META Film Fest, the four-day international motion picture gala, is back for its eagerly awaited second edition, set to take place at VOX Cinemas, Wafi City, from November 9-12. The festival promises to be a celebration of world cinema with an impressive lineup of films, an esteemed international jury, and a host of special events tailored for film enthusiasts.

The festival will showcase 95 films from 32 countries, with 29 films as special festival premieres, while the remaining 66 films will compete for various prizes in categories of Feature, Short, Documentary and Student films. What is noteworthy is the increase of Arabic titles in the festival this year, with 30 Arabic films included within the festival lineup.

Notable full Feature Films entries include the Turkish film “Black Night,” directed by Özcan Alper, “Bodyguard” from Kazakhstan and directed by Akan Satayev, and the French film “Our Ties,” directed by Roschdy Zem. “Snow and the Bear,” the Turkish film whose lead Merve Dizdar who won Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival, is another stand-out. A variety of these films will be having their official world premiere at the META Film Fest. Two Arabic titles from Kuwait, “Akh” with its world premiere and “How I Got There” with its UAE premiere, are among the surprise masterpieces in the Feature film competition category.

Additionally, the full Feature Film category also includes films such as Sons of Ramses, a French film directed by Clement Cogitore, NO END, a Persian film directed by Nader Saeivar, “Jananam 1947 Pranayam Thudarunnu,” a Malayalam film directed by Abijith Asokan will also be having their world premiere at META Film Fest.

The Persian feature film “Endless Borders,” directed by Abbas Amini and notably won awards such as International Film Festival Rotterdam and Hamburg International Film Festival amongst others will be the opening film this year. While the Spanish feature film “Virginal
Pink,” directed by Dennis Smith, and starring the Argentinian superstar Juana Viale who will be visiting Dubai for the first time along with her cast and crew, will have its World Premiere at the festival, and will be the closing film at the META Film Fest.

Additionally, “Winners,” the UK’s official entry to the Oscars in 2023 will also participate in the competition. Director Hassan Nazer and actor Reza Naji will both attend the screening.

META Film Fest will also see over 25 Short Films, with entries such as “Fatih the Conqueror,” the Turkish film directed by Onur Yagiz, “Beneath a Mother’s Feet,” an Arabic film directed by Hassan Saeed, “And Me, I’m Dancing Too,” a Persian film directed by Mohammad Valizadegan and “Palestine 87” competing for tangible recognition.

In a diverse arrange of films screened, approximately 15 Documentary Films will be in competition including: Dear Memories, a German film directed by Nahuel Lopez, Earthbound: Nzambi Matee, a Japanese film directed by Farhoud Meybodi which will be screened in English and Swahili.

META Film Fest will also include a Student category for passionate young tale to showcase their skills. The festival’s Student Projects category will see six compelling films competing for an award, with “Alaikal,” a Malayalam short produced by Dream6 and exploring themes of nostalgia, friendship, love, and companionship, one of the hot favourites, alongside titles such as as “Desert Slam” directed by Joshua Canlas Ponseca, “The Son of a Lost Father” directed by Sadeq Al, So Cool and more.

In addition to the competition screenings, META Film Fest will host special premieres of notable films, including “May December” and “Seven Winters in Tehran,” the former of which is directed by Todd Haynes, written by Samy Burch and Alex Mechanik, and tells the story of a married couple grappling with the arrival of an actress researching their past tabloid romance and stars Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, and Charles Melton. The film was nominated for the Palme d’Or, the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival.

Another highlight of the event is the Indian Film Festival, which will see the likes of “Holy Conspiracy,” a Bengali film that adapts the American play “Inherit the Wind,” among the nominated films. Featuring Indian celebrity couple Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak
Shah, both are set to attend a screening of the film during the festival. “Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar,” a 2000 Indian English-Hindi bilingual feature film directed by Jabbar Patel, will also be screened. The movie, starring South Indian actor Mammootty, saw him win a National Film Award in India for Best Actor.

Another film set to premiere during the festival is “Syndrome,” directed by Anton Bormatov and exploring the unsettling consequences of a car accident. It stars Oksana Akinshina and Kirill Käro.

META Film Fest is bringing a total of 14 world premieres, offering audiences exclusive first views of cutting-edge global cinema. Additionally, the festival features 28 regional premieres, introducing captivating films previously unseen in the Middle East. Emphasizing local talent, there are 38 UAE premieres, and a spotlight on regional stories with 30 Arabic films. This diverse selection ensures a rich cinematic experience, making META Film Fest a vibrant hub for film enthusiasts.

META Film Fest is not just about films; it also offers an array of engaging panels, workshops, and masterclasses. Attendees can look forward to a ‘Women in Cinema’ panel discussion featuring prominent industry figures, ‘Expat Connections: Exploring Cultural Intersection in UAE Cinema’, and a one-on-one interview with renowned Pakistani actress Sajal Aly.

For those interested in the technical side of the industry, the festival is offering a masterclass on ‘AI in the Film Industry’ led by Pooyan Sedghi. Nancy Paton, Desert Rose Films and President of WIFTGCC will lead a masterclass on the business and the legal side of movie production. Meanwhile, a masterclass to introduce cinema to children and youths led by Fateme Fereydoun, an acting masterclass by Valeria Tsvietok, and a director’s masterclass by Indian luminary Adoor Gopalakrishnan will also be held.

About META Film Fest
META Film Fest is the first private-sector and industry stakeholder-led film festival in the Middle East and Africa, bringing together the best of Hollywood, Bollywood, European, Asian and African films and stars under one roof.

Now in its second edition following a hugely successful launch in 2022, META Film Fest will be held at VOX Cinemas, Wafi City from November 9-12 featuring workshops and masterclasses, premieres of independent and studio-produced films, with a prestigious, high profile judging panel.

Organised by?Great Minds Events Management?in partnership with Majid Al Futtaim and VOX Cinemas, META Film Fest spearheads the growth of the international films.