MUMBAI: The seventh Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) that begins on 12 December will open with The King‘s Speech.

Directed by Tom Hooper, the film is based on the true story of King George VI, father of Queen Elizabeth II, who reluctantly and unexpectedly becomes king following the death of his father and abdication by his brother Edward VII.

Plagued by a debilitating and lifelong speech impediment and considered unfit to be king of a country on the brink of war, George employs an eccentric speech therapist to help him find his voice, in order to lead Britain and inspire its people.
The film stars Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Jennifer Ehle, Michael Gambon, Derek Jacobi, Guy Pearce and Timothy Spall.

Said Festival chairman Abdulhamid Juma, "The Festival is delighted to host the film and its considerable talent in Dubai: DIFF has always sought to bring the best cinema of the world to Dubai and the greater Middle East, and The King‘s Speech‘ certainly fits that bill."

With the 2010 edition less than seven weeks away, DIFF Artistic Director Masoud Amralla Al Ali said nearly all the DIFF programming was in place.