Furlan, Boris Ler and Jelena Stupljanin. The film is set in the Herzegovina part of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the early 1990s, after the dissolution of Yugoslavia, and slightly before the Yugoslav Wars...
, is also considered an Oscar contender. Directed by Danis Tanovic
Danis Tanovic
Danis Tanović is a Bosnian film director and screenwriter.Tanović is best known for having directed and written the script for the 2001 Bosnian movie No Man's Land which won an Academy Award. He was a member of the jury at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival.-Biography:Danis Tanović was born in the...
, who won the Best Foreign Language Oscar with his film No Man’s Land
No Man's Land (2001 film)
No Man's Land is a 2001 tragic war drama that is set in the midst of the Bosnian war. The film is a parable and marked the debut of Bosnian writer and director Danis Tanović...
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. Back Door Channels: The Price of Peace
Back Door Channels: The Price of Peace
Back Door Channels: The Price of Peace, directed by Harry Hunkele,and produced by Arick Wierson, Donald Tanselle, and Matthew Tollin, is an American documentary film about the interplay between the official government channels and the men who acted largely behind the scenes during the course of...
, directed by American director Harry Hunkele
Harry Hunkele
Harry Hunkele is an American Film and Television Director, Producer and Editor. He is a ten-time Emmy Award winning television director and producer and is the director of the feature documentary "Back Door Channels: The Price of Peace" . -Biography:Hunkele was born in rural Vermont, and came to...
and produced by American Emmy-award winning producer Arick Wierson
Arick Wierson
Arick Wierson is an American-born media executive and entrepreneur. His has business interests that span television and film production, political consultancy, and a variety of business interests in the Middle East, Latin America, Europe and Africa...
, 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
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
, former U.N. Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali
Boutros Boutros-Ghali
Boutros Boutros-Ghali is an Egyptian politician and diplomat who was the sixth Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 1992 to December 1996...
, CNN anchorman Wolf Blitzer
Wolf Blitzer
Wolf Isaac Blitzer is an American journalist who has been a CNN reporter since 1990. Blitzer is currently the host of the newscast The Situation Room and was the host of the Sunday talk show Late Edition until it was discontinued on January 11, 2009...
, and, in a rare on camera appearance, former U.S. Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger
Henry Kissinger
Heinz Alfred "Henry" Kissinger is a German-born American academic, political scientist, diplomat, and businessman. He is a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He served as National Security Advisor and later concurrently as Secretary of State in the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon and...
. The Oath
The Oath (2010 film)
The Oath is a 2010 documentary from director Laura Poitras. It tells the cross-cut 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...
is documentary from director Laura Poitras
Laura Poitras
Laura Poitras is a documentary film director and producer.Her 2006 film My Country, My Country was nominated for an Oscar.Her 2010 film The Oath won the "Excellence in Cinematography Award for U.S...
that tells the tale of two men, Abu Jandal and Salim Ahmed Hamdan, whose meeting launched them on juxtaposed paths with Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
, Osama bin Laden
Osama bin Laden
Osama bin Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden was the founder of the militant Islamist organization Al-Qaeda, the jihadist organization responsible for the September 11 attacks on the United States and numerous other mass-casualty attacks against civilian and military targets...
, 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
Secretariat (film)
Secretariat is a 2010 biographical film produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Mayhem Pictures, and directed by Randall Wallace. The film chronicles the life of thoroughbred race horse Secretariat, winner of the Triple Crown in 1973...
, directed by Randall Wallace
Randall Wallace
Randall Wallace is an American screenwriter, director, producer, and songwriter who came to prominence by writing the screenplay for the 1995 film Braveheart. His work on the film earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay and a Writers Guild of America award for Best...
, starring Diane Lane
Diane Lane
Diane Lane is an American film actress.Born and raised in New York City, Lane made her screen debut at the age of 13 in George Roy Hill's 1979 film A Little Romance, starring opposite Sir Laurence Olivier. Soon after, she was featured on the cover of Time magazine...
and John Malkovich
John Malkovich
John Gavin Malkovich is an American actor, producer, director and fashion designer with his label Technobohemian. Over the last 25 years of his career, Malkovich has appeared in more than 70 motion pictures. For his roles in Places in the Heart and In the Line of Fire, he received Academy Award...
is an adopted biopic of the eponymous racehorse Secretariat
Secretariat (horse)
Secretariat was an American Thoroughbred racehorse, that in 1973 became the first U.S. Triple Crown champion in 25 years, setting new race records in two of the three events in the Series—the Kentucky Derby , and the Belmont Stakes —records that still stand today.Secretariat was sired by Bold...
. Making its Middle East premiere is Fair Game
Fair Game (2010 film)
Fair Game is a 2010 biographical film drama directed by Doug Liman and starring Naomi Watts and Sean Penn. It is based on Valerie Plame's memoir, Fair Game: My Life as a Spy, My Betrayal by the White House which details the scandalous events that took place in mid 2003, implicating senior White...
