Palestine's Oscar entry opens Dubai Film Festival

Palestine’s Foreign Language Film Oscar entry, Omar, will feature at the Dubai International Film Festival Red Carpet Opening Gala on 6 December, commencing the event’s landmark 10th edition, Screenafrica.com reported.

Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe-winning Palestinian director Hany Abu Assad along with cast members Adam Bakri, Eyad Hourani and Waleed Zuaiter will be in attendance for the film’s United Arab Emirates premiere.

The opening night at Madinat Jumeirah resort, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE vice president, Prime Minister and ruler of Dubai, will see a star-studded red carpet evening with high- profile celebrities, prominent dignitaries and major Arab film personalities.

Veteran Egyptian film critic Samir Farid and celebrated American actor Martin Sheen will receive Lifetime Achievement Awards in honour of their significant contributions the film industry.

A diverse festival line-up includes screenings of 174 films from 57 countries, including more than 100 films from the Arab world, along with Q&A sessions, workshops and seminars.

Abdulhamid Juma, DIFF chairman says: “At our 10th 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 epicentre for the business side of cinema each year.”