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Diff to assist directors via new initiative

Dubai, September 19, 2012

The Dubai International Film Festival (Diff) in collaboration with the San Sebastian International Film Festival, will offer directors a career-changing opportunity through the Cinema in Motion initiative.

This industry activity aims to assist the conclusion of feature films – which are at the end of their filming or in post-production stage - made by filmmakers from the Maghreb, developing Arab countries and the African continent, a statement from Diff said.

Diff will award the nominee €5,000 ($6,501) towards the post production costs of an Arab film. In addition to the monetary prize, the winning projects director will be invited to attend the Dubai Film Market (DFM) during the upcoming Diff where they will be offered invaluable industry introductions and meeting opportunities.  

In order to ensure these opportunities are maximised the filmmaker will be assigned a personal consultant from DFM who will help coordinate meetings, explore funding prospects and facilitate networking opportunities, the statement said.

The four films which have been chosen to take part in the San Sebastian International Film Festival’s 8th Cinema in Motion event, due to be held on September 24 consists Al Khouroug Lel Nahar (Coming forth by Day) by Hala Lotfy (Egypt), Challatt Tunes (Challatt of Tunis) by Kaouther Ben Hania (Tunisia-France), Le Veau d'or (The Golden Calf) by Hassan Legzouli (Morocco-France) and Moug (Waves) by Ahmed Nour (Egypt-Morocco).

Following the showcase, the selected films’ directors and/or producers will have an opportunity to defend their projects to accredited film industry professionals to compete for various forms of post-production support, awarded in previous years to films such as Yahya Alabdallah's The Last Friday (Jordan) and Leïla Kilani's Sur la planche (Morocco - France).

Masoud Amralla Al Ali, artistic director, Dubai International Film Festival, said: “Developing opportunities to encourage film production and realise the potential of regional talent is a core objective of Diff. Our participation in Cinema in Motion helps further realise this objective.”

“The prize offered to the winning filmmaker will not only assist in helping them complete their current project and hopefully find additional partners who can help complete and distribute the film at DFM, but also expand their network within the film industry and cultivate long-term relationships for future projects.”  

Kaouther Ben Hania, who has had a long and successful run on the international festival circuit and previously participated in the Dubai Film Connection (DFC) in 2011 with “Zaineb Hates the Snow” will showcase Challatt of Tunis.

It portrays the story of Challatt, a supposed fundamentalist who slashes women with a razor blade in Tunisia and explores what urban myths tell us about society, culture and identity.

Meanwhile Hala Lofty’s Al-Khoroug Lel-Nahar delves into the everyday lives of two women taking care of their sick man, Ahmed Nour’s Moug artistic feature paints a picture of his own history his forgotten home city and Hassan Legzouli’s Le Veau D’or explores the extreme measures a man will go to for the love of his life. – TradeArabia News Service




Tags: UAE | Dubai | Dubai International Film Festival |

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