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Nahyan inaugurates Zayed University’s UAE National Film Library and Archive

The UAE National Film Library and Archive (UNFLA) at the Zayed University this weekend was officially launched by Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development to mark the conclusion of Zayed University Middle East Film Festival (ZUMEFF) which was organised between 29th-30th April.

The first of its kind in the Gulf to document the evolution of the UAE film industry, the archive will be a permanent home for the work of Emirati-funded and made films for generations to come and for interested researchers.

Shaikh Nahyan toured the UNFLA whose film database is contained within the Zayed University library catalog and includes films which participated in Abu Dhabi Film Festival (ADFF), Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF), Gulf Film Festival, Zayed University Middle East Film Festival (ZUMEFF) and Emirates Film Competition which is devoted to short films from the UAE and GCC countries.

In addition to at least one access copy of all books and films, the UAE Film Archive seeks the following materials: master original print films master digital film versions, uncompressed or otherwise downsampled, scripts, dialogue lists for translation/subtitling, press kits, media materials (newspaper clippings, interviews, magazine articles), trailers, production stills, written or recorded interviews (oral histories) from filmmakers, actors, and others, especially from earliest UAE productions, posters, flyers, brochures and schedules.

The materials will become a part of the circulating or other in-house library collections at Zayed University. At least one copy will be located in the Abu Dhabi Audiovisual Collection; others may be added to the Emirates Collection. Copies may also be placed in the Dubai library, according to the University.

The Zayed University Middle East Film Festival began in 2010 as a student graduation project. It continues to be organized by a Zayed University class, which oversees all marketing, film evaluation, event organization, and other work.