Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) has appointed critically acclaimed Director, Producer and Writer Jim Sheridan as Head of the Jury for the Muhr Arab Feature Competition for the 10th edition of the festival. The Irish filmmaker has crafted a variety of powerful films during his remarkable career which launched back in 1989 with the phenomenal […]
Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) has appointed critically acclaimed Director, Producer and Writer Jim Sheridan as Head of the Jury for the Muhr Arab Feature Competition for the 10th edition of the festival.
The Irish filmmaker has crafted a variety of powerful films during his remarkable career which launched back in 1989 with the phenomenal debut feature My Left Foot starring Daniel Day-Lewis, with both Day-Lewis and co-star Brenda Fricker winning Oscars for their performances.
Sheridan followed up the success with the international hit In the Name of the Father which received seven Academy Award nominations and won the Golden Bear at the 44th Berlin International Film Festival.
Sheridans impressive body of work includes notable credits such as The Boxer, In America, Get Rich or Die Tryin and Brothers which screened to rave reviews at the 6th edition of DIFF in 2009.
Masoud Amralla Al Ali, Artistic Director of DIFF, said: Jim Sheridan is one of the most prolific filmmakers of the last two decades and responsible for some exceptional and critically acclaimed films that truly deserve the accolades bestowed upon them. He has an extraordinary gift of telling a story with honesty and capturing a characters raw emotion which set his films apart. We are thrilled and honoured that he is coming to DIFF this year to head the jury and we look forward to benefiting from his vast experience in the industry.
Jim Sheridan commented: The Middle East has a deep-rooted appreciation for the arts, and the Arab cinema industry continues to thrive, revealing hidden gems and previously untold stories. Productions from the Arab world have captivated audiences worldwide in recent years and I am delighted to be on the Muhr Arab Feature jury. I am confident that it will be an incredibly enriching and fulfilling experience.
Last year over 80 films competed for the prestigious Muhr Awards and over US$575,000 in prize money across three categories Muhr Emirati, Muhr Arab and Muhr AsiaAfrica. Arabic features are also eligible for a variety of prestigious global awards including the FIPRESCI International Prize of the Critics Award all of which will be announced at the awards ceremony on December 13th, 2013.
