Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF)

SINCE: 2004

WHERE: Dubai, UAE

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

Since its inception in 2004, the festival has served as an influential platform for Arab filmmakers and talent at an international level, by spearheading the cinema movement in the region. Each year DIFF presents new and exciting cinema from the Arab world and beyond introducing audiences to fresh new talent and original, intelligent and distinctive filmmaking.

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Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF)

Shakeup at Dubai International Film Festival, 2018 Festival Canceled

The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) announced this week that they will cancel the 2018 edition of the festival, and will be adopting a new strategy to support the growth and evolution of the film and content industries in the region. The Festival will now occur every two years with the 15th edition, which will reflect DIFF’s changed strategy, confirmed to be hosted in Dubai in 2019. The strategic shift aims to embrace the significant changes taking place in the region’s creative and entertainment landscape. The new strategy also seeks to leverage the emergence of exciting new talent and innovative new technologies that are rapidly transforming the content landscape in the region. Jamal Al Sharif, Chairman Dubai Film and TV Commission commented: “DIFF has established Dubai as a world-class destination in the film and content industry. It serves as a platform to promote cultural understanding between the region and the world, as well as the development of the local and regional film industry, giving the opportunity to many ambitious film makers to shine. “With the vast changes taking place both in the regional and global movie-making and content industry, we are seeking to redefine the Dubai International Film Festival’s approach towards nurturing growth, creativity and talent. Innovative new approaches and technologies are transforming the distribution of content and the craft of movie-making. As a forward-thinking player in the global film industry, DIFF seeks to embrace the future of the industry through this strategic shift. “The Festival will continue its significant contribution to the development of the industry, as we look forward to celebrating with the public, film lovers and industry professionals in 2019. We will announce the final dates, details and the new program as soon as confirmed.”
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Layla Kaylif Wins IWC Filmmaker Award for THE LETTER WRITER

Layla Kaylif won the 4th IWC Filmmaker Award at the 12th Dubai International Film Festival for her film “The Letter Writer”. This year, three filmmakers were shortlisted for the award: Qatari director Khalifa Al Muraikhi for his project “Sahaab”, Saudi director Shahad Ameen for her feature “Scales” and Emirati director Layla Kaylif for “The Letter Writer”. Layla Kaylif was presented with the USD 100,000 prize, and she also received an IWC timepiece. Aspiring Emirati director Layla Kaylif is the founder of the Dubai-based film production company Canopus Films, and her latest feature is “The Letter Writer”. The film is a romantic drama which tells a story of deception and lies as a young boy, Khalifa, uses his skills as a professional letter writer for personal gain at the expense of his trusting customers. One such customer is Mr Mohamed, the owner of a drapery shop, whom Khalifa befriends and assists in corresponding with his secret love, Elli. However, when Khalifa catches a glimpse of Elli for the first time, he is instantly smitten and begins a secret and forbidden pursuit of Elli’s affections behind Mr Mohamed’s back. Image: IWC Filmmaker Award winner Layla Kaylif poses during the IWC Filmmaker Award Night 2015 at The One & Only Royal Mirage on December 10, 2015 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Anthony Harvey / Getty Images for IWC)
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Actor Sami Bouajila to Receive Arab Lifetime Achievement Award at 2015 Dubai International Film Festival

Sami Bouajila, the award-winning French-Tunisian actor, will be the recipient of this year’s prestigious Arab Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2015 Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF). Bouajila is an internationally acclaimed actor whose impressive filmography spans three decades and boasts an incredible forty titles. The actor is set to receive the accolade amongst the Arab and international film community at the 12th edition of DIFF, taking place December 9 to 16, 2015. Sami Bouajila is renowned for his eclectic range of starring roles and is best known for his award-winning performances in ‘Les Temoins’ for which he won the Cesar Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2008, and ‘Indigenes’ where he received the award for Best Male Interpretation at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. His award-winning legacy dates back to 2000 when he was named Best Young Actor for ‘Drole de Felix’ at Festival du film romantique de Cabourg. The 49 year-old has come a long way since his first acting role, working his way into the leading role for the 2011 French crime-drama ‘’Omar Killed Me’, where he plays a falsely accused gardener convicted of murdering his elderly employer. DIFF’s Chairman, Abdulhamid Juma remarked on the importance of recognizing those who have dedicated their lives to cinema: “Sami Bouajila’s film career is a testament to the medium of film, he is admired by audiences around the world for his diverse and compelling choices in film roles throughout his extraordinary career. We are delighted to honour his talents with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the festival this December.” Sami Bouajila expressed his happiness upon receiving the news of winning the Lifetime Achievement Award from Dubai International Film Festival, and said: “I am thrilled and honored to receive the Dubai International Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award and very much looking forward to meeting film industry members of the region.”
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11 More Films Added to 2015 Dubai International Film Festival ‘Cinema of The World’ Program Lineup

