DUBAI/JEDDAH — With Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) just around the corner, the UAE will see a huge variety of international and regional films. However, Emirati entries will ensure that homegrown talents are at the forefront during the festival taking place from Dec. 9-16. Ten films from pioneering Emirati filmmakers, of which six are making World Premieres, have been selected as finalists for the hotly anticipated Muhr Emirati competition. “The Muhr Emirati program celebrates the artistic accomplishments of Emirati filmmakers and provides a platform to showcase UAE films to an international audience. We are delighted to welcome a diverse selection of quality films for our Muhr Emirati competition and hope that the program provides a step towards building dynamic careers for participating Emirati filmmakers and also inspire a new generation of filmmakers across the nation,” said DIFF's Artistic Director Masoud Amralla Al Ali. Artist, author and 2010 Muhr Emirati nominee Muna Al Ali returns to the competition with “Durbeen,” an exploration of how our lives are influenced by the way we view the world. In the same vein, the drama “Life Spray” by Fatma Abdulla Al Nayeh, the Gulf Film Festivals' Best Emerging Talent winner, follows a young girl as she prepares for the biggest day of her life: her wedding. Amal Al-Agroobi's “Half Emirati” (World Premiere) explores the lives of five Emirati nationals of mixed parentage sharing their experiences and stories about what it is really like to be among those born to Emirati parents. Juma Al Sahli explores complex human connections with his hard-hitting drama “The Goat's Head,” which focuses on a woman's plight to find her voice in a dominant male society. Filmmaker Mansoor Al Dhaheri is no stranger to the festival circuit, having screened earlier work at both regional and international festivals. His latest project, “Mirage.net” (World Premiere), is a controversial short about a group of men who abuse social networks at the expense of women. Director and writer Ibrahim Al Marzouqi's “Mutiny” (World Premiere) follows a troubled chef with tremendous psychological and physical challenges who finds himself confronted with some bizarre circumstances. The compelling film noir “The Path” (World Premiere), by Humaid Al Awadi and Abdulla Aljunaibi, is about a group of friends who encounter a life-changing series of exciting events. In the fragile and touching “White Colored Elephant,” award-winning director Waleed Al Shehhi returns to a traditional Emirati environment to portray a child's life burdened by the fear of death. The child struggles with his own present that might determine his future and leave him with some hope. The light-hearted “We Need To Talk” by Maher Al-Khaja is based on a true story and tells the trials and tribulations that friendships and relationships bring. Further examining the intrinsic dynamic of human nature is Ahmed Zain's beautiful story “Safi,” a short that represents the closeness of people, illustrating their connections through poignant memories and standout issues. The DIFF box office is open online on at www.dubaifilmfest.com. For additional information, contact [email protected] or call the festival's dedicated customer care number, (971) 363 FILM (3456). — SG
