The Dubai International Film Festival chairman Abdulhamid Juma gave an impassioned speech which mentions decrying terrorist violence. In his speech, the attendees were urged to "stand together" to oppose the actions of the "small minority" who wanted to dominate the "large majority."
Hollywood Reporter mentioned that during the opening of the Dubai International Film Festival last Wednesday, the chairman was able to hold everyone's attention. The said speech was considered "the most politically charged message in the event's 12-year history."
Juma was careful to avoid refering to the Islamic State by name when he gave his impassioned speech during his opening remarks, but with his use of metaphors, it was clear he was mentioning the ongoing violence happening across the Middle East and emphasized the cinema's role in creating positive change.
"Tonight we inaugurate the festival amid grey clouds, at a difficult time where glowing fires, contradictory views and foggy thoughts are all over the world," he added, "They [the extimists] want us to resort to a dark jail where they can practice their torture rituals, as demonstrated in Majed Al Ansari's film Zinzana."
"They want to hijack our religion, our security. They want women to be an item they can buy and sell, with no rights, while woman in fact continue to fight for a better life, as portrayed in the movie 'Suffraçette' by Sarah Gavron.
"They want to take us back to the age of slavery, which we got rid of 1,400 years ago, as in the movie 'Bilal' by Ayman Jamal and Khurram Alavi. They want to corner us, isolate us from the outside world, as you will see in tonight's screening 'Room' by Lenny Abrahamson.
He ended his speech with touching and firm words. "In the name of cinema we all gather here to say no: no to the inhumane, no to the ugly."
Juma was encouraging the audience to stand firm and tight amid the chaos in the Middle East and around the globe in the recent opening of Dubai International Film Festival this week.
