A DIFFerent level

With Dubai's reputation for having the biggest and the best the world has to offer, is it any wonder that the films staged at DIFF are of the highest calibre in the industry?

Despite being only in its third year, DIFF has, from the outset, attracted films worthy of industry admiration.

Its very first gala screening on December 6, 2004, was of Le Grand Voyage which won the Luigi De Laurentiis Award at Venice that year. The movie, directed by Ismaël Ferroukhi, went on to scoop the Jury Award at the Newport International Film Festival, and best actor and best film at the Mar del Plata Film Festival in 2005. Even this year, it succeeded in a BAFTA Film Award nomination to add to the list.

Another big hitter in the very first DIFF was Super Size Me, which won numerous awards and was put forward for an Oscar last year.

In 2005, DIFF staged the Middle East premiere of Paradise Now, by Palestinian Hany Abu Assad, which went on to take the world's film festivals by storm.

The tale about two Palestinian friends preparing to be suicide bombers struck a chord on a worldwide scale and has since scored multiple accolades, including a Golden Globe and a European Film Award.

The Arabic-language movie became the first Palestinian film to be nominated for an Oscar, this year, following three wins at the Berlin Film Festival and two at the Netherlands Film Festival last year.

Outstanding

Also at last year's DIFF was Yesterday, a South African story exploring the plight of an Aids-afflicted mother, whose dream is to see her daughter go to school. The poignant film picked up an EIUC Award at the Venice Film Festival and a Gracie Allen Award for outstanding drama.

Similarly, The Constant Gardener, showcased at last year's DIFF, received widespread recognition with accolades cascading from every direction. The gripping drama, starring Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz, can now count an Oscar, a BAFTA and a Golden Globe among its numerous trophies.

Still to come

Days Of Glory (Indigenes), being screened for the first time in the Gulf on Friday, has already won two awards at Cannes this year, including best actor, bestowed on its five-strong male cast. It has also been nominated for an Independent Spirit Award.

Audiences throughout the week will also be able to catch movies in the midst of their winning streak, such as Babel, The Wind That Shakes The Barley and The Last King Of Scotland.

With all this and more converging on Dubai and making heads turn around the world, DIFF 2006 provides a rare opportunity you'd be mad to miss.