With 18 years of media experience in the region, Nashwa Al Ruwaini has gone from one success to another in the Middle East. And the Middle East International Film Festival was not going to change that.
With big plans, high hopes and amazing aspirations for the inaugural event, you don't have to spend long in this lady's presence to understand it won't be long before pretty much anything she turns her hand to will be a raging success.
Influential women
Having been ranked among the top three most influential women in the Middle East in 2006 and also the 20th most powerful business woman in the Arab World by the American magazine Forbes, Al Ruwaini is passionate when it comes to MEIFF.
The executive director of the festival said: "We are so pleased with the way the festival is going. The feedback has been positive and any negative comments have been directed in a constructive manner. There will always be things we can work on. Culture is not only about books and museums and we must remember this. It is about film and television and the future of these elements as well."
Serious event
"We see our festival as a more serious event. We want to be more about the culture and heritage and meaning of film. We want the film world to grow in the UAE and for home-grown talent to be nurtured, courtesy of us. They [MEIFF and Dubai International Film Festival] are both great festivals and I believe they complement each other. Some people are saying they are too close together but I don't see this. If you are interested in film you will always make it to both," she said.
As part of her efforts as CEO of Pyramedia, Nashwa has been involved in many initiatives promoting Arab talent and thought to the world including acting as an agent to Arab talents internationally and producing the first Nabati poetry television competition and specialised magazine, in addition to two forthcoming satellite television channels in Arabic and English.
Apart from her work as CEO of Pyramedia, Nashwa's self-titled hit prime-time television show on Dubai TV has been a great success and is going on to its second season.
Did you know?
Nashwa Al Ruwaini was ranked among the top three most influential women in the Middle East in 2006 and also the 20th most powerful business woman in the Arab World by the American magazine Forbes.
