*Photo courtesy of La Biennale di Venezia*

All the winners of the 80th Venice International Film Festival, and some unsolicited personal opinion...

E. Nina Rothe September 10, 2023

Clearly it was a man’s world last night in Venice, as the winners of the Film Festival were announced. Including a very masculine take on being a woman, which snatched the coveted Golden Lion.

*Photo courtesy of the Vilnius International Film Festival*

The Vilnius International Film Festival: Doing things totally different this year

E. Nina Rothe April 2, 2021

The 26th edition of the Vilnius International Film Festival has been taking place from March 18 through to April 4, 2021. The festival this year reinvented itself in these times of pandemic so it has taken place in the Lithuanian capital’s six top hotels. And, for couch potatoes, also online. Its program brings recently awarded festival hits and some of Lithuania’s best features and shorts into people’s homes. Or hotel rooms.

*A still from ‘Mornings in Jenin’, a series project participating in this year’s Qumra event*

The Doha Film Institute's Qumra 2021 goes global with its virtual edition

E. Nina Rothe March 7, 2021

For film insiders the Qumra event — held once a year in Doha, Qatar and bringing together industry experts and filmmakers from all over the world — was always a highly anticipated time to put on our calendars. But in the age of pandemic, where we need all the inspiration we can get to simply continue onward, Qumra has become a lifeline.

*The poster for this edition of FIFDH is based on an image by American photographer Jack Howard*

"Embracing the world with both hands": The Geneva International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights

E. Nina Rothe February 22, 2021

These are unprecedented times and they call for courage and action. And it seems that the Geneva International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights possesses a heavy dose of both.

The festival will take place this year from March 5th to the 14th and will feature films, talks, art events and in-depth conversations with distinguished guests on everything from racism to migration, with a heavy dose of pandemic response and the consequences of our global lockdowns thrown in.

*Photo courtesy of the Red Sea Lodge, an initiative by the Red Sea International Film Festival*

The Red Sea International Film Festival announces Red Sea Lodge second edition

E. Nina Rothe January 25, 2021

The Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, has just announced their Red Sea Lodge edition for 2021.

*Katara Opera House on the opening night of Ajyal Film Festival in Doha, Qatar*

Doha's Ajyal Film Festival Opening Night: We may be socially distanced but our cinematic hearts beat as one!

E. Nina Rothe November 19, 2020

This year, the Doha Film Institute has managed to put together a hybrid online and in person (for Qatari residents only) version of its annual Ajyal Film Festival dedicated to young audience and there was even a red carpet last night and an opening ceremony. I’m sharing the video of the latter below.

*A still from Iran’s submission to the Oscars, ‘Sun Children’ by Majid Majidi*

Doha's Ajyal Film Festival: Erasing some of the common borders of the Middle East, for a youth centric audience

E. Nina Rothe November 17, 2020

I’ve long been a fan of everything that the Doha Film Institute has to offer. Their Qumra event is a phenomenal way to witness how filmmakers go about constructing their films, from pre-production to grants and securing funding to finish their projects. For a culture journalist, it’s a valuable way to experience, quite literally, how cinema is made.

But personally, the event that remains near and dear to my heart is always the Ajyal Film Festival.

*Photograph courtesy of the Pordenone Silent Film Festival*

Le Giornate del Cinema Muto I Pordenone Silent Film Festival announces 39th edition, online

E. Nina Rothe September 7, 2020

There is no more perfect time to watch silent films than the present. Apart from the intimacy and preciousness of the art form, which is the great-grandfather of modern day blockbusters, these days the era from which a lot of those movies come from can provide both a guide and inspiration to move forward.

*A still from ‘Mirrors of Diaspora’ by Kasim Abid*

Cinema with a Conscience: The Independent Iraqi Film Festival kicks off August 21st, free & online

E. Nina Rothe August 21, 2020

When we think of Iraq these days, we hardly think of poetry, art and cinema. It’s a land that evokes visions of war and destruction, not the land of the iconic architecture of Mesopotamia anymore.

But living around the world, making up the diaspora from the Region, there are quite a few wonderfully creative Iraqis who continue to provide humanity with the beauty of their work. Among them, personally I can name at least two — both dear friends and wonderful innovators. And one of those happens to be Shahnaz Dulaimy.

Five films, and much more, to watch at this edition of the New Zealand International Film Festival

E. Nina Rothe July 24, 2020

Going forward, if we’re going to learn anything about the pandemics and how to handle them, it’s going to come from New Zealand. And in the film festival world, if we’re going to find a way to move forward, it will also come from this edition of the New Zealand International Film Festival, under the direction of Marten Rabarts.

*A still from ‘The Black Power Mixtape: 1967-1975’ by Göran Hugo Olsson*

Five films to illuminate in these dark times, and check your racism at the door

E. Nina Rothe June 4, 2020

“I love America more than any other country in this world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.” — James Baldwin

When I learned what happened to George Floyd on Memorial Day, I remembered more profoundly what “white privilege” means.

Tribeca Enterprises' WE ARE ONE forms collaboration with world class festivals to screen films on YouTube

E. Nina Rothe April 28, 2020

Born out of the ashes of 9/11, one of the most catastrophic events NYC ever experienced, the annual Tribeca Film Festival is something very near and dear to my heart.

