With the presence of a large number of filmmakers in the UAE and the Gulf, and aspirations for a return to the cinema scene in the country, the first session of the Al Ain Film Festival, under the theme "Cinema of the Future", opened yesterday evening with the first screening of the Egyptian film «Treasure: Love and Destiny» , In the presence of film director Sharif Arafa.
The opening ceremony of the festival, which was held under the patronage of Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, member of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, was preceded by the red carpet ceremony, which was dominated by optimism for the newcomer. The event witnessed a large number of artists and directors from the UAE and the Gulf, the festival. The ceremony also witnessed the honoring of four of the region's leading artists and filmmakers: Hayat Al Fahad, director and filmmaker Massoud Ammarallah, writer and filmmaker Abdulrahman Al Saleh and artist Ibrahim Al Hasawi.
The director of the festival, Amer Salmin Al Marri, said in his speech that his ambition to be the festival this year is a real support for the cinema of the future, and a window through which all the young innovators in the world of cinema and then create the artistic movement that reflected positively on the local film industry, And enjoy the audience and critics and all lovers of the seventh art, through the bouquets of film shows, especially that the festival in his first journey to the establishment and starting, which started with a simple, and with a modest team, seeks to real contact between all creators, to pursue developments in the cinema Global, and then Enriching artistic content flying in the space of the region, in compensation for local festivals that have stopped in the past period. He added: "The current stage is witnessing a huge artistic and tourism momentum, as well as hosting this new session, which we hope will be the true beginning of a cinema that expresses and interacts with the future in light of the new challenges in the UAE, Gulf, Arab and international cinema."
Salmin said the festival highlights the city of Al Ain as a unique tourist destination, becoming the European city with many festivals, which made it one of the famous cities and a first tourist destination for all visitors. In the eye, to enjoy its cultural facade rich in heritage and archaeological sites, to serve as an open studio to attract filmmakers from all over the world, to film their cinemas in their areas and locations of non-expendable in the operations of photography. He pointed out that the first session of the festival coincides with the Year of Tolerance, which affirms the UAE's approach to rejecting hatred and respect for others and peaceful coexistence on a land that embraces many nationalities in a welcoming human context.
The director of the festival said that the first session received more than 350 films, 67 of which were selected from different countries in the Arab world, to compete in the various competitions of the festival, as well as the initiative of the festival to launch two programs outside the official competition, To offer a rich mix of films that highlight the concept of tolerance and coexistence in the UAE, which brings together more than 200 nationalities, films from around the world to share cinematic experiences and cultures, as well as seminars and workshops on the film industry and its support and development in the UAE and the region. Signature A collaboration agreement with the New Delhi Film Festival and a film partnership with the Saudi Youth Film Festival to support Emirati and Gulf films and commercialize them outside the local context.
Sessions and seminars
In addition to the film screenings, the program includes a number of events and seminars. A panel discussion will be held on "National Program for Supporting Emirati Films" - the National Media Council and a workshop entitled "Storytelling" by Talal Al Asmani of Imagenation, In addition to a press conference for the film «Treasure: Love and Destiny».
67
A film from the world
Arab competition
In contests.