Scene from the film ’Joint Possession’ which will be showcased at Cannes Film Festival.

:: It appears to be that a delegation from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is taking a role in the acclaimed annual Cannes Film Festival.

The festival started from May 17 and will continue till May 28.

Some of the key industry players within the delegation constitute Dubai Film and TV Commission (DFTC), Dubai Studio City (DSC), Sharjah International Children’s Film Festival and the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF).

In addition, a UAE pavilion has been set up at the Canned Film Festival. As a result, international audiences have been offered with an insight into new and compelling stories coming out of the Arab world. This is a chance to discover the best of local, Arab, Bollywood and Hollywood films produced in the Emirates over the past year.

In fact, there are five films from the Arab world showcased at the Cannes Film Festival including Joint Possession, Marjoun and the Flying Headscarf, Poisonous Roses, Until the End of Time and Wajib.

Furthermore, six films presented at DIF’s 13th edition and supported by the DFM’s Enjaaz production funding for Gulf short films have been set for Cannes. These include Fadhilat An Takona La Ahad (The Bliss Of Being No One) directed by Bader Alhomoud (winner of Best Muhr Gulf Short), Laila Fe Taxi (A Night In A Taxi) directed Aisha Alzaabi, Mahal Bu Teir directed by Sager L’Khrebani Al Nuaimi,

70th Cannes Film Festival opens amid heavy security

Speaking of the current festival, security was greater than ever at the French festival, with stepped up efforts to restrict access and even an anti-drone system. France remains under a state of emergency since the November 2015 Paris attacks. This is also the first festival held since the nearby Nice attack last year that killed 86 people.

Festival organizers have said everything has been done to maintain a balance of safety and the celebratory atmosphere of the world’s most prestigious film festival.

This year’s festival has its own anxieties. Television, virtual reality and Netflix are a larger presence than ever before in the program.