META film festival will return to Dubai showcasing international films for filmmakers, industry professionals, and movie lovers.
The annual festival is the first private-sector and industry stakeholder-led film festival in the Middle East and Africa.
It will bring together the best of Hollywood, Bollywood, European, Asian and African films and stars under one roof.
This year it will take place at VOX Cinemas, Wafi City from November 9-12 and will feature a red carpet awards ceremony.
It 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.
Feature Films entries include the Turkish film Black Night, directed by Özcan Alper, Bodyguard from Kazakhstan, directed by Akan Satayev, and the French film Our Ties, directed by Roschdy Zem.
Snow and the Bear, the Turkish film whose lead by Merve Dizdar, is another stand-out.
A variety of these films will be having their official world premiere at the festival.
Two Arabic titles from Kuwait, Akh with its world premiere and How I Got There with its UAE premiere, are among the Feature film competition category.
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 and THUDARUNNU, a Malayalam film directed by Abijith Asokan.
The Persian feature film Endless Borders, directed by Abbas Amini amongst others will be the opening film this year.
While the Spanish feature film Virginal Pink, directed by Dennis Smith, will be the closing film at the META Film Fest.
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.
The festival will also show over 25 Short Films, including Fatih the Conqueror, the Turkish film directed by Onur Yagiz, Beneath a Mother’s Feet, a 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 and Earthbound: Nzambi Matee, a Japanese film directed by Farhoud Meybodi which will be screened in English and Swahili.
The festival will also include a student category for passionate young tale to showcase their skills. It 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.
One of the many highlights of the event is the Indian Film Festival, which will see the likes of Holy Conspiracy.
Another film set to premiere during the festival is Syndrome, directed by Anton Bormatov.
META Film Fest is bringing a total of 14 world premieres, 28 regional premieres, and 38 UAE premieres, while also featuring 30 Arabic films.
