80 Countries to participate in Middle East International Film Festival

The Middle East International Film Festival (MEIFF) illustrates the argument that the cinema embodies one of the most important pillars of global culture, stressed Issa Al Mazrouei, the Director General of the Festival.

"The Festival is a unique opportunity to celebrate the seventh art in its various forms and give the best impressions and images of Abu Dhabi," said Mazrouei.

MEIFF is organized by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) and will be held in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi from the 8th to the 17th of October.

Al Mazrouei announced the formation of several committees to help organize the Festival, referring to the overwhelming response by UAE citizens who volunteered to assist in any tasks required by the High Organizing Committee.

"All the preparations for the event were running smoothly and in line with the requirements to achieve everything in time, especially the facilitation of the work of guests and the media during the Festival amid the intensification of the promotional campaign next week," he said.

The Festival will witness the participation of hundreds of films from 80 countries in its various competitions and categories, which represents a selection of unique styles in the history of the film industry in the Middle East and the World.

"The Festival is strongly ascending in the global competition, particularly as the current edition will witness a lot of surprises that will delight critics, the public and observers in addition to many guests and celebrities who will attend this year and who have had a great impact on the history of cinema and the film industry besides senior Arab and foreign artists," he noted.

"ADACH is making huge efforts to leave a long-term artistic and cultural impression and influence the art community regionally and internationally, which emphasizes the Abu Dhabi's leadership globally through its dazzling cultural and artistic effectiveness. All these ideas and projects are effectively contribute to promoting the movement of human thoughts in a culture without boundaries," Al Mazrouei added.

The Middle East International Film Festival will be held at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, one of the finest and most impressive hotels in the world, from the 8th to the 17th of October 2009.

Some of Abu Dhabi's largest cinemas will exhibit many of the most important participating films. The Festival is accompanied by many events of Abu Dhabi Film Commission, particularly The Circle International Film Conference.