DIFF 10 to focus on Arab cinema, unveils 157 films from 57 countries

The King’s Speech based on the true story of King George VI, father of Queen Elizabeth II is the opening film of Diff 2010. The male lead of the film Colin Firth will walk at the red carpet.

DIFF honours two time Academy Award winning actor Sean Penn, veteran African director Souleymane Cisse and Lebanese singer and actress Sabah with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Bollywood hit maker Karan Johar and actress Aparna Sen will attend the DIFF 2010.

Master Director Peter Weir, actor Jim Sturges, Collin Farrell and Ed Harris will be in Dubai for the red carpet gala screening of The Way Back.

The closing gala film of the DIIF 2010 is Disney’s long awaited 3D high tech adventure Tron: Legacy.

Sean Penn

The Seventh Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) to be held from Dec.12 to 19 is set to unveil 157 films from 57 nations, with outstanding Arab programming at its core.

Officials highlighted the Diff as the leading festival in the world, at a press conference held on Tuesday in Majlis Al ‘Salam, Mina Al Salam, Dubai.

Abdulhamid Juma, Diff chairman, Masoud Amralla Al Ali, artistic director at Diff, and Shivani Pandya, Managing Director of Diff outlined what’s in store for DIFF 2010, including the impressive line-up of films, The Dubai Film Market and the celebrities attending the event.

Diff 2010 unveils an outstanding array of contemporary Arab cinema, a robust competition segment and a film market growing from strength to strength and enhanced access for the public.

Amongst its roster of films from South America, Taiwan Sweden and South Africa, Diff features 41 world premiers, a 30 per cent growth from last year. Diff 2010 has 13 International premieres, 58 Middle East premieres and 32 Gulf premieres, and a host of A-List talent. Among the 157 Diff 2010 films, 70 are regarding Arab people, subjects and places.

Ed Harris and Colin Farrell in The Way Back

The celebrity line-up participating in the Diff 2010 include celebrated American actor, director, screenwriter and activist Sean Penn. He will be honoured with the Diff 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award. The male lead Colin Firth of the opening film King’s Speech will walk at the red carpet. Others include Ed Harris, Colin Farrell, Jim Sturgess and director and producer Peter Weir will all be in Dubai for the red carpet gala screening of The Way Back.

Other important red carpet events are the Arabian gala screening of 678, one of the most anticipated films from Egyptian cinema and the controversial Egyptian love story Cairo Exit from the Diff Cultural Bridge segment.

Also, the polish film Tomorrow Will Be Better will screen from the festival’s Cinema of World Programme. Emirati filmmaker Abdullah Al Ka’abi’s maiden venture The Philosopher will also be screened from its Muhr competition.

Reign of Assassins

Chinese martial arts extravaganza Reign of Assassins from the Festival’s cinema of Asia Africa slate will also be shown. Actor Jean Rino, Carey Mulligan, Africa’s Souleymane Cisse and Arab stars Khaled Abol Naga, Bushra, Nelly Karim, Saba Mubarak, Ayman Zeidan, Samar Sami and Raghda are the international celebrities attending the prestigious event.

Abdul hamid Juma, Chairman Diff said “The seventh edition of the Dubai International Film Festival will be extra special not only for the powerful showcase of movies, but also for the largest selection of quality, contemporary Arab cinema anywhere in the world.”

Nutcracker and The Rat King

The Festivals Arab films, representing the length and breadth of the Arab world, are primarily distributed among its in-competition Muhr Arab and Muhr Emirati Awards segment and its out-of-competition Arabian Nights and Gulf Voices segments. The competitions will be judged by professional juries and all screenings are open to the public.

 Underscoring the growing prestige of the Festival’s competition, Diff’s in-competition Muhr Awards have scooped a record 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 recognise rising Emirati talent, received 25 feature films, short films, and documentaries.