Click Here to view the selected UAE Filmmakers
Abu Dhabi Film Commission will offer four Emirati Filmmakers the chance to join the Film Commission delegation at the Festival de Cannes, running from 16 – 27 May, 2012. The Filmmakers will take part in festival and market events, screenings, filmmaker forums and panels, as well as meeting with industry professionals at the Abu Dhabi Pavilion in Cannes. This is one of the Film Commission initiatives to support & promote the UAE films and filmmakers to the international film industry.
The call for entries for filmmakers to join the Abu Dhabi delegation is open to all emerging Emirati Directors and Producers. Deadline for entries is 15 April, 2012.
Requirements:
To apply, please send your biography and a letter explaining why would this trip be beneficial for your career, before April 15th to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Click Here to view the selected Short Films
Submision is closed
Your chance to show your film to the world in Cannes!
For the third consecutive year the Film Commission will be submitting up to 20 Short Films to be screened at the “Short Film Corner” in the Marche Du Film and at the Abu Dhabi Pavilion during Festival De Cannes 2012. This is a great chance for all UAE based filmmakers and it is part of our promotional activities at this major international festival.
Please read the following guidelines and application conditions:
The deadline for submissions is March 25th 2012
We only accept multiplexed files (audio and video in one file). There is a maximum file size of 5 Gigabyte for each film. You can also upload movies up to HD 1920x1080, with the maximum file size of 5 Gigabyte.
For subtitled films the subtitles have to be integrated (burned in) into the image.
Make sure that your film does not have colour bars or black before the film starts and right after it ends.
Video format requirements:
Accepted file formats:
.mp[e]g / .avi / .vob / .mov / .mp4
Recommended codecs:
MJPEG
Apple ProRes
H264 (high bitrate if possible: minimum 2MBit/s and Uncompressed (very large files!)
Resolution :
PAL or NTSC (as well as SECAM) from 720x400px up to HD material of 1920x1080px
Audio format requirements:
Audio :
48kHz sound PCM (only uncompressed)
MP3
AAC (if possible > 160 kBit/s)
The Film Commission Team will review the submitted films and if your short film was selected you will need to provide the following:
• Complete crew list of the film
• Production date, production company details (if applicable)
• Synopsis of the film
• Declaration of Ownership (Chain of Title) Letter
• Director's biography and filmography
• A picture of the film (so it can be placed on the catalogue) and a picture of the director.
• Detailed information of previous screenings
Deadline for Submission is March 25, 2012
(ABU DHABI): March 15, 2011 - Abu Dhabi Film Commission today announced a call for submissions for short films by UAE filmmakers to be screened at the Short Film Corner, during the Cannes Film Festival. For the third straight year, the Film Commission will submit up to 20 short films to the Short Film Corner at the Marche Du Film, as well as screening the films at the Abu Dhabi Pavilion to festival programmers and film professionals from around the world.
The Short Film Corner, which is organised by the Marche du Film and is a central gathering place for filmmakers, festival programmers and buyers at the festival, providing a full program of networking opportunities, workshops and conferences focusing on the production and distribution of short films. Participating in the Short Film Corner increases the chances of films being selected by international festivals as well as potentially being picked up by distributors.
“Short films have become an increasingly important way for filmmakers from the U.A.E. to gain worldwide exposure,” said Abu Dhabi Film Commission Director David Shepheard. “Short films provide calling cards for filmmakers talent and creativity, and having the ability to have your film seen by potentially thousands of film professionals at the Cannes Film Festival and Marche du Film is a valuable opportunity we are pleased to offer.”
The deadline for submission to Abu Dhabi Film Commission’s short film programme at Cannes is March 25. All the rules and regulations and guidance for submission can be found at the Film Commission website www.film.gov.ae
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Press Contacts:
Hind Al Hammadi – Abu Dhabi Film Commission
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Phone +97150 8120964 Fax +9712- 4011701
Jonathan Bing on behalf of Abu Dhabi Film Commission
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Phone +310 310-3561
Festival Featuring Screenings and Panels with Middle Eastern Filmmakers
The selected Filmmakers are: Alwiya Thani, Adel Al Jabri, Ali Al Afeefi, Amal Al Agroobi, Hana Makki, Hind Al Hammadi, Manal Wicki, Mohammed Taha, Nizar Sfair, Reem Al Falahi, Rola Shamas.
This year’s participants will attend festival events and networking sessions, and meet cultural figures including members of the Committee on Cultural and Media Affairs of the German Bundestag, film critics and festival directors.
