festivals
14th Franco Film Festival 2024

02/23/2024 To 02/29/2024

Cinema Akil, in collaboration with the Embassies of France, Switzerland,Canada, Luxembourg, Belgium and Lebanon in the UAE, is pleased to announce the 14th edition of Franco Film Festival. This 14th edition honores the theme of “The Family”, a complex yet inspiring subject in cinema that has marked the history of the 7th art since its inception.

For each director, tackling the portrayal of the family is a particularly delicate exercise. Indeed, the director never really films “a” family, distant, neutral, anonymous, foreign to him; he necessarily infuses, more or less consciously, a part of his family history. How, then, does the director portray the family in cinema? Should he celebrate and pay homage to it, or, on the contrary, question it, make it doubt, reveal its faults and dangers?

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Reel Palestine 2024

01/26/2024 To 02/04/2024

Like the fabled Phoenix, the Palestinian people rise from the ashes. This year’s visuals are derived from the Gaza City shield— as a tribute to the Palestinian people— the magnificent creature that symbolizes renewal and rebirth. For this edition of Reel Palestine we are ignited by the resilience of the Palestinian people, particularly those in Gaza, who have been figuratively and literally burst into flames fighting for the right to exist.

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Asian Cinerama - Hong Kong Film Festival

11/10/2023 To 11/16/2023

Hong Kong Film Festival is back for the 2nd year to showcase Hong Kong’s latest film releases and timeless classics. Join us for this extraordinary journey as we discover the past, present, and future of Hong Kong cinema. The program features 7 films with a wide range of genres, from action-packed martial arts movies to dramatic thrillers and romantic dramas. The films will screen from 10th to 16th November, 2023 in Cinema Akil.

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Arab Cinema Week 2023

10/06/2023 To 10/15/2023

What ties an individual to a particular society? How do norms, customs and traditions affect one’s upbringing, identity and relationships? And does growing up in a particular environment necessarily mean belonging to it?  All of these questions are reflected in this second volume of Arab Cinema Week, which Cinema Akil is presenting under the theme of Human Bonds. 

After its inaugural edition in 2022 that resulted in sold out screenings, Cinema Akil once again fervently carves out a special place for Arab independent Cinema in its yearly programming, dedicating a full week to present it in its various shapes and forms.

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Il Cinema Ritrovato on Tour in Dubai

09/15/2023 To 09/21/2023

For the first time, Il Cinema Ritrovato on Tour is landing in Dubai at Cinema Akil to present 7 renowned heritage films from Italia, India, Morocco, Iran, and Angola, all digitally restored by Cineteca di Bologna in its laboratory L’Immagine Ritrovata. The titles have been carefully chosen by Guy Borlée, the festival coordinator, to make you discover different periods of Italian cinema and new horizons in world cinema

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Summer of Classics

07/23/2023 To 09/14/2023

“Movies touch our hearts and awaken our vision, and change the way we see things. They take us to other places, they open doors and minds. Movies are the memories of our lifetime, we need to keep them alive.”

  • Martin Scorsese

 

Martin Scorsese and several other leading filmmakers founded, in 1990, The Film Foundation: a non-profit organization dedicated to film preservation and the exhibition of restored and classic cinema. The World Cinema Project soon emerges in order to preserve and restore neglected films from around the world including Africa and the Middle-East. Scorsese’s commitment to film preservation inspired the selection of this year’s Summer of Classics, a careful curation of classics from Lebanon, Senegal, France, India, the US and Germany.

festivals
Martin Scorsese Retrospective

07/14/2023 To 09/14/2023

And the city swallows it all…

 

For the two-months period of summer, Cinema Akil is proudly showing 10 films of the most “Americanitalian” of all directors, Martin Scorsese. A retrospective – not exhaustive – of our favorite films from the mind who repeatedly and carefully crafted tales of violence, urban misery, striking love and the ultimate image of the solitary man in the city.

