DIFF unveils new round of films

Also, new Adele song biggest YouTube debut of the year, three artists to headline mini-Dubai festival, UAE artists invited to open competition, and Aretha Franklin sued for unpaid home fees.

A still from the film Suffragette. Courtesy DIFF

Excitement is building for December's 12th edition of Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF), with an impressive batch of film screenings revealed. Meryl Streep, Robert Redford, Carey Mulligan, Geoffrey Rush and Cate Blanchett are among the stars of a further 11 movies unveiled to screen under the Cinema of the World banner, which attracts notable features from across the globe and is typically most popular with a casual audience. Among the additions are a slew of award-winners: Venice's Silver Lion-winner The Clan, from Argentina's Pablo Trapero, Croatian director Dalibor Matani's latest The High Sun, which took the Jury Prize Un Certain Regard at Cannes, and Irish director Lenny Abrahamson's Room, based on Emma Donoghue's bestselling novel of the same name, which recently won the People's Choice Award at Toronto. Those looking for famous faces will welcome James Vanderbilt's American drama Truth, a biopic of American news anchor Dan Rather starring Blanchett and Redford, and Sarah Gavron's British historical drama Suffragette, which stars Mulligan and Helena Bonham Carter as Maud Watts and Edith New, two key figures in the suffrage movement of the early 20th century. Likely to raise eyebrows is The Battle for Banaras, a controversial political documentary from India's Kamal Swaroop. – The National staff

New Adele song biggest YouTube debut of year

The long-awaited new song by British pop star Adele has enjoyed a phenomenal start, marking the biggest debut of any video this year on YouTube. The ballad Hello averaged one million views per hour in the first two days after its Friday release, with more than 105 million clicks as of yesterday morning. The video website said that the debut was the biggest for any video in 2015, surpassing the release of the trailer for Star Wars: EpisodeVII – The Force Awakens. Hello is the first single off 25, Adele's first album in four years, which comes out on November 20. – AFP

Three artists to headline mini-Dubai festival

British Afro-influenced hip-hop talent Fuse ODG and chart-topping producer DJ Fresh will headline Nasimi Sessions – hosted at the Atlantis The Palm venue of the same name on November 6, along with Dutch vocalist Eva Simons, who will also headline February's RedFestDXB. Fresh, who hit the UK number one with drum n' bass singles Louder and Hot Right Now, will open the evening, before Simons performs hits including Will.i.am collaboration This is Love. Best known for breakout hit Antenna, Fuse ODG will close the evening. Doors open at 7pm; free entry before 10pm, Dh100 after. – The National staff

UAE artists invited to open competition

A call has been sounded for UAE-based talent to enter the International Emerging Artist Award, a nurturing arts programme open to both Emirati and international artists. The fourth edition has been launched with an exhibition of works from 18 previous "laureates" at Plantation Lounge, Sofitel Dubai ­Jumeirah Beach. It runs until November 30. Visit www.emergingartistaward.com for more details. – The National staff

Aretha Franklin sued for unpaid home fees

Legendary soul singer Aretha Franklin is being sued over unpaid homeowner fees at a condominium in suburban Detroit. Hills of Lone Pine Association says it's owed more than $11,500 (Dh42,000). The Detroit News reports that the association has filed a lawsuit to try to foreclose on the Queen of Soul's property in the gated community in Bloomfield Hills. The lawsuit names Franklin and two companies that hold mortgages on the $700,000 condo. Franklin told the newspaper that she owns the condo but doesn't live there. She believes she's been "overcharged for years" and has paid only what's "credible and legitimate." Franklin says her attorney is working on the dispute. – AP