President Ramos-Horta highlights the Role of Cinema at the Opening of the Dili International Film Festival
DÍLI, 30 September 2026 (TATOLI) – The President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta, participated this Wednesday at the Sky Bar in Timor Plaza in the official opening of the Dili International Film Festival (DIF).
During his speech, the Head of State praised the organization’s ongoing contribution to the artistic and cultural life of Timor-Leste, highlighting cinema as a powerful way to tell stories and educate society.
Ramos-Horta shared his passion for the seventh art, recalling the days of the first cinema screens in Dili and celebrating the evolution of the sector in the country.
On this occasion, the President took the opportunity to underline Timor-Leste’s strong image on the global stage, highlighting it as the third safest country in Southeast Asia and a global example when it comes to press freedom.
In a relaxed tone, the Head of State reiterated that the nation offers a welcoming and peaceful environment for all visitors and investors, recalling that the Presidency of the Republic itself insists on operating with reduced security protocols, always keeping its “doors open” to the people and the world.
Looking to the future, Ramos-Horta used the event’s stage to announce that the country will host major international competitions next year, notably the Dili International Marathon, which is an off-road bicycle race.
The President expressed his ambition to transform the marathon into an event of global prestige, a kind of “mini Davos”, with the aim of attracting international investors, chief executive officers (CEOs), and Nobel Prize laureates to Dili, thereby boosting tourism, the economy, and Timor-Leste’s prestige across borders.
TATOLI