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June At Cinema Akil

06/01/2023 To 06/30/2023

MAY IS OVER!
We were overwhelmed with all the love and support we got for our program in May, a program designed to celebrate Hong Kong’s iconic filmmaker Wong Kar-Wai, and turned out to be a global celebration #fortheloveoffilm.

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ITALIAN FILM WEEK 2023

06/09/2023 To 06/15/2023

Cinema Akil is hosting the highly anticipated third edition of Italian Film Week this June. The event features a curated program showcasing four acclaimed contemporary Italian films, accompanied by a special tribute dedicated to the captivating Federico Fellini.

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CINEMINI

05/05/2023 To 06/04/2023

Looking for an enriching and enjoyable way to spend your weekends with your family? Come to Cinema Akil and join us for Cinemini, the young audience film cycle that will run every weekend from May 5th until June 4th, in collaboration with Looking Glass.

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WONG KAR-WAI RETROSPECTIVE

05/12/2023 To 05/28/2023

Get ready for a cinematic experience like no other! Cinema Akil, in collaboration with The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Dubai, presents “The Rhythm of Dreams,” a retrospective of the incredible films of Wong Kar-Wai. From May 12th to May 28th, immerse yourself in the unique visual style and thematic depth of one of Hong Kong cinema’s most celebrated filmmakers.

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FRANCO FILM FESTIVAL 2023

03/10/2023 To 03/16/2023

Cinema Akil, in collaboration with the Embassies of France, Switzerland, Canada, Luxembourg and Belgium in the UAE, is pleased to announce the 13th edition of Franco Film Festival. This 13th edition echoes movements in all its states: bodies’ movements, migratory flows, movements of creation…

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REEL PALESTINE 2023

01/27/2023 To 02/05/2023

Reel Palestine Film Festival returns to Cinema Akil for its 9th edition from January 27th – February 5th, 2023, presented by Bayt, and in partnership with Wamda and Advanced Media, the festival returns with 18 films, 23 screenings, 7 Q&As, 36 vendors and 6 workshops.

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NEW ITALIAN CINEMA EVENTS

12/16/2022 To 12/18/2022

N.I.C.E. Film Festival, The Istituto Italiano di Cultura in Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with Cinema Akil, presents the New Italian Cinema Event in Dubai, a 3 day film-festival featuring the new and exciting contemporary cinema from Italy. The selection includes award-winning films blurring lines between fictional and essay work such as Californie by Alessandro Cassigoli and Casey Kauffman or Journey Into the Twilight by Augusto Contento. With family dynamics at their core, Santa Lucia (Marco Chiappetta), Girl Returned (​​Giuseppe Bonito) and The Code of Silence by Francesco Costabile are pushing the boundaries of storytelling and invite the audience into new realms and reflections.

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Making Waves - Navigators of Hong Kong Cinema

12/09/2022 To 12/14/2022

Making Waves – Navigators of Hong Kong Cinema, the globe-trotting film programme celebrating Hong Kong cinematic arts by showcasing an 8-film program at Cinema Akil and a photo film exhibition at Seeing Things Studio in collaboration with Gulf Photo Plus from  9th to 14th December, 2022.

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NOV 14 - WORLD DIABETES DAY // THE HUMAN TRIAL BY LISA HEPNER & GUY MOSSMAN

11/14/2022 To 11/14/2022

A day to understand and converse about type1  Diabetes . This will include a screening of the movie, followed by a panelists discussion.

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NOVEMBER AT CINEMA AKIL

11/01/2022 To 11/30/2022

Cinema Akil is kicking off the month with 2 outdoor screenings at the yard. When you go back to our indoor red chairs, you’ll find new releases including 2 movies from Arab Cinema Week due to popular demand, and a few special screenings

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HALLOWEEN SPECIAL

10/28/2022 To 10/29/2022

It’s that time of the year again: Cinema Akil is bringing you some of the freakiest Halloween pop-culture and cult classics for a special Halloweekend. Come as you aren’t and get a free popcorn with your movie!

