Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF), a cultural partnership between the Doha Film Institute and Tribeca Enterprises, has appointed acclaimed Palestinian filmmaker Hany Abu-Assad president of the jury for the 2010 festival.

Abu-Assad will be the first jury president of the festival which held its inaugural event last year and will preside over DTFF’s Arab film competition awarding prizes for best Arab film and best Arab filmmaker.

His 2006 film Paradise Now, about two Palestinian men preparing for a suicide attack in Tel Aviv, won the Golden Globe for best foreign language film in 2006, won the Golden Calf for best Dutch film, and  was nominated for an Academy Award for best foreign language film.

Born in Nazareth, Palestine in 1961, Abu-Assad studied technical engineering and worked as an airplane engineer in Europe before becoming a filmmaker.

Abu-Assad is currently working on several projects in Hollywood and plans to shoot his first English-language movie this year.

"It’s a great honour to be asked to head up the jury for the Doha Tribeca Film Festival,” said Abu-Assad.

“It’s an exciting time for filmmakers in the Middle East and this festival provides a unique opportunity to meet and showcase their work. I look forward, with my fellow jurors, to discovering some great films and filmmakers from our region and around the world."

“I am delighted that Hany has accepted our invitation to be our first Jury President,” said Amanda Palmer, DTFF executive director.

“He epitomises the profound talent that exists in this region that our festival aims to not only promote on an international platform, but will inspire other Arab filmmakers to tell their stories.”

“His work shows a distinct creativity and humanity which tells the stories of his own life, addresses cultural stereotypes and draws attention to important world issues,” she added.

The second annual DTFF, which runs from October 26 to30, will also feature two audience awards, one for best narrative film and the other for best documentary film. The two Arab film competition prizes are each $100,000 and the audience awards each feature prize monies of $100,000.

DTFF is a cultural partnership between the Doha Film Institute and Tribeca Enterprises. – TradeArabia News Service