The latest collaboration between Front Row and Cinema Akil focusses on indie film, classic titles, and Cinema Akil exclusives.
Dubai-based Cinema Akil and MENA film distributor Front Row Filmed Entertainment have partnered to offer Matteo Garrone’s Pinocchio and Lebanese coming-of-age war drama 1982 to the audience. The films will run from October 2 until October 29.
Nadine Labaki stars in 1982 which is directed by Oualid Mouaness. The film focusses on a day in the school life of an 11-year-old boy, Wissam, who is trying to find the courage to tell his classmate Joanna that he loves her. Before he can do so, an airstrike hits Beirut and the war begins.
The film premiered at the 2019 edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, where it won the NETPAC award. The film also picked up a FIPRESCI award at the El Gouna Film Festival.
The second film in the collaboration is Pinocchio by Italian director Matteo Garrone. Pinocchio and 1982 are the latest collaboration between Front Row and Cinema Akil. The partnership focusses on indie film, classic titles, and Cinema Akil exclusives.
The two films signal a return to Cinema Akil’s regular programming after the Cinema Akil Traveller programme which ran all summer since the reopening of cinemas in the UAE in mid-June.
“1982 is a very poignant film that, at its very core, reflects not only Lebanon’s past but its present too. We’re very pleased to be showing 1982 at Cinema Akil and very happy to be working again with Butheina on this special title,” said Front Row CEO Gianluca Chakra.
Butheina Kazim, the Founder of Cinema Akil, remarked: “As part of Cinema Akil and Front Row Films’ shared commitment to cinema from the MENA region, we’re celebrating a return to release programming post-lockdown with this special film by Oualid Mouaness. We’re also thrilled to be the only cinema in the UAE to screen Pinnochio in its original Italian language.”
