The Dubai Film and TV Commission (DFTC) has announced that it will exhibit for the first time at the 66th annual Cannes International Film Festival, which begins today in France.

In a complete representation of the Dubai film industry, DFTC will join Dubai International Film Festival (Diff) and Dubai Studio City in the UAE pavilion, a statement from an official said.

The Cannes International Film Festival is one of the most renowned and publicised film festivals in the world. Year after year, it successfully encourages the development of the art of filmmaking in all its forms, while fostering and maintaining a spirit of collaboration among filmmaking countries.

As such, DFTC, DIFF and Dubai Studio City will showcase Dubai’s film industry’s full offerings at Cannes, from premier shooting locations, to cutting-edge production infrastructure, to cinematic distribution, the statement said.

In line with Dubai Film & TV Commission’s vision to support and provide greater exposure to home-grown Dubai talent within the international film scene, this year, DFTC is proud to sponsor Abdulla Al Kaabi, a young Emirati director who won critical acclaim for his first award-winning short film - The Philosopher, it said.

Since last year’s festival, the Dubai film industry has witnessed a ground-breaking year that includes the launch of the Dubai Film and TV Commission, the completion of the region’s most advanced sound stages at Dubai Studio City and the largest and most successful Dubai International Film Festival to date.

This year, the UAE’s key film establishments from Dubai and Abu Dhabi will jointly exhibit at the UAE pavilion during Cannes. DFTC, DIFF and Dubai Studio City are thrilled to partner with Abu Dhabi Film Commission, Image Nation and twofour54 to affirm the UAE’s position as a global centre for film production, financing and distribution. The teams will meet with leading filmmakers and production companies from around the world to promote the UAE’s diverse offerings to the film industry.

Jamal Al Sharif, chairman of the Dubai Film & TV Commission, said: “Cannes International Film Festival is an excellent platform to promote Dubai’s burgeoning and rich film industry to an important global audience. This year’s festival falls at an exciting time for Dubai’s film industry, which has already seen the production of a number of significant projects in 2013 - with more to be announced shortly - as well as the completion of two brand new sound stages at Dubai Studio City due to be open this fall. This maturation of Dubai’s film industry strengthens its position as a leading media house and sets the tone for ten days of discussions to be held during the festival.”

“Our attendance at this year’s Cannes International Film Festival alongside Diff and Dubai Studio City plays an important role in supporting Dubai’s 2015 Strategic Plan, as the film and TV industry has a high multiplier effect on the macro economy, impacting, among others, the tourism, transportation, financial services and construction sectors and, ultimately, contributing to an increase in the overall GDP of the Emirate,” Al Sharif said.

Helal Saeed Almarri, director general of Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said:

“We are proud to see the tangible growth in Dubai’s film industry and Dubai’s most comprehensive industry presence at this year’s Cannes International Film Festival. Given that film and TV contribute to Dubai’s GDP at a ratio of 2:1, film plays a vital role in establishing Dubai as a premier global tourist destination.”

The Cannes International Film Festival will go on till May 26. – TradeArabia News Service