Muhr competition opens for 2009

The competitions feature generous cash prizes in the categories of Feature, Documentary and Short films, and have generated publicity for emerging and established filmmakers from across the Arab world and beyond.

Masoud Amralla Al Ali, the festival's Artistic Director, stated:

"We welcome and encourage artists to submit their work, not only for the financial prize but for the recognition that the competition offers. A number of winning films from past competitions have been acquired by sales agents and broadcasters, and the directors have been deservedly applauded for their work."

"Each year, we have been impressed with the quality and diversity of selections, and we are confident that 2009 will be no different. Given the yearly increase in submissions for the Awards, we are expecting a record number of projects for our preliminary juries to choose from".

Each Muhr competition offers the same number and amount of generous cash prizes, as follows:

• In the Feature Films category:
- Best Film $50, 000
- Special Jury Prize $40,000
- The categories of Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Scriptwriter, Best Editor, Best Composer and Best Cinematographer will each be awarded $8,000.

• For Documentaries:
- First Prize $40, 000
- Special Jury Prize $30,000
- Second Prize $20, 000.

• For Short Films:
- First Prize $30, 000
- Special Jury Prize $20, 000
- Second Prize 10, 000.

Films eligible for both competitions must be directed by an Arab, Asian or African filmmaker and the subject and storyline of the film must be centered around the Arab, Asian or African world and/or history and culture for the respective competitions.

Films must be produced after September 1, 2008 and submitted to DIFF before August 31, 2009. Films must not have been screened in the Gulf region for any audiences before DIFF, with the exception of projects that have participated in the second edition of the Gulf Film Festival (GFF); films from outside of the Gulf region must be Gulf premieres and films from the Gulf region must be UAE premieres. Until the end of DIFF, films must not have been broadcasted via television, internet, mobile phone or any other public viewing platform.

Shortlisted projects will be announced in November, 2009, and films that do not meet with the competition criteria and have not been commercially screened in the UAE can be submitted for consideration in DIFF's 'Out of Competition' segments.

The Dubai International Film Festival will take place from December 9 to 16, 2009.