Heya folks, been in Dubai since the 11th. Haven't had the time to go online until now. Saw lots of films, went through both screenings of CHICKEN RICE MYSTERY. So let me post some photos, I'll write more about my thoughts later.
Anyway, my dad came to Dubai too, and we're now staying at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, which is one hell of a hotel.
The view of Burj Al Arab's really great too.
I arrived early in the morning, around 5 am. So did my dad (I flew from Tokyo, he flew from Malaysia). Once we reached the hotel, we had breakfast at the restaurant by the beach.
The photos I took look like stuff you'll see in postcards.
Went I went to the Film Festival HQ in the afternoon, a press conference was being held for Oliver Stone and Jeffrey Wright. W.'s the opening film of the festival.
There was a red carpet event at night for the opening ceremony. Like what I did during the Pride And Glory premiere at the Rome Film Fest back in October, I wore sunglasses.
I was with the French filmmaker, Jean-Luc Ayach, he has a short film under the Muhr Arabic Short category.
This is before the opening ceremony. Madina Arena's really impressive-looking.
Opening performance was insanely impressive. They even brought in a HORSE!
(Seriously, I haven't seen a more lavish opening performance in a film festival, Dubai is mindblowing)
After that, Oliver Stone and Jeffrey Wright presented their film, W.
After film was over, we had a gala at this huge open-air club, more insanely impressive performance ensued.
I hung out with Chinese director Yu Guangyi, who made the much-acclaimed documentaries THE LAST LUMBERJACKS (it shared the Best Director and Jury Prize awards with THE ELEPHANT AND THE SEA at the Cinema Digital Seoul Film Fest last year) and SURVIVAL SONG (won the big one at the Cinema Digital Seoul Film Fest this year, KURUS was in competition too, but wasn't able to halt its dominance! Was also shown at Tokyo Filmex, where it won a Special Jury Prize)
Yu Guangyi
Burj Al-Arab at night.
Anyway, my dad came to Dubai too, and we're now staying at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, which is one hell of a hotel.
The view of Burj Al Arab's really great too.
I arrived early in the morning, around 5 am. So did my dad (I flew from Tokyo, he flew from Malaysia). Once we reached the hotel, we had breakfast at the restaurant by the beach.
The photos I took look like stuff you'll see in postcards.
Went I went to the Film Festival HQ in the afternoon, a press conference was being held for Oliver Stone and Jeffrey Wright. W.'s the opening film of the festival.
There was a red carpet event at night for the opening ceremony. Like what I did during the Pride And Glory premiere at the Rome Film Fest back in October, I wore sunglasses.
I was with the French filmmaker, Jean-Luc Ayach, he has a short film under the Muhr Arabic Short category.
This is before the opening ceremony. Madina Arena's really impressive-looking.
Opening performance was insanely impressive. They even brought in a HORSE!
(Seriously, I haven't seen a more lavish opening performance in a film festival, Dubai is mindblowing)
After that, Oliver Stone and Jeffrey Wright presented their film, W.
After film was over, we had a gala at this huge open-air club, more insanely impressive performance ensued.
I hung out with Chinese director Yu Guangyi, who made the much-acclaimed documentaries THE LAST LUMBERJACKS (it shared the Best Director and Jury Prize awards with THE ELEPHANT AND THE SEA at the Cinema Digital Seoul Film Fest last year) and SURVIVAL SONG (won the big one at the Cinema Digital Seoul Film Fest this year, KURUS was in competition too, but wasn't able to halt its dominance! Was also shown at Tokyo Filmex, where it won a Special Jury Prize)
Yu Guangyi
Burj Al-Arab at night.
