Arab stars flock to Dubai's inaugural film festival

The presence of the Arab constellation of stars is seen as an expression of confidence in a Festival dedicated to building cultural bridges between the Arab and non-Arab worlds.

The stars include actors Duraid Lahham and Ayman Zaidan from Syria, Hussein Fahmi, Izzat Al Alaili, Farouk Al Fishawi, Yahia Al Fakharani, Mohammed Hinidi, Ahmed Bedeir, Samir Sabri, Ilham Shaheen, Laila Olwi, Nilli, Hanan Turk and Hala Sedki from Egypt, and Ali Almufaidi and Dawood Hussein from Kuwait.

Celebrated Egyptian directors Ali Badrakhan, Hala Khalil and Mohammed Abdul-Aziz and producers Safwat Ghatas, Mohamed Hussein Ramzy and Mohamed Al-Subki also arrived in Dubai yesterday, along with Ali Abu Shadi, President of the Al Ismailia Film Festival in Egypt, Abdulrahman Hafiz, President of the Egyptian Media Production City, and Mamdooh Al Laithi, head of the Egyptian Cinematic Arts Union.

Many of the stars were welcomed at Dubai International Airport by Abdulhamid Juma, CEO of Dubai Media City, and Ibrahim Hafiz, Egyptian Consul General to the UAE.

"We are very pleased to have so many key Arab stars at Dubai's first Film Festival not only because they are the cream of the Arab film community, but also because their presence is also an expression of the pan-Arab support for this event," Juma said. "We hope that they will have a wonderful stay in Dubai, and that all their expectations of our Festival will be met."

Neil Stephenson, Festival Director and CEO, said the presence of a strong Arab contingent is crucial to the Festival's core aims of creating an international showcase of excellence for Arab cinema and building a cultural bridge to link the Arab and non-Arab worlds.

"The Dubai International Film Festival has been created as a place for the Arab and global film communities to come together to exchange views and share experiences," Stephenson said. "Having a wide cross-section of Arab and international stars here is a very good starting point for us to build on in the years ahead."

Many of the arriving stars are connected to films playing in the Festival - Best Times (Ahla Al Awkat), Land of Fear (Ard Al Khof), I Love Cinema (Baheb el Cima), Kit Kat and the short film A Square Meter. Renowned Egyptian director Daoud Abdel Sayed will also be honored as part of the Festival's "Directors in the Spotlight" segment.

A number of UAE stars - including Huda Al Khatib, Ahmed Al Jissmi and Samirah Ahmed - will also be present during the Festival. All of the top stars will be present at the Festival's opening gala on Monday, December 6.