Founder of Dubai International Film Festival Vows to Continue Fight for
Justice: Settlement Talks Break Down
Stephenson to File Petitions with UAE, British and Canadian Authorities; Will Lobby Industry Leaders for Support, Launch Website
DUBAI, UAE,
He also vowed to continue his UK legal fight for justice against Juma and Managing Director Shivani Pandya.
The suit charges that Juma and Pandya engaged in "despicable behavior" and that the two defendants conspired to ruin his reputation by branding him a "racist" and an "Arab-hater," despite the fact that he had lived in the Arab world for 10 years and had launched DIFF in 2003.
Lawyers for DIFF and Stephenson had been locked in negotiations for the past three months where progress toward a settlement had been made.
Stephenson had proposed an equitable resolution whereby he and Juma would share a Co-Founder's credit, despite the fact that Juma had had little involvement with the first successful festival in 2004. Juma and Pandya had started a very different for-profit film festival in 2003 with convicted Pakistani fraudster Mahmud Sipra, but the event was ill-conceived and quickly failed. Stephenson's non-profit "cultural bridge" festival took its place to become the respected film festival that DIFF is today.
Stephenson commented: "It is sad that
For further information: For further information: Elizabeth Block at EJB Communications: +44 (0) 786 791 7286, [email protected]
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