Emirati finalists of Arab Film Studio talk on how bootcamp helped them develop

The three Emirati finalists elaborate on the challenges they faced during the three month boot-camp and the films they've made.

Ali Al Marzouqi. Courtesy Image Nation Abu Dhabi

Back in April, The National was at twofour54's Studio B in Abu Dhabi catching up with the original 12 Arab Film Studio participants as they embarked on a three-month boot camp to teach them all the essentials they needed to make their own film.

At the end of the course, each aspiring filmmaker was unleashed into the world to make their own movie, with the eventual winner of Best Movie title winning a Dh50,000 development deal from the Abu Dhabi production house Image Nation, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Media, which is the publisher and owner of The National.

That was six months ago, and the 12 have now been reduced to six finalists, who will receive their prize on Thursday night during a ceremony at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival. A total of six prizes will be awarded on the night to the finalists – Maryam Alabbad from Kuwait, the Egyptian Mohamed Magdy, the Brit Salman Ahmad and Shahad Al Shehhi, Ali Al Marzooqi and Fakrah Abdullah from the UAE. Here’s how the three local contestants feel heading into tomorrow night’s announcement.

What were some of the most important things you learnt, or skills you acquired during the AFS programme?

Abdullah: I’ve gained a lot ­of ­different skills, from writing scripts to hands-on directing. I learnt how to produce a film and work on a budget, about casting actors and how to get them to work with me and my vision. This experience has changed my thought process and my personality. The experiences have taught me to be more accurate, more committed to time and increased my ability to deal with different personalities.

Al Shehhi: Everything we learnt in AFS was important. But the new thing that I learnt is the importance to have a plan B for everything.

Al Marzooqi: I learnt that filmmaking is an integrated process and requires teamwork and patience. One of the biggest lessons I learnt was how to utilise restricted resources and a restricted budget and plan wisely for shooting and whole production.

Can you tell us a little about the production of your own final film?

A: I faced difficulty with where to start – mainly because this is my first experiment in the field of producing and directing. The AFS programmes and workshops helped me greatly in shaping my film ideas and putting together the finished product. I had some problems in the production stage, creating a balance between the budget and the completion of the short film, but I was able to overcome these as a result of my experience in television and theatre, combined with my new skills learnt at boot camp.

S: I collaborated with one AFS student, Mohammed Magdy. All of the AFS organisers, professors and students were very helpful and supportive. It was an ideal team. It was a challenge to finish the film, but yet of course not ­impossible.

The awards will be held at ADFF for the first time this year. Are you excited to be part of such a high-profile event? Any films you have marked down as must-sees while you’re there?

A: I am excited to attend the celebration because it is my first time visiting ADFF. It’s such an important festival for the region – it is wonderful to be a part of it. I hope to see as many movies as I can, especially from other ­first-time directors like myself. I’m hoping to learn more from my fellow filmmakers on how they direct and write their movies.

Al M: I am excited to be part of ADFF and to see Ali Mostafa’s From A to B – we all are proud of it. Also, I want to watch as many films as possible, to gain exposure to different cultures.

S: It’s a great honour to be among so many great films. I am hoping to see as many films as I can.