Google And Youtube Bring Film Stars Closer To Fans This DIFF
The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) has revealed the film talent who will host a series of Google+ Hangouts with movie fans during the Festival running from December 9th – 16th, made possible through a partnership with Google and YouTube.
For the first time ever, DIFF fans will have the opportunity engage in real time with various film talent via Google+ Hangouts. Up to nine fans will be able to engage directly via video chat over the Internet with each of the actors and directors participating in DIFF’s Google+ Hangouts series.
The Google+ Hangouts line-up includes: On opening night, December 9th Saoud Al Kaabi, Dubai based television personality and leading actor in City of Life, on Dec 10th, International actor Amr Waked and star of the powerful movie Winter of Discontent and on December 11th fans will be have the opportunity to chat with the director of the film, the prolific Ibrahim El Batout. On December 12th, Nadine Mohamad Khan the director of Chaos, will be at DIFF to present the World Premiere of her film and will be on the red carpet with Google+ Hangouts. On December 13th Egyptian actor Khaled Nabawy will be available for questions and on December 14th, the legendary Ahmad Rateb will be discussing his established body of work. Rounding up these priceless opportunities for films fans is the legendary Actress Laila Elwi and on closing night of the Festival is the pioneering Egyptian director Khairy Beshara who attends DIFF this year with his latest feature the World Premiere of Moon Dog which will compete in the Muhr Arab Feature category along with Winter of Discontent and Chaos, Disorder.
To participate in the Google+ Hangouts between December 9-16, fans can sign-up via a link on the DIFF Google+ Page. Fans can also watch the Google+ Hangouts live via DIFF +Page and it’s official YouTube channel.
In addition, back by popular demand, YouTube will live stream the festival’s opening red carpet event which will include the stars’ arrivals, artist spotlights, exclusives interviews and reviews on fashion. Fans will also enjoy minute-by-minute coverage of the festival, including filmmaker panels, interviews and behind-the-scenes footage on the official DIFF YouTube channel.
Tarek Abdalla, Head of Marketing for Google in the Arabian Gulf & Levant, said: “With more than 260 million views a day from MENA, YouTube has become the go-to destination for premium content. Adding live-streamed content of important events is another example of how YouTube acts as a truly global broadcast platform while still focusing on supporting the local content creating community to be more active by uploading and creating compelling content that represent their interests.”
DIFF’s Director of Marketing and Sponsorship, Mahsa Motamedi, said: “In a Festival first, DIFF fans will have the unique opportunity to ask questions and interact with their favorite actors and directors in real time with Google+ Hangouts. In addition, this interactive forum will share the excitement of the Festival with a global audience through YouTube’s live stream. In this evolving digital age it is fantastic to have Google and YouTube on board as partners and we look forward to continuing this mutually beneficial collaboration next year.”
DIFF is the first film festival in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to connect fans with talent via Google+ Hangouts. Hangouts have been used by a spectrum of celebrities including singers like Lady Gaga, Will.I.Am, Amr Diab and Myram Fares as well as public figures like President Obama, the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and even footballer David Beckam. Google+ Hangouts offer a unique way to connect with one’s audience through interactive discussion, the ability to share documents, watch a YouTube video simultaneously or simply goof around with effect layers.
You can watch DIFF’s red carpet on live stream on: http://www.youtube.com/user/DubaiFilmFestival.
To join the Google+ Hangouts add DIFF to your circles: https://plus.google.com/u/0/110149617343073851776/posts
The DIFF box office is open online on at www.dubaifilmfest.com. Additional information is also available through the Festival’s dedicated customer care number, 363 FILM (3456).
Tickets ‘One Night to Change Lives’ charity event to benefit Oxfam and Dubai Cares are available by telephone on +971 4 450 4531 or email amal.alredha@dubaicares.ae or visit www.onenighttochangelives.com
Dubai International Film Festival is media monitored by Media Watch, the leaders in Middle East media monitoring services.
Emirate: Dubai
Date: Dec 5, 2012
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