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ARAB CINEMA WEEK

10/07/2022 To 10/16/2022

Welcome to an Arab World of worlds – borderless, visible and filled with stories. Cinema Akil proudly presents its first edition of Arab Cinema Week; an annual journey through the region where stories are the only borders to traverse. Arab stories and the filmmakers narrating their heartbreaks, their quotidien, their victories, their struggles and their moments of personal bliss.

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STANLEY KUBRICK RETROSPECTIVE

06/24/2022 To 09/15/2022

1 week left to catch our Stanley Kubrick Retrospective and the focus on much lauded and the critiqued genre-defining filmmaker with 9 of his iconic masterpieces

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SUMMER OF CLASSICS

07/02/2022 To 09/14/2022

Cinema Akil has 1 week left of celebrating anniversaries, music and freedom with the wackiest characters from THE GODFATHER, THE SOUND OF MUSIC AND PULP FICTION.

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FESTIVE JUNE

06/03/2022 To 06/23/2022

A documentary kickoff to summer time at Cinema Akil!

This June we make the journey into our summer classics season with two award-winning archive-based documentary films in deliberate contrast.

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ITALIAN FILM WEEK

05/13/2022 To 05/20/2022

This May at Cinema Akil, the long-awaited Italian Film Week returns to Cinema Akil for its second edition after a two year hiatus with a program that confronts the notion of isolation that suspended its presence.

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FESTIVE MAY

05/06/2022 To 06/04/2022

Eid Mubarak! Our May program begins with our latest Pop-up on May 4, along with Berklee Abu Dhabi, presenting a cine-concert experience at Louvre Abu Dhabi. Back by popular demand, the return of A TALE OF LOVE AND DESIRE, by Leyla Bouzid, which first made its regional debut at FrancoFilm Festival 2022. May 13 marks the start of the Italian Film Week with…..

festivals
CINEMA OF COMMONING

05/15/2022 To 06/04/2022

Cinema Akil is proud to be part of Cinema of Commoning, a project by bi’bak and various international partners, which will showcase a selection of 8 award winning films between May 15 to June 4.

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RAMADAN AT CINEMA AKIL

04/01/2022 To 04/30/2022

Ramadan Mubarak! It’s a busy time at Cinema Akil this April with three upcoming film releases, Brother’s Keeper by Ferit Karahan on APR 2 and the UAE premiere + Q&A of Ely Dagher’s The Sea Ahead on APR 3. We will also be screening Youssef Chahine’s iconic film from 1958, Cairo Station as of APR 6 as a Ramadan special!

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FRANCOFILM 2022

03/25/2022 To 03/31/2022

FrancoFilm Festival is back for its 12th edition! The film program celebrating the French language through cinema with films that address the theme of ‘Belonging’ in the view of immigrant and host societies.

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RETROSPECTIVE: THE FILMS OF JOANA HADJITHOMAS AND KHALIL JOREIGE

03/03/2022 To 03/23/2022

This March throughout the Dubai arts season, Cinema Akil presents a 3-week retrospective of Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige’s films including the premiere and exclusive GCC release of Memory Box..

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REEL PALESTINE 8TH EDITION

01/28/2022 To 02/06/2022

Bayt Presents the 8th Edition of Reel Palestine Film Festival 

Reel Palestine returns for its eighth edition from January 28th – February 6th, 2022, collaborating with our long-term partner Cinema Akil, the GCC’s first arthouse cinema. The festival will premiere films from Palestine and its diaspora by award-winning international directors and up and coming first-time filmmakers, featuring intimate stories of exile, resistance, and the love that encapsulates the human experience when identifying with separation and restrictions to survive and thrive. 

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GULF GERMAN FILM FESTIVAL 2021

11/26/2021 To 12/04/2021

Gulf German Film Festival

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AN ARCHAEOLOGY OF SOUND FILM PROGRAMME: A SUPPLEMENTARY COUNTRY CALLED CINEMA

10/29/2021 To 11/06/2021

Organised by Nida Ghouse and Surabhi Sharma
October 29 – November 6, 2021 at Cinema Akil

Is sound supplementary to the image in cinema? Does it have to be? Or can sound and image each have their own volition while sharing the space and time of the film? Comprising fiction, documentary, and experimental cinema from the mid-twentieth century to the present, this film programme traces the arrival of sound reproduction technology to the Indian subcontinent and its continued reverberations into the present. 

