The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Dr. Yousef Al-Othaimeen has stressed that promoting and encouraging cooperation between the OIC Member States in 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 given 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, Amb. Hesham Yousef on 20 December 2018, Al-Othaimeen stressed 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 Member States, to support cinematographic production and promote cooperation in the cultural domain, including holding of an OIC Film Festival, with a view to reinforcing cultural relations among Member States," said Al-Othaimeen. "The proposed OIC Film Festival is also in line with one of the main objectives stipulated in Article 1 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 OIC Intergovernmental Expert Group Meeting (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 launching of the OIC Grand Tour Film Festival (GTFF).
