On 10 December 2014, the 11th Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) will commence with its opening gala screening – the Stephen Hawking biopic The Theory of Everything. From director James Marsh, the film stars Eddie Redmayne as Hawking and Felicity Jones as his love and fellow student Jane Wilde.
During the 8-day festival, a host of screenings, public question and answer sessions and numerous industry networking opportunities from the Dubai Film Market (DFM) will be held.
This year, the festival’s film selection is made up of 118 films from 48 countries, in 34 languages, and includes 55 world and international premieres.
Abdulhamid Juma, DIFF Chairman, said: “We are proud to say that DIFF has played a part in creating a thriving film culture in the region. It has always been our aim to encourage talent, nurture growth and foster development in the film industry and holding the 11th edition proves that our efforts are coming to fruition. DIFF gives filmmakers from across the region a platform to showcase their work and international guests have the opportunity to see the region’s talent up close, accessing their works and gaining an understanding of the people they highlight. DIFF is a unique cultural experience for all in Dubai and the UAE, giving the public access to the most celebrated films from across the globe. DIFF has also enabled the world to see what Dubai and the UAE have to offer.’
Golden Globe winner and IWC brand ambassador Emily Blunt and award winning director and IWC ambassador Marc Forster will be present at the festival as part of the jury for the third IWC Filmmaker Award. The award offers a US$100,000 cash prize to one winning filmmaker, and will be presented at an event hosted by official sponsor and festival partner IWC Schaffhausen on Thursday, 11 December 2014.
Two veterans of the industry will receive the DIFF Lifetime Achievement Award this year: Egyptian actor Nour El Sherif for his work on more than 40 films in a career that’s spanned almost five decades; and Indian singer Asha Bhosle who has recorded more than 12,000 songs for over 850 films in her 81 years.
DIFF 2014 will be held at the Madinat Jumeirah Arena, Madinat Theatre, Souk Madinat Jumeirah and VOX Cinemas, Mall of the Emirates.
For more information visit the festival’s website.
