Dublin Arabic Film Festival (DAFF) will open on Friday, November 11th

Festival President and Oscar nominated film maker, Jim Sheridan and Festival Director Zhara Moufid’s third Dublin Arabic Film Festival (DAFF) will open on Friday, November 11th at the Irish Film Institute (IFI) in Dublin’s Temple Bar.  The festival, which has been developed in partnership with the IFI, is presented by Dubai Duty Free.

This year’s festival includes seven films, the bulk of which will be shown at the IFI from Friday, November 11th.  Films showing over the festival at the IFI include opening film Clash, After Spring, Hedi, Sand Storm, and As I Open My Eyes.

Commenting on this year’s programme, Jim Sheridan said, “We are delighted to be working once again with our presenting sponsor, Dubai Duty Free and partner venue the Irish Film Institute in order to bring the Dublin Arabic Film Festival (DAFF) to Dublin once again.  DAFF allows Irish audiences a wonderful opportunity to experience a flavour of Arabic life and culture through the medium of film.  Last year’s festival boasted sell out screenings at the IFI and we hope that DAFF goes some way to meeting the clear demand that exists for the cinema of the Arabic world”.

The festival opens with a special screening of Mohamed Diab’s Clash, the opening film at this year’s Un Certain Regard strand at the Cannes Film Festival. Set in Egypt in 2013 amid the toppling of President Morsi and the ensuing political instability, a group of rioters are rounded up and bundled into the back of a police van.  All the film’s scenes take place here where warring parties of all factions have been thrown together. Diab brings real cinematic flair to the claustrophobic scenario and skilfully portrays multiple characters and their motivations in a lucid and empathetic manner.

Ross Keane, the Director of the IFI, said, “We’re delighted to be partnering once again this year with the Dublin Arabic Film Festival after last year’s hugely popular event. This partnership highlights the IFI’s commitment to continue to deliver diverse film programmes from all around the world and we are pleased to co-present another rich programme this year.”

Colm McLoughlin, the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Presenting Sponsor, Dubai Duty Free said, “Dubai Duty Free is involved with the Arts for many years.  Through our sponsorship of the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF), we have seen that film is a great medium that crosses cultural divides and creates greater understanding of different people’s beliefs and everyday lives.  Congratulations to Jim Sheridan and Zhara Moufid for bringing the DAFF to Dublin for the third time we are delighted to support the festival once again and look forward to a great line up of Arab films.”

Speaking about some of the movies that will be shown at the festival, Jim Sheridan added, “As this year’s programme of films came into focus, certain commonalities and themes began to assert themselves particularly, the conflict between traditional and modern values in Arabic countries, as evidenced in both Hedi and As I Open my Eyes. I know audiences will be moved, inspired and entertained in what is most certainly one of our most thought provoking DAFF programmes to date.”

DAFF, Presented by Dubai Duty Free, runs from the 11th – 13th of November 2016 at the IFI.   For more details or to purchase tickets see www.ifi.ie/daff or www.dublinarabicfilmfestival.ie