Dubai film festival function to raise funds for Aids charity

Dubai: Under the patronage of Princess Haya Bint Al Hussain, UN Messenger of Peace, Chairperson of International Humanitarian City and wife of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF), will present the third annual Cinema Against Aids Dubai gala to raise funds for amfAR, the Foundation for Aids Research, on December 10, 2009.

The Cinema Against Aids gala, one of amfAR's international film festival circuit events, has raised $4.8 million (Dh17.6 million) over the past two events in Dubai. This is more than one-tenth of the total of approximately $48 million raised by Cinema Against Aids galas globally, since 1993. The funds support amfAR's activities focused on Aids research, HIV prevention, treatment education and the advocacy of sound Aids-related public policy.

Shivani Pandya, Managing Director, DIFF, said the overwhelming success of the Cinema Against Aids Dubai galas highlights the power of cinema in bringing together people for worthy causes. "It also puts the spotlight on Dubai, home to powerful charitable initiatives like Dubai Cares, a non-profit organisation that is integrating the prioritisation of water, sanitation... into all of its education programmes around the world," she added.

Information

- WHAT: Cinema Against Aids Dubai gala
- WHEN: December 10
- WHERE: Dubai International Financial Centre