Family-friendly films to be screened at DMC's open-air amphitheatre

The special program, titled "Screen on the Green," will feature a state-of-the-art 30ft by 70ft screen, full Dolby Digital surround sound, comfortable seating and highly affordable tickets, and is part of the Festival's efforts to bring world cinema to all UAE residents.

The four films - Lawrence of Arabia, Mr. India, Gagamboy and Five Children and It - were selected from the Festival's program for their popularity in their cultures of origin and their ability to transcend that culture, said Abdulhamid Juma, CEO of Dubai Media City.

"Not only is our "Screen on the Green" theatre a world-class technical achievement, it's a fantastic way to connect the many cultures of the UAE," Juma said. "Film is an international language, but you only learn to speak it if you look beyond national borders."

The selected films are a mix of contemporary and classic, slapstick and adventure, with the 1962 blockbuster Lawrence of Arabia leading the pack. Audiences will also see Shekhar Kapur's romantic comedy drama Mr. India; the Tagalog Gagamboy (Spiderman), a Filipino take on the Marvel comic book hero; and Five Children and It, the new special effects-loaded family adventure film starring Kenneth Branagh and Eddie Izzard.

Festival Director and CEO Neil Stephenson said 'Screen on the Green' tickets have been priced to encourage maximum attendance. "The exact pricing details will be released in the coming days, but we promise that the tickets will cost much less than they do in cinemas around the country," he said. "We do not want prices to be a barrier to anyone."

No expense has been spared in this effort to cross-pollinate Dubai audiences. Both the screen and projection equipment have been imported from US-based Boston Light and Sound, one of the world's foremost outdoor projection companies. An array of high-fidelity loudspeakers will also be installed around the amphitheatre, ensuring a cinema experience unlike anything Dubai has ever seen before.

The Dubai Media City lakeside park will also be equipped with 2,000 cushioned seats and a number of concessionaires selling popcorn, nachos, soft drinks and other cinema snacks during every show.

The Dubai International Film Festival will be held between December 6 and 11, 2004, and will feature approximately 80 films including 55 features as well as retrospectives and short films. The festival is divided into 10 distinct programs, each focusing on a particular festival theme. The Festival is presented by Dubai Media City, with presenting sponsors Emirates, Jumeirah International, Nakheel and Dubai Duty Free.