The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) has announced its lineup for the AsiaAfrica out of competition programming sidebar, which puts the spotlight on this year’s most dynamic, visionary and critically-acclaimed cinema from Asia and Africa. The program will allow audiences to discover new cinematic voices, and some of the most celebrated contemporary filmmakers, from the two diverse regions.

Director of the AsiaAfrica program, Nashen Moodley said: “The films selected for this year’s AsiaAfrica program will enthrall audiences with their gripping storylines, brave and poignant themes, and moving performances. This segment is about providing access to a truly global box office, uniting DIFF audiences with film lovers around the world in their experience of these wonderful stories.”

African films included in the AsiaAfrica lineup include Biyi Bandele’s film adaptation of the Orange Prize-winning novel Half of a Yellow Sun by Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. The story spans a generation of Nigerian history through the tumultuous late 1960s, when the country fell into civil war.

Also included is the deliciously disturbing Of Good Report – a neo-noir from South African director Jahmil XT Qubeka, depicting the dark side of a rural township where an unassuming teacher arrives at the local school. Despite his excellent references and innocent demeanor, he promptly starts an affair with one of his students, which leads to horrendous consequences. The film was banned, and then unbanned, by the South African censor board earlier this year, as we reported.

DIFF’s landmark tenth edition will take place from December 6 to 14, 2013. Schedules for screenings, public lectures and other events can be found on the festival website: www.dubaifilmfest.com.