The competition was between 32 teams, who shot 29 feature experimental films over a period of eight months.
Sharjah Media City (Shams) announced the winners of the UAE Entertainment Experience project with an award presentation ceremony that took place at Sharjah University City Hall on Sunday. The ceremony recognised 13 winners across different categories, with prizes amounting to approximately AED200,000 (around $735,000).
Hacoub Eid from LB team won the award for the Best Director. Raed Yousef Al Nabrawi from the الفن السابع (The Seventh Art) team received the Best Screenwriter award, while Mohammed Abdulwahid from Q Team and Ghanem Al Rumaith from Hope, shared the Best Actor award.
Asala Al Naqbi from شمس الشرقية (Eastern Sun) and Nisma Saeed from شغف (Passion) shared the Best Actress award. Movieate won the Best Trailer award.
Sheikha Al Zarouni from Tolerants received the award for the Best Film Poster. Yousef Zainulddin from شغف (Passion) won the Best Monteur award. Best Director of Photography award went to Ghassan Younis and Diana Fawaz from Moveiater, while the Best Soundtrack award was presented to Ali Alyousef from إماراتي ميديا. (Emirates Media)
Ali Al Nuaimi from إماراتي ميديا (Emirates Media), Saud Al Suwaidi from The One and Mohammed Aldhahiri from Given4 together shared the Best Team Leader award. Toyelwood was recognised with the Best Creative Ideas awards. The Eastern Sun team won the Audience Vote award, while LB team won the Gold Award for Best Film, followed by the Passion team winning Silver in the same category.
Speaking exclusively to BroadcastPro ME about the filmmaking initiative, HE Dr Khalid Omar Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Media City, said: “The UAE Entertainment Experience is an initiative that we are proud of. Through this initiative, we wanted to attract the talent among us who want to participate in the filmmaking industry. They’re there but no one is giving them the right advice, the right direction on how to join this industry. Since it is within our mandate to attract this talent, bringing them closer to the creativity and the media sector. We thought that such an initiative is a must for us. It will expedite the results we were hoping for. It shows from the number of people who participated in the initiative. It proves that we were successful in reaching the right audience. This is the base of the pyramid. There are more to come.”
Khulud Abu Homos, CEO of the UAE Entertainment Experience, added: “Under the leadership of the dream team, we have managed to use an innovative method of developing and guiding filmmaking talents through 29 experimental films, using one script and different directing visions and ends. We have also developed the initial script of a film inspired by the public, which reflects the pulse of Emirati community. Shooting of the film has commenced and stars Emirati actor Dr. Habib Ghuloum and is directed by Nahla Al Fahad. The film has a unique script and idea, and in due time we will be able to reveal more details about the film.”
