The first-ever 'Arab Film and TV Awards' (AFTVA), aimed at honouring the emerging film and TV making talent in the Middle East, will be held in London next year.

AFTVA has been created to help promote, support and develop film and television talent in the Middle East region by awarding and celebrating their excellence.

London-based public relations and promotions company Medium Enterprises will be staging the inaugural event on February 3 at the luxurious 5-star Langham Hotel in Central London.

James Black, the chairman of Medium Enterprises said: “Through the awards we are committed to promote Arab culture worldwide and want to introduce the international film community to the growing and emerging film and TV making talent that the Middle East has to offer, along with the state of the art facilities that are now available in the region for film makers and television companies worldwide.”

Besides awarding bets Arab film, television and acting talent, the organisers also plan to give special awards to Western film, television and acting talent chosen by the AFTVA committee.

A special Lifetime Achievement Award and Humanitarian Award will also be given each year to honour both Arab and Western recipients.

The awards will be a prestigious high profile event attended by film and television industry celebrities and talent from the Middle East, Europe and Hollywood. The awards will be an annual event taking place in a different country each year alternating annually between Europe and the Middle East.

The actual award itself will be named the 'Screen Falcon Award' and will be designed by famous London gold and silversmiths Grant MacDonald.

James Black said: “We are developing the awards to eventually become the Academy Awards of the Arab world.”-TradeArabia News Service