DIFF’s ‘engine’ pushes Arab documentary filmmakers At its core, the Dubai International Film Festival is about expanding and promoting talent, as is evident in its newest segment Dubai Docs. Kelly Ann Crane finds out more

At its core, the Dubai International Film Festival is about expanding and promoting talent, as is evident in its newest segment Dubai Docs.

Baghdad Messi received post-production funding from DIFF. Courtesy A Team Productions

Kelly Ann Crane

Nov 20, 2013

The glitz, glamour and celebrity appearances will make the headlines when the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) rolls into town next month.

From December 6 to 14, Madinat Jumeirah will come alive as the world’s media descend on a red carpet awash with famous faces from the movie business.

However, George Clooney, Owen Wilson and Gerard Butler aside, it’s often the stories playing out during the other 356 days of the year that truly represent the success of this annual event.

“People ask what we do for the rest of year,” said the DIFF managing director Shivani Pandya. “The festival takes place in December, but for the other 11 months of the year, we are working behind the scenes to expand the film market for the benefit of all.”

The Dubai Film Market (DFM) is best described as the “festival engine”, according to Jane Williams, the director of DIFF’s Film Connection & Film Forum.

Running concurrently with DIFF, DFM attracts hundreds of industry professionals from all over the globe every year and offers co-production, post-production, trade and distribution support, panel discussions and workshops, as well as numerous networking sessions aimed at raising the visibility of filmmakers from the region.

“It’s the business centre of DIFF and business never sleeps,” says Williams. “It is the behind-the-scenes segment of the festival.”

Since its inception in 2010, DFM has supported more than 240 regional and international projects by way of either funding, expertise or by connecting parties. This figure incorporates DIFF’s post- production fund, Enjaaz, which has helped fund 84 films, 67 of which have been realised, including Baghdad Messi, Wadjda and Cairo Exit.

New to DFM for 2013, to celebrate a decade of DIFF, is Dubai Docs, a pilot project to raise awareness of and interest in creative documentary filmmakers in the Arab world.

“It’s one of the most popular genres of filmmaking, yet one of the hardest to get funding for,” says Williams. “The hope is Dubai Docs will plug another gap we have identified in the market.”

Dubai Docs will train seven regional directors in the art of pitching their projects before they face potential investors.

“We are seeing festivals around the world showcasing more and more Arab talent and we know we’ve played a part in that,” says Pandya. “It makes working for 365 days a year worth it.”

• For more information, visit www.dubaifilmfest.com

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