Dubai International Film Festival

The award introduced in 2009, is aimed at encouraging and promoting films that address human rights issues. At DIFF 2010, 10 films will vie for the honours.

Judging the submissions for the HRFN award is Kebour Genna of the Addis International Film Festival; Taco Ruighaver, Director, the Movies that Matter Festival in Amsterdam, Netherlands; and Syrian filmmaker Sawsan Darwaza, whose films depict the harsh realities of life in strife-torn areas of the Middle East yet with a powerful message of peace.

The films short-listed for the award showcases the human rights violations - in various contexts - and the trauma of human beings through powerful, compelling narratives. From stories of the underprivileged, to the situation of people in war-stricken countries, these films use the universal language of art to convey hope to viewers everywhere.

The 10 films competing for the award include, Dorota Kedzierzawska's Jutro Bedzie Lepiej (Tomorrow Will Be Better); Koutaiba Al-Janabi's Al Raheel Min Baghdad (Leaving Baghdad); Marianne Khoury and Mustapha Hasnaoui's Zelal; Aamir Bashir's Harud (Autumn); Oliver Schmitz's Le Secret De Chanda (Life, Above All); Jeong-hyun Mun's Yongsan; Dominique C. Mollard's Adrift: People of a Lesser God; Fedora Aladag's Die Fremde (When We Leave); Roberto Hernandez and Geoffrey Smith's Presunto Culpable (Presumed Guilty); and Jahmil XT Qubeka's A Small Town Called Descent.

The HRFN is a partnership of human rights film festivals globally. The network, established in Prague in 2004, promotes exchange, communication and collaboration regarding the representation of human rights issues in motion pictures.

It co-ordinates the network through email, internet, regular meetings and special events and an assembly of member festivals meets periodically for decision making and electing a board of coordinators to manage activities.

DIFF 2010 box office locations are: Cinestar Mall of the Emirates, Madinat Souk and the CNN Building in Dubai Media City. Tickets can also be purchased through DIFF's Dial-a-Ticket service at (04) 391 3378 and from the website www.dubaifilmfest.com.

The seventh edition of Dubai International Film Festival 2010 is being held through Dec. 19 in association with Dubai Studio City. Dubai Duty Free, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai Pearl, Emirates Airline and Madinat Jumeirah, the home of the Dubai International Film Festival, are the principal sponsors of DIFF. The event is supported by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority