Day 6 of the second edition of the Middle East International Film Festival (MEIFF) - brings cinema lovers a selection of screenings, with shorts, documentaries and feature films raising awareness on different social, environmental and cultural issues. In particular, women’s issues will be highlighted with a special presentation within the CINEMA VÉRITÉ programme. To cover a range of relevant topics comprehensively, MEIFF again brings its Shorts programme to regional cinema lovers - featuring a selection of more than 50 short films, from more than 20 countries on all five continents, MEIFF Shorts is living embodiment that short-sharp condensed messages conveyed through images are capable of delivering the same powerful impact of longed features. This year’s the Shorts competition programme has been divided into four parts – ‘Middle East Visions’, ‘Through the Eyes of the Youth’, ‘Flavours of the World’ (featuring fiction and documentaries) and ‘Life Goes on’ (experimental films and animations). Screenings of shorts will commence from 15th October through to closing day on the 19th October 13, 2008 at both Emirates Palace and Marina Mall. A student section of the shorts competition is being shown in two parts – ‘Something in the Air’ and ‘Family Business’ – which showcases entries from the Middle East and from further afield. All screenings for this section will be held at the Marina Mall. Day 6 of the festival sees the screening of director Kum Kum Bhavnani’s Shape of Water. Narrated by Susan Sarandon, this is a feature documentary telling the stories of powerful, imaginative and visionary women confronting the destructive development of the Third World with new cultures and a passion for change. As part of the MEIFF / CINEMA VÉRITÉ partnership ‘Spotlight on Women’ - aimed at advancing social and humanitarian issues through the medium of films - a debate ‘Reel Women Power’ will be held at 3pm, prior to the screening of the documentary at 4pm, hosted by MEIFF’s Director Nashwa Al Ruwaini, Susan Sarandon will be MEIFF’s Guest of Honour at the debate and special screening of the Shape of Water, joined by panelists Carole Bouquet, Laila Ulwi and Yusra. The second UAE director to star during MEIFF, Bader Ben Hirsi, has also the second film to screen in the MEIFF Environmental programme. The Oryx: Freed Spirit of the Desert is a fascinating story about the Arabian Oryx and the captive breeding programme established 35 years ago by the late ruler of Abu Dhabi, His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Now, for the first-time in memory of his father, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has released from enclosures three ‘herds’ back into their natural habitat in the UAE desert. Hirsi’s documentary looks at all the aspects of the project from the start to release from controlled conditions within the enclosure to their survival techniques in the open desert. In Arabic with English subtitles, the film will be followed by an environmental panel discussion, focusing on issues and challenges in the United Arab Emirates.

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