Abdullah

+Minnesota Premiere
+United Arab Emirates

Thursday, 9/28 at St Anthony Main Theatre
3:15 p.m.

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VILLAGERS
Nidal Badarny
short / comedy
11 mins / 2015
Palestine
Arabic with English subtitles
Minnesota premiere

On a film set, a tempestuous Palestinian love story takes place beside an apartheid wall. The romance ends abruptly and the lovers realize their dreams cannot be sustained in their present situation, enclosed by physical barriers both real and merely representational. As their love story ends, a new story emerges, a story that questions the ability of cinema to capture the absurd reality of occupation.

Festivals and Awards:
Days of Cinema, Palestine, 2016
Festival Ciné-Palestine, France, 2017

Nidal Badarny was born in Arrabeh, Palestine. He studied theater and cinema and has since directed and acted in multiple comedic plays. Villagers is his latest film.

ABDULLAH
Humaid Alsuwaidi
narrative / drama
97 mins / 2015
UAE
Arabic with English subtitles
Minnesota premiere

Abdullah grew up in a conservative family in the UAE, where expectations for his future were high. At an early age, he discovered music, an untenable career choice according to his parents. Still, his love for playing and writing songs never faded. After multiple attempts to reconcile with his family, he leaves the nest and pursues a career in the film industry, where he creates soundtracks and sound effects. It turns out to be a thankless job. So, with no experience, he decides to write a concert program for a full orchestra and an unlikely friendship with his British neighbors is the push he needs to make it happen. This comedy is a touching look at everyday life in the UAE.

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Festivals and Awards:
Dubai International Film Festival, UAE, 2015

Humaid Alsuwaidi was born in Abu Dhabi in 1984. He attended film school at the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles. The feature film Abdullah is his directorial debut.