Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson will be the recipient of the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2016 Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF). Jackson is set to accept the accolade during the opening ceremony of the 13th Festival on December 7th.

In conjunction with the prestigious award, fans and industry members alike will also have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to hear the actor’s unique story with an “In Conversation” event on Friday, 9 December at 4pm in the Madinat Souk Theatre. This rare event provides an unmissable opportunity for audiences to gain an insight into Jackson’s life, cinematic career and achievements, with an exclusive question and answer opportunity for audience members.




Tickets are available now online at www.dubaifilmfest.com and at the box office at VOX Cinemas Mall of the Emirates.

DIFF’s Chairman, Abdulhamid Juma commented: “Samuel L. Jackson is, quite simply, an icon. His talent and recognition span well beyond cinema and we are very much looking forward to welcoming him to DIFF for the first time. Our Lifetime Achievement Award is a testament to the dedication and talent of individuals whose abilities are unmatchable and Samuel L. Jackson is the epitome of that. Not only are we proud to be able to honour his outstanding career, but to be able to introduce him to the UAE film community through a public in conversation event is very special.”

Samuel L. Jackson commented on the prestigious award: “It’s a great honor to be given the Dubai international Film Festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award. It’s wonderful to be included into the Emirates’ film community, and I look forward to meeting all of its amazing filmmakers and making many new friends.”




Jackson joins renowned Indian actress Rekha and award-winning French Lebanese composer Gabriel Yared as recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s Festival. The award is devoted to honoring the globe’s finest film industry actors, writers, directors and producers. Previous honorees include Omar Sharif, Catherine Deneuve, Faten Hamamah, Adel Imam, Jameel Rateb, Sabah, Morgan Freeman, Sean Penn, Shah Rukh Khan, Daoud Abdel Sayed, Youssef Chahine, Rachid Bouchareb, Martin Sheen, Nabil El-Maleh, Oliver Stone, Danny Glover, Terry Gilliam, Yash Chopra, Subhash Ghai, Mahmoud Abdel Aziz and Sami Bouajila.

The 13th edition of DIFF will see films screened over eight days at the Madinat Jumeirah Arena, Madinat Theatre, Souk Madinat Jumeirah and VOX Cinemas, Mall of the Emirates and THE BEACH – opposite JBR. Cinemagoers will be able to buy tickets from the DIFF box office, which is now open www.dubaifilmfest.com.