People caught in challenging situations are focus of Iranian cinema at DIFF 2010

Dubai, UAE; December 16, 2010: The seventh edition of the Dubai International Film Festival has two powerful films from Iran that tell us the stories of people caught in challenging situations.

Iranian filmmaker Sepideh Farsi’s feature film, ‘The House Under the Water (Khaneye Zire Ab)’ marks its World Premiere at DIFF, today (Friday, Dec. 17, 6 pm) at Cinestar 2, Mall of the Emirates. The film follows two teenagers, Morteza and Taher, who are involved in the accidental drowning of Taher’s younger brother. Thirty years later, Morteza is freshly released from prison and looking to rebuild his life when he is suspected in a death of another drowned child – and Taher, now a police officer, is investigating. The film will also be screened on Dec. 18, 3.15 pm at Cinestar 6.

Director Mohsen Abdolvahab debuts with ‘Please Do Not Disturb,’ in which we see three stories that take place in Tehran, Iran. In the first story, we see a young woman who has been beaten by her husband. The woman is about to complain to the authorities, but the husband is concerned about his job and the embarrassment. The next story is about a clergyman whose wallet and documents have been stolen. The clergyman enters into a complicated negotiation with the thief. The last story is the story of an elderly couple whose TV has broken. The couple are alone in the building and are afraid of opening the door to the young repairman. In each of these stories, the characters are faced with a moral dilemma and sometimes make surprising choices.  The film will be screened today (Friday) 8.30 pm at Cinestar 3.

‘The Hunter,’ the fifth feature film from Iranian director Rafi Pitts of ‘Season Five’ and ‘Sanam’ fame, follows a Tehrani man who snaps and turns sniper after losing his wife and six-year-old daughter in the run-up to Iran’s disputed 2009 elections. He flees and is captured in the misty forests of the north, but the situation becomes complicated when his captors lose their way in the woods. The film, a Gulf premiere, will be screened on Dec. 18, 9 pm at Cinestar 1, and on Dec. 19, 2.45 pm at Cinestar 9.

Shahin Parhami’s documentary ‘Amin’ is a journey of discovery into the heartlands of Iran and the slowly disappearing folk music of the ancient Qashqai tribes of southern Iran. The film is a powerful meditation on cultural loss through the eyes of a postgraduate music student on a quest to find himself. The film, a Middle East premiere, will be screened today (Friday), 3.30 pm at Cinestar 7.

DIFF 2010 is held in association with Dubai Studio City. Dubai Duty Free, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai Pearl, Emirates Airline and Madinat Jumeirah are the principal sponsors of DIFF. The Festival is supported by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority. 

DIFF 2010 box office locations are: Cinestar Mall of the Emirates, the Madinat Souk, The Walk at JBR, and the CNN Building in Dubai Media City. Tickets can also be purchased through DIFF’s Dial-a-Ticket service at (04) 391 3378 and from the website, www.dubaifilmfest.com.

Following overwhelming response to screening at The Walk,

Dubai, UAE; December 13, 2010: Following the overwhelming response to the opening day

screening of ‘The King’s Speech’ – the inaugural gala film of the seventh Dubai International

Film Festival (DIFF) – the management of DIFF has opened all ‘Rhythm & Reel’ screenings for

free to the public.



DIFF introduced The Walk at JBR as a new venue for the festival, where the opening ceremony

of the festival and the opening gala film were telecast live. Hundreds of movie-lovers thronged

the venue to watch the glittering opening ceremony and the much-acclaimed Colin Firth movie.



Following the response, DIFF opened its ‘Rhythm & Reels’ screenings, which celebrate both

films and music, for free to the public at The Walk at JBR, as a gesture of appreciation to the

Dubai community. Film and music lovers can now watch an amazing selection of films centred

on music for free. Age restrictions, where applicable, will apply though.



The eclectic line-up of compelling films in ‘Rhythm & Reels’ segment include John Lennon’s life

in LENNONNYC, and a behind-the-scenes look into the life of popular American rock band The

Doors in Tom DiCillo’s When You’re Strange: A Film About The Doors.



The screenings will be complemented by a series of musical performances by popular Arab

and international acts from Rima Khcheich, Massar Egbari and Y-Crew to a mariachi ensemble

specially flown in from Mexico.



Following the screening of Mexican classic Enamorada on December 15, will be a concert

featuring 12 performers from Mexico, the six-member mariachi Grupo Impulsor de la Musica

Representativa de Mexico and a six-member team of folk dancers from the Ballet Folklorico

Yolitzi Widen de La Laguna.



Renowned Lebanese singer Rima Khcheich, a musical icon in the Arab world, will perform at The

Walk at JBR following the screening of DIFF’s Lifetime Achievement Award’s recipient, Sabah’s

My Wife’s Husband (Jaoz Marti) on Thursday, December 16. Celebrated internationally and

in the region for her classical Arab singing as well as her fusion work, Khcheich has multiple

albums and awards to her name.



