Local Stars of the silver screen

The rise of dedicated platforms, such as Arab Film Studio and Dubai International Film Festival, is putting the spotlight on creative masterminds with a base to showcase their skills as directors, producers, scriptwriters and actors. Meet few (among many!) talented Emirati filmmakers who are weaving thought-provoking plots and leaving a mark, not just in the region's cinema, but also in the international scene.

Ali Faisal Mostafa bin Abdullatif
The director shot to fame with one of the UAE's first-ever feature film, City of Life, that inspired Emirati youth to explore creative media. Ali is now a roll with his recent action-horror release, The Worthy, a post-apocalyptic world with contaminated water and a group must fight for survival.

Abdulrahman Al Madani
Abdulrahman started his filmmaking journey with a 2012 student documentary, then moved on to narrative filmmaking. His latest venture is a short drama, titled Laymoon that features a middle-aged housewife looking to spark life into her marriage. It was screened at the Sharjah Art Foundation.

Adel Al Hallawi
Adel grew up with a penchant for international cinema's meaty action movies. He aspires to be among the first in the emirates to incorporate hardcore fighting scenes. His latest creation, Unbeatable Fighter, is packed with mixed martial arts featuring eight fighting champions from the UAE and the globe.


Abdulla Alkaabi
Abdulla kicked off his career with a focus on social aspects that plague daily life in the region. His short film, Only Men go to the Grave, was showcased the Dubai International Film Festival and even won the title of Best Emirati Feature. Other works include The Philosopher, featuring French actor, Jean Reno.

Afnan Al Qasimi
Afnan may not be involved in the big screens (yet), but she has made waves as the creator and writer of a gripping youth drama, Boxing Girls. The show, which garnered vast popularity for attempting to break the glass ceiling, is about young Saudi girls who are faced with obstacles as they pursue a male-dominated sport in a conservative society.

Honourable mentions
Majid Al Ansari: Director of Zinzana (Rattle the Cage)
Saeed Salmeen Al-Murry: Director of Going to Heaven
Mohammed Saeed Harib: Director of Rashid & Rajab, and creator of popular animated series, Freej