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Arts and Culture

Imagine Science Abu Dhabi 2018 Tickets, MENA Highlights, Special Guests

Press Release

Imagine Science Films (ISF) announces tickets, MENA highlights and special guests for Imagine Science Abu Dhabi 2018, which is presented by the Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi on the Saadiyat campus of NYU Abu Dhabi on March 8-10.

Tickets to the festival are available now at nyuad-artscenter.org.                      

Ticket prices are

General Public: 36.75 AED

Students (non-NYUAD): 21 AED

Tickets for the open feature documentary, Jane, are free for all audiences.

Regional Highlights

Imagine Science Films is a global science film organization showcasing science films from North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

In its fourth year, Imagine Science Abu Dhabi explores the latest in the global intersection between art and science. Featuring groundbreaking documentaries, thought-provoking scientific fictions, and dazzling experimental film from the UAE, the Gulf, and beyond, this hybrid festival seeks to break down interdisciplinary boundaries and inspire new directions for creativity, innovation, and reflection.

The festival this year will open with the UAE Premiere of JANE, courtesy of National Geographic, a feature documentary covering Jane Goodall’s career and research.

The program showcases the following films from the MENA region:

We Are Just Fine Like This by Mehdi Barsaoui, Tunisia

Pink by Mahboobeh Mohammadzaki, Iran

That Lovely Life by Rami Aloui, Morocco / Algeria

Bird Watch - Health by Zahra Al-Mahdi, Kuwait

The Best Life by Meqdad Al Kout, Kuwait

Tabiib (The Doctor) by Jim Savio, UAE

Insan by Alexis Gambis, UAE

Ranapakhara by Swapna Kurup, UA:

I, Loneliness Gadget by Can Eren, Turkey

The jury is comprised of UAE leaders in the arts and sciences. The jurors are Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi, President and Director of Sharjah Art Foundation; Ramesh Jagannathan, Vice Provost for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Managing Director of startAD, New York University Abu Dhabi; Khansa Al Blouki, Director of Environmental Outreach, Environmental Information, Science and Outreach Management, Environmental Agency Abu Dhabi and Kamal Aljafari, Filmmaker & Visiting Associate Arts Professor of Film and New Media, New York University Abu Dhabi.

Special Guest Speakers

The Opening Night of the festival on March 8 features the UAE Premiere of JANE, courtesy of National Geographic, alongside the opening of the sci-art exhibition Hybrid Futures. During an Opening Reception 18:00-19:30, all seven artists from the exhibition will give short introductions, as a preview to the gallery talks that will occur in the exhibition space for the remainder of the festival weekend.

At the 19:30 JANE screening, there will be an exclusive video message from Jane Goodall, filmed during her recent visit the Abu Dhabi, and also a post-screening discussion with Khansa Al Blouki, the Acting Director of Environmental Outreach at the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) and Sanjay Raina, General Manager of National Geographic Abu Dhabi.

Saturday March 9 includes three gallery talks a matinee short film program Fragile Lives and an evening feature film Unrest. The short film program begins at 14:00 and will include a post-screening discussion with two of the directors: NYUAD Lecturer in Writing Jim Savio and Kuwaiti Artist Zahra Al-Mahdi. The feature film program includes a Skype conversation with Unrest director Jennifer Brea.

Sunday March 10 opens with two gallery talks and a matinee short film program Hybrid Creatures featuring post-screening discussions with directors Noah Hutton, Alexis Gambis, Giulia Grossmann and conductor/live music performer Cosmic Neman.

From 18:00-19:00 will be a careers panel Hybrid Careers in Arts & Sciences moderated by Pakinam Amer, Editor-in-Chief of Nature Middle East, featuring the seven artists of the Hybrid Futures exhibition. The panel will cover our guests' experiences working at the intersection of art and science as well as pathways in science filmmaking, science journalism and sci-art.

The Closing Night of the festival on March 8 features the MENA Premiere of Marjorie Prime (starring Lois Smith, Jon Hamm, Tim Robbins and Geena Davis)  with a post-screening discussion featuring Marjorie Prime producers Uri Singer and Isen Robbins, in addition to Vice Provost for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Managing Director of startAD, New York University Abu Dhabi, Ramesh Jagannathan.

About NYU Abu Dhabi

NYU Abu Dhabi is the first comprehensive liberal arts and research campus in the Middle East to be operated abroad by a major American research university. NYU Abu Dhabi has integrated a highly selective undergraduate curriculum across the disciplines with a world center for advanced research and scholarship. The university enables its students in the sciences, engineering, social sciences, humanities, and arts to succeed in an increasingly interdependent world and advance cooperation and progress on humanity’s shared challenges. NYU Abu Dhabi’s high-achieving students have come from over 115 countries and speak over 115 languages. Together, NYU's campuses in New York, Abu Dhabi, and Shanghai form the backbone of a unique global university, giving faculty and students opportunities to experience varied learning environments and immersion in other cultures at one or more of the numerous study-abroad sites NYU maintains on six continents.