Prominent Arab film producers and executives just announced the launch of the region's first Arab Film Awards, essentially the Arab Oscars. The first edition will be held in March 2018.
A pan-Arab motion picture association will be set up. The Arab Film Institute, headquartered in Dubai, will be the main driver behind the two initiatives.
By next year, the association aims to have some 500 members--"the most promising and brightest under one roof."
The announcement was made by a panel of producers and executives on Sunday during the 13th edition of the Dubai International Film Festival.
Paul Baboudjian, who is also the former executive director of the funding organization Screen Institute Beirut, is credited with pushing the initiative forward. He explained that he wanted to expand the industry's horizons within the region.
"I felt we needed to bring together all this energy and exchange experiences and ideas as well as offer wider opportunities in a fast-changing world to our film community,” Baboudjian said during a press conference, according to Variety.
The newly launched association will become the Arab equivalent of the European Film Academy, or the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the United States. The American association annually hosts the Academy Awards (AKA the Oscars).
Through the initiative, the institute's board hopes there will be greater collaboration and cooperation on film projects throughout the Arab world.
The institute seeks to bring together the separate Arab film industries to collectively tackle issues and also foster a pan-Arab star system.
“We currently work in silos,” acclaimed Egyptian indie filmmaker and board member of the new insititute Mohamed Hefzy said. “More interaction is necessary."