Got Talent is one of the most popular TV series of the last several years, broadcasted on hundreds of channels around the world. It has captured the interest of all of those who are gifted with a talent—and even many that aren’t. The concept started in the UK by host Simon Cowell, although it was America’s Got Talent that cemented the show as an international platform for singers, dancers, musicians, magicians, comedians, and other performers of all ages.

In a recent move to bring the series closer to local audiences, MBC group has partnered with the Got Talent franchise in order to give the Arab world the chance to show off their talents to a wider public. Casting calls are being made in the month of March and are open to peoples of all ages and all backgrounds (provided they can speak Arabic).

In previous seasons of the Got Talent show, we have seen acts that have both horrified and amazed audiences, with judges screaming everything from rude obscenities to YES YOU CAN! Notable acts like Susan Boyle—who was mocked the moment she was on stage—broke all conventions after just a few seconds on stage, leaving the crowd’s eyes wide open and jaws dropped from her incredible voice. Maybe one of you out there can do the same…

During the first season of Arabs Got Talent, which will be aired on MBC4, the public can register online and will be chosen accordingly by talent and availabilities. From heartfelt performances to hilarious gags, we can’t wait to see who’s got talent in the Arab world!

Get on stage at http://riyadhciti.com/2010/02/arabs-got-talent/.

It’s a sign of rebellion, passion, sincerity and humanitarianism. Those born in a Tiger year are thought to possess all of these traits, and as we start a new page in the Chinese Lunar Calendar—which officially begins on February 14th—it is indeed time for the Tiger.

There are several interpretations of the Legend of the 12 Animals, which gives rise to the correlation of the year with an animal. Some say that the creatures of Earth became quarrelsome many years ago, and the Chinese god Jade Emperor decided to give each creature a year of its own. A race was ordered to determine which animal had which year, and twelve animals were chosen to participate. Cunning and sly, the Rat won the race, followed by the Ox, the Tiger, the Rabbit, the Dragon, the Snake, the Horse, the Goat, the Monkey, the Rooster, the Dog and finally the Pig.

Others say that during the celebration of the Chinese New Year many years ago, Buddha called upon all the creatures of the land to bid him farewell before he departed the earth. To his disappointment, only 12 animals came forth. The first to arrive was the charming rat, who they say nimbly bounced off the Ox to beat him by a nose. The hard working and plodding Ox was close behind, followed by the charismatic Tiger and the rest of the animals. Buddha then declared that he would reward the animals by naming a year after each of them, and those born on that year would possess the qualities of the reigning animal.

Notable “Tigers” include American actress Marilyn Monroe, German musician Ludwig Van Beethoven, Queen Elizabeth II of England, and Hollywood star Leonardo diCaprio.

What is your sign?

As the concerns about the global warming and climate changes affect all of us around the globe, the UAE has established its own unique approach to encourage public awareness and resource conservation. On February 17, 2009, The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi in collaboration with the Emirates Wildlife Society (EWS) and Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) launched a campaign centered on the websitewww.heroesoftheuae.ae.

The aim of this campaign is for everyone around the UAE to take action in being energy efficient and to raise awareness of the shortages of energy resources. The campaigns website contains a forum for the public to show their support for saving energy. Despite the many serious environmental problems lingering in the world, this website points out available and successful solutions adopted by everyday people.

The website features many graphics and animated images that explain the energy and environmental situation in a very simple manner. Cool features also include a list of energy saving tips and a calculator that can tell how households can save on their consumption. Other sections of the website show “green” case studies, some facts about the main issues in UAE, and competitions and quizzes for schools children.

This campaign really is a thoughtful gesture from the UAE for the sake of saving our planet. As they say, everyone should act now because anyone can be a hero.

• 13 ft tall models of popular books on display at key locations

Dubai, UAE; March 11, 2010: Dubai Public Library, operating under the umbrella of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), is celebrating its new identity with huge displays of best-seller books in key locations across the city.

The eye-catching displays in, Safa Park, The Dubai Mall, and Al Rashidiya, add to the excitement associated with the ongoing Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture.

Saeed Al Nabouda, Chief Projects Manager, Dubai Culture, said the large-sized display of ‘books’ is to draw attention to the new and energised role of Dubai Public Library, which are an integral part of the community.

“While the Arab world including the UAE has impressive literacy figures, readership habits tend to decline with the onset of technology. With the over-sized books, we are drawing the attention of the public to the sheer joy of reading, and reminding them that their choice of books and reference materials can be accessed at the Dubai Public Library.”

He added: “The locations and titles chosen for the displays have also been carefully selected to highlight their social and cultural relevance to the city. Al Safa Park has been selected, for example, to highlight its proximity to the archeological sites in Dubai.”

