As we countdown to the region's biggest star-studded gathering this week, the latest edition of the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) returns with arguably the best selection of movies yet.
Even Hollywood names such as Nicolas Cage and Brendan Fraser cannot cast a shadow over the 181 acclaimed films that will be screened across the city from December 11 until 18.
"We have moved from strength to strength over the last few years, and now in its fifth edition, our selection of films has only become better," DIFF Chairman Abdulhamid Juma tells Emirates Business. "There are 17 world premieres this year alone, and DIFF is also introducing a number of initiatives for the UAE's filmmakers that will lay down a foundation for the growth of an organic film industry over the next few years."
Describing the current mood at the DIFF headquarters as "breathless anticipation of a tsunami," Juma also finds it difficult to pick out his favourite films of the festival. But while he is unable to do so, Emirates Business takes on the task to bring you the best of the fest:
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11
W.
Religion, big business and Dick Cheney: What else does the leader of the free world need to make a bleeding mess of things? Controversial director Oliver Stone takes an eye-popping – but even-handed – look at George W Bush's career in the film festival's opening gala.
Stars Josh Brolin as the lanky Texan, Thandie Newton as Condoleezza Rice and Richard Dreyfuss as the insidious Cheney.
Catch it: 8pm, Madinat Arena.
Repeat on Monday 10pm, Grand Cinemas, Festival City
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12
The Seven of Daran: The Battle of Pareo Rock
Lourens Blok's 86-minute feature stars Caroline Goodall and Johann Harmse in a tale of a European boy who goes to South Africa with his mother, a busy executive in charge of establishing a golf resort. He meets a mysterious speaking giraffe in a town market and learns of a forthcoming war over land between rival tribes, which he has been chosen to prevent – with only a magical medallion to help.
Catch it: 3.15pm, Madinat Arena
Australia
Nicole Kidman is hoping director Baz Luhrmann can resurrect her career with this sweeping World War II epic romance. She plays a British aristocrat cattle rancher who must drive off settlers with the help of a grizzled Hugh Jackman. As the pair embark on a gruelling cross-country cattled drive, they become entwined in a grand romance. The end result is typical Luhrmann: Cheesy and thin on character but strong on theatrics.
Catch it: 8pm, Madinat Arena
Slingshot Hip-hop
In recent years, filmmakers have begun looking at the Palestinian conflict in the light of how it affects its people. Jackie Salloum's documentary is a compelling look at the burgeoning subculture that is Palestinian hip hop and how it offers hope and inspiration to Palestinian youngsters.
Catch it: 8pm, Dubai Media City Amphitheatre, with a performance by one of the acts in the film.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13
Al Mor Wa Al Fumman
Director Najwa Najjar spins a powerful tale of love and freedom in war-torn Palestine. When her husband is imprisoned across the border, Kamar (Hiam Abbas) turns to dancing to escape her problems. Her passion has her cross paths with Kais (Ashraf Farah), a Palestinian, with whom she begins an affair that could ruin their lives.
Catch it: 9pm, Madinat Arena. Repeat on Monday, Grand Cinemas, Festival City
Heaven on Earth
Deepa Mehta directs a compelling drama about a small-town Punjabi girl (played by Preity Zinta) who moves to Toronto after marriage, only to be abused by her husband. Desperate and lonely, she finds a kindred spirit who hands her a magical root to save her marriage.
Catch it: 8.45pm, Cinestar, Mall of the Emirates
Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror
Director FW Murnau's 1922 masterpiece narrates the tale of the bloodthirsty Nosferatu or Count Orlok Dracula who exists in the remote Carpathian mountains. When real estate agent Hutter (Gustav von Wagenheim) pays him a visit under false pretences, the unsuspecting man is plunged into terror.
Catch it: 8pm, Dubai Media City Amphitheatre
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14
Une Chanson Dans La Tête
Described as "Lost in Translation in Beirut", this Lebanese film, directed by Hany Tamba, follows the story of an ageing pop star who finds his last fan 30 years after topping the charts.
Catch it: 2.30pm, Cinestar, Mall of the Emirates
Gulf Voices
This year's Gulf Voices comprises 10 shorts, and one we're particularly curious about is Matraqa wa Masamir (Hammer and Nails), a bizarre-sounding story about how nails try to survive in the world of one strong hammer.
