MUMBAI: The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) has introduced two new awards for its Dubai Film Connection co-production market that aims to provide a platform for collaboration between Arab and international film industry professionals.

While the $10,000 Bahrain Film Production Company DIFF Development Award will assist filmmakers in developing their projects, the $25,000 Desert Door DIFF Works in Progress Award will assist films already in production to reach completion.

The Bahrain Film Production company was set up in 2006 to generate support and infrastructure for regional filmmakers. Desert Door productions is an independent film production company based in Dubai that develops, produces and invests in socially relevant television, film and commercial projects throughout the Middle East, United States and Europe.

DIFF managing director Shivani Pandya said, “Our success rate from the first year of the Dubai Film Connection - half of our projects are in various stages of production, and one is competing in the Muhr Awards this year - is phenomenal, and a sign that the programme is filling an important niche in this region.”

According to DIFF, two out of the three projects that participated in Dubai Film Connection 2007 have already been shortlisted for the first annual Desert Door DIFF Work in Progress Award. These projects include Amreeka, directed by Cherien Dabis, and Everyday is a Holiday, directed by Dima el Horr.