Wednesday, Oct 21, 2009
Gulf News
Dubai The Dubai Film Connection, the seed fund of the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF), has received 127 submissions from Arab-origin filmmakers around the world for its 2009 edition, breaking all previous entry records.
The majority of submissions are from Lebanon, Palestine, France, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan and Tunisia, representing the diversity of the Arab world.
Rounding out a month of success at home and abroad, the fund also celebrated the global debut of Lebanese drama and DFC project Every Day is a Holiday at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival.
Abundance of talent
The first feature from director Dima Al Horr is one of 34 Arab film projects nurtured by the Dubai Film Connection since its 2007 launch and its third global success. DIFF artistic director Masoud Amr Allah Al Ali said the twin successes reflect the abundance of talent in the Arab world and underscore the need for a dedicated platform to promote it.
"One of DIFF's core goals has always been to showcase excellence in Arab cinema, and that begins with finding, encouraging and elevating talented filmmakers," Al Ali said. "By offering the right networking opportunities with the best in the industry, and the endorsement of the leading festival of the region, the Dubai Film Connection has opened doors for deserving Arab talent around the world, and we are very proud to see our protégés receive global acclaim."
Every Day is a Holiday joins Amreeka and The One Man Village as the most successful films to emerge from the DFC 2007 stable so far.
Amreeka, the lighthearted story of a Palestinian immigrant family, made its world premiere at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and went on to win the prestigious FIPRESCI International Federation of Film Critics prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
Canada's Hot Docs festival selected Lebanese documentary The One Man Village as Best International Feature documentary this year; the film also scooped up prizes in Rotterdam, Monaco and Prague and was screened as part of the official selection for the Muhr Awards at DIFF in 2008.
Every Day is a Holiday, one of 15 submissions selected by the DFC in its first year, went on to win its $25,000 DIFF Desert Door Work in Progress Award in 2008.
Al Horr said DIFF's contribution to the film's success was immeasurable. "We will always be grateful to DIFF for its unstinting support over the last two years, and for extending our reach from Lebanon to the world."
Staff Report
Gulf News 2009. All rights reserved.