Rhythm & Reels will host Arab rock-fusion band Massar Egbari, and underground hip-hop band

the Y-Crew in concert on Friday, December 17, following the screening of Ahmed Abdallah’s

Microphone. The award-winning Massar Egbari, which formed in 2005, specializes in alternative

Egyptian music, fusing rock, jazz and blues with pure Oriental music. Y-Crew, the three-member

Egyptian hip hop band, will also perform at the concert at The Walk at JBR.



DIFF 2010 box office locations are: CineStar Mall of the Emirates, the Madinat Souk, The Walk

at JBR, and at the CNN Building in Dubai Media City. Tickets can also be purchased through

DIFF’s Dial-a-Ticket service at (04) 391 3378 and from the website, http://www.dubaifilmfest.com/.



The DIFF Rhythm & Reels section is presented by Dubai Pearl and Dubai Properties. DIFF

2010 is held in association with Dubai Studio City. Dubai Duty Free, Dubai International

Financial Centre, Dubai Pearl, Emirates Airline and Madinat Jumeirah, the home of the Dubai

International Film Festival, are the principal sponsors of DIFF. The event is supported by the

Dubai Culture & Arts Authority.



For more and updated information about DIFF, please visit www.dubaifilmfest.com

Colin Firth receives Variety’s ‘International Star of the Year’ Award at DIFF

Dubai, UAE; December 13, 2010: Renowned actor Colin Firth received the Variety ‘International Star of the Year’ Award from actress Carey Mulligan at a public ‘In Conversation’ session held at the seventh Dubai International Film Festival on Monday. Firth’s film ‘The King’s Speech’ was the opening gala of the festival on Sunday.

Later, Firth took part in an ‘In Conversation’ session, giving the audience insights on his career and discussing the role as King George VI in ‘The King’s Speech.’ He also answered questions raised by the audience in a freewheeling chat.

The English thespian, Colin Firth’s memorable performances include his depiction of Mr. Darcy on the 1995 television series of Pride and Prejudice, Bridget Jones’ Diary with co-stars Renée Zellweger and Hugh Grant, and BAFTA Award-winner A Single Man.

Last year, the DIFF presented Scottish actor Gerard Butler with the Variety ‘International Star of the Year’ Award.

DIFF 2010 box office locations are: Cinestar Mall of the Emirates, Madinat Souk and the CNN Building in Dubai Media City. Tickets can also be purchased through DIFF’s Dial-a-Ticket service at (04) 391 3378 and from the website www.dubaifilmfest.com.

The seventh edition of Dubai International Film Festival 2010 is held until Dec. 19 in association with Dubai Studio City. Dubai Duty Free, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai Pearl, Emirates Airline and Madinat Jumeirah, the home of the Dubai International Film Festival, are the principal sponsors of DIFF. The event is supported by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority.

For more and updated information about DIFF, please visit www.dubaifilmfest.com

Acclaimed jury to evaluate submissions for DIFF 2010 Human Rights Film Network Award

Dubai, UAE; December 12, 2010: A jury comprising film festival professionals will evaluate the submissions for the second Human Rights Film Network (HRFN) Award at the seventh Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF).



The award introduced in 2009, is aimed at encouraging and promoting films that address human rights issues. At DIFF 2010, 10 films will vie for the honours.



Judging the submissions for the HRFN award is Kebour Genna of the Addis International Film Festival; Taco Ruighaver, Director, the Movies that Matter Festival in Amsterdam, Netherlands; and Syrian filmmaker Sawsan Darwaza, whose films depict the harsh realities of life in strife-torn areas of the Middle East yet with a powerful message of peace.



The films short-listed for the award showcases the human rights violations – in various contexts - and the trauma of human beings through powerful, compelling narratives. From stories of the underprivileged, to the situation of people in war-stricken countries, these films use the universal language of art to convey hope to viewers everywhere.



The 10 films competing for the award include, Dorota Kedzierzawska’s Jutro Bedzie Lepiej (Tomorrow Will Be Better); Koutaiba Al-Janabi’s Al Raheel Min Baghdad (Leaving Baghdad); Marianne Khoury and Mustapha Hasnaoui’s Zelal; Aamir Bashir’s Harud (Autumn); Oliver Schmitz’s Le Secret De Chanda (Life, Above All); Jeong-hyun Mun’s Yongsan; Dominique C. Mollard’s Adrift: People of a Lesser God; Fedora Aladag’s Die Fremde (When We Leave); Roberto Hernandez and Geoffrey Smith’s Presunto Culpable (Presumed Guilty); and Jahmil XT Qubeka’s A Small Town Called Descent.



