I|~||~||~|The second Dubai International Film Festival was concluded successfully. But I was a little disappointed and, having spoken to some filmmakers here, I’d say they are a bit disappointed too. DIFF 2005, no doubt, attracted many celebrities, senior vice presidents, filmmakers and actors. But there was a marked absence of a bunch of people that you’d see hovering around most international film festivals — that elite lot called buyers, distributors and agents, who actually help filmmakers make money. If one source is to be believed, there was apparently only one sales agent and one buyer at the festival.
The DIFF committee should make a greater effort to rope this lot in so that the festival also becomes a platform for Middle East filmmakers to get in touch with international buyers and distributors. Festivals are supposed to be a marketplace for filmmakers and buyers. This is how the industry will grow and help filmmakers here compete on an international level. Nevertheless, the film festival was successful in showcasing the works of several Emirati filmmakers and it also brought to audiences here a beautiful and wide spread of world cinema. That is commendable.
On another note, the Middle East Broadcasters show in Lebanon was also not all that it promised to be. Although a trip to Beirut is a must for anyone who loves a beautiful city, the show itself was a big disappointment. Even the MEB-HDTV station suffered much because most of the equipment was stuck in customs. We hope Cabsat will do better.
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