Samr Al Marzooqi, Dubai Film Marketing Manager, Dubai International Film Festival. © Photo by Joi

DFI: What is new and exciting in the marketplace at the Gulf Film Festival (GFF)?
Samr Al Marzooqi: This year we started a new initiative that is focused on supporting Khaleeji talent and filmmakers with the hope of helping to produce compelling films. The Gulf Market this year has three main pillars, the first of which is Enjaaz, our production support for up to 10 Khaleeji films every year with dedicated funding of $50,000 per project. The focus of this funding is for GCC filmmakers and those in Iraq and Yemen. We established this initiative just a year ago and so far we have been able to support [several] projects, one of which is in competition at the GFF.

The second pillar is the Gulf Script Market for Short Films. Filmmakers in the GCC have always said there aren’t enough quality scripts or scriptwriters around, so we decided to help fill that gap between the writers and the filmmakers. This year we selected 12 scripts from a number of GCC countries, and those writers have been invited to come to the festival and attend workshops with mentors who aim to further develop the script and train the writers on their pitching skills. Some of our mentors include Yousry Nasrallah from Egypt and Mohammed Hassan Ahmed, a well-known Emirati filmmaker. The culmination of the programme is when writers pitch the stories to the filmmakers and industry professionals attending GFF.

The third pillar is composed of workshops, panel discussions and Gulf Nights gatherings. The subjects this year tackle issues that are often overlooked and aren’t always supported in the Gulf, such as distribution, packaging short films, experimental cinema and, of course, financing. A highlight of the festival is the panel about how to source financing for short films in the GCC. Panels are coupled with networking sessions to ensure all attendees can interact with speakers and ultimately get the most out of the festival.

DFI: Do any projects stand out in your mind from 2012 or 2013?
SM: We have one project that we are particularly proud of and it is entitled ‘Cotton’ by Luay Fadhil , which was a Gulf Film Market project that was picked up, supported, and is now in the official competition at the festival.

DFI: Do you have any other initiatives running alongside the festival that we should know about?
SM: Our partnership with Robert Bosch Stiftung is a mandate for co-productions between Germany, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Seven producers from Robert Bosch Stiftung are attending the festival to search for ideal candidates for co-productions. Another unique initiative is the consultancy service that is made up of a number of consultants who have volunteered their expertise. Filmmakers can meet with these industry experts and ask questions pertaining to their projects. These matchmaking meetings are very important as their help enhances the regional filmmaking culture.

DFI: Although one of your mandates is to nurture Gulf filmmakers, you also have an international film competition; don’t you think your mandate is equally global?
SM: The majority of the festival’s focus is on the Gulf, as three out of our four competitions are for regional filmmakers. The fourth competition, the international one, is a new addition and serves as a unique showcase of films that Khaleeji filmmakers can learn from. The cinema industry in the Gulf is very new and needs support to mirror the quality of other established industries, so showcasing such high-quality films enhances the film movement in the region. Having international films here brings established filmmakers from around the world to our festival, which will enhance the skill set of our regional talent. It is great that we have a festival that was designed to stay small and has now grown to international proportions.

DFI: How are you seeing the development of Gulf filmmakers now that there are many platforms in the UAE, Qatar and throughout the region? And do you think there is enough support?
SM: The more platforms we have, the more film culture in the Middle East grows. Maybe some venues and channels are very similar, which can cause clashes, but this can be resolved with time. But if you were to ask me if we have enough support of Khaleeji filmmakers, I would say we don’t – there is much more we can do within the GCC. There is a major demand and audiences are hungry for film. We have the same number of stories as other places in the world; it is just a matter of getting the right tools and the right training into the hands of the region’s storytellers.