A total of 25 EoF titles will screen as part of the initiative, kicking off with the Israeli-Palestinian film Water [pictured].

The Eye on Films (EoF) initiative, aimed at encouraging the distribution of first features, is expanding its presence in Cannes this year with a dedicated screening space within the Cinéma du Monde pavilion.

“The idea is to show a selection of films from the label during Cannes,” explains EoF coordinator Nawid Sarem.

A total of 25 EoF titles will screen as part of the initiative, kicking off with the Israeli-Palestinian film Water, looking at both the poetry and politics of the precious resource, on May 19. 

Other titles to be showcased include Ghazi Albulwi’s political comedy Only in New York about an American Arab boy who toys with the idea of participating in a Green Card marriage with an Israeli girl to make some money after his parents chuck him out.

Brazilian Petra Costa’s award-winning documentary Elena, about a woman who travels from Brazil to New York in search of her older sister who lost contact with her family after she left for the city with dreams of becoming an actress, will also screen.

Launched the in 2011, EoF label is selected and curated by a network of festival professionals and distributors from around the world.

The EoF label is run out of the offices of Loic Magneron’s Wide Management in Paris.

Coordinator Sarem attempts to find synergies between festivals and distributors to aid the distribution of the EoF titles as well as build buzz and coverage of the titles through the label.

Recent initiatives include the I Love Mondays diffusing via the Internet some of the older titles in the label for free. Sarem says these one monthly events now attract some 15,000 viewers each time.