Industry Office Events
Monday 10th of December
9:30am to 11am
Coaching for Producers / Open Session
Approaches to Script Development, Jacques Akchoti
Organised in collaboration with the EAVE.
Jacques Akchoti
Jacques Akchoti will discuss his approach to the development of feature scripts from the point of view of a writer and a producer working with a writer. Jacques is a screen writer, director, script editor and script consultant. He has taught directing and script writing at Femis, the French National Film School, and in workshops in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia with such organisations as EAVE, CNC, Écrans du Sud, Sud-Écriture and Channel Four Television.
Tuesday 11th of December
9:30am to 11am
Coaching for Producers / Open Session
Marketing, Fiona Mitchell
Organised in collaboration with the EAVE.
Fiona Mitchell
Fiona Mitchell will explore aspects of film marketing from early development through to sales and distribution with particular emphasis on the materials and tools required for successful marketing.
Fiona has been involved in the development, funding, marketing and international distribution of more than 200 feature films from many different cultures. She has played a leading role in J & M Entertainment, CIBY and MGM and handled the films of directors such as Mike Leigh, Jane Campion, Abbas Kiarostami, Bernardo Bertolucci, David Lynch, Jim Jarmusch, Pedro Almodavar, and Deepa Mehta.
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11:30am - 1pm
Showtime Comedy Workshop
Led by Eric Preven and featuring the Axis of Evil
Eric Preven
Eric Preven is an LA based writer and producer with extensive experience in writing sitcoms for network television in the states. He’s also written sketches for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and was a supervising producer on the dramedy Popular. Additionally, Preven, has developed local language reversions of half-hour comedies such as The Nanny, Married With Children, and Home Improvement in countries like Russia, Colombia, and Mexico. The comedy workshop will focus on Eric Preven’s personal and professional observations about writing comedy: sitcoms, dramedies, screenplays, improvisational comedy, and stand-up, featuring special guests, The Axis of Evil comedians.
Wednesday 12th of December
9:30am to 11am
Coaching for Producers / Open Session
Interview with Nabil Ayouch
Organised in collaboration with the EAVE.
2:30pm to 4pm
Panel Session “Producing a First Feature”
Moderator: Colin Brown, Screen International
The purpose of this panel is to provide a professional sounding board for filmmakers who are attending the Festival and registrants of the DIFF Industry Office. Two producers, both with extensive co-production experience have been invited to participate, along with a young filmmaker who is currently preparing his first feature length documentary. The session will be moderated by Colin Brown of Screen International, with the focus being hard information as in the following:
- What are the specific requirements of the debut director?
- How can the producers assist them?
- What are the challenges of developing a professional working relationship? How do both sides best work towards a constructive and positive working relationship?
- What do producers look for in selecting projects?
- What do producers require in order to feel comfortable in working with a first time director?
Thursday 13th of December
11:30am to 1pm
Panel Session “Models of Production”
Chair: Collin Brown
A discussion exploring the different and similar experiences of filmmakers from the Arab region and their counterparts in other countries and regions of the world.
3:30pm to 5pm
Speed-Dating Session “Shooting in the Middle-East”
Friday 14th of December
9:30am to 11am
M·A·C Workshop
Make Up for Period Film
For a second year M·A·C extends its support to professional makeup artists and emerging film makers by offering a masterclass related to makeup in film. M·A·C Senior Artist Tiffany Johnston will be presenting Makeup for Period Film, discussing and demonstrating makeup looks and techniques relevant to films set in historic times.
9:30am to 11:30pm
Informal Consultations - The Making of a Movie -
Getting the Legal Stuff Right - therightslawyers
therightslawyers
therightslawyers was established in 2003 in Dubai Media City with the bold mission statement to be the only law firm in the region specialising in the fields of media & entertainment, intellectual property and technology. The firm will be operating a drop-in workshop in the Industry Lounge. Aspiring local talent can receive legal advice on how to protect their ideas and manage projects and international delegates can find out more about the logistics and legalities of financing, shooting and distributing productions in the Middle East.
11:30am to 1pm
Panel Session “Arab Broadcasters in Film”
Chair: Alaa Karkouti, Film Analyst
A panel session featuring the key Arab broadcasters investing in feature film production.
3:30pm to 5pm
Speed-Dating Session “Meet the Film Funds”
Presentation of Festival and non-profit organisation Film Funds.
6pm to 8pm
Panel Session “Cultural Bridge”
Cultural Bridge
The philosophical premise upon which the Cultural Bridge section is based encompasses those ideals that represent the highest and the best in us all - the principals of brotherhood, human connectivity, and those human bonds that speak to cultural, political, national and spiritual agreements. Our festival credo Bridging Cultures: Meeting Minds compels us to secure films that speak to honest dialogue and interaction. Hence, the Cultural Bridge Panel, created for the passionate support or challenge of those ideals, will feature this year the participation of writer Paulo Coelho as Keynote Speaker, and panel members actors Danny Glover and writer/director Rayda Jacobs.
Saturday 15th of December
11:30am to 1pm
Case Study “Bosta & Under the Bombs”, Philippe Aractingi
Chair: Mohammed Rouda, Associate Director, Arab Film Competition, DIFF
The challenges of producing Arab films for both Arab and Western audiences.
Philippe Aractingi
Director, Philippe Aractingi has agreed to discuss his new explosive film, Under the Bombs, shot during the recent Israeli bombing of Lebanon and Bosta (2005), his first feature. Bosta was financed by Lebanese money, and was the first Lebanese film to perform well in Egypt and the Gulf states. Under the Bombs was financed partially with Lebanese funds, but substantial funding came from sources in France, Belgium and the UK. Philippe Aractingi will speak about producing Arab films for Arab and Western audiences, and finding the ideal means of working with content and international financing structures for Arab productions.
2:30pm to 4pm
Speed-Dating Session “Meet the Sales Agents”
Informal consultations with Industry experts, Sean Farel of Hot Docs, Jannie Langbroek and therightslawyers will be available by appointment in the Industry Lounge. Meetings can be arranged with Rashmi Lamba, Industry Lounge Manager.
Sean Farel will be on hand to discuss documentaries, Jannie Langbroek will offer information on how to present a film/script and to whom and the rightslawyers will present legal advice on the making of a movie.
Dates and times for consultations with Sean Farel and Jannie Langbroek are to be confirmed.
