Giving local audiences the chance to see some of the best new films from around the world is, of course, Diff’s greatest strength.
This year's hottest tickets are likely to include The Founder, John Lee Hancock's biopic about the early days of burger chain McDonald's, starring the ever-reliable Michael Keaton, and Ben Wheatley's crime thriller Free Fire. Wheatley directed one of the best films of recent years, 2015's High Rise, and his latest is a high-octane shooter with a star-studded cast, including Oscar-winner Brie Lason, Armie Hammer and Cillian Murphy.
Regular UAE visitor Will Smith is back on screen in the brooding drama Collateral Beauty, alongside another all-star cast including Helen Mirren, Keira Knightley and Edward Norton. Natalie Portman is the star of the Oscar-tipped biopic Jackie, about the life of John F Kennedy's wife Jackie before and after her husband's assassination. Her co-stars include John Hurt, Peter Sarsgaard and Greta Gerwig.
Diff’s opening and closing films are always a source of great anticipation, and this year does not disappoint.
Jessica Chastain stars in festival opener Miss Sloane, a political thriller directed by indie darling John Madden (Shakespeare in Love).
The closing film, meanwhile, is about as high-profile as it gets – the regional premiere of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
Diff organisers promise a Star Wars-themed party that fans of the franchise won't want to miss.
Arab cinema is also well represented in this year's programme. Magdy Ahmed Ali's Mawlana (The Preacher) will have its world premiere with a gala screening at Madinat Arena.
Sophie Boutros's comedy-drama Mahbas (Solitaire) will also gets the red carpet treatment. This is her debut feature following a successful career in music videos.
Bollywood fans will also find plenty to keep them entertained, with the biggest Hindi draw set to be the world premiere of Aditya Chopra's Befikre.
European cinema has not been overlooked. The British offerings include Ken Loach's I, Daniel Blake, a cutting social commentary about the damaging effects of austerity politics, which won the Palme d'Or at Cannes.
Also from the United Kingdom comes wartime romance, Their Finest, starring Bill Nighy and Gemma Arteton.
France is represented by a typically strong line-up, including a number of French/Arab co-productions, and the critically lauded Tramontane.
There is also an exclusive tribute to the influential Lumiere brothers, with the screening of remastered versions of some of the trailblazing early work by the filmmakers.
Movies from more unusual locations include Neruda Pablo Larrain's biography of Chilean poet Pablo Neruda (Larrain also directed Jackie), and the visually stunning Kazakh documentary The Eagle Huntress (narrated in English by Star Wars: The Phantom Menace actress Daisy Ridley).
• For full listings and timings, visit www.dubaifilmfest.com or pick up a brochure at one of the box offices
cnewbould@thenational.ae
