The Abu Dhabi Film Festival returns to Marina Mall and Emirates Palace from 11 - 20 October.

This year, the ADFF include a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Algerian independence and a Spotlight on South Korea. Furthermore, distinguished classics 'Lawrence of Arabia' (1962), '20,000 Leagues Under The Sea' (1954) and 'Singin’ in the Rain' (1952) have been painstakingly restored and will also be screened at the Festival.

Filmmakers will be attending nearly every screening during the 10-day Festival and taking questions from the audience at special post-screening Q&A sessions. Be on the lookout for movie stars from the Arab world and beyond who attend screenings and participate in the Festival’s special events.

Festivals like ADFF often include ‘premiere’ screenings, giving audiences the rare chance to be among the first to see a new project. World premieres mark the very first time a film has been shown publicly anywhere, while international premieres indicate its debut outside its country of origin. Middle Eastern premieres are a film’s inaugural screening in the region.

Film festivals are renowned for the excitement percolating around the red carpet. This year, Hollywood hit movie 'Arbitrage' starring Richard Gere and Nate Parker will open the Festival. Gere and Parker will be joined on the red carpet by director Nicholas Jarecki and one of the film’s executive producers, Mohammed Al Turki from Saudi Arabia. Also attending Opening Night will be Indian megastar Mammootty and Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani, among others.

All readers interested in filmmaking, script writing or just watching films should save the dates for Abu Dhabi Film Festival.

The full guest list will be announced closer to the Festival.

For more information please visit www.adff.ae