DIFF to welcome Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences to 13th edition

The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) will welcome a delegation from The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) at the 13^th edition of the festival.

This will be the fourth time the Dubai International Film Festival has partnered with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to deliver a “customised programme” of events involving a delegation from the Academy during the festival next month. Back in 2013, the Academy confirmed that the Dubai International Film Festival was eligible to join the ranks of qualifying festivals for the Oscar’s short film competition.

The first academy led event on Saturday, 10 December at DIFF’s Dubai Film Markets Forum will be In conversation: Cheryl Boone Isaacs. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Cheryl Boone Isaacs will discuss her role at the Academy and how the organization supports a range of initiatives to promote the art and science of the movies.

The second Academy-led event in the Forum on Tuesday, 13 December will be In the Director’s Chair: A Conversation with Lenny Abrahamson. Academy Award-nominated director, Lenny Abrahamson, who brought us the extraordinary film Room. DIFF delegates will have the opportunity to and hear about his masterful approach to directing and his personal journey from indie films to Oscar nomination.

DIFF chairman Abdulhamid Juma said: “We are honored to be collaborating with AMPAS again and having Cheryl Boone Isaacs and the Academy delegation at the Festival this year. Developing solid relationship with international entities such as AMPAS is crucial to raising the visibility of Arab cinema on the international stage. We also are thrilled that acclaimed Irish filmmaker Lenny Abrahamson is also joining us to share his incredible knowledge and insights with our local talent and for anyone passionate about cinema, this is a priceless opportunity.”

Arab cinema in recent years has received Oscar nominations in the Foreign Language Film category for Omar, from Palestinian director Hany Abu Assad, Theeb from British/Jordanian director Naji Abu Nowar and most recently for British/Palestinian director Basil Khalil’s short film Ave Maria.