ABU DHABI, 8 October 2007 — Abu Dhabi’s Middle East International Film Festival (MEIFF) recently revealed its closing night film, director Paul Haggis’s “In the Valley of Elah,” which is a story about a war veteran and his wife who are in search of their son, a soldier who recently returned from Iraq but has since gone missing.
The festival also named Nadine Labaki, director of “Caramel,” as the recipient of the Variety Middle East Filmmaker of the Year Award.
Oscar favorite “Atonement” starring Keira Knightley will open the proceedings at the six-day MEIFF in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 14.
In support of Emirati filmmakers, the Abu Dhabi Media Company will sponsor a $100,000 cash prize, and the festival announced the line-ups for its Middle East Spotlight, GCC Films, as well as selections in its Arab Women Directors category for the inaugural festival, taking place at the Emirates Palace.
These three sections collectively present a mix of 31 fiction, documentary and short films that were created by emerging and acclaimed filmmakers.
The films are from 12 different countries from the region, diversely represented by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq/Kurdistan, Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Syria, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates.
