Dubai International Film Festival return to Dubai on Wednesday, 8 December 2027.
The festival last took place in 2017 after running for 14 editions from 2004.
The festival will follow a new format.DIFF 2027 will place greater emphasis on Middle Eastern films, filmmakers and regional industry talent.
The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) is officially returning to Dubai.
If you’ve lived in Dubai long enough, you’ll probably remember one of the city’s most anticipated events on the cultural calendar: the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF). After its final edition in 2017, the much-loved film festival is officially making its return.
The Dubai International Film Festival will return on 8 December 2027, marking a new chapter for one of the UAE’s best-known film events. The comeback was announced by Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council and President of the Dubai Press Club, at the Arab Media Summit.
For 14 years, from 2004 to 2017, DIFF brought films, filmmakers and some of the biggest names in international cinema to Dubai. The festival became known for its red carpets, film premieres, industry events and appearances by global stars, making it a major fixture in Dubai’s cultural scene. Now, after a decade away, the Dubai International Film Festival is set to return, but organisers have made it clear that this will not simply be a recreation of the festival’s previous editions.
The 2027 event will be the 15th edition of DIFF and the first edition of a new phase for the festival. It will operate under the umbrella of Dubai Media, with the Dubai Films and Games Commission involved in its revival. One of the biggest changes for the revived Dubai International Film Festival will be its focus on Middle Eastern cinema and filmmakers.
The festival will provide regional directors, producers, actors and writers with a platform to showcase their work, connect with audiences and engage with film industry professionals from the UAE, the wider Middle East and beyond. While international cinema will remain part of the festival’s identity, the renewed focus on the region is expected to give Middle Eastern films and filmmakers a more prominent role at DIFF.
For those who remember the original festival, its return will undoubtedly bring a sense of nostalgia. For a new generation of Dubai residents and filmmakers, however, DIFF 2027 could represent something entirely new.
More details about DIFF 2027, including the full programme and what to expect from the festival’s new phase, are expected to be revealed in the coming months. So, if you’re a film fan in Dubai, it’s worth keeping an eye out for the next announcements.
When: Wednesday, 8 December 2027
Contact: www.dubaifilmfest.com