Dubai’s Golden Dunes Festival will proceed with its second edition despite the emirate’s recent difficulties as a travel and entertainment destination during the US-Iran war. The event is expanding from a primarily awards-focused inaugural edition into a three-day programme of screenings, panels and workshops, aiming to encourage international collaboration among filmmakers.

Ron Perlman, Shohreh Aghdashloo and Cuba Gooding Jr. have been announced as the first jurors, with Perlman and Aghdashloo also taking part in panels and workshops. The festival runs from 28 to 30 November, while the Golden Dunes Awards will be held on 29 November at Belcanto, on the rooftop of Dubai Opera; organisers say the broader format is intended to create networking and cultural-exchange opportunities.