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The Lutfia Rabbani Foundation and IDFA are proud to announce the continuation of their partnership that enables young Arab film talents from Palestine, Morocco, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon to attend IDFAcademy during IDFA, this year taking place November 21-24.

An intensive four-day training program that takes place during the festival, IDFAcademy offers emerging documentary filmmakers and producers the opportunity to meet a broad spectrum of esteemed documentary professionals who share their knowledge of the industry. During the program, IDFAcademy participants gain up-to-date market knowledge of the documentary industry and learn about current trends in documentary filmmaking. Trends and models from various parts of the world are taught to ensure that participants develop a broad view of the sector, expand their networks, and learn how to find a place for their project or film.

The Arab world is a rich source of young talents who would benefit from participation in IDFAcademy. Bringing these professionals’ ideas and expertise to the table enriches these discussions, offering different perspectives and valuable insights.

The Lutfia Rabbani Foundation is committed to help building sustainable, inclusive societies in Europe and the Arab World by facilitating Euro-Arab dialogue and educational exchange. As Mahmoud Rabbani stated, the founder of the Lutfia Rabbani Foundation, “I am motivated by the belief that Arabs and Europeans still have much to learn from each other, and that once they have come to a genuine understanding they will find that there is room in their mutual relationship for a much stronger and broader cooperation.”

With the continuation of the collaboration between IDFA and the Lutfia Rabbani Foundation, both organizations aim to encourage creating an inclusive film industry and foster mutual understanding between Europe and the Arab World through film. The Lutfia Rabbani Foundation and IDFA share the commitment to finding common ground, common solutions, and common opportunities through equal exchange. In all cases, dialogue is essential to unlock collective wisdom, passion, and creativity. Both organizations believe that documentary film, through its ability to capture nuances and complexities, is an excellent medium to expose and hopefully debunk stereotypes and misconceptions. Through this, cross-cultural bridges can be built, and more inclusive conversations can be initiated.

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