Dubai International Film Festival (Diff) has partnered with industry leaders Dubai Duty Free, Emirates Airline, Madinat Jumeirah, and Dubai Pearl for its eighth edition.

The festival will be held from December 7 to 14 under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President & Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

Diff chairman Abdulhamid Juma said the event relies on its strategic relationships with the city’s most renowned business entities to deliver the hospitality, service, global reach and socioeconomic value that the event has become renowned for.

"The unstinting support we receive from Dubai Duty Free, Emirates Airline, Madinat Jumeirah, and Dubai Pearl, is a major driver of our festival’s success," he remarked.

Juma said, "Their contribution spans the world, from the minute the delegates leave their homes and continues through their stay in Dubai, and takes the message of the Festival far and wide."

"Their continued endorsement speaks to the valuable brand building potential that the Festival offers," he added.

Colm McLoughlin, DDF executive vice chairman said the festival served as a cultural backdrop for the region’s film industry as well as presenting the very best and latest from the international world of cinema.

Abdul Majeed Ismail Al Fahim, chairman of Pearl Dubai said: “We firmly believe that the corporate sector has a significant role to play in supporting culture across the UAE.”

Sir Maurice Flanagan, executive vice chairman of Emirates Airline & Group, the DIff official airline, said: “It has truly become a formidable international force, and we are very proud to continue our support of the Festival for another successful year."

"Attracting the most established names in cinema as well as visitors from around the world, the Festival has helped enhance Dubai’s cultural landscape, and adds to an already impressive list of major sporting and cultural events we support."

“Madinat Jumeirah – The Arabian Resort has been the proud home of the Diff since Day One, eight years ago,” said Robert Kunkler, General Manager of Madinat Jumeirah.

"The Festival, bringing together acclaimed actors, directors and critics from around the world, contributed greatly to position Dubai as an open and hospitable city. It is also an unrivalled opportunity for Madinat Jumeirah to present to the world its renowned facilities and services," he added.-TradeArabia News Service