New internship for local film talent

Imagenation Abu Dhabi has partnered with the Abu Dhabi Film Commission to launch a new internship program aimed at developing local film talent in the UAE. The scheme, known as Mawaheb, which is Arabic for "talent", will offer Emirati students interested in filmmaking the opportuniy to take up internships in joint venture offices in Los Angeles and New York City or placements on the film sets of productions across the United States and India, WAM reported. "The key to developing a sustainable film industry in the UAE is to nurture our homegrown talent," said Mohamed Khalaf al Mazrouei, the chairman of Imagenation Abu Dhabi. "Our hope is that ... we can identify high-potential talent that can play a role in the future of film in this region." Imagenation last month unveiled a number of Emirati film projects to be developed, financed and produced by the company, which is part of Abu Dhabi Media Company, the publisher of The National. The first film, Sea Shadow, was announced at the Cannes Film Festival and will begin shooting in the UAE later this year, with all six projects to be developed over the course of two years. Production companies including Participant Media, National Geographic Films and Hyde Park Entertainment, are supporting the internship scheme, WAM reported.