DIFF-erent movies, same five-star event: It's your film festival, Dubai

From the films and stars we're looking forward to, to a peek behind the scenes at what a VIP can expect at the 14th Dubai International Film Festival, to how you can take part for free, to the event's triumphant crescendo, Star Wars, this is your essential bumper DIFF guide

DIFF appears to roll into town quicker and with more gusto each year, which is good for us because it's our absolute favourite week in the city's calendar.
The always-superb Dubai International Film Festival is celebrating its 14th edition and we cannot wait for curtain up tomorrow night with the opening gala featuring the Christian Bale - Rosamund Pike picture, Hostiles. Signalling the beginning of seven days of movie madness, the Western epic will no doubt whet the appetite of film-buffs across the land looking to consume as many features, shorts and documentaries as possible, ranging from animations such as Ferdinand to comedy gold like The Death Of Stalin and closer-to-home grown endeavours including Last Men in Aleppo. Oh, then there's the closing night special, which, unless you've been living in a galaxy far, far away, you'll know is Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

#DIFF17 Early bird ticket prices for regular screenings (35 AED) ends on December 5! Starting Dec 6, prices become 45 AED per ticket. Galas are 100 AED per ticket (fixed price). Get your tickets at: diff.ae #filmwillfindyou pic.twitter.com/wW0e9dhMDK
- Dubai Film Festival (@dubaifilm) December 4, 2017

So sit back and relax as we shine alight on what to expect from DIFF over the next few days.
CELEBRITIES
The two big-hitters this year are Sir Patrick Stewart and Irrfan Khan who will both receive achievement awards.  
Known for playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Professor Xavier in the X-Men film series, including his latest critically acclaimed performance in James Mangold's Logan, Sir Patrick will receive the prestigious Lifetime Achievement award at DIFF's Opening Ceremony tomorrow before fans have the opportunity to attend an 'In Conversation' event with the icon on Friday, at 3.30pm at the Madinat Souk Theatre. The exclusive event opens up the floor to audience members in a question and answer session.

One of India's greatest actors, Irrfan Khan will receive the DIFF Honorary Award in commendation of his contributions to film throughout an illustrious career that began over 30 years ago with a roll-call of movies including Road to Ladakh, Slumdog Millionaire, Life of Pi and Jurassic World.
On Friday the fifth Global Gift Gala benefiting Dubai Cares and the Global Gift Foundation, taking place from 8pm at the Palazzo Versace, will host a multitude of stars including the Honorary Chair of the event, Alesha Dixon, who will be joined by Vanessa Williams and Charlotte Knight collecting awards and Luis Fonsi, Adrien Brody and Seia Lee who will be performing. Seats are still available at globalgiftgala.com. 
Put Cate Blanchett in anything and we'll watch it, which is why we're so excited she'll be at this year's DIFF. The Academy Award-winning actress and IWC Schaffhausen brand ambassador will be head of the IWC Filmmakers Jury for the sixth IWC Filmmaker Award. The award gives cinematic talent from the region the chance to bring their projects to the silver screen with a USD 100,000 cash prize. The IWC Filmmaker Award will be presented to the winning filmmaker at a star-studded gala on December 7.
Other celebs we'll be keeping our eyes peeled for on the red carpet include: Sarah Jessica Parker, David Harbour, Olga Kurylenko, Morgan Spurlock, Michelle Maclaren, Sonam Kapoor, Claes Bang, Shabana Azmi, Kimberley Pierce and Dee Rees. Arab talent set to grace the event includes: Wahid Hamed, Youssra, Nilly Karim, Mona Wassef, Nadine Njeim, Aida Riad, Abdel Rahman Abu Zahra and Yumna Marwan, while the talent from across the GCC and UAE is set to feature: Haiffa Al Mansour, Mansoor El Feeli, Ashjan, Maisa Al Maghrabi, Abdullah Bu Abed, Nivine Madi and Ali Khamis among others.
MOVIES
Naturally there are too many films to feature every single one in depth, so we're going to give you a little overview of the ones we think you'll be into starting with the Gala Screenings. Kick-starting the big ones on Thursday is British director Dominic Cooke's On Chesil Beach based on the 2007 Booker Prize-nominated novel by Ian McEwan.
On Friday a triple-bill at the Madinat Arena with the Children's Gala Ferdinand, the critically appraised The Death of Stalin and Warwick Thornton's period-western Sweet Country.
Saturday sees Rob Reiner's Shock and Awe, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, and The Disaster Artist, before Sunday's The Shape of Water. Monday will feature Induced Labor and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri before Tuesday's You Were Never Really Here and Alexander Payne's satirical sci-fi piece, Downsizing starring Matt Damon and Kristen Wiig.

