The Arab Radio and Television Network (ART) is taking part at the 13th Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) (December 7-14, 2016) with its two co-produced films Tramontane and Mahbas, besides presenting the Best Script Prize that will be granted to the winning projects at the Dubai Film Connection (DFC).

The feature film Tramontane by Lebanese-Armenian filmmaker Vatche Boulghourjian will land its Arab world premiere at the Muhr Feature competition of the festival. The film tells the story of Rabih, a blind musician, who travels across rural Lebanon in search of a record of his own birth. He meets people on the far fringes of society who tell their own stories and open further questions about his origins.

Descending into a void at the heart of his existence, Rabih encounters a nation incapable of telling their own narrative. Tramontane stars Barakat Jabbour, Julia Kassar, Toufic Barakat, and Michel Adabachi, and it is co-produced by ART, along with About Productions and Rebus Film Production.

Director Vatche Boulghourjian won the Grand Golden Rail Award at his film's world premiere at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, and received a Special Mention at the Pula Film Festival in 2016.

For the second consecutive year, the ART Prize, which is a monetary prize of $10,000, will be given to the Best Script project during the Dubai Film Connection (DFC) at the 13th Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF).

Within the Arabian Nights programme competes the Lebanese comedy Mahbas (Solitaire) by Sophie Boutros, making its world premiere. Earlier this year, ART presented Mahbas at the Marché du Film of the Cannes Film Festival. The film tells the story of a Lebanese woman in a small village in Lebanon, who is excitingly preparing to receive the family of her only daughter's intended. Soon after they arrive, she discovers that her long-awaited guests are from Syria so she decides to call it all off. Mahbas stars Julia Kassar, Ali El Khalil, Bassam Koussa, Nadine Khoury, Betty Taoutel, Jaber Jokhadar, Serena Chami, and Said Serhan. The film is co-produced by ART, Nadia Eliewat and Sophie Boutros.

DIFF is one of the most important film festivals in the Arab world. Every year, DIFF showcases over 120 features, shorts films and documentaries from around the world and hosts several world premieres, presents new and exciting cinema from the Arab world and beyond, and introduces audiences to fresh new talent and original and distinctive filmmaking.

Screening times of ART's films at the Dubai International Film Festival (GMT+4)

Tramontane
Friday, December 9, at 06:15 pm, on the Souk Madinat Theatre
Saturday, December 10, at 02:45 pm at VOX 3 Cinema at Mall of the Emirates

Mahbas
Sunday, December 11, at 06:00 pm at the Madinat Arena
Wednesday, December 14, at 02:30 pm at VOX 3 Cinema at Mall of the Emirates