The HRFN is a partnership of human rights film festivals globally. The network, established in Prague in 2004, promotes exchange, communication and collaboration regarding the representation of human rights issues in motion pictures.



It co-ordinates the network through email, internet, regular meetings and special events and an assembly of member festivals meets periodically for decision making and electing a board of coordinators to manage activities.



DIFF 2010 box office locations are: Cinestar Mall of the Emirates, Madinat Souk and the CNN Building in Dubai Media City. Tickets can also be purchased through DIFF’s Dial-a-Ticket service at (04) 391 3378 and from the website http://www.dubaifilmfest.com/.



The seventh edition of Dubai International Film Festival 2010 is being held through Dec. 19 in association with Dubai Studio City. Dubai Duty Free, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai Pearl, Emirates Airline and Madinat Jumeirah, the home of the Dubai International Film Festival, are the principal sponsors of DIFF. The event is supported by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority.



For more and updated information about DIFF, please visit http://www.dubaifilmfest.com/

Journey of self-discovery is dominating theme of Iraqi, Turkish and Mongolian showcase at DIFF 2010

Dubai, UAE; December 12, 2010: Discovering one’s self, history or legacy is a dominating theme in the films from Iraq, Turkey and Mongolia, being showcased at the seventh edition of the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) 2010, several of them making their World Premiere at the festival.

There is a powerful element of self- and community introspection by filmmakers from Asia and Africa in the film line up from the region this year - a natural response to the powerful socio-economic shifts that are happening across the region, which are deftly captured on camera by the talented filmmakers.

Leading the line-up of Muhr AsiaAfrica features is a stylish debut feature by Turkish director Emre Sahin, which explores modern-day Istanbul, through the eyes if three distinct protagonists, a disillusioned taxi driver, a bewildered illegal immigrant, and a Turkish woman. Filmed on location throughout the city, ’40,’ blends rough realism with allegorical edge. The GCC premiere of 40 will be on Dec. 18 at Cinestar, Mall of the Emirates, followed by an additional screening on Dec. 19.

Acclaimed Iraqi director Kassem Hawal has been active in Iraqi theatre and cinema since the late 1950s. In his feature, The Singer, screening at Cinestar 2 on Dec. 15 at 9.30 pm and at Cinestar 8 on Dec. 18 at 3.45 pm,  he brings an insight into the era of dictatorship in Iraq, with the story of Bashir, a singer who is due to perform for the despot. Unfortunately, due to a series of mishaps, Bashir is delayed and scared - no-one in their right mind would dare insult the choleric ruler by being late. But there it is, he is very late and nothing can be done. What happens to Bashir when he finally reaches the palace and faces the raging commander?

An exhilarating and politically powerful road movie, Mandoo tells the poignant tale of a family ripped apart by conflict. As a small Kurdish girl, Sheelan migrated with her parents to Sweden, leaving behind her extended family and the turmoil of life in Saddam-era Iraq. Twenty years later, Sheelan is a thriving doctor in Sweden, longing to connect with her family roots. Encouraged by the downfall of Saddam Hussein’s regime, she resolves to return home and reconnect with her family. However, when her uncle suffers a stroke, shortly upon her return, Sheelan prepares to embark on a trip to fulfil the old man’s dying wish to return to his childhood homeland of Iranian Kurdistan. Directed by Ebrahim Saeedi, Mandoo will mark its Middle East premiere on Dec. 15 at Cinestar, Mall of the Emirates, with a second screening on Dec. 16.

Set against the backdrop of the majestic Mongolian landscape Byamba Sakhya’s Passion follows Binder Jigjid, the son of legendary director Jigjid Dejid, who takes his films from village to village, trying to eke out an existence. This compelling story of a complex relationship between artists and the system and the impact of social and political transition on individual destiny, will be screened Dec 13. and 15 at Cinestar, Mall of the Emirates.

DIFF 2010 box office locations are: Cinestar Mall of the Emirates, Madinat Souk and the CNN Building in Dubai Media City. Tickets can also be purchased through DIFF’s Dial-a-Ticket service at (04) 391 3378 and from the website www.dubaifilmfest.com.

The seventh edition of Dubai International Film Festival 2010, is held until Dec. 19 in association with Dubai Studio City. Dubai Duty Free, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai Pearl, Emirates Airline and Madinat Jumeirah, the home of the Dubai International Film Festival, are the principal sponsors of DIFF. The event is supported by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority.

For more and updated information about DIFF, please visit www.dubaifilmfest.com

Colin Firth to interact with public at 'In Conversation' session at DIFF 2010

Actor to be presented with Variety’s ‘International Star of the Year’ Award

Dubai, UAE; December 12, 2010: Renowned actor Colin Firth, the star of the opening film of the seventh Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF), The King’s Speech, will interact with visitors to the festival at the 'In Conversation' session. It follows the actor being presented with the Variety ‘International Star of the Year’ Award today (Monday, Dec. 13) at the First Group Theatre, Madinat Jumeirah, from 4 to 5pm. Tickets to the event are on sale now.

