Emirates Film Competition to receive pool grant for UAE filmmakers

Fadhel Al Muhairi and Hani Shaibani both received a grant each in recognition of their filmmaking talents.

Speaking at the press conference was Mohamed Khalaf Al Mazrouei, Director General, Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage; Abdulla Bastaki, Director of the Emirates Film Competition; Nashwa Al Ruwaini, Executive Director MEIFF and Abed Awad, President, Abu Dhabi Film Commission.

The Awards given to the two talented Emirati Filmmakers is part of a larger pool of funds dedicated to the emerging Emirati film industry where donations from Sorouh, The Emirates Foundation and private donors have been combined together for the Emirates Film Competition to put towards the purchasing of filmmaking equipment to aid UAE filmmakers in making their films. The Abu Dhabi Media Company contributed and Sorouh one of the presenting sponsors of MEIFF contributed to this pool of funds by also donating. A Charity Dinner attended by a mix of stars and distinguished guests that was held at MEIFF on Tuesday night also contributed a large amount of raised funds. The Emirates Foundation announced that it would match the amount raised at the Charity dinner.

It was also announced today that that the Emirates Film Competition (EFC) that has been held in Abu Dhabi annually for the past six years will be absorbed into MEIFF from next year, 2008. Abdalla Bastaki, the recently appointed Director of the EFC commented,

"We are ready to really embrace the emerging film industry here, this is what we have been working so hard for and to now be able to showcase our films on such a large platform as MEIFF is an amazing opportunity. We also hope that now with this generous pool of funds that we are receiving we can reach out to promising Emirati filmmakers and assist them in making outstanding films at international standards".

Following the press conference was an announcement made of a new Screenwriting Lab that is to be established here in Abu Dhabi. Present at the press conference to announce the news and offer his support was Screenwriter and Director Paul Haggis director of the MEIFF closing night film 'In the Valley of Elah'.

Also speaking about the project was MEIFF Executive Director Nashwa Al Ruwaini and Film Festival Director Jon Fitzgerald.

Jon Fitzgerald announced that the call for entries will be opening in the coming weeks and will take place here in Abu Dhabi in the winter of 2008. 12 projects are to be selected for participation with an emphasis on UAE screenwriters although entries will be considered from any region. Screenwriters will take part in a one week intensive series of workshops and one-on-one meetings with mentors in addition to participating in development discussions throughout the week. A team of mentors and advisors drawn from industry professionals and distinguished screenwriters, including Paul Haggis, are currently being selected.