Submissions open for DFC, Enjaaz at Dubai Film Fest – France’s Diaphana takes Iran’s ‘Inversion’

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DUBAI, May 4, (Agencies): The 13th Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) will run from Dec 7–14, 2016 and submissions are now open for the Dubai Film Connectionand Enjaaz which are key elements of the highly successful Dubai Film Market (DFM), the business counterpart of DIFF.

The Dubai Film Connection (DFC) is a co-production market for Arab filmmakers.  Since its inception in 2007, the DFC has showcased more than 120 fiction and non-fiction film projects indevelopment to regional and international industry decision makers and has gained a reputation for selecting the best projects originating from the Arab world each year.

Launched in 2009, Enjaaz has supported 127 Arab and Arab-origin feature and short films to date, bringing Arab films to the screen and maximizing their potential for international sales and distribution. The 12th edition of DIFF included 15 films supported by Enjaaz in the official line-up.

The Arab film industry is currently enjoying a successful year with home grown talent firmly in the spotlight on the world’s stage with a significant number of Arab films showcased at the Academy Awards, the BAFTAS and international film festivals including Berlin Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and Cannes Film Festival.

Showcase

Five films supported by Enjaaz and DFC will showcase at this year’s Cannes Film Festival including: Daoud’s Winter by Koutaiba Al Janabi (Cinefondation Atelier), My Favourite Fabric by Gaya Jiji (Cinefondation Atelier), Tombe du Ciel by Wissam Charaf (ACID selection), Divines by UdaBenyamina (The Directors’ Fortnight), and Tramontane by Vatche Boulghourjian (The International Critics’ Week).

In addition, seven films supported by Enjaaz and screened at DIFF’s 12th edition will be presented in the Cannes Short Film Corner.

Shivani Pandya, DIFF’s Managing Director says: “The DFC and Enjaaz are both significant and meaningful support programmes for the growing Arab film industry and key to the DFM’s goal to support and profile Arab talent which enriches the Dubai International Film Festival, making it an incubator for exciting filmmaking talent. The DFM is the cornerstone of the festival bringing key industry delegates to the city to share their experpertise which create opportunities and an environment for regional talent in which they can thrive.  The results are incredible and it’s extremely gratifying to see films from the region stand tall with the very best in world cinema at DIFF.”

The DFC is now open for submissions for feature-length fiction and non-fictionprojects in development by directors of Arab nationality or origin. The co-production market introduces Arab filmmakers to regional and international film backers and organisations over three days of intensive meetings during DIFF. Deadline for submission is August 1st, 2016 and details are available at www.diff.ae.

Submissions for the 2016 Enjaaz cycle for post-production support for feature-length fiction and non-fiction projects from the Arab world and production funding for short films by Gulf filmmakers are now open. Deadline for submission is Aug 1, 2016 and details are available at www.diff.ae.

The Dubai Film Market (DFM) will announce an exciting line-up of events and services for film professionals and the public in the coming months.

Also:

LOS ANGELES: Prominent Paris-based arthouse distributor Diaphana Films has snapped up French rights to Iranian director Benham Behzadi’s Un Certain Regard entry “Inversion” (Varoonegi) prior to the pic’s Cannes fest world premiere.

Written and directed by Benham Behzadi, “Inversion” takes its cue from the phenomenon in which sudden temperature changes trap pollution, which is a big plague in Tehran. With Tehran’s smog levels soaring, a single 30-something woman named Niloofar is torn between following family orders to leave the city with her mother, who is having trouble breathing, or challenge their decision and stay behind to pursue a potential love interest.

Pollution contributes to thousands of premature deaths in Tehran where the problem until recently was considered to be partly due to a lack of refined gasoline caused by US sanctions.

Behzadi is known internationally for social dramas “Before the Burial” and “Bending the Rules,” which depicted an Iranian theatre troupe in a crisis while preparing for a performance in Europe.

“Inversion” is being sold internationally by Paris-based Noori Pictures, founded and headed by Iranian sales agent and producer Katayoon Shahabi who is a member of this year’s Cannes competition jury.

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