DIFF Inspires Tech-savvy Budding Film-makers
by mahmood on 21/11/09 at 1:13 pm
More than 500 budding film-makers from across the Middle East have entered two-minute movie clips of everyday life in contest being run as part of the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) 2009.
The pan-Arab competition, MBC’s ‘Movies in Motion’, has drawn 550 entries from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and Morocco.
DIFF Marketing and Sponsorship Director Mahsa Motamedi said the event had provided a platform that encouraged young movie enthusiasts in the region to take the next step forward.
“Over the past three years, there has been a drastic improvement in the quality of contest entries as well as stronger participation of students and youth,” Motamedi said.
“The MBC ‘Movies in Motion’ contest is a valuable barometer for the entire Middle East region, providing an insight into what the youth are thinking and also seeding the future of a robust regional cinema industry,” Motamedi said.
Andrew Maskall, senior marketing manager for Western Channels, MBC Group, said, “The Movies in Motion initiative offers the opportunity for anyone with a creative outlook to produce movies, regardless of budget, skills, or equipment, but rather focusing on the ideas and novelty of their imagination.”
“While it offers a sounding board for all aspiring film-makers to showcase their creativity, we are taking the next step forward by offering winners the opportunity to pursue full-fledged film careers.”
The ‘Movies In Motion’ competition, open to films shot on mobile phones, digital cameras or video cameras, made its debut in mid-2007 with the Dubai International Film Festival.
Experts from the New York Film Academy Abu Dhabi and MBC this year visited schools and universities across the region and conducted workshops to encourage participation in the contest and develop budding talent. They also provided mini-master classes and tips on the site for all visitors.
‘Movies in Motion’ was created as an online movie club for MBC2 fans and is fast emerging as one of the region’s most popular user-generated content and social networking platforms.
The competition involves submitting a two-minute, two-actor and two-location movies to the MBC website www.mbc.net/mim.mbc.net. A 12-member industry jury, comprising academic and film professionals, evaluates the entries.
The winners of the competition, sponsored by Sony Ericsson and the New York Film Academy Abu Dhabi, will be announced at the festival’s closing ceremony on December 16 this year.
The winner will receive a one-year scholarship to the New York Film Academy Abu Dhabi, an internship at MBC and a Sony Ericsson C905 gift hamper, including a C905 handset, digital photo frame, Bluetooth speaker and mobile tripod.
Second and third place winners, and the winners of the People’s Choice Award, will receive a Sony Ericsson C905 pack.
The top four winning films will also be screened three times a day on MBC2 and MBC Max, free-to-air entertainment and film channels with an estimated reach of 40 million viewers.
Source: Khaleej Times
