Cast and crew from the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia, Europe and the US will light up red carpets and premieres as Dubai hosts its first film festival in five years
Dubai United Arab Emirates, The launch of the META Film Festival, a new international festival launched from the META Film Platform, a leading film conference in the field of cinema in the Middle East and Africa, which will screen more than 70 films from 25 countries on October 27-29 at Fox Cinemas – Palm Mall in Palm Jumeirah, Dubai.
The award-winning show for the Emirati audience consists of 9 international shows, 43 shows in the Middle East and 12 shows in the first Emirates, with many features, animations, documentaries and short films that have been shown following receiving many nominations and awards from other parties and international film festivals.
District Terminal, an Iranian film, received three nominations at the Berlin International Film Festival and a nomination for Best Film at the New Cinema Festival as well as the São Paulo International Film Festival. The 15-minute Iranian crime thriller Holy Spider received a standing ovation at the International Film Festival. Ken Film Festival of the Year, nominated for the International Palme d’Or and numerous awards.Emily, a film depicting the life of English writer Emily Bronte, was also nominated at the Toronto International Film Festival and Sitges International – Catalan International Film Festival. Hard Shell and Softshell (Fragile) have four nominations, including Best Feature Film at Beirut International Women’s Film Festival and Best Feature Film at Paz International Film Festival.
“The META International Film Festival is a platform for showcasing outstanding local, regional and international films, as well as a catalyst for greater filmmaking in our home country of Dubai,” said Leila Masinai, Director and Managing Partner at Great Minds Event Management.
Great Minds Event Management, the organizers of the META Film Festival and Fox Cinemas, their event co-organizers, have announced that the three-day global festival featuring a host of events on international premieres, regional feature films and red carpet events with stars and talents from the Arab world, Hollywood and Bollywood. Nollywood, Celebrity Meeting, Greetings, Film Fund Launch, Awards Ceremony, After Parties, Content Markets and more.
The META Film Festival was launched for the first time in May this year, welcoming entries from filmmakers from the UAE, the Middle East and the world at large. It is expected to play an enabling role in rejuvenating the film industry and placing it on the global entertainment map as a vital platform in which diverse content is presented to a market that includes diverse consumers – a highlight of the festival in Dubai.
A selection panel of film industry experts and critics has selected the best films from around the world. After that, the 56 shortlisted films will be judged by a jury of 7 judges to receive one of ten valuable prizes at the Awards Ceremony held on October 29, 2022.
The jury is chaired by Nujoom Al-Ghanim, an award-winning Emirati filmmaker, poet and artist. It is backed by award-winning Spanish producer Andre Venter Gomez and award-winning Iranian producer Kafi Farmam with winning films at several international festivals including the Berlin Film Festival. Other judges are Iranian artist and director Peja Anjarani, and award-winning Turkish artists Neslihan Yeldan, Marta Sikova Lamperova and Elon D. Johnson. Meta Film Festival tickets will go on sale October 7 at voxcinemas.com.
Highlights of the META Film Festival
Best Arabic Short Film Award
Best International Short Film Award
Best Documentary Feature Award
Best Documentary Short Film Award
Best Arabic Feature Film Award
Best International Feature Film Award
Best Referee Award for an International Feature Film
Short Film Award for the first time
Award for Best Short Fiction Film
Arab Film Fund
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About the META International Film Festival
META International Film Festival is a first-of-its-kind private sector film industry stakeholder that has led the Dubai Film Festival for the past five years. It will bring the best of Hollywood, Bollywood, European, Asian and African filmmaking sectors under one roof.
Organized by Great Minds Event Management in partnership with Fox Cinemas, the META International Film Festival is the first of its kind film festival that will help spread the film industry’s growth in the Middle East and Africa – by attracting international talent in Dubai.