In an unusual move, AlbertBrooks' new film Looking For ComedyIn The Muslim World will have its world premiere at the Dubai InternationalFilm festival ahead of an early-2006 US release through Warner IndependentPictures.

The film, which sees Brooksbeing sent to India and Pakistan by the US Government to find out what makesMuslims laugh, will screen on December 15 in Dubai's "Operation CulturalBridge" section; certainly the subject matter will have resonance in the UnitedArab Emirates. Although Brooks' film is set in India and Pakistan, Islam is themajority religion of Dubai.

This year marks the secondedition of the Dubai International Film Festival (December 11-17), and securingBrooks' premiere marks quite a coup for festival director Neil Stephenson,given Brooks' stated desire in making the film is to tackle many of theprejudices surrounding the Muslim world.

Rounding out the cast ofLooking For Comedy, which Brooks also wrote and directed, are Sheetal Sheth(Pocketful of Dreams), Jon Tenney,John Carroll Lynch (Pushing Tin,Face/Off) and Amy Ryan. HerbertNanas acted as producer alongside executive producer Joann Perritano, withShangri-La Entertainment financing. Arclight is handling international sales.

DIFFwill announce its complete lineup on November 27.