Dubai school lauds student filmmakers at film festival

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Dubai school lauds student filmmakers at film festival
Each film showcased prevalent issues people deal in their everyday lives.

Dubai - The Dubai school celebrated StarNite Film Festival as part of the school's 45th anniversary celebrations.

By Saman Haziq

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Published: Fri 2 Feb 2018, 8:24 PM

Last updated: Fri 2 Feb 2018, 10:31 PM

Red carpet, lights, cameras and confident students dressed in formal black attire holding shimmering trophies - a scene that resembled a film awards function was replicated at the Dubai Gem Private School (DGPS) in Oud Metha recently as its students celebrated the magic of filmmaking and story-telling.
The Dubai school celebrated StarNite Film Festival to celebrate budding filmmakers in their school. The unique short film festival was part of the school's 45th anniversary celebrations.
Encouraging innovative thinking and cross-curricular learning beyond the classroom, the school held free workshops for over 350 students, teaching them to express their thoughts, stories and messages through their films on various topics such as depression, love, music, horror. The young filmmakers acquired several skills ranging from teamwork, patience to artistic expression. 
Divided in 25 groups, the students acted, directed, edited and did whatever required to produce a film bringing out 32 short films with a strong message for the society. Each film showcased prevalent issues people deal in everyday lives.
One of the short films was even able to encapsulate the mission of the school - instil respect, tolerance, and social awareness in pupils.
DGPS students Ankush, Arzaan and Seaghan, along with few other team members made a five-minute film on how a youngster uses music as his escape route from sadness and depression. 
Sasikumar, Grade 12 student, who made the winning film titled 'Entangle', said he used hyperlink direction following the stories of two characters and how their lives, faiths merged (entangled). His classmate Ziyad and team produced a short film titled 'The Perfect Life' which depicted how everyone races for 'perfect life' but ignore relationships and are left alone with no one to share happiness and success. 
The students took part in a four-week workshop where a team of media professionals trained the students on how to make films, hold the camera and use different styles of shooting.
The two and a half hour event included dance, music and songs performed by the students along with presentation of various awards.
Among the guests were Uzair Merchant, winner of the best Indie Film in the LA Film Festival 2018, Mustafa Abbas, budding Emirati filmmaker and Nayla Al Khaja who founded the Dubai's first film club, The Scene Club.
Talking about the event, Humera Ibrahim, DGPS principal, said: "We let our students use their creativity and innovation, which forms the core of our school. Our mission statement is to provide opportunities to students, give them the freedom to explore, bring their imagination and investigation together. We gave them a challenge and let them do it to the best of their abilities and enjoy the sense of achievement."
saman@khaleejtimes.com
 


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