Diff draws to an exciting close with awards

Sheikh Mansour presenting the Best Feature - Muhr Emirati category award - to Nujoom Alghanem for 'Alaat Haddah' (Sharp Tools). - KT photo by Neeraj Murali

As the 14th edition of the Dubai International Film Festival (Diff) wrapped up on Wednesday, film lovers and visitors at the festival took were treated to some unforgettable scenes.
The eight-day film festival concluded with the Muhr Awards ceremony, giving away prizes for the best short and feature films originating from the UAE and the Arab world. The winners walked away with obvious delight on their faces after bagging one of the most prestigious prizes that recognises Arab cinema.
The appearance of Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed Al Maktoum further highlighted the magnitude of the awards, as he presented the glass trophies to each enthuasiatic recipient.
The excitement carried on with the [NBAD] People's Choice Award, awarding films voted for by all the viewers, with Goodbye Christopher Robin bagging the top prize.
Adding to the electric atmosphere was all the Star Wars memorabilia and figurines - Stormtroopers, Jedis, Ewoks - throughout the Madinat Arena. Dubai definitely went over to the dark side when Darth Vader and his troops took to the red carpet, teasing the fans prior to the long awaited screening of Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
Seats for the film - along with all others shown on the day - were fully booked, providing for a full house on the last day of Dubai's biggest film festival
reporters@khaleejtimes.com
(The writer is an intern at Khaleej Times.)
Muhr Awards winners
> Best Actor: Mohammed and Saleh Bakri for Wajib
> Best actress: Menha El Batroui for Zahret Al Sabar
> Best director: Sofia Djama for Les Bienheureux
> Best director (Emirati): Abdullah Al Junaibi for Camera
> Best non-fiction feature: Taste of Cement
> Best fiction feature: Wajib
> Best feature (Emirati): Sharp Tools
> Best short film: Horoob