The 2015 Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) revealed 11 additional films set to appear in its ‘Cinema of The World’ program. The first new addition to the lineup is the suspenseful and dramatic award-winning film ‘The Clan’, by Argentinian director Pablo Trapero (pictured above), which won the ‘Silver Lion’ award at the 2015 Venice Film Festival. Based on the true story of the Puccio family, ‘The Clan’ follows the disturbing story of a sinister 1970s family whose existence revolves around the kidnapping of wealthy people for ransoms paid by the victims’ families. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWia2xcELuI Next up is the gripping drama, ‘Truth’, starring Robert Redford and Cate Blanchett. From American director, James Vanderbilt, ‘Truth’ offers a behind-the-scenes look at news anchor, Dan Rather, during his final days at CBS News when he broadcast a damaging report about President Bush’s avoidance of fighting for his country in the Vietnam War. More than a decade after his departure, Dan Rather is given a touching send-off by James Vanderbilt in a compelling dramatization that demonstrates that the truth of the matter is sometimes more complicated than it seems. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqOz8-Sto1g Renowned filmmaker Kamal Swaroop brings his controversial and highly acclaimed film ‘The Battle for Banaras’ inspired by Nobel laureate Elias Canetti’s book, ‘Crowds and Power’ to DIFF. This searing documentary lays bare the underbelly of politics in the world’s largest democracy interweaving Indian history with contemporary politics. The film is set against the backdrop of elections in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Arvind Kejriwal battle for people’s affection and votes in the holy city of Banaras. ‘The Battle for Banaras’ takes no prisoner’s in uncovering the manipulation of the masses by the country’s political elite. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXu3XcTwkDM The deep scars of civil war are the subject of award-winning filmmaker Dalibor Matanić’s latest feature ‘The High Sun’ which took home the Jury Prize in Un Certain Regard at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Set over 3 consecutive decades in neighbouring Balkan Villages, Matanić’s film examines the inter-ethnic hatred in the former Yugoslavia through three different loves stories. The tension that should drive these forbidden couples apart after years of bitter war is precisely that which brings them together. A visually lush film with superb performances from the two leads; ‘The High Sun’ is arguably Matanić’s strongest film to date and is sure to be an audience favourite. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcWDMgipJ78 Set in the final days of a dying logging town, Australian director Simon Stone’s tension-filled family drama ‘The Daughter’ starring Academy Award winner Geoffrey Rush follows the story of Christian, a man who returns to his family home for a wedding only to unearth a long-buried family secret. In an attempt to put things right he threatens to shatter the lives of those he left at home all those years ago. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1Isgwfl9LQ Irish director Lenny Abrahamson’s latest feature, ‘Room’, is based on Emma Donoghue’s 2010 best-selling novel of the same name, and recently won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, which is often the barometer for future Academy Awards. The drama centres on a mother played by Brie Larson and her young son Jack kidnapped and held in a tiny, windowless room for seven years. Eventually the mother devises an escape plan and they are thrust out into the world beyond the “room” to adjust to the strange, terrifying and wondrous world outside their one-room prison. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPZqF_TPTGs Directors Andy Schocken and Oscar®–winner Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s documentary ‘Song of Lahore’, is a moving and uplifting look at cultural preservation and a group of passionate and skilled musicians who risk their own safety to inspire listeners from all over the globe. Since the time of Pakistan’s independence, the city of Lahore was world-renowned for its music. Then with the Islamization of Pakistan in the 1970s, many of Lahore’s most accomplished and celebrated musicians struggled to continue their life’s work. ‘Song of Lahore’ turns the spotlight on a group of brave musicians that kept on playing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_AVWUDomFk Acclaimed South African director Oliver Hermanus’s ‘The Endless River’ follows the life of a young waitress. The film sees her welcome home her husband to the small South African town of Riviersonderend (Endless River) after a four-year stint in jail. ‘The Endless River’ depicts the hardships of life and sees the young woman form an unlikely bond with a grieving widower as they help each other to transcend their mutual anger, pain and loneliness. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybZQx_d38O4 Russian director Alexander Sokurov guides the audience on a remarkable artistic journey through history in his latest film ‘Francofonia’ which played to acclaim at the Venice film festival. Sokurov’s inventive film looks at the inner workings of the Louvre, and the history of its great patrons who realised the importance of protecting world art for posterity, particularly during times of war. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGF7vZALBQU Multi-award winning Romanian filmmaker, Corneliu Poromboiu, brings his acclaimed film ‘The Treasure’ to DIFF audiences. Told through the exploits of a working class father on the hunt for vaguely promised ‘treasure’ that could lead to a better life for him and his young family, this darkly comic feature examines the lengths that an individual will go to in order to achieve their dreams, even when they know reality may not match up. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d56mX1P6p2U One of the defining movements in British history is captured on screen in Sarah Gavorn’s ‘Suffragette.’ This powerful film features powerhouse performances from Carey Mulligan and Helena Bonham Carter as Maud Watts and Edith New, two of the central characters in the ‘suffrage’ movement in the early 20th century. ‘Suffragette’ has been praised for its unflinching look at the evolution of the group, from its peaceful origins to the acts of protest that brought the attention of the world to the issue of women’s rights in Britain. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=056FI2Pq9RY Australian actor, director and writer Jeremy Sims rounds off this announcement for the Cinema of The World programme with his heartwarming epic, ‘Last Cab to Darwin’, which tells the tale of Rex, a Broken Hill cab driver, on his 3000km journey across Australia. Having spent his entire life shunning personal relationships, Rex discovers he has stomach cancer and so, unwilling to burden anyone with his care, he begins his epic journey to Darwin where newly passed euthanasia laws would allow him to take his life into his own hands. On his seemingly endless travels across Australia the distant cabbie meets a handful of travelers who force him to reevaluate his life, and it is at this point that Rex decides that a life not shared is a life not lived. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hypCdpjTMDI
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‘Dheepan’ ‘Youth’ ‘The Assassin’ Among Films on 2015 Dubai International Film Festival Cinema of The World Program

