Dubai International Film Festival (Diff) said it has joined hands with MIPTV, the leading international content market and showcase for television and digital entertainment.

The move is aimed at strengthening the visibility of emerging filmmakers in the Middle East region by exposing their works to a wider, international audience.

Scheduled to run from April 1 to 4, 2012, at Cannes, the MIPTV brings together over 11,000 media and television industry professionals from 100 countries.

Ted Baracos, director of market development at MIPTV, said “As part of this new partnership, the winners of the documentary and feature sections of the in-competition Muhr Awards – Diff’s prestigious in-competition honours - will have their films screened at the 49th annual MIPTV (Palais des Festival – Cannes).

This will provide the winning filmmakers with a perfect opportunity to access the largest gathering of buyers globally, as well as benefit from networking sessions with international distributors and other industry professionals who attend MIPTV and the MIPDoc screenings, he added.

Shivani Pandya, managing director, Diff, said: 'MIPTV’s global standing as a premier entertainment industry showcase offers Muhr Award winners the opportunity to reach a wider global audience.'

'The partnership will further add to Diff’s proven commitment to support filmmakers from the inception of their project to trade and distribution; in short, the entire production and post-production cycle,' he added.

Bassil Hajjar, Middle East representative, MIPTV, said: “We truly believe in Diff’s mandate of bringing the most promising filmmakers to an international audience. We are positive that this collaboration will lead to a wider understanding and appreciation for Arab producers and the Arab film industry.”

From shaping deals to making new connections, MIPTV unravels new business opportunities for Arab filmmakers, he added.-TradeArabia News Service