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CINEMA AKIL'S SUMMER THROWBACK

06/18/2021 To 09/25/2021

This summer we invite you to travel through time in our biggest classics program yet! We’re throwing it back to the 1960s through the 1990s with some of the most iconic films that defined the era. From sci-fi, horror, mafia, romance – the program has it all. Catch your all time favorite and discover timeless classics on the big screen all summer long. Follow us into the dark.

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ANOTHER WAY FILM FESTIVAL ON SUSTAINABLE PROGRESS

05/14/2021 To 05/20/2021

In collaboration with the Spanish Embassy to the UAE, Cinema Akil presents the first edition in the UAE of Another Way Film Festival,  Spain’s leading film festival on sustainable progress.

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FRANCOFILM FESTIVAL '21

03/05/2021 To 03/11/2021

In collaboration with the Embassies of France, Switzerland, Canada Luxembourg, and Belgium in the United Arab Emirates, join us for the 11th edition of FrancoFilm Festival kicking off on March 5, 2021. The annual festival aims to celebrate the French language through cinema. The 11th edition of FrancoFilm Festival echoes the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN’s 2030 agenda with a lineup that raises awareness around topics central for a sustainable world ranging from gender equality, to climate action and decent work and economic growth. The Festival, running until March 11, will feature regional premieres across genres including critically acclaimed drama, documentary, comedy and animated feature films opening with the award winning Red Soil by Farid Bentoumi.

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GULF GERMAN FILM FESTIVAL 2020

11/19/2020 To 11/26/2020

In collaboration with the Goethe Institute Gulf-Region, this fall, 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.

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NEXT STOP: GERMANY

09/04/2020 To 10/01/2020

THIS SUMMER, TRAVEL THROUGH THE BIG SCREEN. 

As the Suhail star marks the end of those hot summer nights, Cinema Akil Traveller makes its final stop in Germany in a program of eclectic adventure from 4th September to 1st October. Cinema Akil presents Next Stop: Germany, in collaboration with  the Goethe-Institut Gulf-Region. 

 

festivals
CINEMA AKIL TRAVELLER PROGRAM: VOYAGE TO FRANCE

08/07/2020 To 09/03/2020

THIS SUMMER, TRAVEL THROUGH THE BIG SCREEN. In this very unique summer season, Cinema Akil takes you on a journey through the big screen with a summer-long series of timeless classics, contemporary favorites celebrating the joy of travel.  The exclusive program starts on the 26th June and continues throughout September 2020 and will travel through the screen to different destinations through its country focus. Following Journey to Italy, the first part of the  sunkissed journey through Italy which ran 26 June – 6 August 2020, Cinema Akil starts a new chapter in Voyage to France which will run from Friday  7th August  to Thursday 3rd September 2020 .

festivals
CINEMA AKIL TRAVELLER: JOURNEY TO ITALY

06/26/2020 To 08/06/2020

THIS SUMMER, TRAVEL THROUGH THE BIG SCREEN. 

In this very unique summer season, Cinema Akil takes you on a journey through the big screen with a summer-long series of timeless classics, contemporary favorites celebrating the joy of travel.  The program starts on the 26th June and continues to September 2020 and will travel through the screen to different destinations through its country focus. 

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SUDAN FILM WEEK

03/27/2020 To 04/04/2020

27 MARCH TO APRIL 04 2020

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FRANCOFILM FESTIVAL / CINEAFRICA

02/28/2020 To 03/07/2020

28 FEBRUARY TO MARCH 07 2020

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SPANISH FILM WEEK

02/14/2020 To 02/20/2020

14 FEBRUARY TO FEBRUARY 20 2020

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REEL PALESTINE FILM FESTIVAL

01/17/2020 To 01/25/2020

First held in 2015, the not-for-profit and volunteer-based organization, Reel Palestine, has grown with 81 screenings, over 12,000 attendees, 5 film festivals to date, and 2 international curated pop-ups held in various arts and cultural spaces within the UAE and internationally. 

