Editor

Bosta (Autobus), the third of five free family films being screened at the giant purpose-built amphitheatre at Dubai Media City during the ongoing Dubai Film Festival, is a fun and upbeat story of what happens when modern and alternative ideas clash with the traditional Dabkeh dance of Lebanon.

The film, which will make its UAE premiere at the amphitheatre at 8pm on Wednesday, December 14, follows the story of Kamal, who returns to Beirut after 15 years of exile in France determined to revive his school dance group. He and his friends set out to give a new, westernized flavor to the traditional Dabkeh dance, injecting it with their modern, alternative spirit. Their plans run into a spot of trouble, however, when they are rejected by the conservative judges at the national Anjar Dance Festival, who accuse them of damaging Lebanon’s last cultural icon.

Undeterred, Kamal and his group of friends decide to defy the traditionalists, jumping aboard their old school bus and touring the country, performing their new dance in villages. What results is a rousing celebration of music, dance and friendship, a Lebanese road musical with a lot of heart.

Bosta (Autobus), part of the Festival’s Arabian Nights program, is the third of five films being screened as part of the free open-air “Screen on the Green” program at the amphitheatre at Dubai Media City. The program also includes Hollywood romantic comedy Elizabethtown on Tuesday; Japanese animated feature Howl’s Moving Castle on Thursday and vibrant coming-of-age documentary Mad Hot Ballroom on Friday.

A giant purpose-built 30ft by 70ft screen will be used to screen the film, accompanied by an array of professional speakers arranged around the audience and comfortable bean bag seating for the first 1,000 people. Concession stands are strategically placed throughout the open-air venue.

The second Dubai International Film Festival continues until Saturday, December 17, and features 98 films including features, retrospectives and short films until Saturday, December 17. Tickets and an entire schedule of the Festival films are available on the Dubai Film Festival website www.dubaifilmfest.com.
The Festival is presented by Dubai Media City and its Founding Sponsors are Dubai Duty Free, Dubai Properties, Emirates, Etisalat and the Madinat Jumeirah – the Arabian Resort. The Festival’s Gold Sponsors are Bin Hendi Enterprises, National Bank of Dubai, Showtime, The Kanoo Group and The Palm Jumeirah; the Silver Sponsors are Filmworks, Motivate Publishing and Sony.