The second edition of the "Al Marmoum: Film in the Desert" festival continues its activities with success

The activities of the second edition of the "Al Marmoum: Film in the Desert" festival are continuing with success in the "Al Marmoom Desert Reserve", which will continue until tomorrow (Sunday), including the screening of 27 feature films, 23 dialogue sessions and a specialized workshop, with the aim of promoting the local cinematic scene and supporting and sponsoring talents. Creativity, embodying the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, “may God protect him,” to consolidate Dubai’s position as a global center for culture, an incubator for creativity, and a meeting place for talents.

The second edition of the festival, organized by the Culture and Arts Authority in Dubai, "Dubai Culture", was full of impressive events and various cinematic and artistic works, to take its visitors from the audience and lovers of the "seventh art" on inspiring paths through which they navigate the history of cinema and discover the masterpieces of Emirati creations that wander on protected sands. Al Marmoum Desert, where the most prominent artists and filmmakers gathered under the roof of the festival, to reflect their visions of "stories told by nature", which is the slogan with which the festival opens wide horizons for filmmakers, to reflect the commitments of "Dubai Culture" to support and nurture talent.

The festival, through which Dubai Culture supports the "Dubai Destinations" initiative, included various exhibitions and works of art that narrate the history of local cinema and evoke the local cultural heritage in its best form, confirming the importance of the festival as an innovative platform to enable filmmakers to present their different stories, As part of Dubai Culture's commitment to promoting the local cinematic scene.

During the festival, the multidisciplinary Emirati artist, Ammar Al-Attar, presents a comprehensive picture of the cinematic culture in the country, through his exhibition “Cinema in the Emirates”, in which he monitors the beginnings of the “seventh art” and depicts the weekly family rituals of going to the galleries, and presents it through a variety of images that he displays. In addition to a collection of records, collectibles, publications, and cinematic flyers that were distributed manually, as well as posters for old films shown in local halls, in addition to antique equipment that was used in showing films, advertising rules of conduct and advertising for local companies and businesses, so that the artist Ammar Al-Attar re-embodied material culture cinema in the country.

popular games

Whereas, the mural "Saif, Naima, and Safe They Play" created by the Emirati artist Fatima Al Ali represents an artistic research in the film industry sector in the country, as the first cinema hall was established in the Emirate of Sharjah in 1943 and was known at that time as "The Station Cinema" and it was open in the open air while Its seats are made of tin cans, as the mural reflects the qualitative leaps witnessed by theaters in the country, from the “deck” to the five-star seats.

In the mural, Fatima Al Ali sought to highlight this history in an innovative way, by presenting it as a picture in a book held by a child in one of the sections of the mural that depicted young people as filmmakers, in reference to the need to motivate future generations to enter and learn the origins of the "seventh art".

Inspired by popular games, the artist Shamma Al Mazrouei was inspired by her installation art work "Kharban Telephone", through which she expresses nostalgia for the past, and provides a description of the nature of the culture behind the games that young people used to play previously, so that the work looks like a visual research into social relations and depicts how Youngsters have a good time without the need for technology to keep themselves entertained.

As for her colleague, the artist Sarah Al-Khayal, her graphic work "Threads of Memory" was inspired by the details of the Sadu craft and its aesthetics and vibrant colors, to present it in the form of a mural full of small details and geometric shapes that highlight the masterpieces of the traditional craft that were included on the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage.

shifts

Under the Marmoum sky, the history of the "Cultural Complex" shines through the installation artwork "Moving the Dunes" created by the artist Aisha Hader, in which she recounts the history of the complex, which was established in Abu Dhabi in 1981, to be one of the first cultural institutions in the country.

In this work, Aisha used the "Fountain Tiles of the Complex", which represent part of its history, and re-presented it in a creative way, so that "moving the dunes" represents an acknowledgment of the importance of art and culture and their place in the Emirates, and reflects the nature of the transformations that the country witnessed from the moments of its founding until today.

On the other hand, the Emirati photographer Ali bin Thalith, Secretary-General of the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Prize for Photography, documents in his photographic exhibition "Masterpieces of Wildlife in Al Marmum", where his group of photos highlights the nature of the reserve's unique environmental diversity, which confirms Al Marmoom Desert is a cultural tourism destination and a natural reserve rich in elements of local heritage.

Wide area

On the other hand, the masterpieces of the local heritage were revealed under the skies of the "Al Marmoum: Film in the Desert" festival, where "Dubai Culture" devoted a wide space to it to shed light on the aesthetics of its elements and components and traditional crafts such as the crafts of talli, sadu, and spinning, in addition to luqaimat, regag, and Arabic coffee. This represents a celebration of the local heritage, and confirms Dubai Culture's keenness to introduce the richness of Emirati heritage and the need to preserve it and enhance its presence in the various cultural and artistic events and activities taking place in the emirate. 

It is noteworthy that "Dubai Culture" was keen to design the festival's free activities to meet the aspirations of the various segments of society and people of determination as well, to allow them the opportunity to enjoy the aesthetics of cinema, works of art and exhibitions accompanying the festival, which is held in partnership with many government and private agencies in Dubai, namely: The Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai, Dubai Municipality, Knowledge and Human Development Authority, Department of Economy and Tourism, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority "DEWA", Ministry of Education, Emirates Airlines Group, Careem Company, Meraas, American University in Dubai, and "With Proud of Dubai" initiative Brand Dubai, Trust Your Water, Vox Cinemas, Weyyak, Zayed University, Nikon, RainDance, Project U, New Media Academy, GTV, Center Mohammed bin Rashid Space.

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