Provocative documentary Black Nation to premiere at DIFF

Notes and media contacts

About Dubai International Film Festival:

In 2004, the Dubai International Film Festival launched with its theme of "Bridging Cultures. Meeting Minds". Going into its fifth year, DIFF is held under the Honorary Chairmanship of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum. DIFF is a not-for-profit cultural event, presented and organised by the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority.

Reflecting Dubai's cosmopolitan and multicultural character, the festival showcases a wide selection of features, shorts and documentaries from around the World. DIFF aims to establish itself as a major international festival, while continuing to act as a platform for showcasing excellence in Arab Cinema and contributing to the development and growth of the regional industry and talent.

The 5th Dubai International Film Festival will be taking place in Dubai from 11 to 18 December 2008.

About the Production Team:

- Director/ Filmmaker - Mats Hjelm

An accomplished, internationally recognized visual artist, Mats has developed highly recognized aesthetically and technically advanced video installations in museums around the world. Black Nation is his first feature documentary film, though by no means is he without great experience as a filmmaker. Since 1993 he has had film installations and shows in several European countries, the US, Russia, Canada and Japan.

He has a strong and personal attachment to Detroit and the Church through his filmmaker father and his formal studies at the prestigious Cranbrook Academy of Art.

- Producer - Claes Herrlander, Herrlander Pictures

Claes is the principal and founder of Stockholm based Herrlander Pictures. Launched in 1995, the company has produced nine documentary films during the last ten years. These films have been shot all over the world, including several in developing countries. His clients have included several European TV broadcasters, as well as organizations like Workers' Educational Association, UNICEF, UNFPA, Save the Children. The company is a regular contributor to the Swedish Public Broadcast Network.

- Executive Producer - Tom Powers, Open Door Co.

Tom is a principal in Open Door Co., a Toronto based producer of award winning documentaries, specializing in "Content that Matters". Launched in 2005, the company has produced two critically acclaimed award winning feature documentaries, "Cracked Not Broken" (HBO Addiction Project) and "Independent America - The Two Lane Search for Mom & Pop" (Sundance Channel). He has produced 7 prime time series and 5 feature documentaries for clients including HBO, Sundance Channel, NHK, CTV, Discovery Networks, The Documentary Channel, CanWest and SBS, among others.

For more information:

Kholoud Arif
Senior Media Relations Executive
JiWin Public Relations
Dir: +971 4 361 3599
Fax: +971 4 368 8001