Dubai Film Festival Scheduled for December 2027 Revival

WHO:

Deadline - Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council and President of the Dubai Press Club, announced the event’s return.

Variety - Mona Ghanem Al Marri confirmed the revival of the festival.

WHAT:

Deadline - The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) is being revived after a 10-year hiatus.

Variety - The new edition of the Dubai International Film Festival is set to kick off on December 8, 2027.

WHERE:

Deadline - The event will take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Variety - The announcement was reported by local media and confirmed by Dubai sources.

WHEN:

Variety - The Dubai International Film Festival is scheduled to start on December 8, 2027.

WHY:

Deadline - The revival of the festival comes after a decade of being shuttered, although it will not be in the same format as the original event.

HOW:

Deadline - The announcement regarding the festival's return was made at the Arab Media Forum.

(UPDATED September 17, 2026 16:02 UTC)

Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council, has announced the exciting revival of the Dubai International Film Festival after a ten-year hiatus. The new edition of this beloved festival is set to kick off in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on December 8, 2027, although it will feature a different format from the original event. This announcement was made during the Arab Media Forum and has been confirmed by local media sources.