Capturing human thoughts and emotions

DUBAI — Ali Mustafa’s locally made City of Life sold more than 70,000 tickets last year. Commercial success of the film may not have set the chains in motion, but it has definitely sped up the process.

By Praseeda Nair

Published: Sun 17 Apr 2011, 9:49 PM

Last updated: Tue 7 Apr 2015, 10:18 AM

From romance to despair, young UAE-based filmmakers have been capturing human thoughts and emotions through short, self-financed films for years. But this year has seen a sharp increase in the number of filmmakers eager to share their passion with the world.

The fourth of edition of the Gulf Film Festival showcasing 153 films, including 45 Emirati titles, which opened on Thursday in Dubai, has proven to be yet another stage for these aspiring directors, producers and scriptwriters to explore their budding interest in filmmaking.

Mohammad Fikree, student at School of Audio Engineering (SAE) added movement to a character close to his heart in his short animated feature, Mad Camel. This animation is the second film of his to feature his comic strip character, the precocious and stubborn Omar.

“I’ve been passionate about my comic strip since I was in school. Last year’s GFF entry, ‘Omar to school,’ is also based on this character who is basically a caricature of my little brother. ‘Mad Camel’ is a light-hearted comedy based on a nightmare I had a while ago where I was being chased by a giant camel in the middle of the desert,” he said. From composing the soundtrack to animating his creations, Mohammad’s film is largely a one-man effort, with the voices of the characters being provided by two of his friends. “The film industry in the UAE is so weak, we don’t have the proper support or guidance that independent filmmakers in Europe have. There are a lot of talented animators here, but the scope for animation is limited. I can’t describe how difficult the job-hunt has been for me,” the 22-year-old said.

“The worst is when you find out that local animations employ external animators fromoverseas. I mean, give us a break!” Mad Camel has been selected for the Cannes Short Film Corner later this year, which speaks volumes about the quality of this homegrown feature.

“There aren’t any well-established universities specialising in 2D Animation courses. The few courses available in the UAE focus on 3D animation which I feel is a little overrated these days. The Middle East has a lot of talented comic artists and funny scriptwriters, but without the technical aspect of animation, we really can’t put two-and-two together and get this industry growing,” Mohammad said.

Workshops on how to get independent films out to the public, how to market yourself and how to apply for film festivals have been conducted from the first day of the Gulf Film Festival. The Zayed University Middle East Film Festival (ZUMEFF) in Abu Dhabi, starting on April 19, focuses on the more technical aspects of filmmaking such as successfully conveying meaning through cinematography.

Amina Dasmal, producer of one of the top contenders at the GFF, The Caller, sees these workshops as an excellent guide post for young filmmakers.

“It’s hard to get out there and do everything on your own,” the self-established independent producer told Khaleej Times. Shuttling between Dubai and London, Amina set up her own production company in order to focus on films with an international scope. Amina describes The Caller as “a thriller with a supernatural twist.”

Directed by Matthew Parkhill, the film follows the life of a woman (Rachelle Lefevre), who is being harrassed over the phone by someone who claims to be from the past using a series of uncanny occurences as proof. The film features non-culturally-specific storyline, which added to its scope as an international film.

“Being an Emirati, I knew the right places to approach in Dubai. Obviously it’s a very young industry, driven completely by ambition and passion. Hopefully, seeing an Emirati film producer bringing out a film that can stand on its own two legs globally can spark inspiration in others,” Amina added. The high quality of locally made films indicates that a lot of young filmmakers are open to experimenting with styles, genres and techniques, while the subject matter in most of these films remain firmly rooted in family dramas, fate, and gritty realities of the Middle East.

Through film festivals, up-and-coming Emirati filmmakers have an opportunity to screen their work, receive feedback and move on from there, allowing them the chance to collectively forge a national cinematic style.

Five Films to World Premiere

The last two decades has seen a burgeoning of Emirati films, from 58 feature films to over 700 prominent works today, which does not even account for small but significant academic films by course requirements.  Five notable films from the UAE by students based in the country are making their World Premiere this month.

· Mohammed Ghanim Al Marri’s Al Seefah is a fictional drama that touches on the slipping identity of Emirati fishermen as they fight to preserve their dying way of life, explored through the eyes of an old fisherman.

· 18-year-old Karim Mansoor portrays the tale of a teenage girl in the eponymous film, Magda. She arrives to Dubai with her father, and attempts to fit in with the crowd like

· Al Kandorah, by Dubai Women’s College students Sheikha Lamya Al Mualla and Maitha Al Haddad explores the shifting attitude towards the iconic male headdress in modern Dubai.

· Saeed Salem Almas directs Khude’a (Undergone), a short film about a young man’s journey to self-discovery.

· Akhir December (End of December) by Hamad Al Hammadi follows the adventures of an old man who accompanies his daughter on a trip once his house burns down.

Nawaf Al Janahi on Filmmaking

The acclaimed Emirati director known for Mirrors of Silence (2006) and Sea Shadow (2011), Nawaf Al Janahi started off with an insatiable thirst for all things film-related.

“It’s a fledgling industry here right now, but I see so much potential in young filmmakers in the UAE,” he told Khaleej Times.Here are his top tips for amateurs filmmakers:

· Brainstorm — “You never know when ideas hit you so jot them down as soon as they come up. What may be an unrelated string of sentences now can make up the basis of your film later on.”

· Have a strong team — “Film is a collaborative medium so no one person can take full credit (or blame) for the way the end-result turns out. As long as everyone involved are driven and passionate to do whatever it takes to get the film out, the sky is the limit.”

· When in doubt, apply, apply, apply! “The more film festivals (amateur filmmakers) register for, the better. It’s always a learning experience.”

news@khaleejtimes.com 