¨ TROPFEST Arabia announces that award-winning Egyptian actress Youssra will be joining TROPFEST Arabia as co-director of the festival's third annual edition. TROPFEST Arabia is an expansion of TROPFEST, the world's largest short film festival. The 2013 event will take place along Abu Dhabi's Corniche next month, powered by Two-Four54, the region's leading media and entertainment hub. Youssra will work together with TROPFEST founder John Polson to select this year's shortlist of finalists. The finalists' films will be screened for the first time during the festival to a live audience. A jury of well-known Arabic filmmakers, actors, directors and producers, will pick the winning film live on the night at this glamorous, red carpet awards event which will be followed by a special entertainment programme of hit music. Youssra has been awarded numerous honours for both her performing and charitable works and has ultimately become known as one of the most influential Arab actresses in the world. Commenting on her role as co-director for TROPFEST Arabia 2013, Youssra said: “The TROPFEST Arabia festivals of 2011 and 2012 proved that the Arab world's appetite for media, film, and entertainment is growing more and more each day. Creativity in this region is flourishing and now is the time to get involved. I can't wait to view the works of the young and talented filmmakers in our region, and see their interpretations of ‘time' through their use of the TROPFEST Signature Item” — or TSI. “With so much talent in the region, shortlisting for TROPFEST Arabia is not an easy task, so I'd like to offer a special thank you to Youssra for sharing her extensive film experience with us and for being my esteemed co-director,” Polson said.
