Seventh edition of Dubai International Film Festival, Abdulhamid Juma, Masoud Amralla Al Ali, Shivani Pandya, BroadcastPro Middle East, Vijaya Cherian
Dubai International Film Festival today confirmed that it will screen 157 films from 57 countries at this year’s edition, which will run from December 12 to 19.
Among its roster of films from South America to Taiwan and Sweden to South Africa, the festival will feature an impressive 41 world premieres. 13 international premieres, 58 Middle East premieres and 32 Gulf premieres, and a host of A-list talent. Nearly half the DIFF 2010 films – 70 – are by or about Arab people, subjects and places.
Heading this year’s celebrity line-up are celebrated actor, director and activist Sean Penn, who will receive the DIFF 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award; Colin Firth, who will accompany opening film The King’s Speech; Colin Farrell, Ed Harris, Jim Sturgess and Peter Weir, in Dubai for the red carpet gala screening of The Way Back; Beau Garrett, for closing gala Tron: Legacy; and Andrey Konchalovsky and Julia Vysotskaya of the Cinema for Children gala The Nutcracker in 3D.
Other red carpet events include the Arabian gala screening of 678, one of the most anticipated films from Egyptian cinema; the controversial Egyptian love story Cairo Exit from the DIFF Cultural Bridge segment; the Polish film Tomorrow Will Be Better from the festival’s Cinema of the World programme; Emirati short The Philosopher from its Muhr competition; and Chinese martial arts extravaganza Reign of Assassins from the Festival’s Cinema of AsiaAfrica slate. French A-list actor Jean Reno, Carey Mulligan, Africa’s Souleymane Cisse and Arab stars Khaled Abol Naga, Bushra, Nelly Karim, Saba Mubarak, Ayman Zeidan, Samar Sami and Raghda are also among the international celebrities confirmed to attend.
Abdulhamid Juma, chairman of Dubai International Film Festival said the seventh edition of DIFF will be extra special because of "the largest selections of quality, contemporary Arab cinema anywhere in the world".
This is a compelling testament to the success of the Festival in building the definitive space for Arab talent, providing a platform for them to achieve their ambitions and also giving them the opportunity to stand tall alongside their international counterparts.”
DIFF’s in-competition Muhr Awards saw a whopping 848 entries, with the Muhr Arab segment drawing 62 feature films, 228 short films, and 113 documentary films. The Muhr AsiaAfrica competition, dedicated for filmmakers from Asia and Africa, similarly received 445 entries, encompassing 136 feature films, 199 short films, and 110 documentary films. The Festival’s new Muhr Emirati competition, introduced to further strengthen and recognize rising Emirati talent, received 25 feature films, short films, and documentaries.
Masoud Amralla Al Ali, DIFF’s Artistic Director, said: “If I could choose one word to describe our 2010 programme, it would be “discovery.” We have discovered new talents, new styles and new collaborations.”
Shivani Pandya, DIFF Managing Director also confirmed that public screenings will be held at Jumeirah Beach Residence to attract families. There will be a free broadcast of the DIFF 2010 red carpet opening at the Madinat Jumeirah, and a free screening of The King’s Speech as well.
DIFF will be held from December 12 to 19 at the Madinat Jumeirah venue.
This press release was issued by DIFF.
