DIFF’s Gulf Voices to showcase regional talent

Dubai International Film Festival has announced 12 films in its Gulf Voices programme. Plus other entertainment news.

Former Tonight Show host Jay Leno during with the present host Jimmy Fallon on November 7. Douglas Gorenstein / NBC / via Getty Images
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DIFF’s Gulf Voices to showcase regional talent

Dubai International Film Festival has announced the 12 films in its Gulf Voices programme. Heading the list is the Emirati filmmaker Ahmed Abdulqader's Tomorrow/Bokra, a documentary about the making of one of the most successful charity songs in the Middle East – it features 24 artists from around the world and is produced by the legendary Quincy Jones and Badr Jafar. Also in the line-up are Compulsory by Mohammad Alfaraj and Bus 321 by Hussain Ali Almotlaq, from Saudi Arabia; Central Market by Saleh Nass, from Bahrain; The Carpet by Sadeq Behbehani and Falafel Cart by Abdullah Al Wazzan, both from Kuwait; and Hassan in Wonderland by Ali Kareem Obaid from Iraq. DIFF runs from December 10 to 17. – The National staff

Tonight Show ratings highest in eight months

Ex-host Jay Leno appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon for what turned out to be the talk show's biggest Friday night in eight months. The episode averaged a 3.3 rating, 8 share in metered-market households, in preliminary numbers, making it the top-rated Friday telecast of the talk show since March 7, when it earned a 3.4/8 during the third week of Fallon's tenure as host. Leno, who will be back on TV early next year with the CNBC car show Jay Leno's Garage, ended his 22-year run as Tonight Show host on February 6. – The National staff

Stars celebrate honorary Academy awards A constellation of stars gathered in Hollywood for an off-camera celebration of four stalwart film talents. Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston, Steve Carell, Kevin Costner, Mark Wahlberg, Sidney Poitier, Ed Norton, Benedict Cumberbatch, Chris Rock, Ron Howard and Hilary Swank were among the celebrities toasting the first Oscar winners of the season at the film academy's Governors Awards on Saturday night. Actress Maureen O'Hara, filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, screenwriter Jean-Claude Carriére and actor and activist Harry Belafonte accepted honorary Academy Awards at the private dinner ceremony at the Ray Dolby Ballroom. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences established the Governors Awards in 2009 as an untelevised celebration of its honorary Oscar winners. – AP

Matt Damon back with new Bourne instalment

Matt Damon has confirmed his return to the Jason Bourne franchise for a new film, E! Online reported. It will be Damon's and director Paul Greengrass's third Bourne film together, and Damon's fourth as the lead character. "It'll be in 2016 when the movie will actually come out," Damon said in answer to when the film will begin production. Damon's last Bourne film, The Bourne Ultimatum, was released in 2007 and grossed more than $442 million (Dh1.62 billion) around the globe. – The National staff

Alicia Keys to perform at MTV Europe Awards

The 15-time Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and producer Alicia Keys will perform at the 2014 MTV Europe Music Awards at O2 Academy Glasgow. The DJ and producer Afrojack, David Hasselhoff, the supermodel Jourdan Dunn and stars of the reality series Total Divas Brie and Nikki Bella will also be performing, joining the previously announced party rocker Redfoo and guitar legend Slash. The 2014 MTV EMA were broadcast live around the world last night and will be shown in the UAE at 1am today. – The National staff