Sponsored by the film and entertainment industry’s trade magazine, Variety, the award honours innovative cinematic talent for their contribution to the film industry

Shivani Pandya, DIFF Managing Director, said: “Colin Firth is among the most renowned names in the entertainment industry, and it is DIFF’s honour to bestow the ‘International Star of the Year,’ one of the most highly-ranked awards to him. Variety is at the forefront of promoting global dialogue in cinema and for DIFF, it is a perfect fit to host the award ceremony."

Actress Carey Mulligan (An Education; Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps) will be in Dubai to present the award to Colin Firth.

The English thespian, Colin Firth’s memorable performances include his depiction of Mr. Darcy on the 1995 television series of Pride and Prejudice, Bridget Jones’ Diary with co-stars Renée Zellweger and Hugh Grant, and BAFTA Award-winner A Single Man.

Last year, the DIFF presented Scottish actor Gerard Butler with the Variety ‘International Star of the Year’ Award.

DIFF 2010 box office locations are: Cinestar Mall of the Emirates, Madinat Souk and the CNN Building in Dubai Media City. Tickets can also be purchased through DIFF’s Dial-a-Ticket service at (04) 391 3378 and from the website www.dubaifilmfest.com.

The seventh edition of Dubai International Film Festival 2010 is held until Dec. 19 in association with Dubai Studio City. Dubai Duty Free, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai Pearl, Emirates Airline and Madinat Jumeirah, the home of the Dubai International Film Festival, are the principal sponsors of DIFF. The event is supported by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority.

For more and updated information about DIFF, please visit www.dubaifilmfest.com

DIFF 2010 Box Office offers genre-specific ticket packages

Dubai, UAE; December 12, 2010: The seventh Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) box office is offering ticket packages across six genres – Cultural Bridge, Documentary films, Comedy films, Family films, Experimental/Cutting Edge films, and Travelogue/Exploring new worlds - that add to the convenience of movie lovers.

Shivani Pandya, DIFF Managing Director, said: “The DIFF Box Office is gaining good response from movie lovers, who are offered the opportunity to watch never-before-seen films at the festival. The introduction of the special genre-specific ticket packages will help audiences to make their selection easily, as well as plan their schedules conveniently.”  

A special box office ticket package has been tailored for DIFF’s thought-provoking Cultural Bridge segment (for viewers 15 and above), screening at Cinestar, Mall of the Emirates. It comprises Kaouther Ben Hania’s Les Imams Vont A L’Ecole (Imams Go To School) (Dec. 13, 6.30pm); Ebrahim Saeedi’s Mandoo (Dec. 15, 10.15pm); and Ashvin Kumar’s Inshallah, Football (Dec. 18, 4.00pm).

Another combo offers movie lovers to watch the much-awaited films -  Byamba Sakhya’s Khusel Shunal (Passion) (Dec. 13, 6.45pm); Krishna DK and Raj Nidimoru’s Shorr (Noise) (Dec. 18, 12.15pm) at Cinestar, Mall of the Emirates; and Mohammed Al Hushki’s Mudon Al Tranzit (Transit Cities) (Dec. 14, 7.15pm) at the First Group Theatre, Madinat Jumeirah.

Cinestar, Mall of the Emirates will be reeling in reality fans for DIFF’s Documentary package. Fans can enjoy the selection from Tamra Davis’ Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child (Dec. 13, 7.30pm); Dominique C. Mollard’s Adrift: People of a Lesser God (Dec. 15, 7.00pm); and Kazuhiro Soda’s Peace (Dec. 17, 4.15pm).

Featuring movies that tickle the funny bone, DIFF’s comedy package includes Wi Ding Ho’s Pinoy Sunday (Dec. 16, 9.30pm); Meng Zhang’s The Piano in a Factory (Dec. 18, 12:00pm) at Cinestar, Mall of the Emirates; and Roger Michell’s Morning Glory (Dec. 17, 7.15pm) at the First Group Theatre, Madinat Jumeirah.

It is fun time for the entire family with the special package of tickets for Andrei Konchalovsky’s The Nutcracker in 3D (Dec. 17, 3.00pm) at the Madinat Arena, and Katrina Launing and Roar Uthaug’s Julenatt I Blafjell (Magic Silver) (Dec. 18, 3.00pm) at Cinestar, Mall of the Emirates.

