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A red carpet welcome and meek presence of celebrity look-alikes and models couldn't take away the attention from the impressive line-up of films scheduled for this year's addition of the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF). At a press conference on Sunday announcing details of the schedule, screenings and even celebrities that will arrive in Dubai in two weeks to participate in the festival, director and CEO of DIFF, Neil Stephenson, said that 98 films from 46 countries would be screened and that the theme of bridging cultures would continue to take priority in the week-long event. Heading the list of celebrities are Oscar-winning American actor Morgan Freeman, making his second appearance at the Festival; activist-musician Bob Geldof; legendary Indian producer Yash Chopra; and Egyptian superstar Adel Imam.
Stephenson said that the list of stars is expected to grow in the coming days, as confirmations and travel schedules are finalised. Thought-provoking However, he said that while the celebrities added to the glitz and glamour of the event it was the films that would definitely provoke and move audiences.
"Our cultural bridge is a two-way bridge, and we are reinforcing it in both directions by bringing the best of world cinema to Dubai, and taking the best of Arab cinema to the world from Dubai," Stephenson said.
"Our new Africa, Asia and Europe sections, and two new Arab sections have been put in place as a testament to our dedication to bridging cultures through film."
Six world premieres include Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World; war documentary Kosovo: The Hand of Friendship, Indian art-house film Sringaram (Dance of Love), Sri Lankan post-tsunami drama From Dust, Palestinian short film Yasmin?s Song and UAE-based Arabian wildlife documentary Under a Desert Sun.
DIFF organisers also announced the six gala films that will be screened each evening of the festival.
It opens at 8 pm on December 11 with the award-winning Palestinian suicide bomber drama Paradise Now, and subsequent galas include the controversial Indo-Canadian film Water, Cannes Palme D'or winner L'Enfant (The Child), brand new American thriller Edison, and the stirring African smash hit U-Carmen eKhayelitsha (Carmen in Khayelitsha), before the closing double-bill gala of musical comedy West Bank Story and powerful French drama Joyeux Noel.
The Screen on the Green films that will once again be held at the open-air amphitheatre of Dubai Media City will feature films that family-oriented and will be free to the public.
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