The annual Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) is back again for its second year and will be taking place from the 11th and 17th of December 2005. The seven-day festival will be 30% bigger than last year and showcase 98 films from 46 countries, including 6 world premieres and 38 middle east premieres. Similar to last year, TEN Movies' resident film critics - Adnan Khan and Faizan Rashid - will be at it again to cover the action as it happens.

The DIFF program is divided into three main sections - Gala Screenings, Film Programs, and Special Events. The Gala Screenings will be held each night of the DIFF at Madinat Jumeirah and outstanding films will be shown. The Film Programs is the main section of the DIFF program which showcases films, documentaries, and shorts. The Special Events will have social events and panel discussions. Read Program Details...

Films screened at DIFF 2005 will be shown at Cinestar Cinemas in the Mall of the Emirates, Madinat Arena, the Madinat Theatre in Souk Madinat Jumeirah, and the Dubai Media City (DMC) Amphitheatre. For details to which movies are playing on which days of the festival, visit the film screening schedule.

Ticket prices have been set at Dhs. 50 for gala screenings and Dhs. 20 for regular screenings. You can purchase six regular screening tickets for the price of five and students with ID can purchase regular screening tickets for Dhs. 15 each. You can purchase DIFF tickets by calling the DIFF Call Center at 04-367-6701 or securely online with your VISA or MasterCard. Alternatively, tickets can be bought at both Cinestar Cinemas in Dubai, Madinat Theater at Souq Madinat and the lobby Dubai Media City Building 2 (CNN Building) daily from 12pm to 8pm.

DIFF 2005 Celebrity Attendants
The list is currently topped by Oscar-winning American actor Morgan Freeman, making his second appearance at the Festival; legendary Indian producer Yash Chopra; and Egyptian superstar Adel Imam. Other A-list names include Egyptian actors Noor Sherif, Yousra, Hanan Turk and Mona Zaki, Tunisian star Hind Sabri, French-Algerian rai singer Faudel, Greek director Constantin Costa-Gavras, British director Michael Caton Jones, American actors Albert Brooks, Dylan McDermott and Jon Tenney, British actor Hugh Dancy, Indian actors John Abraham and Lisa Ray and international activist-musician Bob Geldof, KBE.

DIFF 2005 Sponsors
Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai Duty Free and Emirates Airlines return as founding sponsors, while Dubai Properties and Etisalat are new founding sponsors. National Bank of Dubai, The Palm Jumeirah (Nakheel), Bin Hendi Avenue, The Kanoo Group and Showtime are gold sponsors of DIFF 2005.