Development of home-grown filmmaking talent viewed as key focus
Dubai, UAE. Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) has pledged its support for the MINI Film Festival for the second year in a row, confirming its belief in the important role the creative grassroots film festival is playing in the development of regional talent.
The inaugural MINI Film Festival, a short film festival and an initiative of BMW Group Middle East, was launched in 2006 and received over 55 high-calibre entries from Middle Eastern filmmakers across the region.
"Our aim with the MINI Film Festival was to create a platform to encourage and develop the blossoming regional film community to have their vision and unique points of view heard," said Raymond Gedeon, MINI Brand Manager, BMW Group Middle East.
"Gaining the confidence of a world-class film festival organisation such as DIFF is an enormous compliment to our efforts in establishing the MINI Film Festival as a permanent and credible event. Having DIFF by our side for support and guidance not only benefits our continued commitment to creating opportunities for the regional film industry, but is also of immense value for our participants."
Masoud Amralla Al Ali, DIFF's Artistic Director and Coordinator General of the Muhr Awards for Excellence in Arab Cinema, said: "The MINI Film Festival is an opportunity to see the small gems that catch the light, the short works by budding film storytellers that possess a talent that we at DIFF aim to develop across this region. There is a definite filmmaking community here at each level, from the grassroots to feature filmmakers."
The MINI Film Festival 2007 is currently open for submissions, and amateur filmmakers from the region have until 1st November 2007 to submit short films of up to 15 minutes in length. More information on entry requirements is available through the MINI website www.MINI-me.com. Entries can be delivered to a number of partner locations across the region detailed on the website.
"We were delighted by the quality of entries we received in our inaugural year, and are excited by the news that some of the winners from last year have gone onto developing further shorts, animations and feature film projects," continued Gedeon.
"It was vital to us from the beginning that the MINI Film Festival provided regional filmmakers with an environment where they could be encouraged to develop their skills, receive instant feedback from an audience and network with film industry representatives. Our partnership with DIFF offers our filmmakers even more scope to see their names up in light on a global scale, and that's something to get excited about!"
A senior representative from DIFF will be a member of the professional jury for the festival, who will choose the top 10 films for the MINI Film Festival 2007. Judges will be announced in the coming months and the top ten finalists will be announced on the 17th of November. An exclusive invitation-only Gala Screening will be held on 29th November 2007 to screen the ten finalist films and announce the winners to a top-level industry audience.
Prizes for the competition have been selected with partners in the film industry to help developing talent make their film careers a reality. First prize is an Apple Mac Pro with 30" Cinema Display screen and Final Cut Studio software, while second place winner will receive a professional video camera. A film course at a leading regional film institute is on offer for third place winner and € 1000.00 will go to the People's Choice Award winner, which is voted by attendees at the gala screening event via SMS voting.
-Ends-
For more information please contact:
Rana Jones,
Corporate Comm. Manager,
BMW Group Middle East
Telephone: +971 4 3132615
fax +971 4 3300120
Email: Rana.Jones@bmw.com
Kelly Smith,
Account Director,
MCS/Action
Telephone: +971 4 369 3495
Mobile : +971 (50) 498 3085
Email: kelly.s@actionprgroup.com
© Press Release 2007
