Dubai International Film Festival endorsed films head to Toronto for global showcase

Dubai, Sept 6, 2012 (WAM) - The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) announced yesterday that two works by Arab filmmakers, endorsed by Dubai Film Connection, will be shown at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), begging tomorrow. Regarded internationally as one of the most successful cinematic events in the world, TIFF provides unique visibility and exposure to participating films during its run through Sept 16. The films screening at TIFF were selected and presented at the Dubai Film Connection, the co-production market of DIFF that aims to encourage the growth of film production in the Arab world. The award-winning director Annemarie Jacir's "When I Saw You", which won the Bahrain Film Production Company Award in 2008, has been shortlisted to participate in the prestigious Contemporary World Cinema section at TIFF as has "Fidai", a fascinating and emotive documentary by filmmaker Damien Ounouri. Masoud Amralla Al Ali, Artistic Director of the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) commented: "Fostering opportunities for Arab filmmakers and supporting the development of the regional film industry are DIFF's core aims. We are proud that the two films were chosen by the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), one of the most prestigious cinematic events in the world, to showcase the best of Arab cinema and expose the Arab perspective of storytelling to TIFF's audience." – Emirates News Agency, WAM