Through Arab Film Studio, Abu Dhabi's Creative Media Authority is dedicated to nurturing and developing the next generation of filmmakers, across genres including fiction, documentary films and TV commercials.
Arab Film Studio (AFS) honoured young emerging film professionals at a recent ceremony held at Cinema City Al Qana. The award-winning films at this year’s edition were Fatema Al Mansoori’s short film Shame, and Nasser Al Hadrami’s documentary It’s Not About Ketchup. Arab Film Studio, a subsidiary of the Creative Media Authority, has supported over 200 filmmakers from 50 different nationalities to produce their short films and documentaries – achieving more than 600 selections and 45 awards at national and international film festivals.
Speaking about the awards, Gehad Darwish, Section Head of Talent and Partnerships at CMA said: “It is with much excitement we mark the outstanding accomplishments of young talents at the Arab Film Studio Awards. Our awards serve as poignant reminder of the collective strength and solidarity within our industry, as we unite to celebrate the ingenuity and perseverance of emerging filmmakers. They underscore the importance of acknowledging and uplifting the voices of tomorrow's creative leaders. By fostering an environment of support and recognition, we not only honour their achievements but also inspire a new generation of storytellers to push boundaries and shape the future of cinema.”
Annually Arab Film Studio runs extensive talent development and technical programmes including
internships on productions and specialist training workshops such as scriptwriting and filmmaking. Since
2012, the entity has run 50 programmes and upskilled more than 500 individuals including 218 local
Emiratis. From the programmes, more than 150 fiction short films, more than 30 short documentaries
and almost 30 commercials have been produced to date.
Discussing the mission of Arab Film Studio, Aysha AlJneibi, Director of Talent Management, Creative Media Authority (CMA) said: “Through Arab Film Studio, the Creative Media Authority is dedicated to nurturing and developing the next generation of filmmakers, across genres including fiction, documentary films and TV commercials. A key pillar of our activity to grow the local talent base extends beyond theory to also deliver extremely technical upskilling courses and programmes to ensure we are providing the right knowledge and know-how to future generations. We are committed to fostering an ecosystem where young creatives, including filmmakers, can explore their creativity, learn from industry experts, and ultimately contribute to the growth and vibrancy of the creative sector. By providing opportunities for mentorship, training, and hands-on experience, we aim to empower these aspiring filmmakers to realise their full potential and make meaningful contributions to the ever-evolving world of cinema.”
