The Dubai Film Market, the trading and distribution platform at Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF 2009), ranks on par or above other similar international film markets, a survey conducted during DIFF has revealed.
More than 88 per cent of the participants expressed their confidence in the 2009 Dubai Film Market. This is a credible gain over the survey results of DIFF 2008, when 46 per cent of the respondents said the film market fared below other global distribution platforms.
The overall satisfaction rate with the Dubai Film Market was a whopping 99 per cent with 98 per cent of the respondents stating they would recommend it to colleagues.
The Dubai Film Market works to enhance the visibility of Arab, Asian and African cinema globally and encourages the acquisition and distribution of films that are showcased at DIFF.
The initiative is led by two principal channels – Cinetech and the Market Lounge. The survey revealed that 56 films are expected to be acquired through Cinetech, while 48 deals should take place following the matchmaking meetings arranged by the Dubai Film Market team.
Cinetech is a digital video library of over 320 films with facilities to screen them, leave comments for sales agents, request for DVD screeners and initiate the acquisition process instantly. The library features 24 private screening booths, each with a computer and handset last year.
The Market Lounge encourages networking between industry professionals by browsing through the attendance and suggesting business matchmaking meetings.
Ziad Yaghi, Director, Dubai Film Market, said: “The industry response to the Dubai Film Market highlights the strong interest by global buyers for films from the Arab world, and the emergence of DIFF as a destination of choice for acquiring trading and distribution rights. The varied showcase of films at DIFF, especially those from the Arab world, Asia and Africa, make it a must-visit market for potential buyers as it offers a vivid selection that is unparalleled.”
DIFF 2009 had held more than 3,352 screenings for over 213 industry buyers at the Dubai Film Market, more than double the screenings in 2008. Potential industry buyers had a total of 323 films at their fingertips via HP’s state-of-the-art touch-screens, 112 films more than during DIFF 2008. The three most popular films, in terms of attendance, were City of Life, A Prophet and 12 Angry Lebanese. The Dubai Film Market 2009 also organised some 73 matchmaking meetings, and featured a new category – ‘Dubai Film Connection – Work in Progress.’
The Market Lounge and Cinetech won the respondents over with hundred per cent satisfaction for Cinetech and 99 per cent of the respondents expressing their satisfaction with the Market Lounge. Cinetech was also voted as the most helpful service followed by meeting services and catalogues.
In other key findings, some 70 per cent of the respondents said the Dubai Film Market must focus on Arab films, which highlights the potential interest among film buyers from around the world on regional cinema. In the preferred film categories for acquisition, features dominated with nearly 60 per cent preferring them over documentaries, shorts and animation.
Key companies that attended the Market included: the Walt Disney Company, ART, Orbit, RTBF, Shoreline Entertainment, Reed Midem, Al Jazeera, Irib, Kuwait Cable Vision, Bahrain TV, Misr International Films, DMI, Fortissimo, France Television, Moviemax Italia, MBC, Astro, SBS Television, HBO, Mongrel Media, Eagle Vision Media Group and NBC Universal.
The third edition of the Dubai Film Market will take place during DIFF 2010 to be held from December 12 to 19, 2010.
