BMW Group Middle East announces the initial panel of industry experts - Antonia Carver, Marcus Webb and Nima Abu-Wardeh who are set to judge amateur regional filmmakers’ entries for the MINI Film Festival 2006. Two more judges will be announced in the coming weeks.
Based in Dubai, Antonia Carver has worked as a programme consultant to the Edinburgh International Film Festival since 2002 and is also the co-editor of Bidoun magazine. She has curated short film programmes for regional festivals and competitions, and contributes regularly to The Art Newspaper and Screen International.
“The role initiatives such as the MINI Film Festival 2006 play in encouraging, building and developing the creative industries in this region is invaluable,” says Antonia Carver.
“Film is an interactive medium – it is one thing to make films in your bedroom, at your college or after hours at work, but it’s quite another thing to experience the reaction of an audience. The MINI Film Festival 2006 gives aspiring filmmakers the opportunity to see their work up on screen alongside the work of their peers - it could potentially project their careers forward several years in just one night.”
Nima Abu-Wardeh, the presenter of BBC World’s weekly financial programme ‘Middle East Report’ is frequently asked to contribute to global conferences as a public figure and respected journalist with her finger on the pulse of the Arab world.
“The MINI Film Festival 2006 is exactly the kind of event the industry needs in this region – people like me are constantly on the look-out for new talent and for fresh perspectives,” comments Nima.
“We live in a part of the world that’s just bursting with ideas and stories, and it’s about time we saw them translated onto the screen. Film festivals like this open the doors for talent – go out and film, produce, script and edit. Surprise me, shock me, entertain me. I’m looking forward to it,” she concludes.
A lifelong film buff, Marcus Webb is the editor of Time Out Dubai magazine and has also contributed to the film sections of Time Out New York and London. He has also written for Venue, The Guardian and Empire magazine and has interviewed a number of leading actors and directors including Peter Jackson, Morgan Freeman and Todd Solondz.
Judges will be looking for compelling storytelling first and foremost – it will be up to avid young and young at heart directors to decide on the format of their films, which could include live action, animation, computer graphics or hybrid forays into short-form.
The MINI Film Festival 2006 is a short film competition aimed at encouraging and developing the blossoming regional film community. Amateur filmmakers from the region are asked to submit short films of up to 15 minutes in length, incorporating the ‘Always Open’ theme.
Submissions close for the MINI Film Festival 2006 on the 2nd of November and winners will be announced at an exclusive invitation-only event at the XVA Gallery in Bastakiya on the 23rd of November.
Applicants can submit their entries at the following partner outlets – any AGMC/MINI showroom (Dubai, Sharjah or Ras Al Khaimah), Five Green (Oud Metha), XVA Gallery (Bur Dubai), BMW & MINI Lifestyle boutique (Jumeirah). Or by post or in person at the 9714 headquarters - Office 17, Floor 6, Wilson Building, Al Diyafa Road, P.O. Box 73617, Dubai.
Films should be delivered on the preferred format of DVD (any region); on DV; or on VHS. Films should be up to 15 minutes in length and all entries must be accompanied by a signed and completed entry form, available from www.MINI-me.com.
