Dubai Film Connection - December 11-15, 2009
| Awards | Criteria | How to apply | Past Projects |
The Dubai Film Connection (DFC) is the co-production market of DIFF. Launched in 2007, the DFC aims to raise the visibility of Arab filmmakers and stimulate the growth of film production originating from the Arab world.
The DFC focuses on bridging cultures by bringing international and Arab film professionals together to collaborate on the realisation of approximately 15 selected projects each year. In the two years since its inception, 33 projects in development (both fiction and documentary) and 3 works-in-progress have been presented to an annual guest list of more than 80 international film industry professionals from over 20 countries. In addition, the combined value of the DFC awards now stands at more than $100,000.
Guests at the 2008 DFC included:
Wild Bunch – France, Fortissimo Films – Hong Kong/Netherlands, Max Films– Canada, Louverture – USA, The World Cinema Fund – Germany, ART – Saudi Arabia, Arte Cinema - France, Premium Fund UK Films Council - UK, OIF Organsation Internationale de la Francophone – France, Al Jazeera – Qatar, Memento Films – France, Rotana – Saudi Arabia, Lumiere – Belgium, Kuwait Cable Vision & Desert Door Productions – Kuwait, Bahrain Film Production Company – Bahrain, Coproduction Office – France, Heimat Films GMBH – Germany, Match Factory – Germany, Torino FilmLab – Italy, Walt Disney Studios – USA.
Projects showcased include feature debuts as well as new projects from more established filmmakers; representing the range of talent coming from the Arab speaking world. Selected filmmakers have included: Abdellatif Ben Ammar, Faouzi Bensaidi, Oday Rasheed, Djamila Sahraoui, Annemarie Jacir, Cherien Dabis, Ziad Doueiri, Daoud Abd El-Sayed, Simon El Habre.
Seven films are currently in production or post-production and 3 more are due to start principal photography shortly. Three former DFC films are now completed. “Amreeka” directed by Cherien Dabis was selected for Sundance and the Quinzaine des Réalisateurs, Cannes in 2009. “The One Man Village” won the Documentary Jury Prize at DIFF 2008 and was selected for the Forum, Berlinale 2009.
The Event Includes:
- Three day schedule of one-on-one meetings between the selected director/producer teams and key industry professionals from the fields of production, sales, distribution, funding and broadcasting with a view to assisting in the realisation of the project.
- Individualised meeting agendas prepared in advance of the event for all participants.
- Programme of networking events and industry panels.
- Project Dossier detailing the selected projects available on the festival website and circulated to all industry professionals ahead of the event.
- Team of industry experts available for consultation and support to enable all participants to have a productive experience.
- Viewing library containing previous films of directors selected for the DFC.
The third edition of the DFC will take place from December 11-15, 2009
ARTE France has renewed its commitment to the DFC and to supporting productions from the Middle East and will again award the International Relations ARTE Prize of €6000. This award will be given to a filmmaker for exceptional originality, writing style and motivation.
In 2008, the US$10,000 Bahrain Film Production Company DIFF Development Award was presented to a DFC project in development for the first time. The award is presented to a film project at an early stage of development on the basis of a detailed treatment submitted by a project team including a producer and a director. The Bahrain Film Production company was set up in 2006 to generate support and infrastructure for regional filmmakers and the award allows writers and filmmakers in the preparatory stages of their projects to create a strong foundation for a successful production.
The US$25,000 Desert Door DIFF Work in Progress Award was also established in 2008 and it is given to a project that is already in production and needs financial assistance to complete. In 2009, DIFF will be awarding this prize in early October so that the winning filmmaker has the opportunity to submit the completed film for consideration in the festival’s film program. The two projects that are selected as runners-up for this award will be invited to DIFF to participate in the DFC.Desert Door productions is an independent film production company based in Dubai that develops, produces and invests in socially relevant television, film and commercial projects throughout the Middle East, United States and Europe. It has committed to bestowing this award until 2012.
The Dubai International Film Festival will present 3 awards of US$25,000 to projects at an advanced stage of development with a draft script and production details ready to be presented to potential industry partners. The producers of the three winning projects will be awarded registration for the prestigious Producers Network at the Cannes Film Festival in 2010.
Submissions for the Dubai Film Connection is now closed. For any enquiries please contact: dubaifilmconnection@tecom.ae
In order to be eligible for the Dubai Film Connection, applicants must fulfill the following conditions:
Directors must be of Arab nationality or origin - Arab Nationality or Origin shall mean people from one or more of the following countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
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Directors must have previous directing experience – short films or features.
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It is essential that the project has a producer attached. The producer can be of any nationality.
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The project must be either fiction or documentary feature length films intended for theatrical distribution.
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The project must be at an advanced stage of development (i.e. ready to be presented and discussed with potential partners) or a work in progress where principal photography is completed. An extensive treatment or a full draft script and a financial plan will be required, from all applicants, as part of the selection process. Projects submitted for the Work in Progress category will also have to supply edited copies of the material already shot.
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All written materials must be submitted in English. All filmed works must be available with English subtitles.
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Online application form and documents must be submitted before August 15, 2009.
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All materials in hard copy must be sent by courier to arrive no later than August 22, 2009.
Selection Process:
Following the deadline an international team of experts will evaluate the submissions and select approximately 15 feature film projects. The final selection will be completed by the end of October and selected filmmakers will be contacted by a DFC representative. Short-listed projects will be required to submit a 1-2 page synopsis in Arabic. Short-listed projects will be required to submit a 1-2 page synopsis in Arabic.
In order to be considered for the Dubai Film Connection applicants must provide the following:
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A completed on-line application form
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Synopsis of 1- 2 pages
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A full draft script or extensive treatment (8-10 pages) for fiction features/full treatment for documentary features
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Director’s motivation/visual concept
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Director’s biography
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Producer’s biography
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Company profile(s)
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Budget outline
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Finance plan
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4 copies of a DVD containing sample(s) of the director’s previous work
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For the Work in Progress submissions, 4 copies of a DVD containing the edited material already shot
PLEASE NOTE: Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Project entry is in two steps:
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Fill out the on-line application form and attach requested documents by August 15, 2009.
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Send all the materials in hard copy including the 4 (or 8 DVDs for the Work in Progress submissions) DVDs by courier to arrive no later than August 22, 2009 to the following address:
Attention: Dubai Film Connection
Dubai International Film Festival, Dubai Media City
Bldg. 2 (CNN), First Floor, P.O. Box 502600, Dubai, UAE
Telephone: +971 4 3676710
Please mention “without commercial value, for cultural purposes only” and mark “no value” or not more than “US $10” on the pro-forma invoice.
All shipping costs are the responsibility of the applicant.
Submitted materials cannot be returned.
