Top movie stars likely to grace Dubai International Film Festival

Dubai: Major local and foreign films will provide the star power at this year's Dubai International Film Festival gala screenings.

Director Rob Marshall's highly-anticipated Nine has been confirmed to open the festival, while Emirati filmmaker Ali Mustafa's City Of Life will have a red carpet screening at the Arabian Nights gala.

Kate Hudson, Penélope Cruz, Dame Judi Dench, Nicole Kidman, Fergie, Sophia Loren and Marion Cotillard all star in Nine, a remake of the 1982 Broadway musical.

Although none have been confirmed yet, organisers at the DIFF are working round the clock to secure appearances by the stars during the eight-day event that runs from December 9-16.

Nine tells the story of Guido Contini, played by Daniel Day-Lewis, a world-famous film director, as he confronts an epic midlife crisis with both creative and personal problems.

Daniel Day-Lewis learned to speak Italian for his role, while Kidman began rehearsals for the all-singing, all-dancing role just four weeks after giving birth to her daughter Sunday Rose last year.

Mustafa's City Of Life follows the lives of three Dubai residents — an Emirati, an Indian and a Westerner — as they try to make their way in the city. The film, which was shot on location in the UAE, will have its gala on December 11.

"I'm very excited. I'm looking forward to seeing the Dubai community and international audience reaction to a film made by an Emirati. The movie doesn't show Dubai as an artificial city. It's real people and paints a realistic picture," Mustafa said.

Don't miss it

The Dubai International Film Festival box office is now open.

Tickets are available at the box office counters at Dubai Media City's CNN building lobby, First Group Theatre at Madinat Souq and Cinestar at Mall of the Emirates. Tickets cost Dh10 for students and children, Dh25 for a regular screening and Dh80 for a gala.

For more information, visit dubaifilmfest.com or call the DIFF call centre on 04-3913378.

Film fans can also buy tickets on the day of the screening and join the stand-by queue where tickets to empty seats will be sold approximately 10 minutes before the screening starts.

Gala Screenings :

 Here's a run down of the gala screenings during DIFF

December 9: Nine (Opening night gala)

December 10: Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year (Bollywood gala)

December 11: Alvin & The Chipmunks (Children's gala)

December 11: City of Life (Arabian gala)

December 12: Mother and Child (World Cinema gala)

December 13: Budras (Cultural Bridge gala)

December 14: Cartgena (Focus on France gala)

December 15: Avatar (Closing night gala)

Get tickets :

The Dubai International Film Festival Box Office is now open – so don't miss out on the chance to walk the red carpet with the stars or simply catch a movie in the varied line-up.

The options are endless with 170 films from 55 countries, offering movies for all ages and tastes.

Tickets are available at box office counters at Dubai Media City's CNN building lobby, First Group Theatre at Madinat Souq and Cinestar at Mall of the Emirates.

Prices start at Dh10 for students and children, Dh25 for a regular screenings and Dh80 for galas.

There are also package deal options and for prices for tickets, panel discussions, and special events.

Call the DIFF call centre on: 04-391 3378.

Film fans can also buy tickets on the day of the screening or join the stand-by queue where approximately 10 minutes before the screening starts, any empty seats are sold to the stand-by queue on a first come first served basis.