DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Projects exploring issues of identity and exile were the standouts at the Dubai fest’s Dubai Film Connection co-production market where Lebanese director Eliane Raheb’s “The Great Family,” about a Palestinian woman brought up in France by adoptive parents, and France-based Algerian director Omar Haffaf’s “Algeria is Still Far Away,” about Chinese workers in a remote area of Algeria, were the works in development that took the top prizes.
In total the DFC, which has become the only bona-fide co-production platform in the Middle East, dished out $50,000 to six Arab filmmakers, plus opportunities to connect with international and local industry experts to help bring their projects to the screen.
Five of the producers of the films who won cash also got complimentary accreditation to the prestigious Producers Network at Cannes.
The DFC winners were selected based on a range of criteria including quality of ideas, ability to reflect the diversity of filmmaking voices across the Arab world, project feasibility, ability of the production team to deliver the proposed project and the project’s potential for both international and Arab production partners.
Dubai Film Connection Award Winners – 2016
DIFF Award – USD 12,500
Winning Project: THE GREAT FAMILY
Director: Eliane Raheb
Producer: Lara Abou Saifan
DIFF Award – USD 12,500
Winning Project: ALGERIA IS STILL FAR AWAY
Director: Omar Haffaf
Producer: Marie Balducchi
ART Award – USD 10,000
Winning Project: FARHA
Director: Darin J. Sallam
Producer: Deema Azar
Cinescape/Front Row Award – USD 10,000
Winning Project: HAIFA STREET
Director: Mohanad Al Hayal
Producer: Hala Alsalman
International Organisation of La Francophonie – Euros 5,000
Winning Project: TOUDA
Director: Daoud Aoulad Syad
Producer: Lamia Chraibi
The Tribeca Partnership
Winning Project: HAIFA STREET
Director: Mohanad Al Hayal
Producer: Hala Alsalman
Sorfond Partnership
Winning Project: GIRL MADE OF DUST
Director: Hiam Abbass
Producer: Sabine Sidawi
