An essential aspect of philosophy and of the establishing of The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) in 2004 was the recognition that our collective world is enriched by greater understanding of the diversity and wealth of cultures that exists and flows from West to East and East to West. The first titles that will form part of DIFF’s Cinema of the World programme in December is revealed, bringing a variety of films and genres from around the world to the local UAE region and is set to take the audience on a cinematic journey of unique perspectives.

DIFF’s Artistic Director, Masoud Amralla Al Ali, commenting on the Cinema of the World programme: “DIFF’s Cinema of the World programme embraces diversity in all of its forms through its commitment to sharing the best films from around the globe. We are proud to be able to bring these stories to new and diverse audiences here in the region, as well as sharing tales from our own shores. In this way, DIFF is a true exchange of cultures.”

Nashen Moodley, Director of the programme, added: “We scour the world every year to ensure that we bring a diverse, compelling selection of the very best films to Dubai. I urge film fans to come and discover the most highly anticipated features of the year that make up the Cinema of the World programme which truly explore different cultures and life experiences, paving the way for new understandings.
Ciambra
Twelve films are headlining the program. Italian filmmaker Jonas Carpignano’s latest film, A Ciambra, which screened at the Cannes Film Festival, has been selected as Italy’s submission for consideration for the foreign-language film Oscar. The film follows a boy Pio Amato from a small Romani community in Calabria. At 14, Pio is desperate to grow up as fast as possible; he drinks, smokes and learns the necessary skills for life on the streets from his older brother Cosimo. Soon, Pio’s world changes forever and he must face an impossible decision that will test if he is truly ready to become a man.

Ukranian filmmaker Sergei Loznitsa, known for his films My Joy and In the Fog, returns to DIFF with his latest film, A Gentle Creature (Krotkaya) which competed at the this year’s Cannes Film Festival. The film tells the story of a woman who lives alone on the outskirts of a Russian village. One day, she receives a parcel she had sent to her incarcerated husband, marked return to sender. Shocked and confused, she begs for time off work and embarks on a long and arduous rail journey to Siberia and to the prison town to find out what has become of him, and justice itself, in modern day Russia.
A Gentle Creature
Russian filmmaker Andrey Zvyagintsev brings to DIFF audiences his latest feature, Loveles (Nelyubov), which has been selected as Russia’s submission for consideration for the foreign-language film Oscar, and scooped the Jury Prize at this year’s 70th Cannes Film Festival. The emotionally charged family drama follows married couple Zhenya and Boris who are going through a divorce. Arguing constantly, and in the process of selling their apartment, they are already preparing for their new lives: Boris with his younger, pregnant girlfriend and Zhenya with the wealthy lover who is keen to get married. Neither seems interested in their 12-year-old son Alyosha. Until he disappears.
Loveless
Presenting his third film at DIFF, Anup Singh’s The Song of Scorpions, a story of twisted love, revenge and the redemptive power of a song starring Irrfan Khan and Golshifteh Farahani. Nooran, carefree and defiantly independent, is a tribal woman learning the ancient art of healing from her grandmother, a revered scorpion-singer. When Aadam, a camel trader in the Rajasthan desert, hears her sing, he falls desperately in love.
Nothing Wood
French filmmaker Sonia Kronlund presents her entertaining and poignant documentary, Nothingwood, the story of a man who spends his life making his childhood dreams come true. About a hundred kilometres away from Kabul, Salim Shaheen, the most popular and prolific actor-director-producer in Afghanistan, comes to show some of his 110 films and to shoot the 111th in the process. He has brought with him his regular troupe of actors, each more eccentric and out of control than the next. That trip is an opportunity for us to get to know Shaheen, a real movie buff who has been making movies tirelessly for more than thirty years in a country at war.

Joining the lineup is Second World War drama, Barefoot, from award-winning Czech director Jan Svěrák. Co-written by Svěrák’s esteemed father, Zdenek Svěrák, who also plays a small role in the film, Barefoot follows eight-year-old Eda, the long-desired and over-protected child of parents, who had previously lost a child. Eda is a memory for his parents and even has the same name as his deceased sibling. In 1939, when his father renounces the Nazi invaders of Czechoslovakia, the family leaves Prague and moves in with relatives in the countryside. The war presents mysterious adventures to Eda, whose childlike wonder cannot perceive the danger of the difficult times they live in. Although his life is strange, Eda is faced with beautiful opportunities and he discovers deep family secrets as well his own personal inner strength. 


أغنية العقارب
From award winning British-Pakistani short film director, Sarmad Masud, comes his first feature film, My Pure Land. Selected as the UK’s official candidate for the Foreign Language Film at the 2018 Oscars, My Pure Land tells the remarkable true story of the toughest woman in Sindh, Nazo, and her family. In rural Pakistan, a mother and her two daughters are forced to defend their family home from their uncle and his cronies, who are determined to take the land after their brother is murdered and father sent to prison. 

Making his DIFF debut is acclaimed Indian director Dipesh Jain, with his thrilling drama In the Shadows. The film stars famed Indian actor Manoj Bajpayee as Khuddoos, a lonely man who obsessively watches people through hidden cameras behind the walled city of Old Delhi. One day he begins to search for a boy named Idris, whom he hears being beaten up through the walls of his house. His obsession to find the boy takes over Khuddoos and when the boy’s condition turns from bad to worse, his own loss of time and reality comes to the fore.
I Am Not A Witch
British-Zambian filmmaker Rungano Nyoni’s debut feature, I Am Not a Witch, is a challenging and impressionistic tale of superstition in a small Zambian community. Eight-year-old Shula is accused of witchcraft and, following a brief trial, she is found guilty and exiled to a witch camp in the middle of the desert. Tied by a ribbon to a large tree, Shula and the other ‘witches’ are warned that if they try to escape they’ll be turned into goats.
The Square
The Square. Swedish provocateur Ruben Östlund (Force Majeure) took home the Palme d'Or at Cannes for The Square, this no-holds-barred satire of the postmodern art world. On the verge of opening a prestigious exhibition, imperious and self-centred curator Christian (Claes Bang) is beset by a host of troubles - including a less-than-successful online marketing campaign, a performance piece gone horribly awry, and a mugging which leaves him both shaken and determined to hunt down the perpetrator - which sets both him and his museum on a crash course with crisis. Danish actor Claes Bang, starring as the inscrutable Christian, is joined by Handmaid's Tale star Elizabeth Moss and Dominic West. The Square is Sweden’s submission for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2018 Oscars.
Charmer
Joining his Swedish counterpart is Iranian-born Milad Alami, with his first feature film The Charmer, which opened the New Directors lineup at San Sebastian Film Festival (2017). The intense psychological drama follows Esmail, a young Iranian man desperately looking to secure a stable girlfriend who can secure his stay in Denmark. As time is running out, he unexpectedly falls in love, and his hidden past catches up with him.

About DIFF
The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) is the leading film festival in the Middle East and Africa. Since its inception in 2004, the festival has served as an influential platform for Arab filmmakers and talent at an international level by spearheading the cinema movement in the region. The 14th edition of DIFF will take place from 6 to 13 December 2017.