UAE students on the rise at the Gulf Film Festival

Students will compete against their counterparts from around the GCC for generous cash prizes in the Short Film and Documentary categories.
Four films take on Emirati identity: the short film Na[y]el, by Salwa Al Qushayri, Sameera Al Hosani, and Maryiam Al Yafie, follows an Indian man who discovers that he is an Emirati and decides to meet his new family.

Two documentaries approach the same issue from different angles: The Diversity of Nationalities in the UAE, by Mariam Alsuwaidi, explores how the students and the teachers of a school in Sharjah make sense of Emirati identity, while Reflections by Muna al Mazam asks what the different nationalities in the UAE think of the country's nationals.

Meanwhile, Ahmadiya, by Ebrahim Ustadi, offers a historical view by tracing the journey of Al Ahmadiya, the first formal school in Dubai, and the evolution of modern education in the city.

The fun side of life can be seen in the charming short documentary Finding Mr and Mrs Right—Dubai Style, by Hind Al Hammadi and Elham Sharaf.

Meet young Emiratis as they discuss the trials and tribulations of Dubai's new generation in search of their perfect match. BMX in Dubai, an action-packed documentary by Ahmed bu Humaid, will have audiences on the edge of their seats as it follows young stunt bikers using various aspects of Dubai architecture to flip and turn.

On a darker note, Adel Al Jabri and Tareq Al Hashimi's Abood, Hamood and Saloom shows the title characters as each reacts to—and worsens—an already bad situation.

Wafa Faisal brings her Born 2B Victims, about three characters living in a merciless society who must go after the truth, no matter what the outcome for their safety. In Amal's Cloud, UAE filmmaker Rawia Abdullah portrays a girl waiting for a 'jinx to melt and disappear,' and in Hamad Saghran's Expectancy, viewers are treated to the tension of life's changing moments.

The films will be shown as part of the the Gulf Film Festival, presented until April 15 by the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) in association with Dubai Studio City.