Surprised but motivated by the DIFF

Dubai-based documentary filmmaker Jonathan Ali Khan is surprised that his film Under a Desert Sun is being screened at DIFF.

In a quick Q&A with Gulf News, he talks about his transition from a fashion designer to a natural history filmmaker and why anyone should watch the film.

What prompted you to switch careers from that of a fashion designer to a wildlife documentary filmmaker?

There was actually a three-year period in between that when I was a photojournalist and covered famines and conflicts in Africa. So to be honest, one thing led to another and when I moved to Dubai I took to commercial photography.

I suppose I wasn't cut out to be a photojournalist. I couldn't immune myself to what I was seeing. So I got into video production and during the first Gulf war worked on environmental issues following the oil spills.

I missed the journalistic values, the travelling and meeting people at the grassroots so from the environment I turned to marine life, which I love working with.

You're known for your specialisation in filming marine life. How different was it working on a documentary about terrestrial wildlife?

This was my first experience in terms of filming terrestrial wildlife and it was definitely a big challenge. I've had no formal training at all as a filmmaker so I suppose that would tell you how much of a challenge it must have been.

This documentary is basically one of three one-hour films that were asked for by Animal Planet Asia.

How would you describe your documentary?

(Laughs) Goodness me! (Long pause) Well, it was made for television. So it's not a cinema-oriented film. For some people, it might be too informative, but the point is that it's been filmed in parts that have never been filmed before.

I think it's just encouraging that it?s part of the festival and personally I feel more motivated to aim at producing films for other festivals.

Why should someone watch a 60-minute film about the oryx?

It's not all about the oryx. I think the description in the guide is slightly misrepresented. It tries to show that despite the harsh and arid environment, life does manage to survive and sustain.

The oryx is just one of many species and vegetations that have been focussed on in the film. It's basically designed to provide people with information that may not have had access to. It may not necessarily entertain, but it most definitely will inform.

Under a Desert Sun has tried to stimulate an interest in regional conservation efforts and that has always been it's objective.

And finally, what do you hope to watch at this year's festival?

I'm really keen to see Kiran Over Mongolia and the other documentaries that are being screened. For someone without formal training, festivals such as this are a great learning opportunity to see what others have done or are doing.

- Under a Desert Sun will be screened at 3.45pm today and at 11.45pm on December 16. Both screenings are at the Cinestar Cinemas in Mall of the Emirates.