The sixth Dubai international Film Festival
This year DIFF will screen 168 films, including 29 world premieres and will play host to more than 700 guests. Local admissions are also expected to rise from 45,000 last year. There will also be 13 international premieres to the city
THE SIXTH Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) was launched on December 9, with a star-studded screening of Rob Marshall’s musical feature Nine. The festival began in full fervour despite the present debt crisis. The festival, claimed as the largest in the region, opened amidst a severe financial crisis looming over the city. It has been revealed that its biggest conglomerate, Dubai World, is unable to make debt payments causing shares in the United Arab Emirates to tumble. However, the film festival is going ahead with its usual sumptuous style. It concludes on December 15 with the screening of James Cameron’s 3D sci-fi adventure,Avatar.
This year DIFF will screen 168 films, including 29 world premieres and will play host to more than 700 guests. Local admissions are also expected to rise from 45,000 last year. There will also be 13 international premières to the city. The first screening of 76 films from Middle East is also scheduled.
Brand-new dramas, rock documentaries, animation and comedy are among the eclectic line-up for Cinema of the World category, featuring 26 most anticipated films. The segment this year features gritty dramas and controversial documentaries and a rich crop of music-focused offerings from Australia to Zanzibar.
New releases from established directors and actors including Spain’s Pedro Almodovar, Jim Sheridan, Annette Bening, Samuel Jackson, Drew Barrymore, Juliette Lewis, Geoffrey Rush, comedian Chris Rock and musician Jack White make their Dubai debuts. Films exploring the history of European cinema, childhood melancholy, social dilemmas and an aviation adventure set in the Sahara Desert are among the eclectic mix of French films on show in the ‘In Focus’ segment.
A series of hard-hitting films with a reality-check on contemporary Arab and Middle East society featuring diverse storylines from across the Arab world will be screened as part of the Arabian Nights programming.
‘Cinema for Children’ showcase will for the first time include three short films from Qatar.
A ground-breaking Indonesian film and quartet of Japanese films are among the highlights of the Cinema of Asia-Africa segment of DIFF 2009, which will also showcase the best new talent from China, Indonesia, Taiwan, the Philippines, Senegal and Korea.
Dubai International film festival 2009 has also partnered with the Human Rights Film Network a partnership of human rights film festivals around the world. Established in Prague in 2004, the Network promotes exchange, communication and collaboration regarding the representation of human rights issues in moving pictures. The network will present the Human Rights Film Awards to short listed film.
Indian legend Amitabh Bachchan and singer and actress Mandy Moore have received lifetime achievement awards. Arab stars including Khaled Taja and Nelly Kareem enthralled the red carpet. Ranbir’s kapoor ‘Rocket Singh salesman of the year’ made its world premiere at the festival.
New releases from established directors and actors including Spain’s Pedro Almodovar, Jim Sheridan, Annette Bening, Samuel Jackson, Drew Barrymore, Juliette Lewis, Geoffrey Rush, comedian Chris Rock and musician Jack White make their Dubai debuts. Films exploring the history of European cinema, childhood melancholy, social dilemmas and an aviation adventure set in the Sahara Desert are among the eclectic mix of French films on show in the ‘In Focus’ segment.
A series of hard-hitting films with a reality-check on contemporary Arab and Middle East society featuring diverse storylines from across the Arab world will be screened as part of the Arabian Nights programming.
‘Cinema for Children’ showcase will for the first time include three short films from Qatar.
A ground-breaking Indonesian film and quartet of Japanese films are among the highlights of the Cinema of Asia-Africa segment of DIFF 2009, which will also showcase the best new talent from China, Indonesia, Taiwan, the Philippines, Senegal and Korea.
Dubai International film festival 2009 has also partnered with the Human Rights Film Network a partnership of human rights film festivals around the world. Established in Prague in 2004, the Network promotes exchange, communication and collaboration regarding the representation of human rights issues in moving pictures. The network will present the Human Rights Film Awards to short listed film.
Indian legend Amitabh Bachchan and singer and actress Mandy Moore have received lifetime achievement awards. Arab stars including Khaled Taja and Nelly Kareem enthralled the red carpet. Ranbir’s kapoor ‘Rocket Singh salesman of the year’ made its world premiere at the festival.
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