A model of renowned author Alexander McCall Smith’s book ‘Blue Shoes and Happiness’ is displayed at The Dubai Mall; while cookery and lifestyle author Anjum Anand’s  ‘Eat Right for Your Body Type’ draws the crowds at Safa Park; and Emirati author Nujoom Al Ghanem’s ‘Manazel Al Jilnar’ is the attraction at Al Rashidiya.

Some of the authors participating at the Festival of Literature are expected to visit the ‘book’ displays and interact with the public.

Dubai Public Library offers members a wealth of educational experiences including access to books in several languages from around the world, referral materials, audio-visual materials including films and CDs, and a vast pool of study and research databases. Membership is open to all UAE and GCC nationals as well as UAE residents and UAE-registered organisations

• Initiative to strengthen the role of libraries in enhancing literary scene and education
• Eight public libraries in strategic community locations to promote intercultural dialogue
• Easy guidance in finding books; online public access catalogues and Ebrary service for members

Dubai, UAE; March 10, 2010:  The Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the Emirate’s dedicated authority for culture, heritage and the arts, has introduced a brand new identity and development plan for the Dubai Public Library, following the transfer of the eight Public Libraries in Dubai under its umbrella.

The new identity is the first step in Dubai Culture’s strategic plan to strengthen the role of the Dubai Public Libraries and reposition them as community-oriented centres that enhance public education and knowledge.

The Public Libraries are also envisaged to drive intercultural dialogue through an array of activities including story–telling sessions, author visits and book-signing events over the coming months. 

Dubai Culture has currently launched and is showcasing the new identity of the Dubai Public Libraries at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature and will also host visiting authors.

Saeed Al Nabouda, Chief Projects Officer, Dubai Culture, said that the new brand identity and development plan reflect the vision of the Authority to further enhance the role of the Dubai Public Library in fostering community building through knowledge pursuits.

“At a basic level, the initiatives are aimed at strengthening reading habits among the public and creating a culture of knowledge and learning. From a wider community perspective, the libraries are expected to enhance the literary scene of Dubai and provide people with opportunities for self-development. On its cultural context, the libraries will serve as a building platform for driving creativity, intercultural dialogue and strengthening the educational fabric of Dubai.”

The Dubai Public Library offers members a wealth of educational experiences including access to books in several languages from around the world, referral materials, audio-visual materials including films and CDs, and a vast pool of study and research databases.

In addition to accessing a public online catalogue, members can benefit from the Ebrary, an advanced library software of immense value to students and researchers that provides online access to over 52,000 books including reference materials – an effective link to keep up-to-date with the latest reading and learning material from across the world.

Another important tool that is of value to readers and researchers is the Oxford Islamic Studies Online, an authoritative resource that brings the best current scholarships for students, community groups, scholars and librarians to gain a better understanding of the Islamic world. 

In addition to a rich collection of literary and on-line resources suited for children and students, the dedicated eight Children’s Libraries host a series of engaging activities including story telling sessions, cultural and educational film screenings, drawing competitions, exhibitions and training courses.

The Dubai Public Library, first established in 1963, has a rich history in shaping the city’s cultural fabric. Over the years, the libraries have served as a window to the literary heritage and collections of Dubai.

The Dubai Public Library is open from 8am to 9pm on all weekdays. Membership is open to all UAE and GCC nationals as well as UAE residents and UAE-registered organisations. The charges are AED75 as security deposit for children below 12 years; AED50 for five years and AED150 as security deposit for individuals; AED50 for five years and AED200 as security deposit for families and AED100 for five years and AED200 as security deposit for organisations

Apple never ceases to surprise us by providing the world with amazing inventions and innovative takes on age-old concepts. So what is the company’s newest gadget to hit the market? It’s the iPad, revealed to the public for the first time on January 27th. The iPad is a medium-sized device that allows you to do everything you could do using an iPhone and more, but with more flexibility and ease. The smart invention is a bigger version of the iPhone and a smaller version of the Macbook, and it is as light as your wallet in the middle of the month (it weighs an incredible 1.5 pounds—less than 1 kilo)! The size of the iPad can also help you use it for more purposes than the iPhone like reading e-books or watching your favorite movies or series without getting your eyes tired. The multi-touch screen and the clarity on iPad makes it easy to surf the web, watch videos, utilize GPS navigation, play games exactly the way you are meant to experience them. iPad also provides you with great sound quality with built-in speakers to make you live the game you are playing, laugh with the show you are watching or dance with the song you are listening to wherever you are, online or offline. The iPad is extremely user friends and former Apple junkies will have no problem learning their way around the device. The price of an iPad ranges from $499 to $829 depending on the features and upgrades, and is unlikely to go down in the foreseeable future. A salute once again to Mr. Jobs and the Apple team! We can’t wait to get our hands on one.