 

festivals
DANCE FILM WEEK

12/06/2019 To 12/14/2019

Hardly any genre is as ephemeral as dance. Like the body of the dancer it is not made for eternity. Film freezes dance in time. But conserving dance is not the only rationale behind the genre of the dance film, which encompasses films as different as the classic Hollywood dance films of the 40s and 50s, the disco movies of the 80s, Bollywood Films, biopics about the life of dancers and films made by choreographers. Cinema Akil, Sima Dance Company and the Goethe-Institute invite you to a weeklong of dance films.

 

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CINEMA AKIL X SOLE DXB

11/25/2019 To 12/03/2019

Cinema Akil & Sole DXB come together for the 5th year in a row to present a film program of four incredible stories of music, culture and legacy. The film program will begin at Cinema Akil on November 25th with a pre-screening of the film Vibrations tracing the steps of Kuwaiti director, Zahed Sultan, on his journey to do a recording project in Jamaica.

 

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AGNÈS VARDA RETROSPECTIVE

11/08/2019 To 11/16/2019

In loving memory of Agnes Varda – a pioneer of the French New Wave cinema, Cinema Akil and Institut Français bring you a retrospective on Agnès Varda’s work presenting: Varda by Agnès, Cléo from 5 to 7, The Gleaners and I and La Pointe Courte across two weekends.

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KOREAN FILM NIGHTS

11/22/2019 To 11/23/2019

Organized and co-hosted by the Korea-Arab Society and the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Dubai, sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea. Cinema Akil is hosting the Dubai edition of KOREAN FILM NIGHTS.

The program will present four award-winning contemporary Korean films: Exit and House of Hummingbird, Underdog and Granny Poetry Club. All KFF films are in Korean subtitled in English.

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ALTERNATIVO LATINO

10/11/2019 To 10/17/2019

Alternativo Latino, a one week celebration of Latin American cinema, is back again from October 11th to the 17th at Cinema Akil. The program aims to explore and express the nuances in the vast physical, emotional and socio-political landscapes across Central and South America.

This year, the program kicks off with award-winning Director Jayro Bustamante’s latest film, The Weeping Woman (La Llorona), a dramatic thriller reckoning Guatemala’s bloody civil war inspired by the famous Latin American folktale of “La Llorona.” The program will continue with the Colombian drama Litigante by Director Franco Lolli. The film opened the Semaine de la Critique at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. In Litigante, we see how Silvia balances being a single mom, her mother’s fight with cancer and a corruption scandal.

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AFAC FILM WEEK

09/27/2019 To 10/05/2019

In collaboration with the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture – AFAC, Cinema Akil is proud to host the UAE’s first AFAC Film Week, a selection of contemporary feature narratives, documentaries, and shorts from 5 countries across the Arab region.

The AFAC Film Week program includes A KASHA, a romantic drama directed by Sudanese filmmaker Hajooj Kuka; WHAT COMES AROUND, a documentary by Lebanese-Egyptian director Reem Saleh highlighting the strength in community support in one of Cairo’s poorest neighborhoods; Soudade Kaadan’s powerful Syrian drama THE DAY I LOST MY SHADOW; Tunisian feature documentary RAILWAY MEN directed by Erige Sehiri; and the Libyan documentary FREEDOM FIELDS by Naziha Arebi, which follows the journey of a group of women who, in spite of the political climate and their differences, join together to form Libya’s first female football team. Two special screenings of TWENTY EIGHT NIGHTS AND A POEM by Lebanese Director Akram Zaatari, a documentary on photography, memory and culture will also be on the program, in addition to five short films from Lebanon, which will close the film week under the section “Lebanon in Focus”..

festivals
STRAIGHT OUT OF BERLIN

08/23/2019 To 08/31/2019

In collaboration with the Goethe Institut in Dubai, August ends with Straight out of Berlin – Berlin has been the backdrop and the star of many movies from early silent flicks over cold war spy thrillers to dramas about the fall of the wall and the reunification.

