The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) will return on December 8, 2027, with the Dubai Media Council announcing the festival’s 15th edition on September 17 during the Arab Media Summit. The event will return with a new format shaped around changes in the film industry and Dubai’s growing role in film and creative production.
DIFF was launched in 2004 with the aim of connecting Arab cinema with international audiences. Over its 14 editions, the festival became a platform for filmmakers and creative talent from across the region. Its 2017 edition screened 140 films from 51 countries, including 50 world and international premieres and 81 premieres from the Middle East and North Africa.
The revived festival will place greater emphasis on Middle Eastern cinema, with programmes showcasing films and stories from across the region. It will also highlight emerging and established filmmakers while bringing together producers and other industry professionals to discuss projects, industry developments and potential collaborations.
Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council, announced the return. She said the new edition would continue the festival’s legacy while creating opportunities for regional stories and talent to reach international audiences.
The 2017 edition featured films from established international filmmakers alongside regional productions. It closed with the MENA premiere of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, screened at the festival’s closing gala.
