‘The Lunchbox’ Star Irrfan Khan to Head Up Abu Dhabi Film Festival Jury

The Abu Dhabi Film Festival, which kicks off in the United Arab Emirates capital on Friday, has revealed that Irrfan Khan will preside the narrative feature competition.

The Mumbai-based star of 2013’s crossover hit The Lunchbox will be joined by Algerian novelist and academic Waciny Laredi, U.S director-producer Stephen Shainberg (Secretary), Australian director Cate Shortland and Palestinian actor Ali Suliman, recently seen opposite Mark Wahlberg in Lone Survivor.

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Elsewhere across the competitions, the jury for the New Horizons section for first- and second-time features is being led by French producer Catherine Dussart (The Missing Picture), while the documentary jury head is cinematographer Christina Voros (As I Lay Dying).

The festival runs until Nov. 1, opening with Emirati film From A to B by local filmmaker Ali F. Mostafa and closing with Disney’s animated superhero adventure Big Hero 6.