MUSICAL MASTERPIECES AND COMPELLING CINEMA ON SECOND DAY OF DIFF

Unique screenings, intimate Q+As and a spotlight on Arab talent at second day of DIFF

DIFF festival goers were treated to another packed schedule of entertainment and industry insight on the Festival’s second day.

Film screenings began with a Special Presentation of Dominic Cooke’s adaption of the British romance, ‘On Chesil Beach’.

Following the screening, Cooke treated fans to an intimate ‘In Conversation’ as part of Dubai Film Market (DFM). Meanwhile at the Souk Madinat, DIFF’s regional cinema showcase also hit a high with the world premiere of ‘Kiss Me Not’, an original mockumentary whose writer, producer and director Ahmed Amer and the film’s cast were on hand to answer questions and discuss the concept behind the new feature.

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – DECEMBER 07: (from second left) Ahmad Fahmy, Mario Junior Haddad, Ahmad Badawy, Mario Haddad, Mohamed Adel Emam and Yasser Howaidy pose during a photocall on day two of the 14th annual Dubai International Film Festival held at the Madinat Jumeriah Complex on December 7, 2017 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for DIFF)

French actor and director Rachid Hami presented his heart-warming tale of new beginnings and the power of music, ‘Orchestra Class’ at the Arena with the presence of lead actor, Samir Guesmi. Meanwhile, at the Souk, the captivating ‘My Generation’ directed by David Batty and produced and narrated by Sir Michael Caine, told the story of 1960s British pop culture, with the screening followed by a Q&A with Batty. At THE BEACH at JBR, audiences travelled to the tallest peaks with Jennifer Peedom’s epic new documentary ‘Mountain’, narrated by Willem Dafoe.

Arab talent was brought to the fore across Dubai as the sixth IWC Filmmaker Awards gala dinner was held at One&Only Royal Mirage. IWC Schaffhausen, ‘Supporting’ Sponsor and Official ‘Festival-Time’ Partner of DIFF, honoured its shortlisted regional directors and revealed the deserving winner of the esteemed award and a cash prize ofUS$ 100,000. The gala was attended by Academy Award-winning actress and IWC Schaffhausen brand ambassador Cate Blanchett, IWC CEO Christoph Grainger-Herr, DIFF Chairman Abdulhamid Juma, Tunisian actress and IWC brand ambassador Hend Sabri and DIFF Artistic Director Masoud Amralla Al Ali.

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – DECEMBER 07: Director Dominic Cooke attends the “On Chesil Beach” red carpet on day two of the 14th annual Dubai International Film Festival held at the Madinat Jumeriah Complex on December 7, 2017 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images for DIFF)

Day 2 also saw the highly anticipated return of a DIFFerent Reality with the leading innovations in VR, AR and mixed reality that was successfully introduced to the Festival last year. The day kicked off with a day dedicated to new frontiers in storytelling where DIFF audiences experienced the latest technologies that are pushing the boundaries of immersive experiences and storytelling with BAFTA-winning Alchemy VR. The day wrapped up with a master class on film shooting in 360° led by one of the leading experts in the field.