Using audiovisual as a vector in the promotion of Mediterranean Living heritage is the ambition of the Egyptian, Lebanese and Jordanian filmmakers and photographers, who will gather at UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris from 27 to 29 August 2012 in the framework of the Medliher project.

The project, co-funded by the European Union and UNESCO, has indeed a strong regional component devoted to the visibility of intangible cultural heritage of the partner countries. It is in this light that a documentary film and photographic exhibition will be made honoring the heritage of the governorates of Damietta in Egypt, Madaba in Jordan and Lebanon Zajal poetry. Those various elements of cultural heritage are at the heart of the inventory work undertaken as part of Phase III of the project.

The meeting in August aims at:

• developing a common vision of the film project between the coordinator/regional director and the national directors and photographers,
  
• formulating key messages that are going to be broadcasted through the film
  
• defining a methodology taking into account the spirit of the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage: its context, deadlines, budget, target audience and
  
• elaborating a work plan defining the roles of each participant and the technical issues to be addressed.

The work of filmmakers and photographers will help to raise public awareness at the international level, as well as that of concerned countries on the importance of safeguarding intangible cultural heritage in today’s world. The film will be screened and photographs exhibited at the Maison des Cultures du Monde in Paris. Furthermore, it is currently envisaged that the documentary would also be broadcasted by local television stations in participating countries.