ADFF Announces Winners of Emirates Film Competition and International Short Film Competition

Emirates Film Competition (presented by Dolphin Energy)

The Emirates Film Competition (EFC) observes its eleventh anniversary this year, marking more than a decade as a key platform for regional filmmakers. The EFC is dedicated to showcasing short films from established directors and new discoveries from the UAE and other GCC countries.
This year, the EFC selection comprised 46 short films from all over the Gulf region, including 39 from the UAE.

The Jury
PRESIDENT: Ridha Behi, Tunisia
Bader Ben Hirsi, UK
Ali Al Ali, Bahrein
Suha Salem, Iraq
Ahd Kamel, Saudi Arabia

The jury awarded the following Black Pearl Awards in the Emirates Film Competition 2012:

Short Narrative Competition:
First Prize (AED 30,000): Murk Light
directed by Yassir Al Yassri (UAE)
For possessing and executing deep visual concepts with a mature cinematic voice
Second Prize (AED 25,000): Smaller Than the Sky
directed by Abdullah Hassan Ahmed (UAE)
For its dramatic consistency in portraying time at the moment of death, and for its detailed artistic direction that enhances the story
Special Jury Award (AED 25,000: The Journey
directed by Hanna Makki (UAE)
For its delicate treatment of an expatriate's dramatic story displayed with elegance and style

Student Short Narrative Competition:
First Prize (AED 20,000): 3aib
directed by Hana Kazim (UAE)
For its boldness and style
Second Prize (AED 15,000): Patience Salt
directed by Mohammed Ibrahim (Bahrain)
For its touching treatment of human suffering
Third Prize (AED 10,000): Ateration But
directed by Hessa Al Shuwaihi and Reem Al Falahi (UAE)
For an artistic portrait that announces the beginning of two directorial careers

Student Short Documentary Competition:
First Prize (AED 20,000): Dreams in Their Eyes
directed by Abeer Al Marzouqi, Khawla Al Maamari and Ayesha Al Amri (UAE)
For delving into life in the Palestinian refugee camps with utter delicacy and a high humanitarian cause
Second Prize (AED 15,000): The Gamboo3a Revolution
directed by Abdulrahman Al Madani (UAE)
For critiquing a local fashion trend in a very well-made and comic style
Third Prize (AED 10'000): Easy on Love, directed by Fatima Ibrahim Musharbek(UAE)
For depicting and explaining the idea of love in traditional Emirati society in a very intimate and delicate style

Best Emirati Film
Dreams in Their Eyes,directed by Abeer Al Marzouqi, Khawla Al Maamari and Ayesha Al Amri (UAE)
For shining with its strong direction by three young female Emirati filmmaker

Best Cinematography:
Murk Light, cinematography by Stijn Van Der Veken
For outstanding lighting and dominating camera work

Best Script:
Smaller Than the Sky, screenplay by Mohammed Hassan Ahmed (UAE)
For its neat and outstanding dramatic plot

Special Mention:
Samaka, directed by Michael Naguib (UAE )
Ostora, directed by Hani Kichi (UAE)

New York Film Academy Aspiring Filmmaker Award Winners
Enough Is Enough, directed by Aisha Al Hammadi (United Arab Emirates)
Cats, directed by Marwan Al Hammadi (United Arab Emirates)

- End of Emirates Film Competition -

Short Film Competition

The Jury
PRESIDENT: Karim Bachir Traïdia, Algeria
Rania Attieh, Lebanon
Ahmed Hassan Ahmed, UAE
Felix van Groeningen, NL
Ahmed Magdy, Egypt 

Black Pearl Award Winners
Best Narrative ($25,000)
9 Vaccines, directed by Iair Said (Argentina)
Best Documentary ($25,000)
The Hidden Smile, directed by Ventura Durall (Spain)
Best Animation ($10,000)
Camels, directed by Park Jee-youn (South Korea)
Best Animation ($10,000)
Linear,  directed by Amir Admoni (Brazil)
Best Film from the Arab World ($25,000)
The Island - AlDjazira, directed by Amin Sidi-Boumédiene (Algeria)
Best Producer ($10,000)
Till Nowak, The Centrifuge Brain Project (Germany)
Best Producer from the Arab World ($10,000)
Yacine Bouaziz and Fayçal Hammoum, The Island - Al Djazira (Algeria)

- End of Short Film Competition -