I have experienced the most fun in life whenever I have ventured off the beaten path. I also believe that it's fantastic to be a stranger - everywhere. That feeling of discovery, combined with a special vulnerability and an increased level of communication, allow for adventures beyond the ordinary.
Join me on this journey of discovery for a fresh new look at your city, your world and your life. And remember to always be a stranger, a foreigner and a tourist, no matter what you do.

Wisdom From the Chairman: Abdulhamid Juma on The Huffington Post

2013-04-15-AbdulhamidJuma1.jpg Sitting in conversation with Abdulhamid Juma, the Chairman of both the Dubai International Film Festival and the Gulf Film Festival, is a film-lover's dream come true. It's unique to find a perfect businessman who is also full of inspirational insight and possesses an infectious passion for cinema. Juma exudes an undeniable belief in the motto that has driven DIFF since its inception in 2004: "Bridging Cultures, Meeting Minds." But perhaps what surprised me most about our meeting during this year's GFF is Juma's availability, and his generosity of time. He's ever present, accessible for filmmakers, festival insiders and press alike, filled with gems of wisdom to enlighten and inform. And his words, his enthusiasm always betray a deep connection to his life's mission, to build cinema in the Gulf, one film, one story, one filmmaker at a time. (CONTINUED)

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