The Dubai International Film Festival’s projects market has added an award for a first-time film-maker.

The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF)’s projects market, Dubai Film Connection (DFC), is expanding its awards section this year with a $10,000 prize from Film Clinic Egypt for a first-time feature film-maker.

DFC also hands out three DIFF awards, each with a cash prize of $25,000; the $25,000 Desert Door DIFF Work-in-Progress award, and the $10,000 Bahrain Film Production Company/DIFF Development Award.

Films to emerge from DFC since it was launched in 2007 include Cherien Dabis’ Amreeka (pictured), which premiered at Sundance and won the FIPRESCI prize at Cannes last year; Ali Mostafa’s City Of Life, and Simon El Habre’s award-winning documentary The One Man Village.

This year’s DFC will be held during the Dubai International Film Festival from December 12-19.