So, when they announced yesterday WE ARE ONE A Global Film Festival, joining forces with the likes of the Festival de Cannes, Venice, Berlinale, Toronto, Tokyo and San Sebastian (for the full list read here) I was over the moon.

An empty red carpet means anticipation. No red carpet means defeat.

Requiem for a Festival: Letter to a Cannes FF that might never happen

E. Nina Rothe April 18, 2020

I wrote a letter to the Festival de Cannes. I asked it to help save cinema by not going online.

The FIAF 2020 Animation First Festival is bound to warm hearts this February in NYC

E. Nina Rothe February 5, 2020

There has never been such a great time to enjoy animation. With Netflix purchasing the catalogue of famed Japanese art house animation Studio Ghibli, which just dropped on their platforms around the world (alas, not the US yet) on February 1st, the genre has moved beyond something only kids can enjoy. In fact, even famed world filmmakers like Yonfan have dabbled into animation and his film is definitely for adults only!

This year, Animation First promises to shine the spotlight on women in animation.

Wait, did you really think the Dubai International Film Festival was coming back?

E. Nina Rothe December 9, 2019

Because if you did, I’ve got some swampland in Florida I’d love to sell you. Along with a few magic beans that grow into diamonds.

Honestly, from the moment I stepped off that last red carpet at the Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai, in 2017, I knew the festival was done. In fact, the headline of my wrap-up piece for the 14th edition of DIFF was “Following the Dubai International Film Festival, Where Does Arabwood Go Now?” Yes and that was months before the official decision to skip the festival in 2018 and reformat its approach. There was a dark cloud in the crisp desert sky and it loomed above the festival throughout. My headline was just what my heart told me to write, regardless of my personal feelings towards that weird last edition.

*Dr. Nof Atamna-Ismaeel in a still from ‘Breaking Bread’*

'Breaking Bread' and the story of one super, courageous NYC film festival

E. Nina Rothe November 14, 2019

In history, it has often proven dangerous to attempt to be a peacemaker. In fact, men from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to John F. Kennedy and even Malcolm X — once he realized his own philosophy of hate was going nowhere and advocated peace between the races — have fallen victims to assassinations because of their ideals.

When we look to the Middle East, the list grows to include Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. In April of 2011, Palestinian-Israeli actor and director Juliano Mer-Khamis was murdered by masked gunmen outside his theater in Jenin, where he worked to promote a meeting of minds.

Lessons learned from cinema and beyond: a wrap-up of the Rome Film Festival

E. Nina Rothe November 7, 2019

There were films, fashion and public conversations with cinema celebrities. But beyond the red carpets, this year's Festa del cinema di Roma proved a meeting point for understanding the world around us, and sharing thoughts with like-minded people from faraway lands. Here is my personal diary of a wonderful event held in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

*Fatma Al Remaihi, CEO of the Doha Film Institute, flanked by the managing team of the Ajyal Film Festival*

Doha's Ajyal Film Festival aims to make educated audiences out of today's youth

E. Nina Rothe November 5, 2019

I believe wholeheartedly that we are what we watch. It’s been my mission to find works of art on the big screen — and on the little one now through Netflix and the likes — that will make life better. I mean, we can all remember that moment, as children, walking out of a theater having watched our favorite character or cartoon on the big screen and feeling an extra bounce in our step. I still experience that these days, whenever I watch something really special. I walk out of the darkened theater into the light of day — as a film writer most of my viewings are done during the day — feeling like anything is possible.

So when the Doha Film Institute kicked off their Ajyal Film Festival in 2014, I went to Qatar to experience the wonder first hand. It was everything I hoped it would be, children and young adults as juries, films that although made for all ages, could really infuse younger minds with a message of peace and hope. You know, an idealist film writer’s dream come true.

Rome Film Festival Diaries: 'Judy', Renée Zellweger and the wonder of fashion in cinema

E. Nina Rothe October 26, 2019

I had a craving for ‘Judy’ ever since I heard the project announced. Renée Zellweger as Judy Garland on the big screen seemed extraordinary to me. And yet, I also wondered if it would satisfy my cravings. Would it focus on the camp, would it give me the fashionista angle I craved or feature tired old costumes that made La Zellweger seem like a caricature of the great, albeit lost diva?

Well, ‘Judy’, directed by Rupert Goold, with original music by Gabriel Yared, featuring Zellweger herself singing and wearing some beautifully modern costumes by Jany Temime and wigs plus makeup by Jeremy Woodhead was everything I wanted it to be — beautiful, glamorous, sad and poignantly modern.

*Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Edward Norton in a still from ‘Motherless Brooklyn’ photo courtesy of Warner Bros.*

Rome Film Festival Diaries: Three things I love about La Festa del Cinema di Roma

E. Nina Rothe October 17, 2019

Alright, I’ll kick it off right away by saying that the opening film for this 14th edition of the Rome Film Festival is wonderful! ‘Motherless Brooklyn’ the second directorial venture by beloved actor Edward Norton is everything an opening film should be for a festival — full of star power, great performances and evoking an elegance that only that particular time and in that place can bring about. More on it later.

The Diaries, because sometimes life needs more.