, starring Naomi Watts
Naomi Watts
Naomi Ellen Watts is a British actress. Watts began her career in Australian television, where she appeared in series such as Hey Dad..! , Brides of Christ , and Home and Away . Her film debut was the 1986 drama For Love Alone...
and Sean Penn
Sean Penn
Sean Justin Penn is an American actor, screenwriter and film director, also known for his political and social activism...
and directed by Doug Liman
Doug Liman
Douglas Eric "Doug" Liman is an American film director and producer best known for Swingers , The Bourne Identity , Mr. & Mrs. Smith , Jumper , and Fair Game .-Early life:...
, the political thriller tells the real life story of Valerie Plame
Valerie Plame
Valerie Elise Plame Wilson , known as Valerie Plame, Valerie E. Wilson, and Valerie Plame Wilson, is a former United States CIA Operations Officer and the author of a memoir detailing her career and the events leading up to her resignation from the CIA.-Early life :Valerie Elise Plame was born on...
, 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
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
Celebrity involvement
The Abu Dhabi Film Festival, known for attracting a bevy if big Hollywood names, has confirmed that A-list stars Uma ThurmanUma Thurman
Uma Karuna Thurman is an American actress and model. She has performed in leading roles in a variety of films, ranging from romantic comedies and dramas to science fiction and action movies. Among her best-known roles are those in the Quentin Tarantino films Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill...
and Adrien Brody
Adrien Brody
Adrien Brody is an American actor and film producer. He received widespread recognition and acclaim after starring in Roman Polanski's The Pianist . Winning the Academy Award for Best Actor in 2003 at age 29, he is the youngest actor to do so...
will attend this year´s festival
Press
In October, 2009, the UK GuardianThe Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
published an article about the origins and intent of the MEIFF. The article noted that although the host country, Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...
, at present has only a small indigenous film-making industry, the film festival could serve a variety of constructive purposes.
MEIFF 2009 Black Pearl Award winners
In 2009, 16 Black Pearl awards were given in 3 major categories (narrative, documentary, and short films). 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
- Hipsters (StilyagiStilyagi (2008 film)Stilyagi is a 2008 Russian film, named Hipsters for its American release. It is a musical that deals with Soviet youth subculture "stilyagi" of the 1950s....
)- Director: Valery Todorovsky (Russia)
The Black Pearl Award for Best Documentary Film - $100,000
- The Frontier GandhiThe Frontier GandhiThe Frontier Gandhi: Badshah Khan, a Torch for Peace, a documentary released in 2008, is the first full film account of Pashtun leader and non violent activist Abdul Ghaffar Khan, also known as Badshah Khan or Bacha Khan....
: Badshah Khan, A Torch for Peace- Director: T. C. McLuhan (Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, USA)
The Black Pearl Award for Best Narrative Short - $25,000
- The Six Dollar Fifty Man
- Director: Mark Albiston and Louis Sutherland (New Zealand)
The Black Pearl Award for Best Narrative Short - $25,000
- Wagah
- Director: Supriyo Sen and Najaf Bilgrami (Pakistan, India, Germany)
MEIFF 2008 Black Pearl Award winners
The Black Pearl for Best Narrative Film - $200,000Disgrace
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
Rashid Masharawi
Rashid Masharawi, film artist, born in Gaza in 1962 to a family of refugees from Jaffa. He grew up in the Shati refugee camp....
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
Amman Filmmakers Cooperative
The Amman Filmmakers Cooperative promotes independent Jordanian and Palestinian Diaspora filmmaking through training, experimentation, and networking. The Cooperative seeks to empower student filmmakers to produce films using very nominal resources and with the help of digital filmmaking tools...
The Black Pearl for Best Documentary – Short Film- $75.000
Breadmakers
Director: Yasmin Fedda. Producers: Jim Hickey & Robin Mitchell
Robin Mitchell
Robin Mitchell, born in the village of Letham, Fife, Scotland on the 27th May 1963, is a Tour Guide, Writer and Film Producer.-Education:He attended Parkhill Primary School in Leven and Buckhaven High School. At Edinburgh Napier University, he studied Hotel Catering and Institutional Management...
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
In 2011, the Abu Dhabi Film Festival launched the SANAD development and post-production fund for cineastes from the Arab worldArab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
. With the goal of encouraging independent and auteur
Auteur theory
In film criticism, auteur theory holds that a director's film reflects the director's personal creative vision, as if they were the primary "auteur"...
-based cinema, eligible filmmakers now have access to financial grants, screenwriting and pitch workshops, and personal meetings with industry mentors and experts.
See also
- Dubai International Film FestivalDubai International Film FestivalThe Dubai International Film Festival is an international film festival based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Launched in 2004, it aims to foster the growth of filmmaking in the Arab world.-Overview:...
- Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage
External links
- Abu Dhabi Film Festival - Official website