Today at Diff 2017

Attending a festival can be overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time, so Gulf News tabloid! spoke to Dubai International Film Festival’s managing director, Shivani Pandya, to find out what tips she has for the uninitiated among us. Go forth, be brave and have fun with these eight festival hacks.

Pandya says: Look at the film guide. Films are broken up into genres and themes — 141 films can be a lot to choose from, so take your time leafing through your options. Check out 7 more tips

This year, Dubai International Film Festival is offering a handful of movies to catch for those music lovers in the audience — from Emirati shorts to feature length documentaries. Check out our pick of musical films you shouldn't miss at Diff.

During earlier years of the Dubai International Film Festival, which launched its first edition in 2004, attracting film stars who were active in the industry was difficult.

“They don’t have work. They just come here for a vacation. They just walk a red carpet. Some of them are really not cinema stars, they’re TV stars. Khaleejis, or Emiratis, because they’re wearing kandoura, they get the benefit of coming. We heard that, and we said fine,” Diff chairman Abdul Hamid Juma told Gulf News tabloid!.

That’s why the 14th edition of the festival, taking place from December 6 to 13, is a point of pride for organisers. It represents a tangible growth and continues to cement Diff as a worthy addition to the international festival circuit. Read more

With inputs from David Tusing, tabloid! Editor, Bindu Rai, Deputy tabloid! Editor, Marwa Hamad, Senior Reporter, Manjusha Radhakrishnan, Chief Reporter, Dona Cherian, Guides Writer, Irish Eden Belleza, Videographer, Logan Fish, Video Editor, and Gulf News Readers' Desk