Leader of the pack

This year's Dubai International Film Festival is even bigger and better than previous events.

With competitive categories for the first time, an exclusive children and family film section and exciting A-list Hollywood stars, CEO and festival director Neil Stephenson has to take some of the credit.

Stephenson has been involved with the festival since its inception in 2004 and says he is extremely pleased with the way the annual event has grown in popularity and size.

He said: "It is a great pleasure to work on such an amazing event here in Dubai. It is a lot of work but it's at this time of year, when the excitement of the film festival can be felt across the city, that the hard effort pays off."
"The festival takes almost an entire year to plan, prepare, organise and execute and it's great fun throughout.

"Invitations go out to the stars and we spend a substantial proportion of our time visiting other film festivals around the world to check out the films which work, new workshops and industry ideas.

"We go to the main events at Cannes, Berlin, Rotterdam and Cairo, which gives us a major insight into the world of film festivals."

Bigger than ever

This year the film festival presents 110 films from more than 40 countries across numerous categories.
"We have added many new services to cater to the needs of our accredited industry and media guests, as well as enhanced panel discussions, workshops and opportunities for our audiences to engage with filmmakers and actors at post-screening Q&A sessions," Stephenson added.

"Our aim is to make the event accessible to as many people as possible and I think we get better at it each year."
DIFF 2006 opened with a gala screening of the much-anticipated Bobby, starring Laurence Fishburne, Martin Sheen, Anthony Hopkins, Helen Hunt, Lindsay Lohan, Demi Moore and Sharon Stone.

Stephenson said: "The opening night got us off to a great start and really kicked the festival into full swing. Everyone was very excited about the film and the stars, some of whom were present to answer media questions. A very positive start and the best we could have wished for."

Ticket sales have already exceeded last year's and Neil says this is obviously the best indication of the festival's popularity.

He said: "We can think the event is bigger and better and the media can portray that, but the best way to prove such a statement is by ticket sales.

"These are the people who are actually coming to the festival in whatever capacity. You can bring the biggest and brightest stars but if the people don't support you then you have very little.

"We are always overwhelmed by the support of the local people and of the media who travel from far and wide to cover the event."