The Cinema of The World program at the upcoming 2015 Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF), scheduled to take place between the December 9th and 16th, 2015 will welcome forty five of the world’s latest films to its screens. The first in a series of announcements includes, ‘Dheepan’ (pictured above) a powerful drama by director Jacques Audiard that follows a former Tamil Tiger soldier’s struggle as he fights to begin life anew away from the hardships of war. Winner of the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, ‘Dheepan’ delves deep into the lives of migrants fleeing conflict zones to lead new lives in Europe but, in the case of the Tamil family, conflict is never far behind. Heart-warming feature ‘Youth’, directed by Academy Award-winner Paolo Sorrentino, depicts the lives of two old friends and the relationship they build whilst on vacation in the Swiss Alps. Starring internationally renowned actors Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel, as Fred and Mick, the lives of two aging artists are portrayed with a blend of humour and wisdom as they reflect on the ways of the world with a deep serenity in a picturesque Alpine landscape. Contemporary filmmaker Hou Hsiao-Hsien marks his return to cinema after an eight-year absence to present his martial-arts epic ‘The Assassin’. The film follows the enigmatic assassin Yinniang, played by the actress Shu Qi, in a dark tale of emotional turmoil that pushes the film’s central character to breaking point when she is sent on a mission that compromises her primordial instincts. Inspirational biopic ‘The Man Who Knew Infinity’ directed by Matt Brown follows the life-changing journey of a young Indian mathematician, Srinivasa Ramanujan, played by Dev Patel, as he ascends from his humble roots in Madras to attend Cambridge University. It is here that he attempts to pursue his dreams under the mentoring of English mathematician G.H. Hardy, portrayed by Jeremy Irons. Exquisite and captivating period drama ‘Brooklyn’, directed by John Crowley and based on the acclaimed novel by Colm Toibin, features a stellar cast including Saoirse Ronan, Domhnall Gleeson, Jim Broadbent and Julie Walters. It tells the tale of a young immigrant in a strange new land as she discovers young love and the promise of a brighter future. ‘Brooklyn’ delves deep into the life of its central character, Eilis, in this tale about family, memory and making a new home. Multi award-winning visionary feature ‘Embrace of The Serpent’, directed by Columbian filmmaker Ciro Guerra, is a visually mesmerizing adventure epic. Inspired by the diaries of two explorers, the film tracks two parallel odysseys travelling through the Amazon three decades apart. It features knockout cinematography, a total of nine different languages and an array of breathtaking locations offering a heart-rending depiction of the effects of colonialism on the indigenous culture. Ferocious and adrenaline charged crime thriller, ‘Beeba Boys’, directed by Deepa Mehta, depicts a clash of culture and crime in an all-or-nothing Vancouver gang war. Following in the footsteps of gang leader Jeet Johar and his loyal crew, ‘the Beeba Boys’, the film engrosses audiences in a tug-of-war as Jeet and his gang take on an old-fashioned Indo crime syndicate in the battle for control of the drug and arms scene. Blood will be spilled, hearts will be broken and bonds will be shattered as the ‘Beeba Boys’ will do anything to be seen and heard in a white world. Turkish actress turned director Deniz Gamze Ergüven is set to sweep audiences off their feet at DIFF with her very first feature, ‘Mustang’, which won the Europa Cinemas Label Award at the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight. The film follows five young sisters living in a coastal Turkish village placed under a tyrannical regime that suppresses their natural development in this poignant portrayal of physical and emotional imprisonment. Award-winning Australian director, Jennifer Peedom, takes audiences on the adventure of a lifetime in her latest film, ‘Sherpa’, in which she tackles the daunting Mount Everest in an attempt to explore the on-going feud between angered Sherpa people and fearless climbers hopeful of conquering the mountain. Former winner of the 2010 Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or for his film ‘Uncle Boonmee’ Apichatpong Weerasethakul graces the big screen at DIFF with his mystical new film, ‘Cemetery of Splendour’, which follows a young medium and a hospital volunteer as they investigate a sinister case of mass sleeping sickness affecting a temporary hospital for soldiers. The filmmaker uses the epidemic as a metaphor for personal and Thai societal issues in this enigmatic feature. ‘Trap’, the most recent movie from Filipino filmmaker Brillante Mendoza, represents the lives of three families after the devastating Typhoon Yolanda. The director uses powerful imagery and stories based on the real-life experiences of those that have survived the natural disaster to drive home awareness of climate change and the debilitating effects it has on those that succumb to its wrath.
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3 Filmmakers Nominated For 2015 IWC Filmmaker Award at 12th Dubai International Film Festival

