After two years of preparations and four days of reality, the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) is now a milestone in Dubai’s developing entertainment industry. The DIFF, held between Dec. 6 - 11, featured 76 films including feature films, documentaries, retrospectives and short films. More than 13,000 people from the UAE and around the world attended the festival. In addition, there were some 100 celebrities. Statistics apart, the festival gave credence to the fact that Dubai is a world-class destination and that it can act as a bridge between East and West.
The festival also promises to change the face of popular cinema in the country. Distributors at the festival reported substantial interest from the public in watching more specialized cinema on a regular basis.
The festival also provided a platform for filmmakers to meet cinema-goers and hear their suggestions and feedback on films exhibited. It also included a panel discussion between leading filmmakers, media students and producers. The panel featured such well-known directors as Subhash Ghai from India, Daoud Abdel Sayed from Egypt, Mark Achbar from Canada and Sabiha Sumar from Pakistan.
Their discussion raised the subject of how films can be used to promote inter-cultural dialogue and build cultural bridges.
Each of the directors has substantial experience: Ghai, who made his directorial debut in 1976, is acclaimed for taking Indian cinema overseas while simultaneously creating blockbusters at home. Sayed is equally renowned as a writer and director. Mark Achbar represents the emerging breed of critical thinkers, pointing out social inequities and the perils of globalization and big business. He has been praised for his political and economic exposes. Perhaps the biggest critical acclaim was reserved for Pakistani director Sabiha Sumar. Her first feature film, Khamosh Pani (Silent Waters) was shown at the festival.
On building cultural bridges, Chairman HH Sheikh Ahmed ibn Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Department of Civil Aviation and Chairman of the Emirates Group, remarked at the opening of the festival on how film was an ideal tool for increasing cross-cultural understanding around the world. “This is the purpose and theme of Dubai’s first film festival, which seeks to build a new international cultural bridge at a time in history when the need for bridge-building is ever more necessary and important,” Sheikh Ahmed said. “I hope that the festival can make a contribution, however small, towards promoting peace and understanding on an international level.”
From Egypt to Morocco, Lebanon to the Netherlands, Palestine to the United States, a variety of films by Arabs and about Arabs were chosen to give Arabs and non-Arabs alike an insight into how the world perceives Arabs and on how Arabs perceive themselves.
“The Festival is an opportunity to feature films that tell both sides of the story, whether by Arabs, the West or beyond,” said Festival Chief Arab Programmer, Masoud Amralla Al Ali. “It is from us to them, from them to us, and for them and us.”
While discussing Arab cinema, Amralla also made a point of selecting a variety of subjects varying from political films to comedies. “The world sees the Middle East as a hotbed of politics, and only politics, but we have a sense of humor as well,” he said.
“We have the same concerns as other people around the world — our families, our society, our jobs, and our future. I wanted to show the real image of Arabs. I could have chosen commercial films that don’t reflect our society accurately, but it is harder and more rewarding for our society to see films that tell the truth, even if the truth is ugly,” he added.
Bridging Cultures: The Dubai International Film Festival
US Actress Sarah Michelle Gellar and Emirati
official Abdul Hamid Juma at a reception.
US actor Orlando Bloom arrives at the opening ceremony of DIFF.
Press conference reception hall.
Amna Ehtesham Khaishgi |
Special TO Review
After two years of preparations and four days of reality, the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) is now a milestone in Dubai’s developing entertainment industry. The DIFF, held between Dec. 6 - 11, featured 76 films including feature films, documentaries, retrospectives and short films. More than 13,000 people from the UAE and around the world attended the festival. In addition, there were some 100 celebrities. Statistics apart, the festival gave credence to the fact that Dubai is a world-class destination and that it can act as a bridge between East and West.
The festival also promises to change the face of popular cinema in the country. Distributors at the festival reported substantial interest from the public in watching more specialized cinema on a regular basis.
The festival also provided a platform for filmmakers to meet cinema-goers and hear their suggestions and feedback on films exhibited. It also included a panel discussion between leading filmmakers, media students and producers. The panel featured such well-known directors as Subhash Ghai from India, Daoud Abdel Sayed from Egypt, Mark Achbar from Canada and Sabiha Sumar from Pakistan.
Their discussion raised the subject of how films can be used to promote inter-cultural dialogue and build cultural bridges.
Each of the directors has substantial experience: Ghai, who made his directorial debut in 1976, is acclaimed for taking Indian cinema overseas while simultaneously creating blockbusters at home. Sayed is equally renowned as a writer and director. Mark Achbar represents the emerging breed of critical thinkers, pointing out social inequities and the perils of globalization and big business. He has been praised for his political and economic exposes. Perhaps the biggest critical acclaim was reserved for Pakistani director Sabiha Sumar. Her first feature film, Khamosh Pani (Silent Waters) was shown at the festival.
On building cultural bridges, Chairman HH Sheikh Ahmed ibn Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Department of Civil Aviation and Chairman of the Emirates Group, remarked at the opening of the festival on how film was an ideal tool for increasing cross-cultural understanding around the world. “This is the purpose and theme of Dubai’s first film festival, which seeks to build a new international cultural bridge at a time in history when the need for bridge-building is ever more necessary and important,” Sheikh Ahmed said. “I hope that the festival can make a contribution, however small, towards promoting peace and understanding on an international level.”
From Egypt to Morocco, Lebanon to the Netherlands, Palestine to the United States, a variety of films by Arabs and about Arabs were chosen to give Arabs and non-Arabs alike an insight into how the world perceives Arabs and on how Arabs perceive themselves.
“The Festival is an opportunity to feature films that tell both sides of the story, whether by Arabs, the West or beyond,” said Festival Chief Arab Programmer, Masoud Amralla Al Ali. “It is from us to them, from them to us, and for them and us.”
While discussing Arab cinema, Amralla also made a point of selecting a variety of subjects varying from political films to comedies. “The world sees the Middle East as a hotbed of politics, and only politics, but we have a sense of humor as well,” he said.
“We have the same concerns as other people around the world — our families, our society, our jobs, and our future. I wanted to show the real image of Arabs. I could have chosen commercial films that don’t reflect our society accurately, but it is harder and more rewarding for our society to see films that tell the truth, even if the truth is ugly,” he added.