The Arab Radio and Television Network (ART) continues supporting the Arab film industry by joining the partners and sponsors of the Cairo Film Connection (CFC) (November 26-28) and presenting a monetary prize of $10,000 to one of the selected feature film projects in development.
In a statement about presenting the award, ART said, "ART is proud to become part of the 40th edition of Cairo International Film Festival and present a monetary prize to one of the Arab film projects. We are always keen on supporting Arab cinema and the Cairo Film Connection is one of the most important platforms that can help us make this happen."
The Cairo Film Connection added director Sherif El Bendary's film project titled Spray in the Feature Films under Development, as the 16th film to be selected among films Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Iraq, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Palestine and Egypt.
The CFC jury includes Palestinian writer and director Annemarie Jacir, Tunisian producer Dora Bouchucha and Egyptian producer Gaby Khoury.
The 2018 Cairo Film Connection selected projects that represent the different issues that irk the Arab world, including women's rights, living in the throes of war and the meaning of home and belonging. Affirming the importance and value of all these themes, the selection committee chose films that give voice to these prevalent issues while offering creative and new endeavors in form as well as in content. The 2018 CFC will showcase some projects by emerging directors, as well as films by well-known directors.
This year's Cairo Film Connection is supported by partners who believe in the power and importance of film, including Arabia Pictures, Aroma Post Production Services, Ergo-Media Ventures, Iraqi Cinema, Palm Hills Development/Badya, OSN, ERGO, Front Row Distribution, Kuwait National Cinema Company (KNCC), New Century Productions, Arab Cinema Center (ACC) and the Arab Radio and Television Network (ART) that recently joined the CFC's partners. These partners will offer cash and in-kind prizes to the selected film projects. The cumulative value of this year's prizes is over $120,000.