Rich and diverse line-up for DIFF 2015

This content was originally posted in 7DAYS UAE website at: Rich and diverse line-up for DIFF 2015 The 12th Dubai International Film Festival is just days away and this year there is a total of 134 movies in 40 languages, from 60 countries, on the big screen. One of the highlights on Dubai’s social and cultural calendar, the festival from December 9-16 is always a huge draw. On top of the screenings, there’s a liberal sprinkling of stardust in the shape of some big-name international stars walking the red carpet. For movie buffs there’s also a quality line-up for the outdoor screenings at The Beach JBR. There’s an impressive local and regional showing this year too, and DIFF chairman Abdulhamid Juma says: “With such an impressive showcase, I am prouder than ever to see an incredible line-up of quality contemporary Arab cinema that continues to challenge perspectives and stand tall alongside international counterparts.” Here’s our pick of the bunch from this year’s event. Gala screenings We’re not short on drama at this year’s festival, that’s for sure. Anticipated titles include Oscar contender ‘Room’, the drama thriller all about emotional and physical survival based on Emma Donoghue’s best selling novel of the same title. There’s been plenty of intrigue surrounding ‘The Big Short’. The curtain closer for DIFF 2015, the comedy-drama about the recent American financial crisis stars big names Christian Bale, Brad Pitt and Ryan Gosling. Check out newsroom drama ‘Truth’, starring Robert Redford and Cate Blanchett, and there are also gala screenings for sports-medical drama ‘Concussion’, Chinese film ‘Mountain Cry’, a Canadian-Indian movie about Sikh gangs in Vancouver called ‘Beeba Boys’ and the biography drama ‘The Man Who Knew Infinity’ about Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan.   Red carpet roll call Stars are on parade as always, and the big draw from Hollywood this year is Jake Gyllenhaal, the star of ‘Southpaw’, ‘Everest’ who will receive Variety’s International Star of the Year award. The ‘Donnie Darko’ star will sit down for an audience chat at the ‘In Conversation With’ session on December 16. Fans should also keep an eye out for ‘Working Girl’ star Melanie Griffith and ‘Creed’ leading man Michael B Jordan, while Bolllywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is also in town. One special event will see Oscar-winner Richard Dreyfuss presenting a 40th anniversary screening of ‘Jaws’ at The Beach. That’s an event not to be missed on December 12. French star Catherine Deneuve will be awarded a ‘lifetime achievement’ award, celebrating a career which has spanned almost 60 years and includes more than 120 films. Arab stars in attendance include Hend Sabry, Maged Al Masry and Menna Shalaby. And bringing a touch of real glamour to proceedings, actress Eva Longoria will be in town as honourary chair of the Dubai Cares Global Gift charity gala.   Muhr Emirati Emirati talents will shine this year as 12 titles, which includes full-length, shorts and documentaries, from the Muhr Emirati competition selection will be exhibited. Among the most talked about movies is the neo-noir jail thriller ‘Zinzana’ by Emirati director Majid Al Ansari and produced by Image Nation. Saeed Salmeen Al Murry, who won the competition at the 2008 DIFF returns with ‘Going to Heaven’ (left), a touching story of a boy’s attempt to re-live memories of his beloved grandmother with a friend. The ‘Most Promising Filmmaker’ at the 2009 DIFF, Manal Ali Bin Amro, gives us ‘Smell of Bread’ (right), wherein the quiet life of a hearing-impaired child, who makes bread, changes forever when her family refuses to acknowledge her attack. Last year’s winner Aisha Al-Zaabi debuts her latest short ‘My Dear Home With Love’ about Fatima’s dangerous journey to find her old home and dear friend Sara. Winners will be announced on December 16.   Children’s corner The younger audience will also have a grand time with the selection of family-friendly flicks including the highly anticipated movie adaptation of the beloved Charles Schulz comic strip ‘Peanuts’ (right) that will have its red carpet screening on December 11. The animated action adventure ‘Savva Heart of a Warrior’ (left) is about the bravery of a young boy and strength of true friendship. It will be voiced by Milla Jovovich, Sharon Stone and Whoopi Goldberg. Holiday offering ‘Valley of Knights: Mira’s Magical Christmas’ will take the little ones to another world.   Cinema of the world A diverse line-up of 57 international films is selected, and among them is French drama ‘Dheepan’ (below left), an acclaimed movie which won this year’s Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or. The story follows a Tamil Tiger soldier during the Sri Lankan Civil War who is seeking political asylum in France. In order to stay, he must pose as a dead man named Dheepan. Icelandic filmmaker Grimur Hakonarson’s ‘Rams’ (below right), nominated for the Best Foreign Language in the 88th Oscars, is set in a remote Icelandic farming valley and follows two brothers who haven’t spoken in 40 years. When the outbreak of a disease threatens their livelihood, they are forced to come together to save their sheep. glaiza@7days.ae Read the original story at: Rich and diverse line-up for DIFF 2015