Damascus International Film Festival

The Damascus International Film Festival (Arabic: مهرجان دمشق السينمائي الدولي‎‎) is a biannual November film festival hosted by the government of Syria since 1979. The festival was established by the late Syrian film director Muhammad Shahin. It alternates with the Carthage Film Festival. Up to 1999, the festival's competition focused on films from Arab countries, Latin America and Asia. Since 2001 the festival has an international focus.