MUMBAI: The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) has alligned with the Cairo International Film Festival to further strengthen the Arab film industry.

Basically aimed at lending momentum to regional film production, DIFF will partner the Cairo Film Festival through a collaboration of co-production markets of the two festivals.

DIFF‘s successful co-production market, Dubai Film Connection (DFC) - established in 2007 will partner with the newly formed Cairo Film Connection to provide Arab filmmakers access to potential financial and infrastructure support as well as valuable industry connections.

With the new partnership, filmmakers can apply to both DFC and Cairo Film Connection for support in realizing their film projects. DIFF will award a selected project from Cairo Film Connection and invite the selected filmmaker to attend DIFF to explore further funding opportunities there through meetings with established industry players who attend the festival.

The Dubai Film Connection offers directors of Arab origin more than US$120,000 in prize money and invaluable industry connections. The co-production market also matches the short-listed director/producer teams with specialists in film production, sales, distribution and funding to further their projects.

The seventh edition of Dubai International Film Festival 2010 will be held from 12 to 19 December.