19th May 2012
San Sebastian Festival Embraces Arab Films
29th October 2009
Arab-speaking films are to gain greater international exposure.
This follows a groundbreaking agreement between the Dubai
International Film Festival (DIFF) and Spain's San Sebastian
International Film Festival.
The initiative is being implemented through Cinema in Motion, San
Sebastian's co-production market that helps filmmakers find
investors from various countries, and the Dubai Film Connection,
DIFF's own co-production programme.
The deal will enable talent from Arab-speaking territories in the
Middle East and Africa to have their films seen by European
distributors and film goers.
DIFF will use the Dubai Film Connection to discover and recommend
Arab-language films and filmmakers to be considered for Cinema in
Motion.
The selected films will also compete for a €5,000 DIFF grant for
post-production work and a free delegation pass to the Dubai Film
Connection.
Simultaneously, San Sebastian Film will market the Dubai Film
Connection to Spanish and European filmmakers seeking partners in
Arab-speaking markets.
Photography: Sebastian Rich