Iconic American film actor Samuel L Jackson is set to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at the opening ceremony of the 13th Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF), which runs this year between 7 and 14 December. According to a recently issued press release by the festival organisers, a meeting with the famous actor is scheduled for 9 December at Dubai's Madinat Souk Theatre, where fans and industry members alike will have the opportunity to hear the actor speak of his life and journey. DIFF's Chairman Abdulhamid Juma commented on the decision to award the famous actor saying, “Samuel L. Jackson is, quite simply, an icon. His talent and recognition span well beyond cinema and we are very much looking forward to welcoming him to DIFF for the first time." "Our Lifetime Achievement Award is a testament to the dedication and talent of individuals whose abilities are unmatchable and Samuel L. Jackson is the epitome of that. Not only are we proud to be able to honour his outstanding career, but to be able to introduce him to the UAE film community through a public in conversation event is very special,” added Juma. For his part, Jackson commented on DIFF's award expressing his "great honor to be given the Dubai international Film Festival's Lifetime Achievement Award." "It's wonderful to be included into the Emirates' film community, and I look forward to meeting all of its amazing filmmakers and making many new friends," he added. A prominent American actor and film producer, Jackson made his acting debut in the 1972 independent film Together for Days. He went on to star in a wide variety of films, achieving prominence and critical acclaim in the 1990s. In 1991, Jackson scooped the Cannes International Film Festival's Best Supporting Actor Award for his performance in Spike Lee's drama Jungle Fever. His success further grew after starring in Quentin Tarantino's 1994 production Pulp Fiction, a role for which he received a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor, as well as a nomination for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe. Throughout his career, Jackson has worked alongside many of the most celebrated names in cinema. He starred in over 100 films and did voice-overs for a number of animation films and video games. This year, other recipients of DIFF's Lifetime Achievement Award include renowned Indian actress Rekha and award-winning French Lebanese composer Gabriel Yared . Previous award recipients include Catherine Deneuve, Morgan Freeman, Oliver Stone, Omar Sharif, Faten Hamama, Adel Imam and Youssef Chahine. For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & CultureFor more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture
