Attending a festival can be overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time, so Gulf News tabloid! spoke to Dubai International Film Festival’s managing director, Shivani Pandya, to find out what tips she has for the uninitiated among us. Go forth, be brave and have fun with these eight festival hacks.
1. Look at the film guide. Films are broken up into genres and themes — 141 films can be a lot to choose from, so take your time leafing through your options.
2. Try to buy your tickets online before the festival, to avoid queues and avail discounts. You can buy certain ticket packages, too.
3. If you can’t buy your tickets online, or if a screening has sold out — fear not. There are standby queues on the day of, which means you might still get a chance to nab a seat.
4. Bring your kids along. This year, the festival has added a focus on youth programming, targeting teen viewers up until university age. There’s always the children’s gala, too, meaning fun for the whole family.
5. Use public transport when possible. For those driving, there is parking at the Police Academy and a shuttle service to and from Madinat Jumeirah; make sure you give yourself ample time to reach your screening.
6. Arrive on time. Seating is typically guaranteed up until 15 minutes before a film; after that, people in the standby queue may be allowed in.
7. Listen to your mood. If you want a full red carpet experience, you can dress up and enjoy the glitz and glamour. If you’re feeling more casual, you can put on a shirt and shorts and head to the free open-air screenings on The Beach, adjacent to Jumeirah Beach.
8. There’s more than just the films. Check out an industry talk at The Forum. You might think these events are too exclusive, but a limited amount of tickets will be available to the public. Patrick Stewart, Michelle MacLaren and Morgan Spurlock are among the big speakers this year.
