Dubai International Film Festival to Chair Proposed ’Arab Film Festival Guild’: First Gathering of Arab Film Festivals

Three leading Arab film festivals today agreed that the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) will chair the proposed Arab Film Festival Guild, the first of its kind in the Arab world.

The purpose of the proposed guild is to increase cooperation and exchange of expertise between festivals in everything from selection of stars to programming, position the Arab film industry internationally, and coordinate with international festivals to increase the presence of Arab films. Bi-annual meetings will be held at the Cairo and Damascus International Film Festivals.

A resolution was adopted in the preliminary meeting, held on the sidelines of the Rabat International Film Festival in Rabat, Morocco. Preparations for launching the Arab Film Festival Guild were started by Abdul Hamid Juma, Chairman of DIFF, during his visit to Cairo, Rabat and Carthage film festivals last year.

Mr. Juma stated: “The Guild will establish an alliance to ensure the rapid development of the Arab film industry and to help it gain international prestige. This common interest will form the basis of all initiatives formed by the Arab Film Festival Guild, and will propel us forward toward our goal.”

Meeting with Mr. Juma in Rabat were representatives of other prominent festivals in the Arab world: Yusuf Dak Elbab, representative of the Damascus International Film Festival; Soheir Abdel Kader, Director of the Cairo International Film Festival; and Abdelhak Mantrache and Hamadi Jerome, Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Rabat International Film Festival.

A second guild meeting will be hosted by the Cairo International Film Festival on 27 November, and a declaration of the founding assembly will be issued during the Dubai International Film Festival in December 2007.