Dom International, The Kanoo Group and National Bank of Dubai support inaugural film festival

The three Gulf-based companies make up the second tier of corporate participation in the Festival. All three Gold Sponsors, Festival organizers said, have made a significant contribution toward putting the event on the international and national cultural calendar.

"We are very pleased to have this level of participation from corporations around the Gulf and the UAE," said Abdulhamid Juma, CEO of Dubai Media City. "For us, it is a good indication of the regional community's long-term commitment to the Festival."

The Festival's aim to connect cultures and its potential to put Dubai and the UAE on the world cultural map have struck a chord with many regional corporations.

Mishal Kanoo, Deputy Chairman of the Kanoo Group, UAE and Oman, said the Group saw the Dubai International Film Festival as a cultural movement in the right direction, and anticipated it growing in stature to become a major institution comparable to the Cannes, Sundance and Venice Film Festivals.

"The Kanoo Group decided to support the Festival not only because of our passion for fine arts, but also because we know that this Festival will help Dubai to be recognized worldwide as a cultural heavyweight," he added.

R. Douglas Dowie, General Manager of the National Bank of Dubai, said the bank's involvement with the Dubai International Film Festival is testament to its ongoing commitment to the international growth of the city.

"With this Festival, Dubai enters the global film arena for the first time, and the National Bank of Dubai is delighted to be associated with an event that promotes cultural understanding and international awareness through the medium of film," Dowie added.

"We are delighted to be sponsoring this new prestigious Festival which will play an important role towards the development of Dubai's multicultural society and build stronger bridges joining Dubai's vast cross-section of nationalities and cultures," said Nina Chohan, Marketing Manager of DOM International.

The Dubai International Film Festival will be held between December 6 and 11, 2004, and will feature approximately 75 films from 26 countries, including features, retrospectives and short films. The Festival is divided into 10 distinct programs, each focusing on a particular festival theme. DIFF is presented by Dubai Media City and presenting sponsors are Dubai Duty Free, Emirates, Madinat Jumeirah Arabian Resort-Dubai, and Nakheel.

Media Note: A special Web site has been created exclusively for members of the press at www.dubaifilmfest.com/press.html. The site contains an archive of press releases and clippings in Arabic and English, in addition to high-resolution images available for download. Stills downloaded from the site are for promotional purposes only and any usage must include a credit as being courtesy of the rights holder.