Following the overwhelming response to the opening day screening of ‘The King’s Speech’ – the inaugural gala film of the seventh Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) – the management of DIFF has opened all ‘Rhythm & Reel’ screenings for free to the public.
DIFF introduced The Walk at JBR as a new venue for the festival, where the opening ceremony of the festival and the opening gala film were telecast live. Hundreds of movie-lovers thronged the venue to watch the glittering opening ceremony and the much-acclaimed Colin Firth movie.
Following the response, DIFF opened its ‘Rhythm & Reels’ screenings, which celebrate both films and music, for free to the public at The Walk at JBR, as a gesture of appreciation to the Dubai community. Film and music lovers can now watch an amazing selection of films centred on music for free. Age restrictions, where applicable, will apply though.
The eclectic line-up of compelling films in ‘Rhythm & Reels’ segment include John Lennon’s life in LENNONNYC, and a behind-the-scenes look into the life of popular American rock band The Doors in Tom DiCillo’s When You’re Strange: A Film About The Doors.
The screenings will be complemented by a series of musical performances by popular Arab and international acts from Rima Khcheich, Massar Egbari and Y-Crew to a mariachi ensemble specially flown in from Mexico.
Following the screening of Mexican classic Enamorada on December 15, will be a concert featuring 12 performers from Mexico, the six-member mariachi Grupo Impulsor de la Musica Representativa de Mexico and a six-member team of folk dancers from the Ballet Folklorico Yolitzi Widen de La Laguna.
Renowned Lebanese singer Rima Khcheich, a musical icon in the Arab world, will perform at The Walk at JBR following the screening of DIFF’s Lifetime Achievement Award’s recipient, Sabah’s My Wife’s Husband (Jaoz Marti) on Thursday, December 16. Celebrated internationally and in the region for her classical Arab singing as well as her fusion work, Khcheich has multiple albums and awards to her name.
Rhythm & Reels will host Arab rock-fusion band Massar Egbari, and underground hip-hop band the Y-Crew in concert on Friday, December 17, following the screening of Ahmed Abdallah’s Microphone. The award-winning Massar Egbari, which formed in 2005, specializes in alternative Egyptian music, fusing rock, jazz and blues with pure Oriental music. Y-Crew, the three-member Egyptian hip hop band, will also perform at the concert at The Walk at JBR.
DIFF 2010 box office locations are: CineStar Mall of the Emirates, the Madinat Souk, The Walk at JBR, and at the CNN Building in Dubai Media City. Tickets can also be purchased through DIFF’s Dial-a-Ticket service at (04) 391 3378 and from the website, www.dubaifilmfest.com.
The DIFF Rhythm & Reels section is presented by Dubai Pearl and Dubai Properties. DIFF 2010 is held in association with Dubai Studio City. Dubai Duty Free, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai Pearl, Emirates Airline and Madinat Jumeirah, the home of the Dubai International Film Festival, are the principal sponsors of DIFF. The event is supported by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority.
For more and updated information about DIFF, please visit www.dubaifilmfest.com
