Dubai International Film Festival

Industry Office Events

Please click on each day’s tab for a schedule of the events

Download the Complete Industry Office Events Schedule

Thursday, December 11

DIFF Young Journalist Award Workshop Time: 14h30 – 16h00 Location: Madinat Jumeirah Conference CentreThis year, DIFF launched a film journalism competition for students in the UAE. Regional and international film critics and journalists will share their insights and participants will learn about new media technologies and how these resources can be used to their advantage.

Friday, December 12

Showtime Comedy Writing Workshop “Minding the Gap” Time: 11h30 – 13h00 Location: Madinat Jumeirah Conference CentreFeaturing: Ronnie Khalil, Hari Kondabolu and Zia Mohajerjasbi Led By: Eric Preven Industry Workshop - Co-Producing With Italy “Creating without Boundaries: Italy & the Arab World” Time: 14h30 – 17h30 Location: Madinat Jumeirah Conference CentreThe Italian Independent Producers’ Association (API) will present a workshop that will give filmmakers and producers the chance to learn about the finer points of co-producing with Italy.

Saturday, December 13

M.A.C. Master Class “Recreating Icons in Film” Time: 09h30 – 11h00 Location: Madinat Jumeirah Conference CentreM.A.C. is the official make-up of DIFF and this class will look at the techniques employed to create some of the most memorable personalities in film.Presented by US M.A.C. Senior Artist Chantal Miller Industry Panel on Cinema Exhibition in the Middle East “What’s On at the Cinema?” Time: 11h30 – 13h00 Location: Madinat Jumeirah Conference CentreRegional theatrical exhibitors discuss some of the current trends in the local cinemas and how they decide what works best for their market. The panel will also look into new cinema technologies on the horizon. Industry Focus Session on Cinema Exhibition in the Middle East “Getting Your Film into the Regional Cinemas” Time: 14h30 – 16h00 Location: Madinat Jumeirah Conference CentreThe focus session will look at the ways in which Arab filmmakers can get more of their movies screened in regional theatres. Round-Table Networking Session Time: 16h30 – 17h30 Location: Madinat Jumeirah Conference Centre

Sunday, December 14

Professional Coaching for Producers Open Session Film Marketing with John Durie Time: 09h30 – 11h00 Location: Madinat Jumeirah Conference CentreThis seminar will outline the key factors that filmmakers & producers need to know about in order to effectively market their films. Industry Panel on Film Financing in the Arab World “Who Holds the Purse Strings?” Time: 11h30 – 13h00 Location: Madinat Jumeirah Conference CentreThe panel will look at why regional filmmakers find it difficult to get financial backing for their projects and what they can do to tap into some of the resources available. Regional Case Study: Morocco “Movies from Morocco” Time: 14h30 – 16h00 Location: Madinat Jumeirah Conference CentreThis session will take an in-depth look at the recent trends in the Moroccan film industry. A panel of established and emerging directors will highlight the current diversity of filmmaking and models of finance, production and distribution. Round-Table Networking Session TBC Time: 16h30 – 17h30 Location: Madinat Jumeirah Conference Centre

Monday, December 15

Professional Coaching for Producers Open Session Case Study: “Salt of This Sea” Time: 09h30 – 11h00 Location: Madinat Jumeirah Conference Centre“Salt of This Sea” is Palestine’s first feature film from a female director. It took 12 co-producers for filmmaker, Annemarie Jacir, to realize her project. Industry Panel on Film Distribution & Markets “Current Issues in Global Film Markets and New Forms of Distribution” Time: 11h30 – 13h00 Location: Madinat Jumeirah Conference CentreWhat is the market for Arab films internationally and regionally? How can regional filmmakers use new media platforms to distribute their films? These are just a couple of questions that this discussion aims to answer. Industry Focus “Cracking the North American Market” Time: 14h30 – 16h00 Location: Madinat Jumeirah Conference CentreThis session will investigate the ways independent filmmakers can get their films shown in North America. It will also look at some examples that have broken into this market and what they did to get there. Roundtable Networking Session: TBC Time: 16h30 – 17h30 Location: Madinat Jumeirah Conference Centre

Tuesday, December 16 - Documentary Day: In Association with Hot Docs

The A-Z of International Documentary Co-Production “Who, What, How, When & Why” Time: 09h30 – 11h00 Location: Madinat Jumeirah Conference CentreFind out what the commissioners want, how to approach them and present your material. Industry Panel on Documentaries “What Does the Future Hold for Creative Documentary Filmmaking?” Time: 11h30 – 13h00 Location: Madinat Jumeirah Conference CentreDocumentary producers, filmmakers, commissioners, distributers and broadcasters talk about what’s happening regionally and globally on the documentary scene and what lies ahead. Industry Focus Case Studies: Documentaries at DIFF Time: 14h30 – 16h00 Location: Madinat Jumeirah Conference CentreFilmmakers with documentaries in the festival programme will discuss their films and the experiences they had making them. Roundtable Networking Session: TBC Time: 16h30 – 17h30 Location: Madinat Jumeirah Conference Centre

Wednesday, December 17 – Students’ Day

Trade Fair Time: 10h00 – 11h30 Location: Madinat Jumeirah Conference Centre Industry Panel on Film Schools “Getting into the Film Industry” Time: 11h30 – 13h00 Location: Madinat Jumeirah Conference CentreThe discussion will examine the advantages and disadvantages of going to film school.  Industry professionals will talk about how they got into the film industry and what inspired them. Industry Master Class “From Script to Screen” Time: 14h30 – 16h00 Location: Souk Madinat Jumeirah Through an examination of the assembled panellists’ careers and experiences, find out what it can sometimes take to get a film made.

Thursday, December 18

Industry Panel Hosted by FIPRESCI “Chronicles of the Arab World – A Panel on Film & Society” Time: 11h30 – 13h00 Location: Madinat Jumeirah Conference CentreThe International Federation of Film Critics will host a panel discussion that looks at the meaning of Arab cinema and the role it plays in the context of world cinema. The winners of the first DIFF Young Journalist Award will also be announced during this session.