Bosta (Autobus), the third of five free family films being screened at the giant purpose-built amphitheatre at Dubai Media City during the ongoing Dubai Film Festival, is a fun and upbeat story of what happens when modern and alternative ideas clash with the traditional Dabkeh dance of Lebanon. The film, which will make its UAE premiere at the amphitheatre at 8pm on Wednesday, December 14, follows the story of Kamal, who returns to Beirut after 15 years of exile in France determined to revive hi...

The second Dubai International Film Festival begins on Sunday, December 11, and will feature 98 films including features, retrospectives and short films until Saturday, December 17The award-winning films are from a variety of genres and traditions, from American independent to African contemporary, Chinese drama to German-Lebanese documentary. An additional seven films are also on the short-list for next year’s Academy Award (Oscar) nominations. The Festival’s Opening Gala film, Paradise Now...

International and regional film stars, industry leaders and filmmakers from around the world expected to grace tonight’s red carpet opening gala Months of planning and preparation will culminate in grand style tonight as international celebrities, regional stars and UAE VIPs walk up an 80-metre long red carpet and into the Madinat Jumeirah Arabian Resort at 8pm Sunday (December 11, 2005), to officially open the second Dubai International Film Festival. Lit up by sky trackers and a state-of-the...

The Dubai International Film Festival announced the silver sponsors of DIFF 2005 – Filmworks, Motivate Publishing and Sony. The three silver sponsors, who make up the third tier of corporate participation in DIFF, are from a variety of media-related backgrounds from film production and publishing to technology providers. Festival Director and CEO Neil Stephenson said the DIFF management team was pleased to receive such enthusiastic participation and support from dynamic local companies.“We a...

Morgan Freeman, Adel Imam, Yash Chopra Named as 2005 Honorees for Dubai International Film Festival Hollywood legend Morgan Freeman, Egyptian comedy superstar Adel Imam and distinguished Indian producer-director Yash Chopra will receive the Dubai International Film Festival’s 2005 honors for distinguished service to the film industry during the December 11 – 17 Festival this year. The three stars have been named as the Hollywood, Arab and Asian honorees in the Festival’s ‘In the Spotligh...

Organizers Deliver on Promise of Bigger, Better Second Dubai International Film Festival: DIFF team announces 6 world premieres Seven days, 98 films from 46 countries and a galaxy of the film elite from the Arab world, Asia, Europe and the Americas – the building blocks of the second Dubai International Film Festival generated much excitement today when Festival organizers unveiled the entire 2005 line-up for the first time at DIFF epicenter Madinat Jumeirah. Building rapidly on the success of...

The second Dubai International Film Festival (“DIFF”) will be bigger and better than its predecessor, with more and diverse films, a strengthened team of programmers, and changes in ticketing procedures and scheduling, Festival organizers announced at a press conference at the Madinat Jumeirah today. Apart from the enhancements, the 2005 Festival, which will run from December 11 to 17 this year, will retain most of its successful inaugural framework. Mr. Ahmad bin Byat, the Director General ...