Films that challenge the cultural norm are part of the Experimental/Cutting Edge package, encompassing Mahmoud Al Massad’s Hathihi Swrati Wa Ana Mayet (This is My Picture When I Was Dead) (Dec. 14, 10.00pm); Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s Loong Boonmee Raleuk Chaat (Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives) (Dec. 15, 9.45pm); and John Akomfrah’s The Nine Muses (Dec. 18, 1.30pm), at Cinestar, Mall of the Emirates.

DIFF 2010 box office locations are: Cinestar Mall of the Emirates, Madinat Souk, the CNN Building in Dubai Media City and The Walk at JBR. Tickets can also be purchased through DIFF’s Dial-a-Ticket service at (04) 391 3378 and from the website www.dubaifilmfest.com.

The seventh edition of Dubai International Film Festival 2010 is held until Dec. 19 in association with Dubai Studio City. Dubai Duty Free, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai Pearl, Emirates Airline and Madinat Jumeirah are the principal sponsors of DIFF. The Festival is supported by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority. 

For more and updated information about DIFF, please visit www.dubaifilmfest.com

Over 220 films participate in DIFF’s Dubai Filmmart for global

Dubai, UAE; December 11, 2010: The Dubai Filmmart, the trading and distribution platform of the

Dubai International Film Festival’s comprehensive Dubai Film Market, has secured a record showcase

of over 220 films from around the world for its 2010 edition.



Industry buyers at DIFF will have one of the strongest repertoires of films to choose from including

103 films screened at DIFF, 43 films from the Gulf Film Festival, and 78 Filmmart-recommended films.

The line-up includes 23 world premieres, 6 international Premieres, 37 Middle East premieres, and 21

GCC premieres.



Ziad Yaghi, Director, Dubai Filmmart, said the trading and distribution platform has grown

considerably over the past years by successfully accomplishing distribution deals for films from

the Arab world to the wider international markets and vice versa. “Dubai Film Market is arguably

the largest of its kind industry event in the Arab world, Asia and Africa, showing the most versatile

collection of movies. We have serious buyers from across the world, opening doors for producers to

new and untapped markets. This is particularly relevant for Arab films, as they stand to gain a new

foothold internationally.”



“Driving forward its objectives of maximising producer-distributor interaction, the Dubai Filmmart

unites industry executives from all backgrounds and origins, to trade and distribute film content

globally,” he added.



The selection of films from DIFF available for acquisition this year include Mohamed Diab’s 678,

Hesham Issawi’s El Khoroug (Cairo Exit), Zeina Sfeir’s Beirut Al Mouss (All About My Father), Abdulla

Al Kaabi’s The Philosopher, Feng Xiaogang’s Tang Shan Da Di Zheng (Aftershock), Ahmad Abdalla’s

Microphone, George Hachem’s Rsassa Taycheh (Stray Bullet), Daniel Rudi Haryanto’s Prison and

Paradise, Mahmoud Al Massad’s This is my picture when I was dead, among others.



Films from the Gulf Film Festival 2009 include Ashraf Ghori’s Levity – Xero Error Minus 1, Soniya

Kriplani’s DoBuy – The Fabric of Faith, Bader Al-Hamoud’s Dark, Fadel Al Muhairi’s Night Guard, and

Hussein Abbas El Hulaybi’s Longing among others.



The Filmmart’s recommendations include Houaida Azar’s Beirut Express, Chloe Mazlo’s Deyrouth,

Sahera Dirbas’ Jerusalem Bride, Roy Khalil’s Kil El Assafir Bit Sawfir (All Birds Whistle), Ibrahim El

Batout’s Hawi, and critically acclaimed Pink Sari by Kim Longinotto.



The films will be available at potential buyers’ fingertips via state-of-the-art-touch-screens, designed

with sophisticated software which includes direct links to sales agents, at The Cinetech, the

Filmmart’s digital video library, designed to assist buyers, distributors, and broadcasters with the

screening process.



Last year, over 3,100 screenings were made for industry buyers at the Dubai Filmmart. The most-

viewed films were Ali Mostafa’s City of Life, Michel Khleifi’s Zindeeq, and A Prophet by Jacques

Audiard.



Through matchmaking sessions that connect prospective buyers with sellers, and consultancy

services for Market delegates, the Dubai Film Market Private Meeting Lounge serves as a key

networking venue during the Festival, attracting regional and international industry professionals.



The seventh edition of Dubai International Film Festival 2010 will be held from December 12 to 19.

DIFF 2010 is held in association with Dubai Studio City. Dubai Duty Free, Dubai International Financial

Centre, Dubai Pearl, Emirates Airline and Madinat Jumeirah are the principal sponsors of DIFF. The

Festival is supported by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority. Accreditation for DIFF 2010 is now open

at www.dubaifilmfest.com.



