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Former CEO of Dubai International Film Festival Neil Stephenson sues Abdulhamid Juma and Shivani Pandya!

By Amarendra Bhushan for CEOWORLD Magazine Updated:December 1, 2008

The former CEO of the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) Neil Stephenson is suing two former senior colleagues for libel amid allegations of calling him a “racist” and an “Arab hater.”

The major legal action, launched in the U.K. High Court of Justice, sees Stephenson suing DIFF Chairman Abdulhamid Juma and Managing Director Shivani Pandya.

Stephenson originally conceived the idea of DIFF in the U.K. on December 26, 2001 after reading an article in a British newspaper describing world leaders calling for tolerance to be the legacy of the 9/11 terror attacks on America.

The High Court writ filed late last week by Stephenson claims the two defendants labeled him a racist and then illegally conspired to engineer his exit from DIFF in late 2006.

Stephenson has brought the court action after attempting “to reconcile matters amicably in a private way.”

“I am saddened that this dispute could not be amicably resolved, but I will continue to fight for justice and for my rightful credit,” Stephenson said in a statement.

Stephenson originally filed last December in the Los Angeles Superior Court against Juma and Pandya “for their deplorable and despicable behavior” but withdrew the case after issues of jurisdiction.

The U.K. suit alleges that the two defendants also 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.

AbdulHamid Juma
Chairman, Dubai International Film Festival

AbdulHamid Juma was appointed the Chairman of the Dubai International Film Festival in 2006. He was part of the initial team that, back in 2004, established it and turned it into the world-class event it is todayHe was guided by a belief that through film and art, the gaps between cultures could be narrowed by using one common language to communicate messages of tolerance and understanding. He developed an eclectic taste for varying genres of filmmaking and thrived on educating himself on the new trends in cinema on an international level.

His passion then focused on the history of Arab cinema, specifically, the Cinema in the UAE. He became active in supporting independent cinema, especially from the GCC region, and has a keen interest in nurturing thriving local talent. With his foresight and vision, he was the driving force behind the Gulf Film Festival, an annual event that showcases the best in regional cinema to a local and international audience.Being named the third most influential figure in Arab Cinema proved a defining moment in his life. Part of the realization of his dream would be to create an art and film culture in the UAE.AbdulHamid also holds the position of Deputy Director General of Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority (DTMFZA) with the responsibility to manage the Free Zone’s strategic direction and to promote sustainable industry growth in line with the DTMFZA’s goals.

His early career assignments include Corporate Strategy and Planning Manager and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of Dubai Media City. He was later appointed to CEO of DMC. During his tenure at DMC his vision and perseverance attracted over 1000 companies who proceeded to join the unique media community.He was a member of the founding team that put into realization the concept of Dubai Internet City, where he held the position of Commercial Manager. Thereafter, he held senior management positions at Jebel Ali Free Zone and Citibank.He is the holder of a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Colorado at Boulder and holds a certificate from Harvard Business School’s General Manager Programme.

AbdulHamid is a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (EMMYS). He also sits on the board of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, established in 2008.

Shivani Pandya
Managing Director, Dubai International Film Festival

As the Managing Director of the Dubai International Film Festival, Shivani Pandya holds the mandate to direct strategic and operational aspects of the festival. Prior to her current role, Shivani was the executive director of the festival.

She has been with DIFF since its beginnings in 2004 and contributed to the successful management of the festival project plan while overseeing the festival’s marketing and operations departments.Shivani’s previous responsibilities were as a member of the Dubai Media City – Business Development team since 2000. In her capacity, she added considerable industry specific experience towards developing a strategy for nurturing the film industry in Dubai and promoting it as a location of choice for film production.

During her tenure, she established the media cluster’s broadcasting department, and facilitated the addition of more than 20 international broadcasters under the DMC umbrella.She holds a Baccalaureate Honours degree in Economics from Delhi University and a Masters in Marketing and Communications from the Xavier’s Institute of Communication in Mumbai, India.

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