US actor George Clooney poses during a photo-call before the opening of the 4th edition of the Dubai International Film Festival in Dubai yesterday.--Xinhua/Reuters

A Hollywood dramatic film "Michael Clayton" kicked off the fourth Dubai International Film Festival last night at Madinat Jumeirah, a coastal resort of Dubai.

A total of 141 features, shorts and documentaries from 52 countries will be screened during the eight-day film festival, 16 of which will see their premieres.

This year's Dubai International Film Festival will for the first time have China as a special focus of its Asian section.

Audiences will have the opportunity to enjoy five films from China during the festival -- "Season of the Horse" by Ning Cai, "Getting Home" by Zhang Yang, "Tuya's Marriage" by Wan Quan'an, "The Banquet" by Feng Xiaogang and "Exiled" by Johnnie To.

The Dubai International Film Festival was launched in December 2004 under the theme "Bridging Cultures. Meeting Minds."

The past three editions of the Dubai International Film Festival have presented more than 250 films from more than 48 countries.