IRELAND/UAE. Stars from the entertainment world were in attendance at the Dubai Duty Free-sponsored Dublin Arabic Film Festival over the weekend.
The festival ran from 5-7 October at the Irish Film Institute in Dublin, and featured six of the best new movies from the Arab world.
Photo: Conor Healy/Picture It Photography.
Oscar-nominated film maker Jim Sheridan and Dublin Arabic Film Festival Director Zahara Moufid were joined on the red carpet by Game of Thrones star Liam Cunningham, Love/Hate writer Stuart Carolan, actress Neili Conroy, and director Terry McMahon.
One of the key themes of this year’s festival was the championing of female filmmakers.
Dubai Duty Free Senior Vice President of Marketing Sinead El Sibai attended the event on behalf of the airport retailer. The company has supported the festival and has been the presenting sponsor since its inception in 2014. Also in attendance were several ambassadors and business people from the Arab world, and representatives of the Arab Irish Chamber, who also sponsor the festival.
“We are delighted to see so many well-known faces coming out to support the Dublin Arabic Film Festival presented by Dubai Duty Free,” said Sheridan, who is also Dublin Arabic Film Festival President. “Now in its fifth year the festival continues to grow.”
Photo: Conor Healy/Picture It Photography.
Ms El Sibai commented: “We are proud to continue our support of this wonderful festival. Sponsorship has been a major part of our marketing strategy since our inception in 1983. Key sponsorships of various sporting and cultural events around the world allow us to communicate and engage with international audiences through local events and through digital, print, outdoor and broadcast media.
“There is a strong Irish community in the UAE and there are an increasing number of Irish people visiting Dubai for both business and leisure and we want to continue to place our brand in front of them and to remind them that Dubai is a great place to visit and to do business.”
