2.30 PM Friday, 29 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 04:56 06:10 12:26 15:53 18:37 19:52
29 March 2024

Watch the best of Diff in Dubai: Click for dates

Published
By Bindu Suresh Rai

The tenth edition of the Dubai International Film Festival (Diff) has kicked off bringing eight days of glamourous galas, appearances by the region’s top film personalities and the magic of storytelling from around the world.

DIFF’s cinephiles have an abundance of choice with 174 films to choose from, crossing borders of 57 countries in 43 languages, including over 100 films from the Arab World.

The line-up of films for 2013 is the most diverse in the festival’s 10 years, said Diff Chairman Abdulhamid Juma.

In a statement, he said: “At our tenth edition, we see the fruits of our labours over the past decade: we have seen the variety and calibre of the films in our Arab and AsiaAfrica Muhr competitions grow exponentially year on year, showing that our awards programme is nurturing a spirit of innovation and healthy competition among filmmakers from emerging markets.

“DIFF’s reputation as a prime launching pad for new films is now well established, and our industry programmes make the Dubai Film Market an epicenter for the business side of cinema each year.”

However, picking the best of the fest from 174 film options is no easy task. Emirates 24|7 sorts through the titles to bring you the must-watch movies this Diff.

Take time out to watch the second screening of the opening night gala, ‘Omar’, by Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe winning Palestinian director Hany Abu Assad, which raiseed the curtain on the decennial edition on Friday.

The acclaimed feature supported by Diff’s post-production and production funding support programme Enjaaz marks the return to the Festival for Assad whose ‘Paradise Now’ opened the 2nd edition of Diff.

Set to become an Arab classic the masterfully paced film boasts compelling performances from Adam Bakri, Samer Bisharat, Eyad Hourani and Waleed Zuaiter.

David O Russell’s ‘American Hustle’ has been selected for the prestigious Closing Night Gala; DIFF will be the first festival to screen the highly anticipated film starring Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Louis CK and Robert De Niro.

To celebrate the 10th edition there will be two daily red carpet galas at the prestigious Madinat Jumeirah Arena.

Today [Saturday, December 7] the first of the Family Gala’s presents ‘Frozen’ from Walt Disney Animation Studios directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee.

The evening gala follows with ‘August: Osage County’ by John Wells featuring Academy Award winners Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts.

Sunday, December 8

On Sunday, Jason Reitman’s ‘Labor Day’ starring Academy Award winners Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin screens ahead of Diff’s Arabian Gala ‘Factory Girl’ by Mohamed Khan featuring Yasmine Raees, Hani Adel and Salwa Khatab.

Monday, December 9

On Monday, the highly anticipated ‘12 Years A Slave’ by Steve McQueen featuring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender and Brad Pitt is not to be missed.

Tuesday, December 10

Ben Stiller directs and stars in ‘The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty’ screening on Tuesday 10th December ahead of Justin Chadwick’s ‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’ starring Idris Elba and  Naomie Harris.

The latter film will hold a special poignant note for viewers with the tragic death of Nelson Mandela on Thursday.

Wednesday, December 11

On Wednesday, 11th Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson share the screen in John Lee Hancock’s ‘Saving Mr. Banks’ and for the Indian Gala director Ritesh Batra presents ‘The Lunchbox’ with Irrfan Khan, Nimrat Kaur, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Denzil Smith.

Thursday, December 12

‘Out of the Furnace’ featuring Christian Bale and Casey Affleck preludes Laila Marrakchi’s ‘Rock the Casbah’ featuring Hiam Abbass, Nadine Labaki, Lubna Azabal, Morjana Alaoui and Omar Sharif on Thursday, 12th.

Friday, December 13

Fred Schepisi’s ‘Words & Pictures’ with Clive Owen and Juliette Binoche follows the prestigious Muhr Awards Ceremony on Friday, 13th.

Saturday, December 14

Rounding off the week of double-bill Gala’s on Saturday, 14th is our second Family Gala a 3D family adventure ‘Walking With Dinosaurs: The 3D Movie’ directed by Barry Cook and Neil Nightingale.