A treat is going on all week at the Mall of Emirates where the dedicated DIFF screen, DIFF365@VOX Cinemas will be holding a very special screening of Battle of the Sexes, starring Steve Carell, Emma Stone, Elisabeth Shue and Andrea Riseborough. A gripping dramatisation of the build-up to the infamous tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs in 1973, Battle of the Sexes has received critical acclaim for the performances of Steve Carell as Riggs, and Emma Stone as King, with Stone's performance praised as potentially the best of her career.
We can't go on about the films without mentioning perhaps the biggest of the festival, the latest installment of Star Wars. Closing the festival will be, Star Wars: The Last Jedi on December 13 at the Madinat Jumeirah. Written and directed by Rian Johnson, the film features an interstellar cast of rising stars and old favourites, including Carrie Fisher in her final role. In Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the Skywalker saga continues as the heroes of The Force Awakens join the galactic legends in an epic adventure that unlocks age-old mysteries of the Force and revelations of the past. The cast includes Mark Hamill, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong'o, Andy Serkis.
Eleven of this year's most anticipated releases from across the globe have been added to the Cinema of the World lineup. From Kamila Andini's The Seen and the Unseen to Janus Metz Pedersen's Borg vs. McEnroe starring Shia LaBeouf and Stellan Skarsgard, to Goodbye Christopher Robin starring Margot Robbie and Domhnall Gleeson to The Disaster Artist from Hollywood actor, writer, producer and director James Franco to another Margot Robbie picture, I Tonya, there will be so much talent on display. That's before we even mention The Killing of a Sacred Deer with Nicole Kidman and Colin Farrell and Hunting Season, from Argentinian director Natalia Garagiola.
DIFF's Cinema for Children returns once more boasting a lineup that will have you laughing, crying, and on the edge of your seats. We've got Ferdinand, which will be the Cinema for Children's Red Carpet Gala on Friday, Ana and Bruno from Mexico, and 5 Rupees, which tells the tale of a grandmother, Ameena, played by veteran actress Shabana Azmi.
GET INVOLVED
Throughout the week you can choose from 28 industry talks, panel discussions, master classes and events featuring some of the biggest names in global cinema. The programme includes 'Women at the Helm' with award-winning female directors including Kimberly Peirce, Haifaa Al Mansour, Niki Caro and Dee Rees. Academy Award-nominated documentarian Morgan Spurlock (below) will host an insightful conversation about a risk-taking career of entertaining exposés that turn the camera on the director himself, and the making of his latest film Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken which premieres at the Festival. Michelle Maclaren has helmed dozens of episodes across critically acclaimed series including HBO's Game of Thrones, The Leftovers, Westworld, The Deuce and AMC's Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. Join the visionary for an intimate journey into her creative process from script to screen in the Forum, and find out what it's like to produce and direct for the best primetime TV.

Watch the best films of the year at the 14th Dubai International Film Festival. Attend red carpet galas and don't miss out on our new virtual reality films and experiences. Tickets available at @VOXCinemas at Mall of the Emirates or on diff.ae. #DIFF17 pic.twitter.com/4E01GSDvf0
- Dubai Film Festival (@dubaifilm) December 4, 2017

To end the UK/UAE 2017 Year of Culture there will be a UK Spotlight at the Festival. This will include a costume design masterclass presented by BAFTA and Swarovski with BAFTA and Academy Award-winning designer Alexandra Byrne who has designed some of the most iconic screen costumes. Her filmography includes Elizabeth, The Phantom of the Opera, Avengers: Age of Ultron and most recently Murder on the Orient Express.

BAFTA will also present a special costume design exhibition in partnership with Swarovski at DIFF, from December 6-13 at the DIFF Headquarters.
FREE STUFF
This year's free cinema for all again comes courtesy of eight film screenings at The Beach, JBR's open-air cinema. Between the 6th and 13th you can sit in the cool winter breeze and catch films such as  Director Jennifer Peedom's epic new documentary, Mountain, A Grain of Sand from renowned British guitarist and composer, Jason Carter, the original black-and-white, adventure-fantasy epic from 1933, King Kong and Kurt Voelker's American comedy-drama, The Bachelors, starring Oscar-winner J.K Simmons.
david@khaleejtimes.com
 
 

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