Three talented directors have made the shortlist for the prestigious IWC Filmmaker Award at the 12th Dubai International Film Festival taking place from December 9 to 16, 2015, with the winner receiving a cash prize of USD 100,000. The IWC Filmmaker Award supports filmmakers from the Gulf in taking their project from script to the big screen. The nominees for the highly-coveted 2015 IWC Filmmaker Award are: Qatari director Khalifa Al Muraikhi, for his project “Sahaab”; Saudi director Shahad Ameen, for her feature “Scales”; and Emirati director Layla Kaylif for “The Letter Writer”. The winner of the IWC Filmmaker Award will be announced at an IWC gala event held during the festival on 10 December 2015. During the 11th DIFF last year, Golden Globe winner and IWC Schaffhausen brand ambassador Emily Blunt presented the IWC Filmmaker Award to Abdullah Boushahri for his film “The Water”. At the same event, Emirati filmmaker Waleed Al Shehhi – who received the IWC Filmmaker Award in 2013 from the Head of the IWC Filmmakers Jury and IWC brand ambassador Cate Blanchett – premiered his feature film “Dolphins” to a sold-out audience. THE NOMINEES AND THEIR PROJECTS: KHALIFA AL MURAIKHI: “SAHAAB” Renowned Qatari director Khalifa Al Muraikhi comes to the festival having already made a name for himself in the industry, winning awards at the Cairo International Film Festival 2000 and the Oman International Documentary Festival 2003 for “The Blind Girl” and “Threads Beneath Sands”, respectively. The director’s latest project, “Sahaab”, is another profound work which tells the tale of aspiring falconers preparing to take part in a race. When one of them loses his falcon, Sahaab, in the desert, the trio must face a variety of obstacles on their journey to find the lost bird in time for the contest. SHAHAD AMEEN: “SCALES” Shahad Ameen returns to DIFF this year, having premiered her short film “Eye & Mermaid” at the festival in 2013. The Saudi director has previously been nominated for Best Short Film at the Stockholm Film Festival but will be looking to go one better at DIFF 2015 with “Scales”, a fantasy feature that follows the story of Hayat, a pre-adolescent teen faced with fulfilling her destiny as a hunted, yet free, mermaid. Designed to capture audiences’ imaginations, the feature sees two worlds collide and sets out to explore the contradictions between belonging and freedom, and traditions and revolution, in an attempt to find reconciliation. LAYLA KAYLIF: “THE LETTER WRITER” Aspiring Emirati director Layla Kaylif is the founder of the Dubai-based film production company Canopus Films, and the two have joined forces to develop the director’s latest feature, “The Letter Writer”. The film is a romantic drama which tells a story of deception and lies as a young boy, Khalifa, uses his skills as a professional letter writer for personal gain at the expense of his trusting customers. One such customer is Mr Mohamed, the owner of a drapery shop, whom Khalifa befriends and assists in corresponding with his secret love, Elli. However, when Khalifa catches a glimpse of Elli for the first time, he is instantly smitten and begins a secret and forbidden pursuit of Elli’s affections behind Mr Mohamed’s back.
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2015 Dubai International Film Festival Announces First Selection of Short Films in Muhr Competition