Catch it: 3pm, Cinestar, Mall of the Emirates
Pa Ra Da
Based on a true story, Pa Ra Da documents the series of events that led to the formation of today's well-known Fundatia Parada, a charitable organisation for European street children.
Catch it: 8pm, Madinat Arena
MONDAY, DECEMBER 15
Che
Originally split in two individual films, but screened as one at DIFF, Che is Steven Soderbergh's four-hour biopic about the rise and fall of revolutionary leader Ernesto "Che" Guevara. Benicio Del Toro and Julia Ormond star.
Catch it: 4.30pm, Grand Cinemas, Festival City
Sita Sings the Blues
Filmmaker Nina Paley offers a hugely imaginative and enter-taining animated re-telling of the epic Indian story, the Ramayana.
Catch it: 6.15pm, Grand Cinemas, Festival City
Skin
In this debut feature by award-winning documentarian Anthony Fabian, we head to 1950s rural South Africa where Sandra Laing, a black girl, is born to white parents. The film is based on real events.
Catch it: 8pm, Madinat Arena
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16
The Song of Sparrows
Oscar-winning director Majid Majidi shows us how even the simplest actions can corrupt a person. Karim leads a content life working on a farm in Tehran.
One day, an ostrich escapes under his watch and Karim sets off to chase down the errant bird, and finds himself on a whole different track of life.
Catch it: 8pm, Madinat Arena
Kabuli Kid
Director Barmak Akram takes us on a journey through modern-day Afghanistan where a taxi driver is saddled with a baby abandoned in his cab. As the driver sets off to search for the missing mother, a growing bond between him and the baby could lead to devastating consequences.
Catch it: 7.30pm, Cinestar, Mall of the Emirates
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17
Slumdog Millionaire
Bagging the top honour at last week's British Independent Film Awards, the Danny Boyle film is a literary adaptation of Vikas Swarup's Q & A. The story chronicles the life of a penniless waiter from Mumbai who wins the top prize in the Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Stars Anil Kapoor and Dev Patel.
Catch it: 8pm, Madinat Arena
Hunger
In his debut film, Turner-prize winning artist-turned-director Steve McQueen creates an even-handed take on the final days of IRA prisoner Bobby Sands, who led a group of Irish Republican prisoners in a mass hunger strike during the spring of 1981.
Catch it: 12.45pm, Grand Cinemas, Festival City
Sukai Kurora (Sky Crawlers)
This futuristic love story blends 2- and 3-D animation, narrating the tale of a generation of 'kildren', teenagers who are destined to never grow old. Japanese director Mamoru Oshii confronts viewers with a moral and questioning narrative, satirising the power of business enterprises on the world.
Catch it: 8pm, Dubai Media City Amphitheatre
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18
Gomorra
Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at this year's Cannes Film Festival, these five hard-hitting stories – expertly knitted together by acclaimed Italian director Matteo Garrone – present the menacing presence of the Camorra crime organisation on five protagonists.
Catch it: 6.30pm, Grand Cinemas, Festival City
A Road to Mecca: The Journey of Muhammad Asad
In the Arabian Night section is George Misch film's that is a true account of Leopold Weiss, a Jew who converted to Islam and became one of the most revered figures.
Catch it: 12.30pm, Grand Cinemas, Festival City
Blindness
Mexico's Gael Garcia Bernal joins Julianne Moore and Danny Glover on this adaptation of the Jose Saramago novel. Fernando Mereilles's high-contrast film is a tale of a world paralysed by a blindness epidemic. The thriller is a comment on the how power corrupts and fear contributes to society's downfall.
Catch it: 3.45pm, Grand Cinemas, Festival City
Tickets are priced at Dh25 and are available at DIFF box-office locations across the city and online at www.difftickets.com.
Celebrity spotting
Fans will have a busy week during the fifth edition of DIFF, as the starry line-up features some of Hollywood, Bollywood and Arab cinema's biggest names.
Nicolas Cage, Brendan Fraser, Salma Hayek, Abhishek Bachchan, Preity Zinta, Carmen Lebbos and Sameer Ghanem are just some of the top celebs in attendance. Rumour has it that the Affleck brothers (that's Ben and Casey) will also be making a red carpet appearance. Besides the stars, award-winning director Oliver Stone, Batman Begins and The Dark Knight producer Charles Roven and Oscar-nominated director Deepa Mehta will be present. (BR)