Young regional film-makers to showcase talent at Mini Film Festival 2006

The festival is set to become a firm feature on the film event calendar, indicated by the positive number of regional entries received to date by festival organisers.

"It's our aim to create an environment for regional talent to explore varied themes and give them an opportunity to have a 'voice' through the MINI Film Festival 2006," said Guenther Seemann, Managing Director, BMW Group Middle East.

"It's a chance to bring together like-minded individuals and contribute to developing the potential for our home- grown film talent. The number of entries has been extremely positive, given this is the first year of the MINI Film Festival 2006 in the UAE. We've also been impressed by the calibre of short films which have been submitted."

One such entry is titled 'Black Coffee', a psychological thriller set in a mysterious London café. Zaid Adham, the young film maker who made 'Black Coffee', is a Jordanian expatriate who's lived in Dubai for the past seventeen years. He holds a dual American BFA and British B.A. in Visual Communication from the American Intercontinental University in London where he specialised in photography and photo-based graphic design.

"My inspiration to make 'Black Coffee' was derived from two directors I truly admire: Christopher Nolan, and Stanley Kubrick. Their films always have a moral message to them and are hence detached from the regular Hollywood fare," said Zaid, who is optimistic of his chances at the 2006 MINI Film Festival and appreciative of the opportunity provided to showcase his work.

"The MINI Film Festival 2006 for me is an attempt at gaining recognition in the film-making world and establishing myself as one of the pioneers in the new generation of directors from the Middle East hoping to make it big some day."

Zaid strongly believes that the youth in the Middle East are beginning to pioneer the independent film scene. "The eccentrics and the pioneers are always the ones that make the biggest impact, and in this or any industry there is always room to move forward."

The winners of the MINI Film Festival 2006 will be officially announced at an exclusive invitation-only Gala screening event on 23rd of November at the XVA Gallery in Bastakiya.

"It is interesting to note that we've received entries from all over the world, including the United States, Europe and India, despite the festival being only open to regional entries at this stage," added Seemann, "We believe film is an important medium for conveying social messages, and it's obvious the Middle East is seen as an important emerging region for this craft."

Budding filmmakers wishing to submit their short films of up to 15 minutes in length still have until the 2nd of November to enter the MINI Film Festival 2006.