Check out the latest creative work breaking the mold and pushing the limits of the ad world.

A Music Video that Changes by the Hour?

Famed director Roel Wouters has done it again as he partners with graphic designer Jonathan Puckey to direct this interactive clip for “More is Less” by C-Mon & Kypski.  Part ad and part social media campaign, visitors to Oneframeoffame.com are invited to shoot themselves in a particular pose which is then integrated into the main video every hour.  Brilliant!

IWC celebrated the relaunch of its Portuguese family

with a film starring Jean Reno at the SIHH Watch Fair

Swiss watchmaking company IWC Schaffhausen celebrated its new Portuguese watch collection on the occasion of the SIHH in Geneva amidst a setting inspired by typical yacht design features. Prominent guests joined invited business partners for the “IWC Dinner” at the Espace Sécheron, where they were enthused by the premiere of the IWC short film starring Hollywood actor Jean Reno.

More than 600 invited guests, including prominent personalities such as Zinédine Zidane, Boris Becker and Luís Figo, gathered for the cocktail reception hosted by IWC at the Espace Sécheron in a nautical ambiance. Also mingling with the guests, alongside best-selling author Paulo Coelho and Hollywood star Jean Reno, were Arsène Wenger, Alain Sutter and Tim Jefferies, who were visibly at their ease in the relaxed atmosphere. Various installations, attended by specialists, echoed the central theme of the evening: the fascination of matters both nautical and navigational. Here a meteorologist gave an introduction to the secrets and perils of forecasting the weather, followed by an expert who explained the significance and function of the sextant. One authority contrasted and compared modern and antique cartography and explored the intricacies of longitude and latitude, which to this day retain their relevance as coordinate systems for accurate positioning.

Film premiere with Jean Reno

The high point of the evening was the film premiere with Jean Reno: IWC, together with French actor and director Didier Flamand and Swiss production company Condor Films, has produced a short film for the relaunch of its Portuguese watches, which makes the origins and the fascination of navigation the centre of attention. “The Spirit of Navigation” is a mystical work full of poetry, a philosophical commemoration of the scientists, seafarers and astronomers of days long gone by. Hollywood actor Jean Reno moves through time and space as a protagonist in the midst of a magical production, acquaints the viewer with the art of navigation, which originated some 6,000 years ago, and recounts the development of early nautical instruments. Various levels, cinematic special effects and montages establish a link to the newly released Portuguese watches, the icons of IWC, which utilize the precise, sophisticated and elegant navigational instruments as their role model. After an exquisite dinner, it was the turn of Nils L
andgren, one of the most successful European jazz musicians, and his band “Funk Unit”, to take the spotlight. This virtuoso trombonist not only swept spiritedly across the stage, but also managed to enthral the audience with his solos alternating subtly between various styles.

Photodownload under www.image.net

Photographic material relating to IWC at SIHH 2010 will be freely available online after the event at www.image.net. If you are not already registered, you must do so by accessing www. image.net and by clicking on “register”. Select the category “Fashion” to gain access to the photographs.

Web and broadcast footage to download

from www.digitalnewsagency.com/vpo/iwc

Web and broadcast quality footage will be available to download by broadcasters free of charge on www.digitalnewsagency. com/vpo/iwc  To register please go to www.digitalnewsagency.com

• 2009 selection of GFF movies showcased in 11 global festivals

Dubai, UAE; February 1, 2010: Gulf Film Festival (GFF), the annual event celebrating Gulf cinema, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, is blazing a trail globally with its film selection chosen for film festivals and cultural showcases across the world.

More than 50 GFF movies have screened in 11 key film festival events in 2009 with the festival also serving as the Official Submission Organisation for the Gulf region for 2008 and 2009 Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA), the region’s highest film accolade.

Among the key festivals that GFF movies were nominated at include APSA; the Zanzibar International Film Festival; Golden Apricot International Film Festival of Yerevan in Armenia; Ahmedabad International Film Festival in India; Beirut International Documentary Festival (Docudays) and the Beirut International Film Festival in Lebanon; Arab Film Festival in Australia; Arab Film Festival Rotterdam; the Nabeul Cinema Nights in Tunisia; and ‘Days of Gulf Cinema in Palestine’.

GFF Festival Director Masoud Amralla Al Ali said the international acceptance of films screened at GFF, including several movies from the UAE, highlights the marked evolution of Arab cinema as an established entity.

“One of the founding goals of GFF has been to promote Arab film talent and offer a sounding board for their growth and acceptance globally. The global appeal of our film selection is a testament to the success of our vision,” he said.

“GFF serves as a powerful platform for Arab film talent, across the world, to showcase films that are related to the Gulf and Middle East region. This is the first time that a referral point has been set for Arab cinema, and the international film festivals and cultural organisations bank on GFF to identify the best in Arab film creativity,” added Masoud.