DIFF 2010 box office locations are: CineStar Mall of the Emirates, the Madinat Souk, the CNN Building

in Dubai Media City and The Walk at JBR. Tickets can also be purchased through DIFF’s Dial-a-Ticket

service at (04) 391 3378 and from the website, www.dubaifilmfest.com.



For more and updated information about DIFF, please visit http://www.dubaifilmfest.com/

Dubai International Film Festival offers fans news, views

Dubai, UAE; December 11, 2010: The excitement, action, and celebrity buzz associated with the

Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF), the leading and largest festival of its kind in the Middle

East, Asia, and Africa, can now be accessed via mobile phone with the expanded, free DIFF

Mobile Application.



Organised in partnership with Nokia, the DIFF Mobile Application supports the Symbian and

Blackberry platforms as well as the iPhone/iPad and Android operating systems. This means

practically every mobile phone user can benefit from the application and have the Festival at

his or her fingertips.



The upgraded mobile application features the highest security standards and provides seamless

information, entertainment and transaction. Mobile phone users can now receive updates on

DIFF 2010, check for film screenings and purchase tickets – all on the go – and in total security.



Browsers can also watch trailers and stills, obtain summaries of all the films at the festival,

check the timings and venues, post details to their FaceBook or Twitter pages, and invite friends

to watch preferred films via SMS. In addition to providing the full functionality of the revamped

DIFF website, the mobile app is designed to work without a continuous Internet connection,

making it both affordable and always accessible.



Mahsa Motamedi, Director of Marketing & Sponsorship, Dubai International Film Festival,

said: “Community outreach and engagement is a significant part of the work we do at DIFF and

the mobile phone is a game changer. It’s a personal, direct and effective way for us to reach

our audiences, and stay with them no matter where and who they are. With the new mobile

application, DIFF is on the go, exactly where our audience is.”



She added: “We introduced the DIFF Mobile Application last year with over 23,000 pages of

information viewed by film lovers. This year, drawing on the newest advances in technology, we

are expanding the service to include more mobile phone platforms and adding newer elements.

It will be a great value addition to film lovers in the region, who can tune into DIFF in real time.”



Mobile phone users only have to log on to www.dubaifilmfest.com from their mobile device,

click on ‘Download Application,’ fill in the required details and select the correct version for

their mobile to start receiving DIFF updates. Nokia users can also download the app from the

Ovi app store.



Subscribers can also access the DIFF Mobile App through their telecom portal or applications

stores, or receive links to download the application via SMS. In line with DIFF’s commitment to

uphold user privacy, mobile phone users can also opt out of the service at any point in time.



The seventh edition of Dubai International Film Festival 2010 will be held from December 12 to

19. DIFF 2010 is held in association with Dubai Studio City. Dubai Duty Free, Dubai International

Financial Centre, Dubai Pearl, Emirates Airline and Madinat Jumeirah, the home of the Dubai

International Film Festival, are the principal sponsors of DIFF. The event is supported by the

Dubai Culture & Arts Authority.



For more and updated information about DIFF, please visit http://www.dubaifilmfest.com/

Martial arts epic Reign of Assassins leads feast of Asian cinema at Dubai International Film Festival 2010

Dubai, UAE; December 8, 2010: From martial arts to marriage and organized crime to beekeeping, the 10 action, drama and comedy films in the 2010 Dubai International Film Festival’s Cinema of AsiaAfrica section include some of the most dazzling stories to emerge from the two continents in recent years.

Headlining the segment this year is the John Woo and Chao-Bin Su-directed martial arts extravaganza Reign of Assassins, starring Michelle Yeoh, Kelly Lin and Barbie Hsu. The epic martial arts action thriller, set in ancient China and focused on a skilled assassin and the search for the remains of a mystical Buddhist monk, will make its Middle East premiere at the Madinat Arena on Friday, December 17, as a DIFF red carpet gala screening.

The DIFF Cinema of AsiaAfrica line-up this year includes seven Middle East premieres and three films never screened in the Gulf nations, from China, the Philippines, Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Turkey and South Africa. Tickets are on sale for all films.

From Japan, director Takeshi Kitano’s Autoreiji (Outrage) is a darkly funny look at the labyrinthine world of Japanese organized crime or yakuza, complete with complex power hierarchies, power struggles, lots of banter and deadpan farce. The film features a melee of gang leaders, underbosses and soldiers, all manipulated by Mr Chairman, while a series of conflicting crews spend much of the time coming up with increasingly imaginative ways to decimate their opponents. Outrage will screen on Dec. 15 and 16.

The action continues with Thai superhero caper The Red Eagle, the long-awaited reboot of the 1960s franchise. Boasting a tense plot, sharply drawn characters and lashings of stylized violence, the film starts with a nuclear power plant about to be commissioned, despite the protests of furious but powerless citizenry. A hero appears in their midst in response, only to be challenged by a nemesis. The film will be screened on Dec. 18 and Dec. 19.

