The Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, OIC, Dr. Yousef Al-Othaimeen, has stated that promoting and encouraging cooperation between the OIC Member States of cinematographic production in the Islamic world "is one of the important aspects of promoting mutual understanding and strengthening solidarity and cooperation among more than 1.6 billion persons that represent the Muslim world."
JEDDAH, (Pakistan Point News - 21st Dec, 2018) The Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, OIC, Dr. Yousef Al-Othaimeen, has stated that promoting and encouraging cooperation between the OIC Member States of cinematographic production in the Islamic world "is one of the important aspects of promoting mutual understanding and strengthening solidarity and cooperation among more than 1.6 billion persons that represent the Muslim world."
In a message to the OIC Intergovernmental Expert Group Meeting, IEGM, on the establishment of an OIC prize to be presented at the 26th session of the African Festival for the Cinema and Television FESPACO, delivered on his behalf by the Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian, Cultural and Family Affairs, Ambassador Hesham Yousef on 20th December 2018, Al-Othaimeen said that the OIC is keen to play a more proactive role in implementing cultural activities in line with the cultural strategy of the Muslim world, to combat negative stereotypes and enhance the positive image of islam and Muslims.
"The 13th Islamic Summit Conference and the 45th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers, mandated the General Secretariat to take measures, in cooperation with the member states, to support cinematographic production and promote cooperation in the cultural domain, including through holding an OIC Film Festival, with a view to reinforcing cultural relations among member states," Al-Othaimeen said.
"The proposed OIC Film Festival is also in line with one of the main objectives stipulated in Article1 of the OIC Charter, to promote cooperation in social, cultural and information fields among the member states," he added.
Cooperation among OIC member states’ cinematographic production will also help in doing away with stereotypes and enhance the image of Islam and Muslims who are portrayed negatively in many cinematographic productions.
The IEGM will come up with the criteria of establishing the OIC Prize and on rewarding the best cinematographic productions to be rewarded during the upcoming FESPACO to take place in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso in February 2019. It will also discuss modalities for the launching of the OIC Grand Tour Film Festival, GTFF.
