On Dec. 11, an exhibition in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, will showcase never-before-seen photographs of historic film and entertainment personalities by Magnum Photos.
The five-day exhibit, entitled "The Magic of Cinema," will present images of past and present, from silver-screen icons such as Marilyn Monroe to contemporary stars like Johnny Depp. Featured personalities will include Bridgitee Bardot, James Dean, Alfred Hitchcock, Jean Renoir, Alain Resnais and Elizabeth Taylor.
Covering the United States, France, Great Britain, Italy, India and Egypt, 81 color and black-and-white images depict film directors, actors, sets and behind-the-scenes happenings of the cinema world. The exhibit will feature work by more than 40 Magnum photographers, including René Burri, Robert Capa, Raymond Depardon, Elliott Erwitt and Marc Riboud.
"The Magic of Cinema" is organized by the French Embassy in the UAE and the Alliance Française de Doubaï, in association with the 4th Dubai International Film Festival.
Director of Alliance Française de Doubaï Philippe Nicaise says the "The Magic of Cinema" is one of several 2007 initiatives that demonstrate excellent relations between France and the UAE.
Other art-related cooperative projects include the opening of the Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi and continued work on the Louvre Museum, also in Abu Dhabi, by Sharjah University and a number of French schools.