DIFF Takes Dubai to the World

With two Arab films nominated for the upcoming 90th Academy Awards, we take a look at how Dubai International Film Festival has helped change perceptions of Arab cinema and correct preconceived notions about our region

What was the last good film you saw? What movie changed your life? What movie made you think about something differently? What's a performance you can't forget?
All of us have an association, a memory connected to a film. No matter where we are from or where we grew up, movies are a rich part of our culture.
It's mind boggling if you really think about the fact that the  first ever cinema hall was opened in 1905 in Pittsburgh, setting the style for the first common type of movie theater, and that by 1908, there were thousands of cinemas across North America. In addition to that, the electronic television as we know it when it was first invented in the 1920s, but it wasn't until after 1947 that it became common place in the landscape of family life at home.
Think about those dates for a minute. In over a 100 years (which isn't very long), storytelling has grown in epic proportions. Movies have changed the world, how we see and interact with it and other people.
From the original silent movies that were black and white and only minutes long to epic tales like Lord of the Rings - we've come a long way in a short time. The advent of Computer Generated Imagery and the diverse methods and plots that have developed over this time, alongside the development of technology, have resulted in a plethora of different ways we experience stories in a visual sense.
So how has that benefited the world? Well, how much time do you have?
Movies as a form of storytelling whether entertaining, thought provoking, educational or all three are indelibly woven into all of our lives in some way or another. The stories themselves, no matter how fantastical or fictionalised, feel real and all of us relate pivotal moments of our childhoods and our lives to one movie or another. In fact, many of us have been introduced to new worlds, (fictional and real) through the medium of films.
Which brings us to the 90th Academy Awards which will be taking place on March 4. This year's Oscars are celebrating a range of movies from the fictional and fantastical to stories steeped in factual events from recent history.
This year, two Arab films are nominated - The Insult directed by Ziad Doueiri which is nominated for Best Foreign Film, and Last Men in Aleppo, a war documentary directed by Firas Fayyad. It's always a reason to celebrate when Arab stories or Arab directors are recognised by the most esteemed film establishment in the world. It's a platform that brings attention not only to the issues these films raise but also to the quality of stories and production value of Arab films.
The Oscars and the hype around them continuously highlight that movies have long been a bridge not only between people, but cultures as well. And now, more than ever, when Arabs and Arab culture are being completely misrepresented in the media, we need to not only celebrate Arab films within our communities, but give them the best chance and opportunity to be seen by as many people around the world as possible. And there has been no better institution whose mission and vision aims to not only create a bridge through storytelling, but to shine a light on Arab cinema other than the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF).
Over the years, DIFF has established itself as a platform where we can expect to see international films set for critical acclaim and recognition, but also a place where as a community, Dubai can experience what the world of Arab cinema is working on. DIFF has also positioned Dubai as a city of international relevance where culture is revered, appreciated and celebrated.
Since 2004, DIFF which is a not-for-profit cultural event, has managed to highlight some amazing films from the region as well as nurture local talent. These films have not only acted as ambassadors for the Arab world, but have also shone a light on other sectors where Arab excellence has proven itself over and over again - from architecture to journalism, creative writing, fashion, music, performing arts and design. All these seemingly separate elements come together to build a world that help tell a visual story, truly making films one of the most modern means of storytelling, not to mention one of the most intellectual and highly accessible to the mainstream.    
And thanks to a platform like DIFF we can celebrate and share these achievements and stories with each other, and the rest of the world.
During the 68th Berlin International Film Festival which ran from February 5 - 25 , DIFF Chairman Abdulhamid Juma and its Artistic Director Masoud Amralla Al Ali received the first ever Arab Cinema Personality of the Year Award. Presented by the Arab Cinema Center in collaboration with The Hollywood Reporter, the award was given in recognition of the Festival's impact on the development of regional cinema. The award was presented to Abdulhamid Juma and Masoud Amralla Al Ali during a ceremony at Marriott Hotel.
This is another reminder of the importance of a platform like DIFF that is actively making a difference on how Arabs are perceived outside the Arab world.

City Times spoke with Abdulhamid Juma about receiving the first ever Arab Cinema Personality of the year award and his thoughts on how DIFF is helping to change the landscape of Arab Cinema
What does it mean to you and Masoud Amralla Al Ali (Artistic Director) to receive the first ever Arab Cinema Personality of the Year Award at the Berlin International Film Festival?
It really is a special honour. In the last 15 years, DIFF has played a central role in the growth of Arab cinema and to be recognised for that dedication, and on an international stage at the Berlin Film Festival, truly shows how far DIFF has come. 
Moving forward from this, what do you hope DIFF can achieve to help the landscape of Arab cinema?
Supporting Arab cinema is always at the center of the Festival. Each year, we bring established and up-and-coming talent to the fore to celebrate and showcase their work not only to audiences in the region but to our international guests from every corner of the world. The industry is not just about the filmmakers. To thrive, it requires producers, actors, writers, animators, costume designers, researchers - the list goes on. That's why with each edition we aim to inspire and support talent from a range of disciplines through initiatives like the Young Journalist Award, Young Animators Award, Arab Stars of Tomorrow and, of course, the Dubai Film Market which helps bring many of these networks together. We've seen so much change over the past 15 years, and we look forward to moving forward and adapting as the industry does.
How important is DIFF and the culture of movie making and movie watching to the region at the moment?Cinema is more important than ever in this region, especially with the imminent introduction of cinema to Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom knows the value that film and the experience of watching a film together at a cinema can play in enriching lives, and the restoration of cinema is set to play an important role in the transformation of the Kingdom under Vision 2030. Cinema is unique as an art form, because it not only entertains but has the ability to foster cultural understanding, show new perspectives and bring people together through a common ground. The Middle East is home to people from all over the world and it is through stories in film that they can come together and share their ideas and create connections.

• Dubai