Dubai film festival ends on an impressive note

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Leila Alwi, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Izzat Alailee were prominent among the participants.

More than 13,000 people from around the UAE and the world converged on Dubai during the six-day event, with over 18,000 tickets issued by the fifth day. More than 100 celebrities from East and West attended and more than 300 international visitors flew in to attend the Festival. The event also made headlines around the world, with more than 400 members of the global, regional and local Press corps covering the Festival.

“The response to the first Dubai International Film Festival has been very positive, and what we expected and planned for in our first year. We have had very good feedback from around the region, from filmmakers and industry professionals who appreciate the focus on quality Arab cinema, to cinema-goers in the UAE who want the opportunity to see more quality cinema from around the world,” said Abdul Hamid Juma, CEO of Dubai Media City.

Neil Stephenson, Festival Director and CEO, echoed similar sentiments: “This has been a week of drama, excitement, emotion, dialogue and most of all, it has been a week of cultural exchange and learning. We expected to have some learning experiences during the first festival, but overall we are very happy with what we have achieved in our first year.

“The feedback I have received has been generally very positive, but we also welcome criticism because we want to learn and improve for the next year. The festival has enhanced Dubai’s reputation as a crossroads of world cultures and we hope it will quickly gain a reputation as the showcase of excellence for Arab cinema.”

If box office numbers are any indication, the festival generated the interest and excitement expected, attracting thousands of UAE residents and visitors. Close to 30 screenings were sold out, with substantial attendance reported on dozens of other screenings.

Judging by feedback from the viewing public in the UAE, the festival will also alter the face of popular cinema in the country. Film distributors at the festival reported substantial interest from the public to see more world cinema, “arthouse” films and specialist documentaries on a regular basis, and have said that plans are under way to make these film genres a staple of cinema offerings in the country.