8th Dubai International Film Festival opens for entries

The Dubai International Film Festival, the leading film festival of the Middle East, Africa and near Asia, has opened its doors to films and filmmakers for its eighth edition, to be held from December 7 to 14, 2011. 

Entries are invited for the Festival’s 2011 official screening selection, including the prestigious Muhr Arab, Muhr Asia Africa and Muhr Emirati competitions, and its out-of-competition section. The Muhr Awards, presented for shorts, documentaries and feature films, offer a US$600,000 purse and are open to directors of Arab origin from around the world, their counterparts from Asia and Africa and UAE nationals respectively. 

The Festival’s out-of-competition section includes the popular Arabian Nights, Cinema for Children, Cinema of Asia Africa, Cinema of the World and In Focus segments. Entry for both sections, expected to number in the thousands, is free and will be accepted until August 31, 2011. The final shortlist will be announced in November 2011. 

Masoud Amralla Al Ali, Artistic Director, Dubai International Film Festival, said the Festival is a proven springboard for films and filmmakers into the global and regional limelight. 

“Our Festival is an established destination for discovery of Arab, Asian and African cinema; our track record in catapulting films to the international domain is unmatched in the region,” Al Ali said. “Major international festivals, studios, film business leaders, media and audiences take a keen interest in our selection because of the strength of our team and the quality of our offering. We are thrilled to once more bring deserving films to the world’s attention, and look forward to some challenging months of whittling down our final selection.” 

Reflecting its work in both showcasing and developing talent, the Dubai International Film Festival is also inviting filmmakers to participate in its initiatives spanning the filmmaking cycle. 

Filmmakers of Arab origin, for example, are welcome to apply for the Festival’s successful co-production and post-production initiatives, as well as its myriad international collaborations. 

The Dubai Film Connection, DIFF’s co-production market, will shortlist 15 director-producer teams to receive more than US$100,000 in funding, invaluable industry networking and access to specialists who help realize their documentary and feature film works in progress. Submissions for the fifth Dubai Film Connection, scheduled for December 8 to 11, will close August 1, 2011. 

The Festival’s post-production support programme, Enjaaz, is also accepting applications until August 1. Enjaaz offers 15 filmmakers up to US$100,000 each to help their projects move through the final stage of filmmaking. 

More details on all submission categories are available on www.dubaifilmfest.com. All films seeking entry must be produced after September 1, 2010, and must not have been screened in the Gulf region for any audiences prior to DIFF, with the exception of the Gulf Film Festival; and must not have been broadcast or made available on television or other public viewing platforms.  

DIFF is held in association with Dubai Studio City. Dubai Duty Free, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai Pearl, Emirates Airline and Madinat Jumeirah, the home of the Dubai International Film Festival, are the principal sponsors of DIFF. The Festival is supported by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority.