The Circuit

by Jennifer Needleman, Co-Director, “I Love Hip Hop In Morocco”

Location, Location, Location
Any review of the festival must begin with a mention of the Emirates Palace. You’ve heard the stories. Seven-stars, ten restaurants, an enormous private beach. The place was so gargantuan that, in eight days, I never made it out of the East Wing. I almost missed my own screening after a wrong turn through a chandelier-laden ballroom caused an accidental thirty-minute detour. Marble, inlaid gold and Swarovsky crystal were the design details of choice (bling!). After all, let’s not forget this is a palace. Fancy a spot of Falconry before high tea? Or a round of Dune Driving? How about some Sand Skiing? Or would you rather just admire a corral of camels as you sip iced cocktails on the sand under a fully furnished Arabian tent?

More Than Three Wishes
Absolutely no expense was spared; the attitude of the festival seemed to be: “You Want It, You Got It.” Be careful of what you wish for – as I learned during one luxurious twenty-person dinner on a verandah overlooking the beach. I casually mentioned my disappointment in having missed the screening of a particular film, and before the words were fully out of my mouth, Bassem Kudsi (pictured), Head of Communications for the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, whipped out his cell phone and arranged a private screening for the next morning – which was going to seriously cut into my scheduled poolside schmoozing. Some might scoff at the unreal excesses – how many times can you have lobster and caviar for breakfast?? But let’s be real. As Americans, we invented that game. Money talks, and I am now convinced that the Film and Arts Commissions of the UAE mean business when it comes to building a local film industry.

The UAE is a ray of hope for culture and art in the Middle East. Their unwavering determination to bring true international culture – dance, fine art, film, music, theater – borders on maniacal. This is miles from the war-torn, oppressive Arab culture that we’ve been trained to expect. What an eye opening experience it was to find myself alone in an elevator with a middle-aged man wearing a crisp white dish-dash and headdress. Normally, my Western prejudices would have compelled me to keep to my Western self. Until I noticed the “filmmaker” badge dangling from his neck. Thus began a conversation about the importance of narrative, character and writing that lasted well past the elevator ride and into lunch.


“I Love Hip Hop In Morocco” will have its Los Angeles Premiere on Saturday, November 3 at 4 PM at the Writer's Guild Theater on Doheny in Beverly Hills, as part of the first-ever Arab Film Festival, Los Angeles. 

Check out their website.