(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) For long, Emiratis have been ardent watchers of world cinema. From fervently following Egyptian films and Bollywood cinema to catching up with the latest Hollywood productions, their cinematic sensibilities no doubt have been shaped by the multicultural influences of these distinct streams of cinema.
A momentous announcement was made in May this year, when it was official that the UAE could submit an entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards. It not only marked the coming of age of Emirati cinema but also opened doors for filmmakers to think bigger if not already and work towards films that can captivate a global audience.
This would have been unthinkable less than 15 years ago. While the UAE had a vibrant grassroots film appreciation culture with film societies and clubs working in isolation, serious efforts to make Emirati films by local talents became a reality after the inception of the Dubai International Film Festival, which is now in its 14th edition.
While talents such as Nayla Al Khaja, Ali Mostafa, Abdulla Alkaabi, Nujoom Al-Ghanem and Nawaf Al Janahi, among others announcing their arrival to the scene through subsequent editions and at the Abu Dhabi fest, Emirati cinema was truly evolving both in the number of films made and in the quality of story-telling.
For long, Emiratis have been ardent watchers of world cinema. From fervently following Egyptian films and Bollywood cinema to catching up with the latest Hollywood productions, their cinematic sensibilities no doubt have been shaped by the multicultural influences of these distinct streams of cinema.
Further, the UAEs cosmopolitan environment meant that filmmakers who seek inspiration from the world they live in created films that were reflective of the progressive nation that the UAE is, home to some 200 nationalities.
No wonder then that when Ali Mostafa, who burst into the cinema circuit with Under the Sun, one of only five films showcased during the early years of DIFF in its Emerging Emiratis programme, turned his attention to a full-fledged feature film, City of Life, the multicultural vibe of the city was dominant with Bollywood actor Sonu Sood playing the role of a taxi driver.
While Under the Sun was a graduation film that Ali Mostafa further honed, his optimism on the Emirati film industry was absolute. In 2005, he had said: In two years time, you can watch Emirati films at the local theatres not one or two but five. His own subsequent film From A to B was also to grace the theatre circuit, making a Made in UAE film by UAE talent playing at local theatres a reality.
Similar success was recorded by Abdulla Al Kaabi, whose first short, The Philosopher, had the formidable Jean Reno in its cast, while Nawaf Al Janahi carved his own niche (he now serves in international film juries - most recently - on All Lights India International Film Festival) with the captivating film Sea Shadow (2011) and The Circle (2009).
What makes the works of Emirati talents impressive is how they strive to push boundaries and experiment with new genres. From a strong urban tale, Ali Mostafa had ventured into a road movie, and then went on make a post-apocalyptic dystopian thriller The Worthy in 2016.
Similarly, after narrating the story of two Emirati teenagers struggling with traditions in Sea Shadow, last year he announced that he written a feature called Blackness, which he described as an Egyptian story about revenge. A psychological thriller Zinzana by Majid Al Ansari is another film that has earned commercial and critical acclaim, and stood out for its boldness in experimentation.
Now, with each passing year, led by the Dubai International Film Festival and Image Nation Abu Dhabi, as well as co-production and funding initiatives such as Dubai Film Connection (the co-production market of DIFF), and SANAD Abu Dhabi Film Fund, among others, Emirati films are swelling in numbers and more young talents are stepping forward to make compelling films.
This year, for example, at DIFF, there are 13 Emirati films including shorts and features. Pertinently, the cinema industry of the UAE has not been skewed in favour of men, as has been the norm in the more established industries. UAE cinema has a rich talent showcase of female directors no doubt inspired by the success and guidance of the pioneers such as Nayla Al Khaja and Nujoom Al Ghanem.
While Emirati cinema on its own continues to build its own identity, the UAE continues to welcome doors to global cinema with Hollywood, Bollywood and several Indian regional language films being shot here on a regular basis.
Films supported by UAE-entities are already making inroads in the international circuity, as is evidenced in the success of Theeb, the first Academy Award nomination for Jordan in 2016. It is only natural then to hope for that big day when that Oscar statuette will come shining and smiling all the way to the hands of an Emirati for a film made in the UAE.
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