The 2015 Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) Muhr Short Category will premiere 15 short films from the region’s best and brightest directors. The entrants that will be battling it out for this year’s prestigious ‘Muhr Awards’ include; the highly acclaimed animated short film ‘Waves ’98’ directed by Lebanese Ely Dagher, (pictured above) which won the Palme d’Or for Short Film at Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. The film explores the filmmaker’s current relationship with his homeland, disillusioned with his life in the suburbs of segregated Beirut, Omar’s unusual discovery lures him into the depth of the city. Immersed into a world that is so close yet so isolated from his reality, he finds himself struggling to keep his attachments, his sense of home. The dramatic world premiere ‘The Wheel’, directed by Egyptian Menna Ekram, depicts the daily lives of a struggling couple working in a circus. The couple, Hayat and Ali, hopes that the start of a new routine, fraught with danger and reliant on an unwavering trust, might re-ignite what once got them together. Established theatre, film and television actress, Ibtissem Guerda, returns to the Festival with the world premiere of her captivating short ‘The Veil of Jealousy’. The short follows Amine, a young and devout Muslim, who is very much in love with his wife Enora. However, when Enora makes a new friend the mood changes as jealousy and doubt begin to manifest in Amine and he questions who it is that is hiding under the Burqa? Egyptian director Shady El-Hamus prepares to take audiences at DIFF on an emotional journey in the world premiere of ‘Fairuz’, a short-film centred around Yousef, played by Mohammad Bakri, a man in his mid-60’s struggling with the harsh realities of life. The film begins on the wedding day of his only child, Fairuz, where it is revealed that she plans to move abroad with her new husband. Distraught and unable to accept the news Yousef flees the wedding and undergoes an introspective journey through a series of unexpected events. World premiere ‘The Right Path’, from Lebanese directors Fouad Alaywan and Ovidio El Hout, follows in the footsteps of Zacharia and his family in a matter of life and death. Zacharia, a proud Lebanese Muslim prides himself on defending his country from extremists, but with his family’s safety at risk he must choose the right path to take in order to keep his family safe and defend his country. Director Alaeddin Abou Taleb is welcomed to DIFF with his world premiere, ‘Diaspora’, an uplifting story that conveys the life-changing transformation of one wheelchair-bound man. The story depicts the life of a man who spends many years wasting away in his apartment in downtown Tunisia, subsisting via social media, until one day everything changes. On this day, the man is surprised by a job advertisement that gives him the motivation to turn his life around. ‘Kaleidoscope’ is the encapsulating biopic by Syrian artist and filmmaker Ammar Al-Beik, which marks the short’s world premiere at DIFF 2015. The feature plays out a night in his life as professional photojournalist covering the ongoing war that rages in Aleppo. The film begins as Ammar and a former mistress, Marie, return home together to spend the night; here the film focuses on the emotions of the pair as their thoughts turn to more pressing matters. The 12th edition of the Dubai International Film Festival will run from December 9 to 16, 2015.
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Abdullah Boushahri’s “The Water” Wins IWC Filmmaker Award at Dubai International Film Festival

