Diff's Muhr AsiaAfrica awards to open doors

Dubai: The Dubai International Film Festival has selected 15 feature films that will compete in the new Muhr AsiaAfrica awards, introduced this year to encourage filmmaking in emerging markets.

Nashen Moodly, Director of DIFF's AsiaAfrica Programming Segment, said: "The Muhr AsiaAfrica Awards received over 450 submissions from 111 countries, which extends DIFF's mandate of inspiring and encouraging up and coming talent. There are a number of debut features in competition, as well as prize-winners from festivals earlier in the year. Festival goers have a chance with the awards to be able to see films that will be immensely popular next year as they are being discovered-a perfect reason to come to DIFF and be exposed to the freshest new cinema the world has to offer."

On offer

Films from three different cultures focus on the human fascination with magic as a healing force. Heaven On Earth, by acclaimed director Deepa Mehta, portrays Chand (Preity Zinta), an Indian girl in an abusive arranged marriage with Rocky (Vansh Bhardwaj), an Indian emigre living in Canada. When a friend gives Chand a magical tree root, it leads Chand into a parallel existence.

Baksy (Native Dancer) introduces Aidai, an old Kazakh lady widely known for her powers of second sight, who is evicted her from her home on land belonging to rich businessman Batyr. When Batyr's son is kidnapped, he realises that his only hope lies in locating her again.

Director Vinh Son Nguyen's Trang Noi day Gieng (Moon at the Bottom of the Well) introduces Hanh, a dutiful wife in a rural Vietnamese village. Her childlessness plunges her into scandal and despair until she meets a mysterious spiritual guide.

Two films explore politics in the subcontinent. Indian actress Nandita Das makes her directorial debut with Firaaq, an ensemble drama based on the 2002 riots in Gujarat. Ramchand Pakistani is Pakistani director Mehreen Jabbar's debut feature, based on a true story. Tension along the Indo-Pakistani border is high when Ramchand, a Pakistani Hindu boy, stumbles over the border into India with his father in search of him. Their subsequent incarceration provides emotional heft to this story of international relations gone wrong.

The Muhr AsiaAfrica Awards enjoy their first year of competition at DIFF 2008, which runs from December 11 to 18.

Films from three different cultures focus on thehuman fascination with magic as a healing force.