Winter nights mean heading out to the vast swathes of desert dunes that the UAE’s been blessed with and enjoying time out in nature. You can do that with a twist this January thanks to the return of Al Marmoom Film in the Desert Festival. The outdoor film festival is back for a third round and will last a full 10 days. The best part? It’s free!
From January 12 to 21, screenings of international and regional cinema, engrossing workshops by leading minds of the global film industry and riveting panel discussions await Dubai’s cinephiles at Marmoom Desert – the UAE’s first unfenced nature reserve.
Movies and workshops at Al Marmoom Film In The Desert Festival
While chances of bumping into the reserve’s abundant wildlife exist, you’ll also get to encounter the region’s budding talent during this film festival by the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority. This year, the line-up features a total of 70 movies that range from live-action films and documentaries to animation. This year’s festival is centred around the theme of ‘Stories at one with Nature’.
See also: 8 Visually Stunning Exhibitions In Dubai To Visit This YearMovie buffs can also look forward to 30 different workshops, 10 panel discussions and talks, four art galleries and plenty of heritage activations. Click here for the full programme.
Besides enjoying movies under the stars, visitors can dig into freshly made food served by a variety of food stalls. Food trucks by 20 Grams Cafe, Takoz, Goat Burgers and other popular outlets from the Dubai food scene will set up pop-up outlets amidst the dunes.
Visiting with kids? The family-friendly event regularly hosts activities for little ones such as yoga under the stars, games like tug of war and arts and crafts.