IWC Ambassador Marc Forster, Award winner Abdullah Al Boushahri and IWC Ambassador Emily Blunt during the IWC Filmmaker Award Night 2014

Golden Globe Winner and IWC Schaffhausen brand ambassador Emily Blunt presented the IWC Filmmaker Award to Abdullah Boushahri for his film “The Water”. For the third consecutive year, Swiss luxury watch manufacturer IWC, ‘Official Sponsor’ and ‘Festival-Time’ Partner of the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF), collaborated with the Festival to recognize one talented filmmaker from the region with the esteemed award.

This year, three filmmakers were shortlisted for the award: Emirati filmmaker Saeed Salmeen Al-Murry for his project “Going to Heaven”, Saudi Arabian filmmaker and actress Ahd Kamel for her film “Sandfish” and Kuwaiti director and producer Abdullah Boushahri for his project “The Water”.

Abdullah Boushahri was chosen as the winner by the jury, and was presented with the USD 100,000 prize by Emily Blunt. Boushahri also received an exclusive IWC timepiece.

Abdullah Boushahri produced the feature length film “Losing Ahmad”, which made its world premiere at DIFF in 2006, going on to win the Best Documentary in the Gulf at the Emirates Film Competition 2007 and touring more than 30 international film festivals around the world. In 2008, Abdullah Boushahri was recognized as the British Council Award Winner of the year for his achievements.

“The Water” tells the story of a sweeping wave of drought which hit the small city of Kuwait at the beginning of the last century before the discovery of oil. In the city’s dry alleys we find Mohammed, a young man with a great, melodious voice, who is in love with a beautiful girl named Taiba. The two lovers face a multitude of social obstacles as the city’s residents turn to desperate measures to get water.
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Stephen Hawking Biopic ‘The Theory of Everything’ to Open 11th Dubai International Film Festival

The Theory of Everything

The 11th Dubai International Film Festival will open on 10th December with ‘The Theory of Everything’ – the Stephen Hawking biopic from Academy Award winning director James Marsh. Starring Eddie Redmayne as the renowned astrophysicist and Felicity Jones as his love, fellow student Jane Wilde, the extraordinary story follows the life of one of the world’s greatest living minds. The humorous and heartfelt musical ‘Into the Woods’ an international premiere will close the 11th edition of the Festival. Featuring an all star cast including Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, Anna Kendrick and Chris Pine, the film blends classic stories from Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk and Rapunzel. ‘Into the Woods’ is directed by acclaimed director Rob Marshall.

A total of 118 features, film shorts and documentaries are set to be screened over 8 days at this year’s edition; including 55 world and international premieres from 48 countries in 34 languages.

At the opening ceremony, DIFF will present its Lifetime Achievement Award to Egyptian actor Nour El-Sherif, for his work on more than 100 films in a career that has spanned almost 5 decades.

A panel of directors will comprise the prestigious Muhr Awards jury. DIFF’s Muhr Feature competition jury will be headed up by Lee Daniels, the multi-talented producer and director of Oscar-winning ‘Precious’ and ‘The Butler’. He will be joined by Dutch cinematographer and film director Leonard Retel Helmrich, acclaimed Algerian director Malik Bensmail, Oscar nominated actress Virginia Madsen and Lebanese director and actress Nadine Labaki.

The Muhr Shorts and Emirati competition will be headed up by Egyptian filmmaker Mohamed Khan. He will be joined by Palestinian director Cherien Dabis and Emirati screenwriter Mohammed Hassan Ahmed.

DIFF will feature numerous Red Carpet Gala screenings throughout the week. These screenings will kick off with ‘The Water Diviner’ – Russell Crowe’s anticipated directorial debut, on Thursday 11th December followed by ‘Dearest’, a deeply moving Chinese true-story drama from Peter Ho-sun Chan. Friday 12th will present a triple bill of galas beginning with ‘Paper Planes’ a touching family drama from Robert Connolly, followed by ‘Boychoir’ a crowd pleasing musical from François Girard starring Dustin Hoffman, and closing the day is ‘Dolphins’, from Emirati director Waleed Al Shehhi, which won the IWC Filmmaker Award (2013) after being supported by Enjaaz in cooperation with Watani and Filmi.

