Dubai Studio City extends support to MFA-Dubai Intensive Film Production Programme

The five-month workshop began on 22 January and will run until May.

The Manhattan Film Academy, a US-based collaborative of award winning Oscar and Emmy-nominated American and European film makers, offers intensive hands-on film production workshops for individuals who aspire to become part of the region's growing cinema industry. Three award-winning instructors, including Marlena Grzaslewics, Tomasz Magierski and Robert Tutak, have been assigned to conduct the workshop for beginners.

DSC's support of the MFA-Dubai Intensive Film Production Programme aims to encourage indigenous film production, providing freelancers and university graduates an opportunity to pursue a career in the industry.

Jamal Al Sharif, Director, Dubai Studio City, said: "Dubai Studio City's affiliation with MFA is an important step to harness local and regional talent for the creation of a local film industry. Apart from DSC's gesture of providing a venue and implementing a marketing campaign for the five-month intensive film production programme, we will endeavour to continuously support MFA-Dubai.

"Dubai Studio City recognises the abundant talent that is waiting to be tapped in this part of the world. In line with our mission to encourage local talent, we are offering scholarships to three UAE national students from Dubai Women's College for this specific programme. Our initiatives are geared to cultivate appropriate platforms that will attract the best students in the region. We look forward to these workshops, which feature award-winning American and European film makers as instructors."

Marlena Grzaslewicz, sound and picture editor, is a two-time Emmy nominee, she has 60 films under her belt, both fiction and documentaries.

Tomasz Magierski, a cinematographer, is credited for his work on films for the HBO, BBC, PBS, Discovery Channel, ABC-Australia, Channel 4 UK, France-2, ZDF German Television, TNT (US), A&E (US), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, ESPN (US), and TVP (Polish television).

MFA Founder and President, writer-director Robert Tutak is an Associate Professor of Film at the Brooklyn College of City University, New York. He has written and directed feature films including 'Nobody's Perfect' (2003) and 'Match' (1988), as well as 16 shorts and documentaries.

In addition to Tutak, an array of leading film industry experts will address the exclusive workshops.

Oscar-winning actress Ellen Burstyn (The Exorcist, Alice Doesn't Live Anymore, Requiem for a Dream), is a member of the renowned exclusive Actors Studio in New York City.

Cinematographer Ryszard Lenczewski is a BAFTA winner for the Best British Film 2005 for his 'My Summer of Love'.

Foster Hirsch, renowned American film scholar, is the author of 16 books on film and theatre.

William Hornsby is an Associate Professor of Film at the Brooklyn College of City University, New York.

Ella Sloboda is a graduate of the renowned Actors Studio in New York City.

Students who have successfully completed the beginners and intermediate level workshops will alone be eligible to take master workshops in advanced levels.

The advanced level courses are being conducted by Agnieszka Holland, an accomplished writer-director, winner of Golden Globe and Cannes Film Festival and two-time Oscar nominee (Europa Europa, The Secret Garden). Cinematographer Slawomir Idziak is another instructor and winner of BAFTA , American Film Institute, as well as a nominee for CEZAR and Academy Awards (Oscars®) ['Black Hawk Down' 2002, 'Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix 2007, 'Three Colors : Blue' 1993]. He has also won several awards at the Venice and Berlin Film Festivals.

Dubai Cultural Council is also lending its support to the programme.

Dubai Studio City plays a pioneering role in promoting events related to the film and broadcast segments in the UAE and the region. A world-class infrastructure already exists at the Dubai Studio City to help create a pool of skilled film professionals and support all segments of the film and broadcast value chain.