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Emarati Filmmakers Take Centre Stage at Abu Dhabi Film Festival
This year's Abu Dhabi Film Festival will reflect the growing
talent and influence of UAE filmmakers in the region's film
industry.
For the first time UAE Nationals will join international
filmmakers on juries judging films in competition. A record number
of submissions have been received from Emirati filmmakers with
these films also competing against the very best of international
cinema and to top this, the Festival has its first UAE National
Director.
Ali Al Jabri, the first Emirati to hold the prestigious post of
Festival Director, said he was proud to see the quality and
diversity of work emerging from the local industry and urged others
to follow their lead.
"It's very exciting to see Emiratis telling their stories
through film and to see such interesting work come out of a
relatively small community," he said. "I hope other Emiratis will
be as proud as I am. This should act as an inspiration to others
considering filmmaking as a career."
Joining international filmmakers on Festival juries this are
include Nawaf Al Janahi, who directed feature films Sea
Shadow (World Premiere at ADFF 2011) and The Circle
(2009), as well as a number of internationally acclaimed short
films. Al Janahi joins the 'New Horizons' jury this year. Ahmad
Hasan Ahmad, an award-winning UAE filmmaker with more than 30 short
films, music videos and commercials to his credit, joins the 'Short
Film Competition' jury.
Shorts filmmakers bridge the Festival sections, for example
Yassir Al Yassri with his film Murk Light which has been
selected both for the Emirates Film Competition and the
International Short Film Competition, showing that Emirati film
makers are competing on a level with international productions in
all sections.
Local director Nujoom Al Ghanem, whose features Amal
(2011) and Hamama (2010) have screened in international
festivals, returns to the Emirates Film Competition with Salma'
Dinner (2012). Al Ghanem is an Emirati poet and an award-
winning film director who has qualifications in film production
from Universities in both Australia and the USA. She has produced
nine films including shorts and documentaries.
Contact thePress Team