DIFF’s second Children’s Red Carpet Gala, ‘Santa Claus’ is a festive film for the whole family directed by Alexandre Coffre and begins proceedings on Saturday 13th. The evening gala’s start with ‘Escobar Paradise: Lost’ the directorial debut of Andrea Di Stefano starring Benicio del Toro and is followed by ‘The Sleeping Tree’, by Mohammed Rashed Buali, which was short-listed for the 2012 IWC Filmmaker Award and was supported by Enjaaz.

‘Out of the Ordinary’ – the latest feature that has got the film world talking from prolific Egyptian director Daoud Abdel Sayed – will screen on Sunday 14th. Monday 15th will enjoy two screenings: ‘Wild Tales’, from director Damián Szifrón, which has been selected as the Argentine entry for the Best Foreign Language Film; and ‘Cairo Time’ from Amir Ramses, starring cinematic legend Nour El-Sherif who will this year be honoured with the DIFF Lifetime Achievement Award. The highly anticipated ‘The Imitation Game’ directed by Morten Tyldum and starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley showcases on Tuesday 16th.
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Emily Blunt to join jury for IWC Filmmaker Award at 2014 Dubai International Film Festival

Golden Globe winner Emily Blunt will be joining the jury for the third annual IWC Filmmaker Award at the 11th Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF). The IWC Filmmaker Award, launched in 2012 as a collaboration between IWC Schaffhausen and DIFF, offers a cash prize of USD 100,000 to help a talented filmmaker from the Middle East transfer his or her vision from script to screen. The award will be presented to the winning filmmaker at a star-studded gala on 11 December 2014

This year’s winning project will be selected from three shortlisted scripts, which will be assessed by a jury of international film industry experts including Golden Globe winner Emily Blunt. “I’m truly excited about visiting Dubai, and it’s a great honour for me to be a part of the IWC Filmmaker Award jury and support a valuable initiative that promotes the art of film in the Gulf. It will be fascinating to see the scripts and discover forthcoming films that will undoubtedly touch the hearts and minds of audiences in the region and internationally,” commented the British actress.

Emily Blunt, who burst into the limelight in 2006 with her brilliant performance in “The Devil Wears Prada”, has played leading roles in “The Young Victoria”, the 2009 period drama about the early life and reign of the iconic British queen, the 2011 thriller “The Adjustment Bureau” and “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen”, a romantic British comedy-drama. Emily Blunt most recently starred alongside Tom Cruise in the 2014 science-fiction blockbuster “Edge of Tomorrow”, while her upcoming musical fantasy “Into the Woods” is scheduled for release in December.

During the 10th edition of DIFF, the second IWC Filmmaker Award was presented to Emirati director Waleed Al Shehhi for his work “Dolphins”, written by UAE author and poet Ahmed Salmeen. The ninth edition of DIFF saw Iraqi-Emirati director Maysoon Pachachi become the first filmmaker to receive the IWC Filmmaker Award for “Nothing Doing in Baghdad”.
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AMERICAN HUSTLE Starring Christian Bale to Close 2013 Dubai International Film Festival | TRAILER

David O Russell’s “AMERICAN HUSTLE” has been selected for the Closing Night film of the 10th edition of the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF), which runs from December 6th to 14th, 2013. “American Hustle” stars Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Louis CK and Robert De Niro.

The film set in the seductive world of one of the most stunning scandals to rock the US, American Hustle tells the story of brilliant con man Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale), who along with his equally cunning British partner and lover Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) is forced to work for a wild unhinged FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper). DiMaso pushes them into a world of Jersey powerbrokers and mafia that’s as dangerous as it is enchanting. Jeremy Renner is Carmen Polito, the passionate, volatile, New Jersey political operator caught between the con-artists and Feds. Irving’s unpredictable wife Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence) could be the one to pull the thread that brings the entire world crashing down.

http://youtu.be/NqgjPRNRDSY
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‘FRUITVALE STATION’ ‘THE RAILWAY MAN’ Among Int’l Films on Lineup for 2013 Dubai International Film Festival

THE RAILWAY MAN starring Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman

The 10th edition of the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) which takes place from the December 6th to 14th, 2013, unveiled the line-up of international films in the Cinema of the World section. Films on the lineup include award-winning indie film FRUITVALE STATION; THE RAILWAY MAN starring Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman; Polish Oscar contender WALESA. MAN OF HOPE; Georgia Oscar contender IN BLOOM; documentary THE UNKNOWN KNOWN; Italian film THE REFEREE, and Slovenian film CLASS ENEMY.