Some of the most popular titles across these international film festivals include: The Circle, Henna, Beyond Words, Revenge, When the People Spoke – Part 3, The Loser Bet, The Sound of Life, Finding Mr & Mrs Right, Sunrise/Sunset, Amal’s Cloud, Bint Mariam and The Window, among others.

These include films by directors from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Iraq, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, highlighting the GCC-wide evolution of cinema.

Sunrise/Sunset (Shrouq/Ghroub), a Saudi Arabian production directed by Mohammad Aldhahri, had won the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) award for best shorts in the Muhr Arab Awards of Dubai International Film Festival 2009.

Submissions are now open for the third edition of GFF to be held from April 8-14, 2010, presented by Dubai Culture & Arts Authority in association with Dubai Studio City. GCC national filmmakers as well as directors of films that depict life in the Arabian Gulf region can make their submissions online at www.gulffilmfest.com until February 15, 2010.

Top global wood industry executives to deliver thought leadership talks at the forum

January 25, 2010

Dawood Al Shezawi

Dubai WoodShow 2010’, the Middle East’s only wood-focused exhibition of its kind, will feature the first annual ‘Dubai WoodShow Forum’, a series of exclusive keynote sessions delivered by high profile experts, academics and top executives from the entire wood industry spectrum. Designed as an exceptional meeting platform, the forum will offer knowledge transfer, networking and business opportunities, and provide the audience with innovative and reliable strategies to gain a competitive edge in the market place. The 4-hour conference will be held daily during the ‘Dubai WoodShow’, which will run from April 13 to 15, 2010 at the Dubai Airport Expo.

‘Dubai WoodShow Forum’ aims at delivering an agenda that merges new wood design and engineering trends, wood pricing and tariff concerns, and reviews of green building compliance and legal timber trading. It will also focus on business development and expansion strategies in the Middle East, including logistics and supply chain opportunities for new market entrants. The event is being supported by the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) as the conference’s Official Knowledge Partner and the American University in Dubai as the Official Academic Partner.

“This event will be the launching pad where industry players can examine the wealth of business opportunities stemming from the ever-expanding Middle East wood sector, and allow major players to explore ways to differentiate their products and services and maintain leadership in the market,” said Dawood Al Shezawi, Managing Director, Strategic Marketing & Exhibitions. “On the other hand, wood market investors and business developers will be able connect directly with government free zones representatives as well as logistics and supply chain services providers who will be at the event, while learning more about the key requirements needed to successfully enter the Middle East wood market.”

 Among the confirmed speakers to address wood industry executives at the Forum are Mike Snow, Executive Director of the American Hardwood Export Council (USA), Anthony Elwine, Chief Commercial Officer and Steffen Steenbaek, Chief Operations Officera of Maersk Middle East (recently rebranded Damco from Denmark), and Roderick Wiles, Principal at Broad Leaf Consulting (UK). Other presenters include Rupert Oliver, Director, Forest Industry Intelligence (UK), Mohammed Al Banna, Vice President Commercial Sales, Economic Zones World (UAE), Peter Kristensen, Head of Environment Department, DLH (Denmark) and Michael Pfeiffer, President of M-Wood Solutions (Canada), among many others.

In addition to the ‘Dubai WoodShow Forum’, ‘Dubai WoodShow 2010’ will also feature the ‘Dubai WoodShow Roundtable’, a dedicated platform for exclusive one-on-one business meetings among exhibitors, potential clients and future partners. Through a designated web-portal, participants can schedule up to ten 30-minute meetings per day for the last two days of the tradeshow. This initiative is aligned with the event’s vision to help exhibitors to further increase their client portfolio.

The ‘Dubai WoodShow 2010’ will also introduce the ‘Dubai WoodShow Workshops’, which will be two-hour interactive presentations designed to provide attendees (small groups of 20-30 registered delegates) with a comprehensive overview of the topics, an informative approach of the business at hand, and a tactical review of their operational requirements. Workshop delegates are expected to take away reliable methodologies applicable to their day-to-day management and overall professional duties from the workshops’ curriculum, which includes both European and American timber grading sessions presented by Bob Sabistina, Grading Consultant, American Hardwood Export Council.

“The new additions to the ‘Dubai WoodShow 2010’ underline our strong commitment to the regional wood sector’s long term success. The confirmed presence of several industry leaders exemplifies the importance of ‘Dubai WoodShow 2010’ as a definitive event for the regional market. We are confident that we will see a significant increase in attendance this year, which motivates us to continually create important innovations for the show. We believe in the Dubai WoodShow’s role as an important driving force behind the profitable future partnership among participating companies,” concluded Al Shezawi.