The Dubai International Film Festival announced the silver sponsors of DIFF 2005 – Filmworks, Motivate Publishing and Sony.

The three silver sponsors, who make up the third tier of corporate participation in DIFF, are from a variety of media-related backgrounds from film production and publishing to technology providers.

Festival Director and CEO Neil Stephenson said the DIFF management team was pleased to receive such enthusiastic participation and support from dynamic local companies.

“We are very grateful to the Silver Sponsors for not only their financial and logistical support, but also for sharing their significant expertise with us,” Stephenson added. “They have contributed significantly to our efforts to build a bigger and better Festival in 2005. We are particularly glad to have Motivate Publishing renew their relationship with us, and to have two new supporters in Filmworks and Sony.”

Tim Smythe, CEO of leading Dubai-based film production company Filmworks, said the company was keen to support the Festival and its larger aims of developing Dubai as a destination for cinema and filmmakers in the region.

“We in the industry believe the Dubai Film Festival and Dubai Studio City provide a key impetus for the development of Dubai as a destination for film production,” Smythe said. “We are confident that both initiatives will create new opportunities in the industry, and are happy to be involved in bringing the Festival to the community.”

Ian Fairservice, Managing Partner of Motivate Publishing, expressed similar sentiments.

“The second Dubai International Film Festival once more brings the very best of international and regional cinema to Dubai’s multicultural audience, and we are delighted to renew our support for this exciting and dynamic event,” Fairservice said.

Sony Professional Solutions Middle East, who will be providing the Festival with an array of high definition camcorders, monitors, projectors and other equipment, are equally positive about their role in DIFF 2005.

“We are happy to provide our expertise and strong line-up of Sony technology to assist in this landmark event,” said Yuki Sugihara, Head of Marketing for Sony Dubai. “Sony wholeheartedly believes in and supports this project to bring the people of the world together through film.”

The second Dubai International Film Festival will be held between December 11 and 17, 2005, and will feature 98 films including features, retrospectives and short films. DIFF 2005 is divided into 12 distinct programs - including five brand new sections - each focusing on a particular category of film.

Tickets to DIFF 2005 are priced at Dhs. 50 for gala screenings and Dh. 20 for regular screenings. A special ‘Six Tix’ deal offers six tickets for the price of five. Screenings at the Dubai Media City open-air amphitheatre are free.

All tickets are available at Festival Box Offices in the Madinat Theatre at Souq Madinat Jumeirah, in the lobby of Building 2 at Dubai Media City, and at CineStar Cinemas at Mall of the Emirates and Deira City Centre. Tickets, and an entire schedule of the Festival films, are also available through the Dubai Film Festival website www.dubaifilmfest.com.

The Festival is presented by its Founding Sponsors Dubai Duty Free, Dubai Properties, Emirates, Etisalat and the Madinat Jumeirah – the Arabian Resort. The Festival’s Gold Sponsors are Bin Hendi Enterprises, National Bank of Dubai, Showtime, The Kanoo Group and The Palm Jumeirah; the Silver Sponsors are Filmworks, Motivate Publishing and Sony.