 

From China comes Meng Zhang’s inspiring The Piano in a Factory, the story of a steelworker in early 1990s China. When his wife unexpectedly demands custody of their child, the youngster informs her quarreling parents that she will live with whoever can provide her with a piano. Determined to keep his daughter but unable to afford a piano, Chen is forced to use all his ingenuity and resourcefulness. The film will screen on December 17 and 18 at CineStar, Mall of the Emirates.

From South Korea comes a profound story of an elderly woman in search of the fundamental poetry in her life. Director Chang-dong Lee’s Shi (Poetry) follows Mija, who lives with her young grandson in a small suburban city located along the Han River. At a poetry class at the local cultural centre, Mija finds herself inspired and excited by her new hobby. Her imagination soars, as she sees the world around her in a new, tantalising light, rich with potential poetic inspiration in its infinite possibility. Shi (Poetry) will premiere in the GCC on Dec. 17, with an additional screening on Dec. 18.

The two films from the Philippines are a study in contrasts. Set deep in the heart of rural Philippines’ Mindanao province, Limbunan (The Bridal Quarter) is a heartfelt film that quietly examines the value of tradition and arranged marriage. Ayesah, 16, is informed by her family that she is to be sequestered in her room for a month until her marriage to a near stranger, according to custom. Complications arise in the form of her younger sister, and the appearance of a rebel fighter. The Middle East premiere of Limbunan (The Bridal Quarter) will be on Dec. 17 and Dec. 19.

 

Pinoy Sunday follows Filipino overseas workers Manuel and Dado in Taipei, where they have been lured by the promise of money and a better life. The two unexpectedly discover a brand new leather sofa, discarded on the sidewalk. Unable to afford any type of delivery service, they carry the precious sofa across town on foot. The film will screen on December 16 and 17.

DIFF’s Cinema of AsiaAfrica showcase this year also includes Berlinale Golden Bear winner Bal (Honey) from Turkish director Semih Kaplanoglu’s, about a six-year-old forced to learn the harsh realities of life when his beekeeper father disappears in the forest; Iranian thriller Shekarchi (The Hunter) and South African police procedural drama A Small Town Called Descent.

DIFF 2010 box office locations are: Cinestar Mall of the Emirates, Madinat Souk, the CNN Building in Dubai Media City and The Walk at JBR. Tickets can also be purchased through DIFF’s Dial-a-Ticket service at (04) 391 3378 and from the website www.dubaifilmfest.com.

The seventh edition of Dubai International Film Festival 2010 will be held from December 12 to 19. DIFF 2010 is held in association with Dubai Studio City. Dubai Duty Free, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai Pearl, Emirates Airline and Madinat Jumeirah, the home of the Dubai International Film Festival, are the principal sponsors of DIFF. The event is supported by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority.

For more and updated information about DIFF, please visit www.dubaifilmfest.com

Dubai International Film Festival to host public conversation with leading actor, director and activist Sean Penn

Dubai, UAE; December 8, 2010: During his visit to the seventh Dubai International Film Festival next week, A-list American actor and director and international social and political activist Sean Penn will participate in a public ‘In Conversation With,’ question-and-answer session with fans from across the nation on Monday, Dec. 13 at the First Group Theatre, Madinat Jumeirah, from 7pm to 8pm. Tickets to the event, priced at AED 25, are on sale now.

Penn, whose career spans nearly three decades, more than 45 films and notable successes as producer, actor, director and screenwriter, is one of the Festival’s three Lifetime Achievement honorees this year. Two-time Academy Award winner and five-time nominee Penn is perhaps best known for his searing performances in Dead Man Walking, Sweet and Lowdown, I Am Sam, Mystic River, Milk and older genre classics Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Carlito’s Way.

His performances have also been singled out by the Cannes and Berlin film festivals and critics associations around the world, as has his directing work on films including Into the Wild, The Crossing Guard and The Pledge.

Penn’s humanitarian work - including his reportage from Iran and Iraq in recent years, and tireless campaigning on behalf of the victims of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and the earthquake-ravaged Haiti – has also won numerous admirers around the world. In January 2010, Penn founded the J/P Haitian Relief Organization which focuses on medical aid, protection, and re-location. His organisation is currently leading the largest camp for internally displaced persons in Port-au-Prince and established the first emergency re-location in the country.

In addition to the public conversation, DIFF 2010 is screening two path-breaking movies from Penn’s extraordinary repertoire: Sweet and Lowdown (1999) and Into the Wild (2007).

Gloriously comic, the heartbreakingly poignant rollicking ride through the seedy underbelly of the 1930s jazz era in America, in Sweet and Lowdown Sean Penn delivers a standout performance in this Woody Allen spoof documentary. It charts the life of jazz legend Emmet Ray. Screening on Dec. 17 at CineStar MoE, Sweet and Lowdown evokes a gamut of emotion, from drunken hubris to tender love.

