Dubai: The META Film Fest’s second edition is scheduled to take place in Dubai from November 9 to 12, 2023. The annual festival, which showcases the best international films, promises an extraordinary celebration of cinema for filmmakers, industry professionals, and movie lovers alike.
Last year’s inaugural edition was a success. The Fest 2023 will focus on delivering quality content, workshops, and masterclasses for budding filmmakers.
Over the four days, it will show more than 70 movies from 20+ countries, host 10+ workshops, and welcome more than 50 global celebrities and 15,000 attendees. The shortlisted films will be announced in the coming weeks.
Following the festival’s hugely successful debut in 2022, this year’s META Film Fest will cement Dubai’s position and capability as a hub for filmmakers and creatives to congregate, share knowledge, and promote their own and their peers’ work.
Ms. Leila Masinaei, Founder of META Film Fest, remarked.
“The festival garners immense appreciation from movie enthusiasts and industry professionals, and this year’s edition will see significant growth in both the number and caliber of films being shown,” the Founder added.
The star-studded red-carpet awards ceremony is set to attract luminaries from the film and entertainment industries, along with international and regional celebrities.
The awards this year will span 12 categories, covering feature films, short films, documentaries, debut works, student projects, films with a sustainability focus, and newly introduced special categories to celebrate home-grown UAE talent.
Under the theme of ‘Cinema and Sustainability’, the festival has welcomed the eco-friendly lifestyle and homeware brand Innara as its official sustainability sponsor. In addition, a number of new directors are aiming to spotlight those leading the charge in sustainable practices in film.
The festival is organized by GM Events and held in partnership with VOX Cinemas and Wafi City. Ms. Stephanie-Alexandra Chartier, Group Head of Marketing, at Wafi Group, said the partnership underscores its commitment to fostering the UAE’s creative economy strategy.