The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) is partnering with the Film Society of New York’s Lincoln Center to showcase Arab cinema in a special DIFF Focus (August 24-30).

The line-up for the DIFF Focus will include ten feature films and a short film programme, as well as Q&A sessions with the directors and panel discussions organised by the Independent Filmmaker Project and New York Women in Films.

The ten selected films have been supported by DIFF through various initiatives of the Dubai Film Market. They include Susan Youssef’s Habibi Rasak Kharban, which premiered at Venice and was supported by DIFF’s post-production fund Enjaaz, and  Emirati director Ali Mostafa’s City Of Life, which opened the third Gulf Film Festival.

DIFF chairman Abdulhamid Juma said: “We are delighted to present some of the best films from the Arab region, which we hope will give a flavour of the vibrancy and relevance of Middle Eastern cinema. We look forward to working with the Lincoln Center and hope this will be a long and prosperous partnership”

The ninth edition of DIFF will be held from December 9-16.

Meanwhile, Bassam Chekhes’ Waiting For PO Box, a short film co-produced by DIFF, is screening in the Cannes Short Film Competition, marking Syria’s first ever competition berth at Cannes

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