- Title: UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Dubai film festival brings stars from around the globe
- Date: 13th December 2007
- Summary: DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (DECEMBER 9, 2007) (REUTERS) (*** FLASH INFORMATION ***) ACTOR GEORGE CLOONEY ARRIVING AT THE RED CARPET FOR OPENING FILM OF THE DUBAI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL "MICHAEL CLAYTON" CLOONEY BEING GREETED BY FANS JOURNALISTS FILMING AT THE RED CARPET CLOONEY BEING GREETED BY ORGANISERS JOURNALISTS COLONY SPEAKING TO FANS/WALKING AWAY VARIOUS GLORI
- Embargoed: 28th December 2007 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: United Arab Emirates
- Country: United Arab Emirates
- Reuters ID: LVA885SVL3WRC3NB1125JF0J2PXP
- Story Text: Gracing the red carpet for the fourth Dubai International Film Festival were George Clooney, Gloria Estefan, Sharon Stone and Danny Glover, who will receive a lifetime achievement award.
Screaming fans stood by at Madinet Jumeirah waiting for Clooney and other celebrities to arrive ahead of the screening of the opening film "Michael Clayton".
One German fan said she has come especially to see Clooney.
''It's so exciting, so exciting. I've seen George. It's fantastic. It's my only dream'' said Katarina Killium.
Organisers say they want to bring international films and production houses to a Gulf Arab region often derided as a cultural desert, showing 141 films from 52 countries.
In 2006, the Dubai festival launched the Muhr Awards for Excellence in Arab Cinema. This year, the competition will include seven world premieres in its existing three categories -- features, documentaries and shorts, which carry top cash prizes of 50,000, 40,000 and 30,000 U.S. dollars respectively.
It will also introduce 10,000 U.S. dollar prizes for Best Actor and Best Actress and 7,000 U.S. dollars prizes for Best Scriptwriter, Best Cinematographer, Best Editor and Best Composer.
Over 300 films have been submitted for the 2007 competition.
''I'm a little surprised at how large it is. I hadn't quiet anticipated it in its forth year'' said one of the guests on the opening night.
George Clooney, star of the Opening Night film Michael Clayton, said film was a great way to boost understanding among cultures.
''I think that first of all what seems to be the case here in the Dubai Film Festival is that they are not just trying to simply cross cultures but they are also trying to open this film festival up to real films and real filmmakers....I think the film festival... (is) not just trying to bridge the gap culturally but also being able to expand and show and talk about films that are being watched around the world that have nothing to do with political...a political story'' Clooney said.
''It is really wonderful to be back here again. We shot a film that was very dear to my heart, in Syriana, here. It took lot of guts to allow us to shoot a film like that, that asks tough questions here in this country and I thought it did a lot to open and ask questions in the United States and I'm very proud to be able to be back here again in a country, a city that welcomed us'' he added.
Parts of Syriana, a political thriller about a fictional oil-rich Arab state, were filmed in the United Arab Emirates.
Dealing with terrorism, poor labourers, oil and Western policy, it drew both praise and criticism in the West and the Arab world. Many were surprised such a film was shot in the UAE.
This year, audiences will also be able to vote for their favourite films with a people's choice award and there will be a special competition to nurture fledgling UAE film-making.
Among Arab films on offer are Mohammed Khan's "In the Heliopolis Flat" -- Egypt's entry for best foreign-language film at the Oscars -- and Mahmoud al-Massad's "Recycle" about a former jihadist struggling to cope with civilian life in Jordan.
Also showing are a slew of films on the 2006 war in Lebanon.
They include "33 Days", a documentary by Lebanese director Mai Masri that follows a group of journalists and aid workers, and Philippe Aractingi's "Under the Bombs", which explores interfaith love in war-ravaged south Lebanon during the war.
Lebanese-Belgian director Borhane Alaouie's film "Khalas", about life after Lebanon's 15-year civil war, is also showing. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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