Dubai Film and TV Commission confirms support of region’s first IMAX Film Festival

Middle East’s only IMAX Film Festival furthers Dubai’s commitment to becoming industry hub

Dubai Film & TV Commission (DFTC) has confirmed its support of the IMAX Film Festival, debuting at the Meydan IMAX Theatre on Friday 15th February with the screening of Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol. DFTC is supporting the nine day event alongside Dubai Studio City and Dubai International Film Festival, as part of Dubai’s commitment to driving the growth of the television and film industry in the emirate.

Jamal Al Sharif, Chairman of the Dubai Film & TV Commission, commented, “The arrival of the IMAX Film Festival in Dubai – the only IMAX Festival in the Middle East – adds another notch to the emirate’s film industry credentials. There are a growing number of regional initiatives, such as the Dubai Film Festival and the Gulf Film Festival, that support the regional film industry and this event is no exception. Meydan IMAX continually celebrates the highest standards of filmmaking, and we are thrilled that they have chosen to open its festival with M14: Ghost Protocol, a film shot right here in Dubai.”

Mr. Al Sharif continued, “The film and TV industry has a high multiplier effect on the macro economy of Dubai, positively impacting the tourism, transportation, storage, financial services and construction sectors and, ultimately, contributing to an increase in overall GDP. When MI4: Ghost Protocol was filmed here it drew the world’s attention to Dubai, leading to an increase in film production from China, India and Europe, and is estimated to have had an economic impact on Dubai’s GDP to the tune of AED 180m.

In addition to MI4: Ghost Protocol, the festival will also be showing the IMAX original production of films such as Journey to Mecca, which follows the pilgrimage of the explorer Ibn Battuta. Throughout the festival, viewers can watch the biggest blockbusters, on the biggest screen, in the biggest theatre, in the region.
Mr. Al Sharif concluded, “At the Dubai Film & TV Commission our mission is to drive the growth of the film & TV industry in the emirate. But we cannot work alone; it is only by working in partnership with the industry through events such as the IMAX Film Festival that we will achieve our long term goals.
The IMAX Film Festival is the only IMAX film festival in the Middle East. The event runs from February 15th – 23rd and is set to show 14 blockbusters and documentary productions from award winning directors Brad Bird, Peter Jackson, Christopher Nolan, James Cameron and Sam Mendes. Filmgoers will have the opportunity to watch spectacular under the ocean footage in Wild Ocean 3D or follow Ibn Battuta in Journey to Mecca. The festival also brings nine IMAX original productions to Dubai for the first time: Hubble 3D, Young Black Stallion, Journey to Mecca, Bears, Dinosaurs Alive, Wild Ocean 3D, Legends of Flight, India Kingdom of the Tiger, and, Super Speedway which debuts its IMAX premiere in the Middle East.

Tickets for the festival are on sale now at www.meydanimax.com.

For more information about DFTC, please visit www.dubaifilmcommission.ae 

Emirate:  Dubai

Date: Feb 13, 2013

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