In the attendance of many German and Arab filmmakers, together with important public figures, the Film Prize of the Robert Bosch Stiftung hosted a dinner party yesterday, Friday, on the sidelines of Berlinale Talents 2017, a summit and networking platform of the 67th Berlin International Film Festival. This networking event was held to bring together each of the Film Prize nominees, Berlinale Talents from the Arab world, the foundation's representatives, film industry professionals and media, along with the guests of honor.

The event was attended by H.R.H Jordan's Prince Ali bin Al Hussein,son of late King Hussein and his wife, Princess Rym Ali, the Executive Commissioner of the Royal Film Commission - Jordan(RFC); Jowe Harfouche (Network of Arab Arthouse Screens -NAAS); Claudia Jubeh (DOX BOX); Mohamed Lansari (Cinémathèque de Tanger); Myrna Maakaron (Dubai International Film Festival); Irit Neidhart (mec film); Ahmed Samy (ZAT Studio); Alaa Karkouti, Maher Diab and Abdallah Al Shami (MAD Solutions); directors Basil Khalil and Viola Shafik; Chadi Zeneddine (Doha Film Institute); film critics Tarek El Shenawy (Al Tahrir), Mohamed Rouda (Asharq Al Awsat), Hauvick Habéchian (Annahar) and Khaled Mahmoud (Al-Shorouk), in addition to the Film Prize jury members; Vincenzo Bugno, Project Manager of the World Cinema Fund; George David, General Manager of the Royal Film Commission - Jordan (RFC); Writer Doris Hepp, Commissioning Editor of ZDF/ARTE; Dr. Elke Kaschl Mohni, Regional Director of the Goethe-Institut for the MENA region; Marianne Khoury, Manager of Misr International Films (MIF); Hania Mroué, Founder and Director of the Metropolis Art Cinema in Lebanon; and producer Alexander Wadouh, Founder of Chromosom Film, alongside a number of key figures in filmmaking industry from all over the world.

The Robert Bosch Stiftung traditionally hosts a breakfast party for its guests, too, this year taking place on February 12, 2017. The Film Prize winners are going to be announced on the same night as part of the Berlinale Talents.

The projects nominated for the Film Prize are divided as follows: three projects in the short animation category, four documentary projects, and four short film projects. The Robert Bosch Stiftung issues three Film Prizes, each worth up to 60,000 euros, for international cooperation between young German and Arab filmmakers to realize a joint film project. Prizes are awarded in the categories: Short Animation, Feature Documentary, and Short Fiction Film.

The first edition of the Film Prize for German-Arab projects was launched in 2013. Offering a yearlong training programme it primarily aims to support young emerging talents from Germany and the Arab world in the film business, provide expert knowledge in the development of their projects and open a door to the international film market.

The teams should have a balanced mix of German and Arab filmmakers fostering the idea of intercultural exchange. The productions of Film Prize recipients take place in both partner countries, allowing the team members to reflect their own working styles.

The awards granted by the Robert Bosch Stiftung may be used to completely fund the films. Furthermore, the foundation provides consultancy services during the production period.