Glimpse into Arabian Nights at DIFF

The essence of Arab world cinema to be showcased at festival.

The Arabian Nights Programme has long been one of the Dubai International Film Festival’s most popular strands, and this year’s line up is set to feature a selection of insightful, culturally-enriching narratives from a host of talented film makers from across the region.

Homegrown director Ali F Mostafa, creator of the first Emirati blockbuster City of Life, returns to DIFF with his new feature From A to B. The movie tells the story of three childhood friends who went their separate ways over the years, but now decide to revive their relationship with a road trip from Abu Dhabi to Beirut to commemorate their late friend.

The festival, running from December 10 to 17, will also feature Nadine Naous’ Home Sweet Home. The film offers a Lebanese family portrait, in which the director returns to her native Lebanon when she learns her father is having financial difficulties.

Other features set to be showcased include Jan-Willem van Ewijk’s film Atlantic, On the Bride’s Side, by Khaled Soliman Al Nassiry, Gabriele Del Grande and Antonio Augugliaro, along with Liwaa Yazji’s documentary Haunted which captures the Syrian people’s relationship with their homes during the war.