MUMBAI: A panel of guests will gather on December 14 to participate in the Cultural Bridge Panel, a signature event of the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF), founded on the principles exemplified in the DIFF credo, ‘Bridging Cultures, Meeting Minds.’

The Cultural Bridge Panel, now in its second year, is a forum for the discussion of issues related to cultural understanding and dialogue, and cinema as a tool for world peace.

World-renowned author Paolo Coelho will present the keynote address at the event, and panelists will include actor, producer and activist Danny Glover, recipient of the 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award; Writer, Actor and debut director Rayda Jacobs and Al Arabia journalist Gisele Khoury. Cameron Baily, Canadian journalist broadcaster and senior programmer of the Toronto International Film Festival, will moderate the evening.

DIFF chairman Abdulhamid Juma commented, “The Cultural Bridge panel is an iconic event for DIFF. For the panel’s second edition, we have assembled a rich assortment of guests with very interesting and diverse backgrounds. This meeting of minds will offer DIFF audiences a truly unique festival experience, and we welcome one and all to hear and participate in these important discussions.”

Last year’s panel was moderated by Riz Khan of Al Jazeera International, director Oliver Stone, writer-director Julia Bacha, filmmaker Maji-da Abdi, Egyptian film legend Mohammed Khan and Ronnie Screwvala, founder and CEO of UTV.