At the International Photography Festival in Sharjah, they discussed their experiences in screenplay interpretation, guiding actors and creative collaboration.
A panel of award-winning filmmakers emphasised the importance of collaboration in every aspect of filmmaking— from screenplay selection to casting and editing—during a discussion titled Directing with Purpose: Shaping the Vision at the ninth annual International Photography Festival, Xposure 2025, in Aljada, Sharjah.
Moderated by American film producer Franklin Leonard, the panel featured Emirati filmmaker Maitha Alawadi, American writer-actor Travon Free and Indian filmmaker Neel Kumar. The discussion explored the creative process, artistic integrity and the challenges of balancing vision with production demands.
Maitha Alawadi, an Emirati filmmaker, who is known for her bold, diverse, and culturally authentic storytelling, noted: “Every person in the film team is family and every thought they put forward, including kids actors, is valid. Sometimes they might surprise you with an idea and sometimes you should step back and ask what is best for the project.” She said she was a big fan of animation and fantasy works, and found the biggest thrill in finding the right actors for her projects.
“The people I cast were the perfect blend and helped to convey my reality. My vision is to develop my own methodology and voice to make Emirati culture relatable worldwide. I am into the detailed aspect of things, and it is a collaborative effort that enhances the visual,” she added. According to her, the visualisation changed when she saw the actual location, and AI also helped to generate how her characters developed.
Travon Free, writer, actor and comedian known for his presence in the entertainment industry, said he always had a thing for the visual and it helped his transition to film direction and writing. “I try to find something interesting visually so that it feels fresh. I watch a lot of movies in order to understand different directors. The more movies I watch, the better it helps to set the palette; things crystallise and you see the camera clearly. It is also figuring out where the camera doesn’t go,” stated Free. He said he was extremely collaborative and followed a democratic policy in decision-making where even the interns had a say.
Neel Kumar, a Dubai-based filmmaker, writer and storyteller, also followed a similar collaboration policy and took the ego out of his decisions. He added: “When you have a powerful idea, the dots fit in. Every good director has good psychology. If there is enough for me to dig into an idea, there is enough for the actors.” Quoting Michelangelo’s take on the sculpting of David, where the marble that didn’t fit chipped away to create the sculpture, Neel noted that the characters developed naturally in his actors’ hands.
Organised by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), Xposure 2025 runs until February 26.
