Ahead of its new strategy for 2016, the Arab Cinema Center (ACC) revealed that Variety Magazine will offer its Variety Arab Filmmaker of the Year under the ACC umbrella. The award will be announced during the upcoming Berlin International Film Festival 2016.

Furthermore, ACC has announced its year-round partnership with Variety Magazine, the world's longest-standing entertainment magazine, as its media partner during 2016. This alliance was forged through MAD Solutions, the organizer of the ACC congregation of Arab film professionals.
Commenting on this, Alaa Karkouti, CEO of MAD Solutions, is quoted to say, "Variety is always keen on supporting emerging Arab filmmaking talent and encouraging the growth of the Arab film business. We're thrilled to form this partnership and we're looking forward to extending it into a number of activities throughout the year."

Alberto Lopez, International Director of Variety magazine stated, "The new initiatives recently announced by the ACC confirm a strong intent to champion Arab filmmakers to a global industry audience. Because of our own long standing commitment to covering the trends, developments and personalities in the Arab world, Variety Magazine is perfectly placed to partner with ACC on this ambitious endeavour throughout 2016. We look forward to honouring the Variety Arab Filmmaker of the Year at the Berlin Film Festival and at one of the industry's most influential markets."

The ACC has announced its new strategy for 2016, where its activities will be hosted by more than 15 festivals and international film markets across the world. The ACC has also stated that it is launching its own film magazine, which will be launched in Berlinale. The magazine will introduce the center's partners and its upcoming festival destinations throughout 2016, as well as focusing the limelight on the Arab Film Market updates.

MAD Solutions also started a new campaign to promote the ACC with a hashtag #ISupportACC
and a videograph boasting the Center's achievements with facts and numbers through its three successful editions, which debuted earlier this year, across three of the world's most prestigious film festivals; Berlinale, Cannes and Malmo Arab Film Festival (MAFF).

The video highlighted the ACC's strong debut at Berlinale 2015, promoting 11 film industry institutions, companies and organizations. The 1st ACC received 1500 daily visits, on average, and hosted seven networking sessions that were held with key international industry professionals, such as the Robert Bosch Stiftung (Germany), in addition to connecting with 20 film festivals, including Venice, Berlin, Locarno, Beijing and Toronto, that were eyeing for a strong Arab participation in their festivals. It is worth noting that the ACC was the only official and physical Arab industry presence at the festival's famed EFM.

The 2nd edition of ACC was launched at the 68th Cannes Film Festival, this time with a 40% increase of partners, reaching to 18 partners. For the Cannes edition, MAD Solutions, the entity behind the ACC, partnered with Variety Magazine, the world's longest-standing entertainment magazine, as its exclusive media partner, as well as Festival Scope online film platform. Director Basil Khalil's Ave Maria, which is promoted by the Center, was screened within the Cannes Short Film Corner with the attendance of more than 600 audience members, making the film one of the most viewed films at the festival's digital library. During this edition, ACC welcomed over 5000 visitors throughout the festival.

The 3rd ACC took the Arab industry to the heart of the first Market Forum at MAFF, which focused on highlighting and encouraging collaborations between Nordic and Arab film industries. The center partnered with 10 organizations and companies involved with Arab films distribution, production, support and promotion. For MAFF, more than 200 daily visits were recorded at the Center and under the flag of MAD, the 3rd ACC held a presentation on ways to promote film distribution of Nordic films in the Arab world, which successfully attracted key names from the Nordic film industry.

An innovative frontliner, ACC is the first Arab platform born to promote Arab cinema at international film festivals. The Center provides numerous activities that range between market screenings for Arab films, hosting networking sessions and meetings for Arab filmmakers with key international film companies and organizations.