The Cultural Assembly in Abu Dhabi will run a contest entitled ‘Films From the Emirates’ that will be open to different kinds of films including the short narrative, short documentary and students’ films as of next Wednesday evening.
The head of the contest Masoud Amrallah told the UAE al Bayan, “we have been notified of 90 films to participate in the contest 68, of which have met the prerequisites of the contest. The contest was announced last January through sending letters to universities, colleges, cultural clubs and media calling them to participate in the event.”
He added, “the contest aims at developing and consolidating the local cinematic culture and enhancing the local activities related to the cinema. This is in addition to reviving this important and neglected sector and forming a local cinema movement and embracing creative people.”
The jury is comprised of the Syrian director Omar Amiralay and shooting director Hanna Ward.
Amrallah pointed out that the contest would include the opening ceremony by screening the film Qareeb Bae’ed (Near, Far) directed by Elaine al Raheb in which she tackles the story of the Palestinian child Mohammed al Dorrah who was killed as a martyr by the Israeli occupation forces. The film will be screened for the first time in the Arab world along with many films, which will be screened at the sidelines of the festival. The program also includes many narrative and short documentary cinema and TV films in addition to holding conferences and panels -- Albawaba.com
