Dh1m Dubai film stars Jean Reno

The Dubai International Film Festival (Diff) provided the first glimpse into its December lineup via an extraordinary entry in its new Muhr Emirati competition on Sunday. ‘The Philosopher’, a short film directed by Fujairah-born national Abdulla Al Kaabi and starring A-list international screen and stage veteran Jean Reno, who has starred in ‘La Femme Nikita’, ‘Leon: The Professional’ and ‘Mission: Impossible’, will screen in Dubai as part of Diff's seventh edition, which runs from December 12 to 19. Shot in Paris earlier this year with more than 80 cast and crew at a cost of Dh1 million, Al Kaabi's debut film features the cream of French cinema, including producer Cyril Deleye, who has worked alongside legendary directors Luc Besson and Roman Polanksi; executive producer Bernard Grenet of ‘Danny the Dog’, ‘The Fifth Element’ and ‘Taxi’ fame; and 81-year-old screenwriter Sylvette Baudrot, whose six-decade career includes working alongside Alfred Hitchcock. "The Dubai International Film Festival is the reason behind this film," the 24-year-old Al Kaabi told a media briefing. "Diff gave many talented nationals a window into the international film industry, and made us believe in ourselves as filmmakers and in the UAE as home to a viable film industry." He and his team worked around Diff's timings to ensure the short film would be ready to debut in Dubai, Al Kaabi said. The Muhr Awards for Emirati Filmmakers competition, introduced earlier this year, marks seven years of the Festival's steadily growing commitment to national talent. It joins Diff's existing Muhr Arab and Muhr AsiaAfrica competitions, offering cash prizes and accolades in feature, documentary and short film categories. Diff Artistic Director Masoud Amralla Al Ali said there has been a strong response to the segment this year. Its entire line-up will be unveiled closer to the festival. "We are very happy to see more and more Emirati names make their way into the international industry and do very well for themselves," Al Ali said. "Diff has always championed Arab film at every stage of growth from talent development to global networking, financing and screenings, beginning right here at home." "We are confident Abdulla Al Kaabi is a rising talent and we believe his impressive short will inspire and encourage many others.” The Philosopher is based on ‘Baggio's Story’, a short story by Charlie Fish, about a man determined to give up everything he owns but finds out it's not as easy as it seems.