The DubaiInternational Film Festival has announced the dates for its third edition,which will be held December 10-17, 2006. The festival will inaugurate theSheikh Zayed Lifetime Achievement Award to honor a film industry personalitywho has built "cultural bridges on the world stage." Three otherlifetime achievement awards will be presented to artists from Asia, Hollywoodand the Arab world.

Organisers saidthey wanted to extend the festival's global reach and also its impact in otherparts of Dubai.

"Theflagship credo of the Festival, Bridging Cultures. Meeting Minds. will bestrongly reflected this year," said Neil Stephenson, CEO of the festival."DIFF will endeavour to initiate stimulating and relevant dialoguesbetween the Arab and Western worlds through a series of forums and eventsreflecting our objectives."