Photo: Alexi Lubomirski. Vogue Arabia, May 2017
A brand new film festival is all set to take place in Dubai from October 27 to 29. Launched by Great Minds Events Management Company as the first private-sector- and industry-stakeholder-led film festival in the Middle East, the three-day Meta Film Festival will run at Vox Cinema in Dubai’s Nakheel Mall and include several red carpet premieres and an awards ceremony.
While all films will be shown at the cinema in Dubai, certain titles will also be screened during the festival in seven countries including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, and Lebanon. “Due to its location, the festival guarantees one of the most diversified audiences present at any festival, with the legendary glitz and glamour of Dubai to accompany,” the official website states. According to a statement from Leila Masinaei, managing partner of the Great Minds Group (organizers of the META Cinema Forum) said, “A selection committee will review all the submissions from around the global and the final 30-40 films will make it to the festival. Expect at least four to five blockbusters that will premiere with their stars walking the red carpet, after-parties with talents, and it will all culminate with an awards ceremony honoring the best in cinema.”
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The event also features a film fund in which two pre-production content ideas submitted by regional talent, one full feature film idea and one documentary idea, will be chosen to be supported for production, and will be eventually presented at the festival’s future editions while helping it through marketing and worldwide distribution. The initiative was created with the aim to discover and foster Arab talent along with the goal to produce more Arabic content.
The film festival will culminate with a ceremony that will award films across seven categories: Best Arabic Feature Film, Best International Feature Film, Best Animation Film, Best Documentary Film, Best Short Film, Best Student/Youth Film, and the Film Development Fund award. Meta Film Festival is also accepting submissions on its website, with a selection committee that includes the managing director of Vox Cinemas and the head of OSN Studios.
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