TROPFEST Arabia hosts workshops in UAE to encourage more submissions to local event

TROPFEST Arabia, a twofour54 initiative, hosted two workshops in Dubai and Abu Dhabi last week as part of a regional series aimed at guiding participants in creating short films for successful submission to the TROPFEST Arabia 2013 edition. Filmmaker and cinematographer Fadi S. Wahbeh lectured aspiring Emirati and Arab filmmakers on the art of filmmaking at the workshops.

More than 65 people attended the two UAE workshops, with over 30 people attending at the twofour54 campus in Abu Dhabi and 35 people attending the session at DUCTAC, Mall of the Emirates in Dubai.

Emirati filmmaker Mohammed Al-Otaiba joined Fadi in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Al-Otaiba advised participants to always continue writing and receiving constructive feedback, explaining that “the more feedback you get, the better you become.”

TROPFEST Arabia 2012 finalist Rama Muhanna, whose film Black & White won the ‘Best Female Actor’ award, joined Fadi in Dubai, while TROPFEST Arabia 2012 finalist Ali Salloum, director of the finalist film Who Am I, attended the Abu Dhabi workshop. Rama and Ali shared their personal TROPFEST Arabia experience with the audience and offered top tips and advice on film development before answering questions from the audience.

Last year’s workshop series resulted in the submission of more than 200 short films from across the Middle East and North Africa, 16 of which were shortlisted and screened in front of a live audience on Abu Dhabi’s Corniche during TROPFEST Arabia’s 2012 edition. This year’s winner will be chosen and announced at a glamorous red carpet event in October 2013.

The next workshop will be held on May 9 at the Doha Film Institute in Doha, Qatar.