Abu Dhabi Film Festival to be closed down

Media Zone Authority-Abu Dhabi said it will instead refocus its activities on other initiatives to support Emirati and Arab filmmakers, while also aiming to attract more film productions to the emirate.

The festival began in 2007 as the Middle East International Film Festival, before changing its name to the Abu Dhabi Film Festival in 2009. Silvia Razgova / The National

ABU DHABI // The annual Abu Dhabi Film Festival is to be closed down, the Media Zone Authority-Abu Dhabi has announced.

The authority said it would instead refocus on other initiatives to support Emirati and Arab filmmakers while also aiming to attract more film productions to Abu Dhabi.

“Over the last few years we have built a strong foundation for a self-sustaining film and television industry,” said Noura Al Kaabi, chief executive of the authority. “It is now the right time to deepen our commitment and further develop programmes to take the local industry to the next level.

“We attracted several major international and regional productions to shoot in the emirate over the past two years, which brought large-scale investment, further built the film industry infrastructure in the region, and created significant opportunities for local talent.”

She said the Media Zone Authority would continue to support Emirati and Arab filmmakers through the Sanad fund, which provides financial support for film projects in their development and post-production stages.

The festival began in 2007 as the Middle East International Film Festival, before changing its name to the Abu Dhabi Film Festival in 2009.