The directors - whose works are highlighted in the Festival's "Directors in the Spotlight" segment - were welcomed to the luncheon by Festival Director and CEO Neil Stephenson and Dubai Media City CEO Abdulhamid Juma.
"As part of our inaugural film Festival in Dubai, we decided to introduce a program called "Directors in the Spotlight" and the idea here was to choose two directors of great distinction from both the Arab world and the Indian film community, and to showcase some of their greatest works," Stephenson said.
"I would like to thank both of these gentlemen for being here at our first Festival, and I would also like to thank them for working on behalf of the Festival by sharing their craft and their knowledge with the young people of Dubai," he added.
Despite Sayed's impressive body of work as a true cineaste and artisan, Sayed had never been given the special recognition that he deserves, Stephenson said. "It is for this reason that we are so delighted to shine a spotlight on him today," he said.
Stephenson also lauded Indian director Subhash Ghai. "He has managed to span the gap between popular and artistic cinema, producing blockbusters that are also respected by the critics," he said. "It is our great privilege at the DIFF to be able to put this spotlight on this major force in Indian cinema."
Abdulhamid Juma, CEO of Dubai Media City, presented both the directors with special awards in the presence of veteran Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman and DIFF organizers and sponsors.
Two films from each director - Pardes and Taal from Ghai and Kit Kat and Land of Fear (Ard El Khof) from Sayed - are being screened during the Festival.
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Directors Daoud Abdul Sayed, Subhash Ghai honored at Dubai International Film Festival
- United Arab Emirates: Thursday, December 09 - 2004 at 08:13
- PRESS RELEASE
Renowned Indian director Subhash Ghai and acclaimed Egyptian director Daoud Abdul Sayed were honored by the Dubai International Film Festival at a special presentation lunch at the Madinat Jumeirah yesterday, Festival organizers said.
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Notes and media contacts
Five DIFF box offices are currently open for business: at the CNN Building Lobby in Dubai Media City from 11 am to 8 pm; at the Madinat Theatre in the Souk at Madinat Jumeirah from 11 am to 10.30 pm; at the Mercato mall from 10 am to 10.30 pm; at the Madinat Arena and the Jumeirah Beach Hotel Auditorium.Telephone bookings and orders can be made with the Box Office on (04) 367 6701 / (04) 367 6707 for advance bookings and directions to box office venues.
The Dubai International Film Festival will be held between December 6 and 11, 2004, and will feature approximately 75 films 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 its presenting sponsors are Dubai Duty Free, Emirates, Madinat Jumeirah Arabian Resort-Dubai, and Nakheel. DIFF Gold Sponsors are DOM International, The Kanoo Group and National Bank of Dubai, and Silver Sponsors are Arabian Radio Network, Atlas Telecom, Dubai Radio Network, E-Vision and Motivate Publishing.
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.
About Dubai Media City
Strategically located in Dubai at the crossroads of the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, Dubai Media City is rapidly emerging as the region's media hub. The City provides an advanced infrastructure and supportive environment for media-related businesses to operate globally out of Dubai. Dubai Media City is the place where every kind of media business, specifically - Publishing & Printing, Music, Film, New Media, Leisure & Entertainment, Broadcasting, Media & Marketing Services, and Information Agencies will thrive. The facility offers an environment that allows companies and individuals to operate with collective synergy and freedom.
Since its official opening in January 2001, Dubai Media City has grown tremendously to become a thriving media community of over 850 companies and more than 75 freelance media professionals. Several global media giants and promising entrepreneurial ventures have joined the Dubai Media City community. Three quarters of the media community represents regional and international media companies. Dubai Media City - Freedom to Create
For further information, please contact:
Deepa Asnani
Dubai Media City
Tel: +9714 391 4548
Fax: +9714 391 4589
or
Mare Elston
ASDA'A Public Relations
Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971-4-3344550
Fax: +971-4-3344556
M: +971-50-6521236
Anne-Birte Stensgaard, Senior News EditorThursday, December 09 - 2004 at 08:13 UAE local time (GMT+4)
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