Abu Dhabi: It was always hectic working as a diplomat but after long hours at his office in New York, Mohammad Al Otaiba would head to evening classes in filmmaking.
“Creativity was a part of growing up for me. I would play around with my still camera, draw and read all the time. So when I realised I could also learn how to make films, I just had to,” the 37-year-old Emirati told Gulf News.
In 2011, after 10 years of representing the UAE at the United Nations in New York, Beijing and London, Al Otaiba finally decided to use his filmmaking skills in a role more directly associated with the creativity he had always valued.
Today, heading up one of the UAE’s most creative enterprises, Image Nation Abu Dhabi, Otaiba’s innovation has paid off.
Not only has he been recognised as an International Young Creative Media Entrepreneur by the British Council but he is also the first-ever winner from the UAE.
In his role at Image Nation, Al Otaiba pushes budding filmmakers to pursue their dreams, and provides them with logistical support. To date, the firm has also co-produced two Hollywood movies, namely the 2011 multi-starrer Contagion and the Academy Award-nominated The Help.
On the side, Al Otaiba continues with his own projects, which have also won many accolades between them. A 30-minute documentary on opium addiction in Afghanistan won a Bronze medal at the New York Festival in 2005, and a 2009 short film titled ‘The Orphanage’ was one of six winners at the Abu Dhabi Film Commission’s Short Film Contest.
Despite his tremendous efforts in developing Abu Dhabi’s filmmaking industry, Al Otaiba says he did not expect to be chosen for the award.
“There were so many brilliant candidates that I am just honoured,” he said.
The award will enable him to join 16 other winners from across the world for a tour of the United Kingdom.
“I am looking forward to this great opportunity to develop further contacts from a long-established film industry. In addition, I am sure the tour will provide many more subjects that I can use in future projects,” he said.
Asked about the film industry in the UAE, Al Otaiba said he had witnessed its growth over the last few years.
“If you can come up with strong content, there a lot of resources you can capitalise on these days,” he said.
“Of course, it is still a nascent industry. That said, there is enough young talent out there. At Image Nation, we try to guide them. At this stage, we also do a lot to manage industry expectations of them, and filmmakers’ own expectations as well,” Al Otaiba added.
