DUBAI — Children between the age of 8 and 12 from schools across the UAE are being encouraged to participate in Dubai International Film Festival's (DIFF) ongoing painting competition. The competition, invites the nation's budding artists to reflect the theme “What would you like to see at your favourite film festival?” in their submissions. The competition, which has become an annual DIFF event, aims to engage creative young minds and give them a more active voice at DIFF, especially in relation to the Festival's ‘Cinema for Children' segment which features the finest movies from around the world for DIFF's younger audiences. This competition aims to explore the bond between children and cinema, and honor their understanding and perspective of the cinematic experience. DIFF's Executive Director of Marketing and Events Mahsa Motamedi said: “Initially launched as part of the Festival's community outreach, DIFF's painting competition for UAE school student's aims to truly involve the local community in the festival. The results we have received over the past years from this fun art activity are testament to the enduring innocence of childhood and to the power of a child's imagination.” Submissions will be judged on their creativity and relevance to the stated theme. Twenty-four selected winners will receive family invitations for four to the Cinema for Children Red Carpet Gala Screening. Winning entries will also be featured, with credits, in the annual DIFF tabletop calendar released by the Festival in 2013, while 75 additional works will receive tickets to select children's screenings during the Festival. Children will have until October 20, 2012 to submit their entries. — SG
