In the fall of 2020, film lovers will see the first edition of the GULF GERMAN FILM FESTIVAL. Screening groundbreaking new German language movies, ranging from art-house films to box-office hits, and from children’s matinees to late-night movies, this star-studded event invites an audience of all stripes.
The GULF GERMAN FILM FESTIVAL will kick off with UNDINE by Christian Petzold, one of Germany’s most beloved auteurs. The film premiered at this year’s Berlin Film Festival and is a 21st century makeover of the old folk tale of the water nymph who will kill her lover, should he ever betray her. The opening film is followed by GUNDERMANN by acclaimed director Andreas Dresen. Focusing on the extraordinary and contradictory life of East German singer-songwriter Gerhard Gundermann, Dresen’s film was an audience favorite and box office success in Germany.
Another festival highlight is A HIDDEN LIFE by Terrence Malick. The film tells the true story of an Austrian farmer who refused to fight for the Nazis. It is an allegorical resistance drama about courage in the fight against evil. SYSTEM CRASHER, Nora Fingscheidt’s intense social drama about nine-year-old Benni whose anger issues and past trauma hinder her from finding permanent care, won numerous awards, including best film, best director, best writing as well as best actor and best actress at the German Film Awards 2020. And there are many more exciting movies to enjoy.
Due to the pandemic, this year’s festival will be held in blended mode. We will show the films at Cinema Akil in Dubai and we will stream them throughout the UAE and Bahrain. Filmmakers and talents will take part via video-link. Circumstances permitting, we will have a small reception at the opening. The gala opening and red carpet event will have to wait until next year.
The GULF GERMAN FILM FESTIVAL is a coproduction of the Goethe-Institut and the German Embassy in the United Arab Emirates. It is supported by German Films and brought to you in cooperation with the Embassies of Switzerland and Austria.
Please note that the virtual cinema screenings are accessible to viewers in the UAE, Bahrain, and Oman. They can be streamed on the mentioned dates and times. E.g., UNDINE can be accessed on 19 November 2020 at 7:00 pm UAE time. No registration or ticket is needed. All live streamings are free.
Please follow the instructions below to view one or more films:
- Go on the website of the Gulf German Film Festival
- Scroll down and click on the link for the film you would like to see.
- Scroll down to Live Streaming and click on the link.
- You will be directed to Vimeo streaming platform.
- Click on Play and start the movie.
For some films, you can choose between English and Arabic subtitles.
We look forward to welcoming you to the first edition of the Gulf German Film Festival and hope you enjoy the films!
Cooperation between Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation, ADMAF, and Film Academy Baden-Wurttemberg
The featured short films THE PLANT and THE LAST MEAL have been created as part of the Young Filmmakers’ Circle 2019 which has been established by the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation, ADMAF, in order to nurture the local creative community with the aim of having student Academy Award nominations in the Short Film category by 2020, as well as establishing industry connections and showcasing the best of the regional creative scene through dedicated film screenings.
ADMAF has collaborated with world-renowned Film Academy Baden-Wurttemberg to empower emerging Emirati and regional filmmakers to professionally develop their cinematic language and creative talents as part of the Young Filmmakers’ Circle 2019.
The Plant
Director: Hamda Almidfa
United Arab Emirates, 2020
4:52 min.
Director Hamda Almidfa Screenplay Hamda Almidfa Cinematography Aly Kassem Cast Alahad, Mohammed Abdulla Jazem, Salem Alnezi, Vinodha Poojari Producer Raihana Alhashmi Co-Producer Abdulaziz Almannaei
In a playful domestic tale, a small child tries desperately to give nature a small role in her life, finding that the modern world blocks her at every turn. When a gardener comes into the picture, she discovers that cultivating human kindness is not only natural, it is essential to happiness.
The director
Hamda Al Midfa is a 31 years old Emirati woman who is currently working as a freelance filmmaker in the UAE with the hopes to build a good network and find the right people to work with. In order to learn all about film making, Hamda has worked on multiple positions such as First Assistant Director, Sound Mixer, First Assistant Camera, and Script. In the near future, her dream is to direct her own film scripts she is working on. Her late father introduced her to the movies, he would gather her siblings and she would play a film from his collection.
The Last Meal
19 - 21 November 2020
Original version with English subtitles
In this somber short film, an inmate on death row asks his only friend, a prison guard, for a special last meal of baklava from his mother’s pastry shop. When the guard finds that the inmate’s mother has passed away, he is faced with a choice more difficult than he could have imagined.
The director
Sachin Augustine is a 27 years old Indian, who has grown up and lived in the UAE for the past 23 years. He is currently working in the travel and tourism industry.
Sachin first realized that he wanted to make films when he was doing his Bachelors in Singapore and had to work on a short film project for the first time. Since then, there was no turning back, he says. In 2017 he was part of the Arab Film Studio Narrative program. Here he was able to write and direct a short film ‐ which has been screened in multiple festivals worldwide. For the future he hopes to be able to hone his skills as a filmmaker and forge a career out of his passion and love for films.
