The red carpet will be rolled out for a dazzling array of movie stars on Wednesday, December 9, who will turn heads at gala premieres in Madinat Arena. While those with premium Dh100 gala tickets can catch a glimpse of celebrities as they pose for the cameras, others can watch the ceremony broadcast live on Dubai TV, or at The Beach, JBR.
International talent anticipated to grace the opening night red carpet between 5pm and 8pm includes Slumdog Millionaire's Dev Patel, who features as the Indian mathematical prodigy Srinivasa Ramanujan in The Man Who Knew Infinity, screening on Saturday.
Distinguished French actress Catherine Deneuve, who has starred in more than 120 films, and Bollywood veteran Naseeruddin Shah, whose latest flick Waiting is premiering in Madinat Theatre on Friday, December 11, are also expected.
Jaws star Richard Dreyfuss will be there, too, ahead of the free screening of his film Jaws on Saturday, December 12 at The Beach, JBR.
As well as seasoned stars, the opening night will play host to those just starting out in the profession – including 9-year-old actor Jacob Tremblay, who stars in the opening night film Room. Fantastic Four's Michael B Jordan will also be present – his second Diff appearance after promoting his film Fruitvale Station two years ago.
Among the throng of journalists and TV presenters hoping to catch the attention of passing stars will be E! News anchor Terrence J. And on Thursday, December 10, Oscar-nominated actor Terrence Howard, best known for playing lead character Lucious Lyon in the TV series Empire, will hit the red carpet.
Global Gift Gala
On Saturday, December 12, Howard will join Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria and Golden Globe and Bafta-nominated British actor Rupert Everett at Dubai's Four Seasons Hotel to help raise funds at the annual Global Gift Gala. The evening will be a glamorous event with a cocktail reception, dinner, live auction of prestigious prizes, and live entertainment from singer Kym Mazelle. Last year's auction raised over US$400,000 (Dh1.46m). This year, the women and children's charities the stars are fundraising for include Dubai Cares; the Eva Longoria Foundation which provides education and entrepreneurship opportunities to women; and Sunrise K Foundation, which raises awareness of childhood glaucoma.
Arab stars
On Friday, December 11, the 2013 winner of Arab Idol, Palestinian Mohammad Assaf, will sing to the audience at JBR's The Beach after the screening of the biopic movie about his life, The Idol. Other Arab personalities attending the festival include Emirati Mohammed Saeed Harib, creator of the animation series Freej, Tunisian actress Hend Sabry, and Egyptian actress Menna Shalabi.
Bollywood celebs
A host of Indian celebs will make appearances, too.
On Saturday, December 12, the entire cast of the hotly anticipated Indian film Dilwale will be waiting for the click of the cameras on the red carpet before attending an exclusive gala evening to celebrate the five years that cinema magazine Filmfare Middle East has been present in the region.
That includes Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Varun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon, stars of the new film Dilwale opening in the UAE on December 17, along with South Indian star Nivin Pauly, renowned musician and singer Bappi Lahiri, who will be presented with a lifetime achievement award at the event, and Emirati director Ali F Mostafa.
Saturday's red carpet begins at 8pm, but SRK might not be punctual – he was two hours late on the red carpet at last October's Dubai premiere of his film Happy New Year!.
Although SRK does not star in any movies showing at Diff, he is a key plot conceit of the children's film Dhanak (Rainbow), screening on Friday, about a young girl who writes to the superstar in the belief he can cure her brother's blindness.
artslife@thenational.ae
