A journalism graduate from the Mohammed Bin Rashid School for Communication (MBRSC) at American University in Dubai (AUD) has harnessed her creative talent to direct a heart-warming film tribute to the UAE as it celebrates its 50th anniversary year. The film, directed by twenty-three year old Caline Al Hage, charts a shared journey of growth between the university and the nation, as the UAE’s Golden Jubilee year coincides with AUD’s 25th year in Dubai.
Caline explained, “The UAE has grown and prospered in its 50 years of history, and this has been a great source of inspiration for us as individuals and as an institution. I am a very proud graduate of AUD, as well as being a proud resident of the UAE, and it was only natural for us, in this special occasion, to bring them together in one film."
A Lebanese national, Caline came to Dubai on an academic scholarship to the MBRSC at AUD in 2016 and says that being in the UAE has helped to unleash her creativity. She revealed, “When I came to Dubai, I really found and grew my passion, which is creating content in different forms. I was able to develop this through my undergraduate studies and now I’m pursuing a Master of Arts in Leadership and Innovation in Contemporary Media.”
The video highlights key milestones in the university’s history with iconic imagery from across the UAE, while reflecting on the vision, ambition and perseverance of the nation. Directed by Caline, now a coordinator at AUD’s Communications department, the creative work was designed by a Lebanese-based advertising agency, C9 (creative nine), with the guidance of the AUD Communications department and MBRSC. The final cut of the video was put together in less than two weeks and went viral on all AUD social media platforms upon its launch two days ago.
Sophie Boutros, Executive Director of MBRSC and creative producer of the film, commented, “It’s always exciting to see our graduates use the skills they learned and to witness the blooming of their creative talent. With this project, I enjoyed watching Caline challenge herself to direct a film suited to such an important occasion, in a short space of time. The final result is a true reflection of her passion for media and her dedication to delivering a fitting tribute from her own university to mark this significant milestone.”
Watch the video here: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CWvTjaHJ0Oo/?utm_medium=copy_link