Based on the true story of Christopher McCandless starring Emile Hirsch, Sean Penn’s Into the Wild retraces the path taken by the conflicted and unstable young man. Abandoning his possessions and hitchhiking to Alaska to live in the wilderness, McCandless wanders through the lives of a variety of characters, each of whom attempt to offer him some insight and clarity to life. Screening on Dec. 18 at CineStar MoE, Into the Wild captures the integrity, naiveté, and charm of this complex, troubled man.

DIFF 2010 box office locations are: Cinestar Mall of the Emirates, Madinat Souk and the CNN Building in Dubai Media City and The Walk at JBR. Tickets can also be purchased through DIFF’s Dial-a-Ticket service at (04) 391 3378 and from the website www.dubaifilmfest.com.

The seventh edition of Dubai International Film Festival 2010 will be held from December 12 to 19. DIFF 2010 is held in association with Dubai Studio City. Dubai Duty Free, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai Pearl, Emirates Airline and Madinat Jumeirah, the home of the Dubai International Film Festival, are the principal sponsors of DIFF. The event is supported by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority.

For more and updated information about DIFF, please visit www.dubaifilmfest.com.

Dubai International Film Festival 2010 hosts showcase of powerful films from Iran

Dubai, UAE; December 4, 2010: The seventh edition of the Dubai International Film Festival
(DIFF) is showcasing an eclectic line-up of films from Iran, drawing both on the country’s
heritage as well as its contemporary realities. The five films from Iran include a world premiere,
two Middle East premieres and two films never screened in the Gulf region.

Sepideh Farsi, whose body of work includes the documentary Tehran Without Permission,
returns to DIFF with the world premiere of The House Under the Water (La Khaneye Zire Ab)
. The film follows two teenagers, Morteza and Taher, who are involved in the accidental
drowning of Taher’s younger brother. Thirty years later, Morteza is freshly released from prison
and looking to rebuild his life when he is suspected in a death of another drowned child – and
Taher, now a police officer, is investigating. The film will be screened on Dec. 17 and 18 at
Cinestar, Mall of the Emirates.

Award-winning director Alireza Davoodnejad’s 18th feature film Marham (Salve) depicts the
story of a generation that is closer to their grandparents than their own parents, and the
grandmothers who struggle to free them from the evils of modern times. The film, which will
make its Middle East premiere at DIFF, follows a devoted old woman who tries to help her
rebellious drug addict granddaughter survive in Tehran’s underground as a runaway. The film
will be screened on Dec. 16 and 17 at Cinestar, Mall of the Emirates.

Mohsen Abdolvahab’s striking feature debut Lotfan Mozahem Nashavid (Please Do Not Disturb)
contains three different stories that take place in Tehran: one about a young woman who has
been beaten by her husband on the brink of complaining to the authorities; the second about
a clergymen who has to negotiate with the thief who stole his wallet and documents; and the
third, the story of an elderly couple whose television has broken, but are fearful of opening the
door to the repairman. The film, a Gulf premiere, will be screened on Dec. 15 and 16 at MoE.

Shekarchi (The Hunter), the fifth feature film from Iranian director Rafi Pitts of Season Five and
Sanam fame, follows a Tehrani man who snaps and turns sniper after losing his wife and six-
year-old daughter in the run-up to Iran’s disputed 2009 elections. He flees and is captured in
the misty forests of the north, but the situation becomes complicated when his captors lose
their way in the woods. The film, a Gulf premiere, will be screened on Dec. 18 and 19.

Lastly, Shahin Parhami’s documentary Amin, part of the Muhr AsiaAfrica competition, is a
journey of discovery into the heartlands of Iran and the slowly disappearing folk music of the
ancient Qashqai tribes of southern Iran. The film is a powerful meditation on cultural loss
through the eyes of a postgraduate music student on a quest to find himself. The film, a Middle
East premiere, will be screened on Dec. 15 and 17.

The seventh edition of Dubai International Film Festival 2010 will be held from December 12 to
19. DIFF 2010 is held in association with Dubai Studio City. Dubai Duty Free, Dubai International
Financial Centre, Dubai Pearl, Emirates Airline and Madinat Jumeirah are the principal sponsors
of DIFF. The Festival is supported by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority.

DIFF 2010 box office locations are: Cinestar Mall of the Emirates, the Madinat Souk and the
CNN Building in Dubai Media City. Tickets can also be purchased through DIFF’s Dial-a-Ticket
service at (04) 391 3378 and from the website, www.dubaifilmfest.com.

For more and updated information about DIFF, please visit www.dubaifilmfest.com or join DIFF

.The DIFF 2010 Box Office is now open.