The Muhr Emirati, the section of Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) dedicated to short films from local talent, has doubled in size this year. Organisers say that the increase in submissions and selections reflects a rise in the quality and quantity of national filmmakers.
“This year’s Muhr Emirati field demonstrates growing confidence and skill in our local artists,” says Masoud Amralla Al Ali, the festival’s artistic director. “With more training facilities and funding opportunities available, a genuine cinema community has grown in the UAE and with it the film industry will continue to make steady progression.”
The Muhr Emiratis were introduced to the programme in 2010 with 14 films from UAE nationals. They were initially brought in to round out the festival’s Muhr Arab and Muhr Asia/Africa competitions but now, they stand out alone.
“Since DIFF’s inception, we have consistently cultivated local talent and become established as an important launching pad for new films,” says Al Ali. “We are proud that at our 10th edition we can present the fruits of those efforts in our most competitive Muhr Emirati field to date.”
The shortlisted films include Nayla Al Khaja’s The Neighbour and Don’t Judge a Subject by its Photograph by Ali Mostafa – both of whom have received international acclaim for their feature films.
There is also The Brain that Sings by Amal Al-Agroobi, which follows the tale of two boys with autism and measures the impact of three months of music therapy on their behaviour, Red, Blue, Yellow by Nujoom Al Ghanem is an intimate portrait of the well-known Emirati artist Najat Makki and Abdullah Aljunaibi and Humaid Alawadi’s Bahar is about a man’s search for his missing son.
All entries will compete for a Dh50,000 prize for best film as well as the Special Jury Prize (Dh35,000) and an award for best director (Dh25,000).
• DIFF will take place from Friday to December 14. The Muhr Awards finalists will be announced at the festival’s closing ceremony
* Anna Seaman
aseaman@thenational.ae
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