The UAE Ministry of Interior partners with Enjaaz to support Arab films in post-production

Dubai, 19 May 2015: The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) today announced they are renewing their partnership with the UAE Ministry of Interior to support Arab filmmakers bring engaging films that highlight and raise awareness of societal issues to the widest possible audience through the power of cinema.

The Ministry of Interior’s Cinema Awards’ committee will join forces with Enjaaz, the Dubai Film Market’s post-production backing programme. Launched in 2009, Enjaaz assists Arab filmmakers complete their films; discover new talent as well as projects in the pipeline from the Arab world. The Ministry of Interior will focus on the post-production of both fiction and documentary feature films from the UAE and Arab world that highlight social and safety issues that impact individuals, families and communities such as child protection, road safety, drug abuse, natural disasters and cyber-crimes. Under the augmented partnership, the Ministry of Interior Cinema Awards’ committee will annually support up to four Arab filmmakers with combined funds of $100,000 for post-production, enabling them to complete their projects.   

Abdulhamid Juma, DIFF Chairman said: “Our partnership with the UAE Ministry of Interior is an important and influential one which will support filmmakers with projects that will have a significant impact on audiences. The importance of film as a way of engaging audiences in ideas, dialogue and debate culture and society is crucial and MOI’s Award will truly make a meaningful impact. We look forward to working with them on a partnership that holds so much promise and continues to support the future success of Arab cinema.”

Lieutenant Colonel Al Shimmari said: “The strategic partnership with DIFF through ENJAAZ is crucial to further advancing mutual noble objectives. Increasing public awareness by utilizing cinema, and the emotional impact cinema can have, will enable us to increase our reach across the community and further enable challenging social issues to be confronted and addressed. We also aim to encourage the public to directly collaborate with the police as we endeavor to address such issues in the community.”

At DIFF’s 11th edition Emirati filmmaker Saeed Salmeen Al Murry won an award worth $100,000 for his project ‘Going to Heaven’.  Now in production, the screenplay highlighted family dysfunctionality and loneliness through the eyes of a child.

This investment reinforces the Ministry of Interior’s mandate of raising awareness on safety and social issues which is vital to ensuring the welfare of the community and its commitment to supporting exceptional Arab filmmakers.

Enjaaz is now open for submissions for feature-length fiction and documentary projects in post- production by directors of Arab nationality or origin. Deadline for submission is August 1st, 2015 and details are available at www.diff.ae.