Emirati filmmaker works to preserve UAE culture through new Cinema Stage series

The 12-episode series reinterprets stories at the heart of the vibrant local culture.

Abdallah Hassan, right, the co-founder of Faradees Art Productions. Courtesy twofour54

The local director and producer Abdallah Hassan, supported by twofour54’s creative lab, is aiming to revive the ancient art of telling stories through music and introduce viewers to traditional and modern Emirati theatre.

"It's my dream to breathe life into this traditional and beautiful art form," said Hassan, who is the co-founder of Faradees Art Productions, an Emirati company seeking a broadcast partner for Cinema Stage, a new series that "reinterprets and breathes new life into a river of stories at the heart of the vibrant local culture".

Each of the 12 episodes of Cinema Stage opens with a story about a boy named Khalid, then cuts to a 35-minute play and finishes with the boy's reaction. The first play, Jameela, appearing in the Cinema Stage pilot, is about the life of a beautiful girl whose father will only permit her to marry a man who can achieve the seemingly impossible task of pulling a huge ark by a rope from the middle of the sea.

Hassan has won awards including Best Film at the Gulf Film Festival, Best Director at the Arab Film Festival and the Dubai Film Festival for Smaller than the Sky, and was named Best Young Arab Director by Digital Studio magazine in 2006. His films have featured at major film festivals all over the world.

His most famous works include Al Thafar, Al Muraihana, Al Fustan, SumoAl Fia'al, Ameen, Asafeer Al Qaith, Sama'a Sagheera, Tinback, and Asghar min Al Samaa, all delivered for a range of regional broadcasters.