Entertainment | Film & Cinema
Capital gains for films
Emirates film Competition promises fantastic films, grand prizes and a chance to meet talented filmmakers in Abu Dhabi.
- By Shireena Al Nowais, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:08 March 2, 2008
- Mohammad Khalaf Al Mazroui (right), Director General of the Abu Dhabi Culture and Heritage Authority, with other guests at the opening ceremony of the Emirates Film Competition in Abu Dhabi.
- Image Credit: Ahmed Kutty/Gulf News
The Seventh Edition of the Emirates Film Competition was launched last week with high expectations. Close to 200 films are being screened at the week-long event at the Abu Dhabi Culture and Heritage Authority.
The competition which continues until Tuesday promises a fantastic selection of films, grand prizes and a chance to meet some of the most talented directors and filmmakers around today.
During his opening speech, Mohammad Khalaf Al Mazroui, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Culture and Heritage Authority, said: "When the Emirates Film Competition was launched there was abundant hope that one of the benefits would be the realisation of a strong Emirates Film Industry, the fulfilment of which is evident in the vast number of films from the Emirates that are being screened in Arabic and international festivals.
Businesses
He added: "The 2008 edition of the Emirates Film Competition not only introduces more films, but the number of newcomers to the annual event is exceeding past years. This is testimony to the advancing film businesses in the country and the young film makers who are attentively contributing to the nucleus of the emerging industry. This year's competition has been open to filmmakers throughout the Gulf region and other producers.
"As additional incentive, this year the Emirates Film Competition has increased not only the number of categories, but also the monetary value of the awards. Among the newly introduced prize categories is script writing as encouragement to enhance film production."
Following the opening, a short film, entitled Invasion of Planet Earth was screened at Al Dhafra Hall on Wednesday. The science fiction film which is just under 12 minutes long, was directed by Moritz Langer and depicted an alien soldier who lands on planet Earth and mistakes the trees for an army of inhabitants.
Categories
Other films being screened at the competition include entries into categories including fiction, supernatural, space and time anomalies, experimental, documentary, animation, advertisement, fire-flies, and viral and genetics.
The shorts range from spanning just one minute to running for 40 minutes.
As part of the Emirates Film Competition, a Film Grant Competition is giving grants to "make dreams come to life".
Winning scripts will be awarded either Dh250,000, Dh150,000 or Dh100,000 prizes to cover the cost of making their film in seven months.
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