FRUITVALE STATION

The winner of the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award at this year’s Sundance Film Festival; “FRUITVALE STATION”, is a confident, touching and, finally, shattering directorial début by Ryan Coogler. Produced by Forest Whitaker the film follows the true story of Oscar Grant (Michael B. Jordan), a 22-year-old Bay Area resident, who crosses paths with friends, enemies, family, and strangers on the last day of 2008.

Academy Award winners Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman star in “THE RAILWAY MAN” the true story of Eric Lomax, a British soldier in World War II who endured gruelling conditions as a forced labourer on the Thailand Death Railway after being captured by Japanese troops. Director Jonathan Teplitzky’s adaptation of Lomax’s bestselling memoir chronicles the stunning true story of one man’s epic journey toward forgiving those who had done him unspeakable harm.

WALESA. MAN OF HOPE

From the acclaimed filmmaker Andrzej Wajda and Poland’s candidate for the Academy Awards in the Foreign Language Film category comes “WALESA. MAN OF HOPE”. The impressive, decades-spanning biopic is the story of one of the most famous and heroic men in Polish history, former dockworker, Solidarity founder, and eventual Polish president Lech Walesa, who helped millions of people by leading a revolution that ended up not only toppling a dictatorship in his own country, but also eating away at the crumbling edifice of the Soviet empire in the 1980s.

“IN BLOOM” directed by Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Gross

Another contender for the Oscar in the Foreign Language Film category is Georgia’s submission “IN BLOOM” directed by Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Gross. This absorbing and powerful coming-of-age drama follows two young girls navigating the oppressive familial and societal expectations of post-Soviet Georgia. This fascinating story is loosely based on debut writer and co-director Ekvtimishvili’s childhood memories of growing up in newly independent Georgia in the early 1990s.

THE UNKNOWN KNOWN

Academy Award winning and one of the most important and influential non-fiction filmmakers of his generation, Errol Morris (The Fog Of War) returns with the documentary “THE UNKNOWN KNOWN”. The gripping exploration details the career and philosophy of former U.S Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld. Using declassified memos, Morris guides Rumsfeld through a discussion of his controversial career as a high-level executive under four different Republican presidents. Such absorbing topics as Vietnam, the Cold War, Desert Storm and the War on Terror are all examined through the words of one of America’s most divisive and complex public figures.

“THE REFEREE” (“L’ARBITRO”) by Italian filmmaker and writer Paolo Zucca

“THE REFEREE” (“L’ARBITRO”) is the brilliant first feature by Italian filmmaker and writer Paolo Zucca, a development of his earlier short film with the same title which won the Prix Spécial du Jury at Clermont-Ferrand in 2009. The drastic reversal of fortunes for two Sardinian third league teams, the corruption scandal that destroyed an international referee’s career and the ancient codes of sheep breeding are among the stories woven around each other in this unique football comedy-drama.

“CLASS ENEMY” by Slovenian director Rok Bicek

Slovenian director Rok Bicek’s gripping debut feature “CLASS ENEMY” is loosely based on actual events about a high-school class that spins out of control. The compelling film revolves around a group of teens who blame their demanding new teacher and his demeaning methods when one of their classmates commits suicide, leading to rising tension as the situation approaches a boiling point. Only gradually do the students come to realise that things are not always as black and white as they seem, but at that point it may be too late.
Nashen Moodley, DIFF’s Co-Director of the Cinema of the World programme, said: “This year’s Cinema of the World slate is guaranteed to take you on an emotional rollercoaster this December. From inspiring and uplifting to heartbreaking and shocking, the diversity of the stories in this section is truly remarkable. The performances are magnetic and engaging with acclaimed directors at the helm, and it’s a pleasure to present some of the most anticipated films of the year.”

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