Local filmmakers have expressed their hope that the event can provide them with a common platform through which their films can be viewed by an international audience.
Expected to be attended by hundreds from the international film fraternity, the festival will showcase some of the best in global and regional films.
Dr. Alfred N. Mutua, Assistant Professor, College of Communication and Media Sciences, Zayed University, said that the film festival can act as a catalyst to encourage local filmmakers to continue making movies with great fervor and can build up Dubai’s image as a center for filmmaking in the Middle East region.
“I hope that the film festival places equal emphasis on the local films produced and made here apart from attracting well-known international films. This will not only motivate young talented filmmakers from this region to continue with their work but will also truly present the UAE as a center for production and post-production for filmmaking,” he said.
Local talent in filmmaking was revealed when ‘And the Desert Smiled,’ the first feature film to be written, produced, and directed entirely by a UAE-based team, premiered recently.
Young emerging filmmakers are also excited at the prospect of meeting some of the major players in filmmaking, which would provide them with an opportunity to exchange expertise and knowledge.
“I hope to showcase one of my films, which we have shot entirely in the UAE, and am looking forward to meeting some renowned filmmakers who can offer me greater insight into how to best improve my filmmaking technique. The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) will definitely encourage a lot more local women to take up this field, and the world can finally sit up and notice the quality of films being produced over here as well,” said Alunood Ahli, 21, a filmmaker.
Media professionals also see the event as a grand opportunity to learn more about the craft of filmmaking from respected names. Raja Al Joodar, 23, Documentary Production Assistant, said: “I am quite looking forward to attending some of the academic workshops which would be conducted by respected international filmmakers. Since we would be watching a wide variety of films of various genres, our outlook towards filmmaking would be far more flexible. And, as we are all beginners, this would be an interesting opportunity to exchange ideas with some of the best names in the film industry.”
Dr. Mutua, however, stressed the fact that the festival should tackle local issues as well as presenting Dubai as a hub for filmmakers. “The film festival is a great idea in terms of providing a voice for emerging Arab filmmakers. But the government must further develop filmmaking as a craft. A lot more can be done in this field, which would generate not only greater revenue for the economy but will also create a lot more job opportunities in the region,” he said.
The five-day festival commencing from December 6-11 will see a host of glittering gala evenings, and one of the highlights of the festival is the ‘Arabian Nights’ program, which will feature a selection of 20 contemporary Arab films.
A special side bar featuring a selection of Arab short films produced and directed by young emerging Arab filmmakers will also be presented at the DIFF 2004.
