iPhone | iPad
Android
Huawei
The scientific and research team behind the Historical Dictionary will continue their diligent work in collaboration with the Arabic Language Academy in the emirate
KT APPDOWNLOAD
Dubai to host film festival next year
DUBAI Dubai will play host to the region's first international film festival, a star-studded mega event,
Showcasing a selection of the best films made in Hollywood and other countries in March 2004.
Titled 'Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF 2004)', the seven-day extravaganza will embrace more than 100 film celebrities from 39 participating countries and boost Dubai's image as a regional centre for international film production.
"The new film festival will provide stimulus for Dubai's development as a film production hub," said Ahmed bin Byat, Director-General of the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone.
"The event is the first step in Dubai's strategy to create an entertainment software marketplace in the region. The DIFF 2004 will also be a wonderful opportunity for film professionals and production houses from all over the world to network and discuss business."
Addressing a Press conference yesterday at the Dubai Media City, Abdulhamid Juma, CEO of the Dubai Media City, said that the $5 million project "will be a truly global event. The DIFF 2004 has already generated a great interest and we have received informal commitments from global film production giants to hold three international film premieres during the festival."
The film festival is expected to evolve thematically with the theme for the inaugural year being "A Salute to 100 years of Cinema."
In the first year, the festival will be non-competitive but the subsequent annual editions will feature various competitive categories.
A number of life-time achievement awards will be given away to both film-makers and actors who have the distinction of enriching the industry through their immense contribution.
"We are very excited about the scope of the DIFF 2004. The UAE is emerging as a global media hub and this will help to put us right on the international film map. Dubai has all the right ingredients to become a vibrant centre for the international film industry and we intend to carry the initiative forward with the strong support of both the government and the private sector," Mr Juma added.
An international jury of prominent film-makers will screen the films which Mr Juma said would conform to the values of family entertainment, that Dubai intends to promote.
The panorama of films from US, Australia, UK, Italy, France, Spain, India and Egypt will be screened at Dubai's grand movie halls, presenting a veritable "film marketplace" where producers can buy and sell the rights of their films.
Premier Event Management and Entertainment Ltd., a subsidiary of Los Angeles and the London-based Dakota-Delta Corporation, are the organisers of the event who recently held an introductory lunch for executives for all major film production companies at Claridges in London.
It was attended by representatives of Paramount Pictures, Paramount International Productions, Colombia Tristar Film, Capitol Films, Icon Entertainment, Hammer Films, Goldcrest Film International, BBC Films, United British Artists, Wizard and Big Show Productions.
More news from UAE
The new project includes displaying artworks from five Emirati artists in Rabdan area
Lebanese-born Greg Malouf brought his Michelin-starred expertise to Dubai more than a decade ago
The pilgrimage will last for 6 days, and be split between Makkah and Madinah
Visitors are free to read a book, paint, write, or do any other activity they enjoy; or simply strike conversation with a stranger
The family, who had been searching since 2021, was reunited with Sanjay in just 10 hours following the Khaleej Times report
The event will bring together top wedding planners and vendors from around the globe
The two sides emphasised the importance of enhancing parliamentary communication on various issues of mutual interest