Join us for a series of films that show the changing face of the German capital including the 1987 Cannes winning WINGS OF DESIRE, BERLIN BOUNCER, a documentary exploring the nightlife of Berlin in the late 1980s, and the comical GOODBYE LENIN!

All screenings taking place at Cinema Akil will be ticketed. Tickets will be available for sale at Cinema Akil’s box office and www.cinemaakil.com. Tickets are 52.5 (VAT included).

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CAT WEEKEND

08/09/2019 To 08/10/2019

Can’t resist the cuddly fluffiness yet don’t understand why cats are so weird?

Come join us to find out, or simply enjoy the sight of adorable paws on our special Cat Weekend with lots of fun and meow. Bring your loved ones of all ages. Your instant purr fix is right here with CATVIDEOFEST and so much more!

All screenings taking place at Cinema Akil will be ticketed. Tickets will be available for sale at Cinema Akil’s box office and www.cinemaakil.com. Tickets are 52.5 (VAT included).

festivals
FRAMES OF MIND: TURKEY

07/05/2019 To 07/13/2019

Frame of Mind: Turkey brings together compelling contemporary narrative and documentary films from recent years, celebrating and building upon the strong cinema traditions of Turkey. The week-long special program will feature award-winning films by some of the country’s most prominent filmmakers, who stand out with their distinct visual style and artistic voice. These powerful independent works come to Dubai for the first time, introducing new perspectives and new ways of looking at some of the most poignant realities of our time, including award-winning THE WILD PEAR TREE, SAF and SIBEL, as well as DESTINY – where one’s decision can change their lives forever.

All screenings taking place at Cinema Akil will be ticketed. Tickets will be available for sale at Cinema Akil’s box office and www.cinemaakil.com. Tickets are 52.5 (VAT included).

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STUDIO GHIBLI WEEK

06/07/2019 To 06/15/2019

Front Row Filmed Entertainment and Cinema Akil present the first ever Studio Ghibli Week!

To all our anime-fanatics and cartoon lovers; join us for your all-time favorite Ghibli films, presenting 8 Japanese animations from June 7 to 15.

The week is set in motion with PRINCESS MONONOKE – the first animated feature film to win Best Picture in the Japan Academy Prize. Followed by SPIRITED AWAY, a 2001 Japanese coming-of age fantasy, and Hayao Miyazaki’s “breakthrough film” and the adorable MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO – just to say a few…

Don’t miss this walk down memory lane and reunite with your childhood favorites!

All screenings taking place at Cinema Akil will be ticketed. Tickets will be available for sale at Cinema Akil’s box office and www.cinemaakil.com. Tickets are 52.5 (VAT included).

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ITALIAN FILM WEEK IN THE EMIRATES (IFWE 2019)

04/03/2019 To 04/13/2019

Italian Film Week in the Emirates (IFWE 2019) is a cooperation between the Italian Cultural Institute in Abu Dhabi and Cinema Akil and it marks the debut of the Institute’s cultural activities in the UAE.

IFWE brings together a unique and diverse selection of contemporary Italian cinema, never screened before in the UAE, highlighting real and surreal stories from the stirringly diverse cinematic landscape of Italy. From Giovanni Pastrone’s silent classics restored by the National Museum of Cinema and accompanied live by Stefano Maccagno, Furio Di Castri and SME quartet, to Gabriele Mainetti’s “They Call Me Jeeg”, a dystopian take on a superhero film, the Venice Film Festival awarded, immersive Velvet Underground biopic “Nico 1988” to Matteo Garrone’s Cannes conquering “Reality”, this is a week you won’t want to miss.

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FRANCOFILM FESTIVAL

03/01/2019 To 03/09/2019

French language has no border! Francofilm festival returns for its 9th edition by highlighting French-Arabic co-production. This new approach will offer the audience the opportunity to discover an independent and eclectic film program.

Rendez-vous at Cinema Akil in Dubai and Manarat Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi for a visual linguistic parenthesis.