For established and emerging filmmakers the World Cinema Dramatic Competition is a way for directors to express their artistic talents.The sixteen movies that have made the 2008 shortlist represent Germany, Mexico, Jordan and Hong Kong amongst others.

Absurdistan

Absurdistan is directed by Velt Heimer and is picture that introduces the audience to Absurdistan, now a desolate land, but was once a place of beauty.Aya and Temelko, childhood sweethearts, are waiting for a perfect celestial alignment which will bless their first night of love.But the couple find themselves on opposite sides when a feud between the men and women in their village breaks out.The men in their village have not repaired as ageing water pipe and laugh at Temelko’s designs to restore the much needed water supply.

Angered by their inaction the women lay down an ultimatum: no water, no sex.

Starring: Maximilian Mault, Kristyna Malerova, Assun Planas and Kaghat Azelardob.

Mancora

Mancora is directed by Ricardo de Montreull and is his second feature that follows Santiago who plans to flee the winter in Lima to travel to Mancora in a desperate bid to cope with his father’s sudden suicide.

But before his departure he receives an unexpected visit from Ximena, his beautiful stepsister, and her arrogant husband Inigo.

The trio set off on a road trip to Mancora, picking up a bohemian hitchhiker along the way.

But upon their arrival at the beach town romantic tension threatens to tear the group apart.

Starring: Elsa Pataky, Jason Day, Enrique Murciano, Phelipe Haagensen.

Mermaid
Mermaid, which is directed by Anna Melikya, follows Alisa who has the unusual gift making wishes come true.

She finds herself in Moscow and her life changes forever when she meets a man with a cross on his chest that reads ‘save and protect’.

Melikya beautifully mixes myth, dream and warped reality producing a commercial art house movie.

It’s visually stunning as Melikyan delves deep into Alisa’s vivid imagination.

Starring: Masha Shalaeva, Yeugeniy Ciganov, Maria Sokolova.

Strangers

Strangers, which is directed by Erez Tadnor and Guy Nattiv, is a tale of impossible love based on the 2004 award winning short.

Eyal, an Israli, and Rana, a Palestinian living in paris, meet by chance when they go to Berlin for the World Cup finals and their bags get switched on the subway.

Admist the roaring football fans the pair fall in love.

But Rana suddenly leaves to go back to Paris and the second Israeli/Lebanon war breaks out.

Despite uncertainty Eyal decides to search Paris for Rana. But their bond is tested due to opposing opinion and allegiances due to the war.

Starring: Liron Levv, Lubna Azabal, Dominique Lollia, Patrick Albenque.

Under the Bombs

Under the Bombs is directed by Phillippe Aractingl and is a captivating account of the thirty four day bombing campaing against Lebanon in the summer of 2000.

During the bombing Zeina returns from abroad in a desperate bid to find her missing sister and son.

An unlikely romantic tie begins to form between Zeina and cab driver Tony, who risks his life to help Zeina search for the missing members of her family.

Starring: Nada Abou Farhat, Georges Khabbaz, Bshara Atallay.

The other movies in the category:

-Bue Eyelids

-Captain Abu Raed

-The Drummer

-I Always Wanted to be a Gangster

-Just Another Love Story

-King of Ping Pong

-Megane

-Perro Come Perro

-Riprendimi

-The Wave

-The Wind and the Water

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw