DUBAI, 2 July 2007 — Three leading Arab film festivals yesterday 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.
Preparations for launching the Arab Film Festival Guild were started by Abdul Hamid Juma, chairman of DIFF, during his visit to the Cairo, Rabat and Carthage film festivals last year.
The purpose of the guild is to increase cooperation and the exchange of expertise between festivals in everything from selection of stars to programming, to 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.
“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” said Abdul Hamid Juma.
Meeting with 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 Nov. 27 and a declaration of the founding assembly will be issued during the Dubai International Film Festival in December 2007.