“The Berlinale is one of the world's most important film events, and the focus on ‘Arab cinema’ this year offers a unique opportunity for us to shine a spotlight on the emergence of Abu Dhabi as a source of world-class filmmaking,” Abu Dhabi Film Commission Director David Shepheard said. “As part of our year-round efforts to promote Abu Dhabi as a regional hub for film production, we’re particularly excited by our partnership with the German Embassy and the Goethe-Institute and their support for filmmakers from the U.A.E.”
Abu Dhabi Film Commission is also partnering with the Goethe-Institute Gulf Region to support the upcoming Heritage Film Festival in Abu Dhabi, which will screen a selection of Arab and European films in a unique outdoor setting from 22 – 25 February.
For more information on these and other programs visit: www.film.gov.ae
About Abu Dhabi Film Commission
Abu Dhabi Film Commission is part of the Media Zone Authority – Abu Dhabi. It was launched in 2009 and has a mandate to support the development of Abu Dhabi’s growing film & TV industry and promote the Emirate as a production and filming location.
Filmmaking in Germany
The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Abu Dhabi organizes in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Film Commission and the Goethe-Institut Gulf Region a special visit program for young filmmakers based in the UAE.
The unique tailormade visit program will take place from February 8th – February 19th and the participants will get the chance to visit and experience the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival, the Berlinale. They will also meet members of the Committee on Cultural and Media Affairs of the German Bundestag, Film Critics and Festival Directors, the Goethe-Institut’s Film Commissioner, the Directorate-General for Culture and Communication of the Federal Foreign Office and many more.
The Berlinale is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events and it is considered the largest publicly-attended film festival worldwide. The public program shows about 400 films per year, mostly international or European premieres.
The Festival and the sattelite events are attended by more than 19.000 professional visitors from 115 countries, including 4.000 journalists.
Besides the Berlinale, Field Trips will lead the participants to the Studio Babelsberg, the oldest large-scale studio complex in the world and the largest film studio in Germany and the HFF Artistic Media University in Potsdam.
The program is part of the Visitors Program of the Federal Government and will be planned and managed by the Goethe Insitut, the cooperation partner of the Federal Foreign Office.
All costs in Germany (program costs, accommodation, transportation, food etc.) will be covered by the German Federal Foreign Office. To mark the new direct route of Germany’s second largest airline between Abu Dhabi and Berlin, Air Berlin partly sponsors the flights for the participants.
The eleven candidates who were selected to take part in this unique trip are:
Alwiya Thani, Adel Al Jabri, Ali Al Afeefi, Amal Al-Agroobi, Hana Makki, Hind Al Hammadi, Manal Wicki, Mohammed Taha, Nizar Sfair, Reem Al Falahi, Rola Shamas.
Filmmaking in Germany
The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Abu Dhabi organizes in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Film Commission and the Goethe-Institut Gulf Region a special visit program for young filmmakers based in the UAE.
Twelve candidates will be selected to take part in a tailormade 10 day visit program to Germany in February 2012. You will visit the renowned Berlinale Film Festival, take part in the Berlinale Talent Campus, get the chance to meet German Filmmakers and see German Film Production Sites or Film Academies, exchange views with German Filmstudents, get an insight view of the German Film Scene and much more.
All costs in Germany (program costs, accommodation, transportation, food etc.) will be covered by the German Foreign Ministry. Participants only have to cover flight expenses.
This Program is open to filmmakers, directors and writers. who have acquired relevant experience in a creative discipline (writing, directing, producing).
Entrants are to be 21 years or older – UAE national or UAE resident for more than 5 years.
Entry to this program confirms each entrant’s acceptance of these rules and regulations.
The German Embassy Abu Dhabi is choosing the candidates by applying its own criteria. Applications can only be made in English language.
All submissions must be received by December 6th, 12 noon. No applications can be accepted after the deadline.
Interviews for selected participants will take place on December 13th. Only applicants who are selected will be informed by E-Mail.
All applicants must be available for the whole time of the visit.
All conditions above are subject to signing final contractual agreements.
Each application for the Film Visit Program 2012 must include the following:
- Application Information (see next page)
- Passport copy
- Proof of residency in UAE for more than 5 years (copy of residence visa, driving license, company letter, UAE record of employment) if applicable
- CV – Resume
- Statement why you think you should be accepted to the Film Visit Program – Letter of Motivation (150 words max)
Submissions to be sent by e-mail only by December 5th, 12 noon to:
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany
Abu Dhabi
Attention of Mr. Sascha Ritter
E-Mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
BroadcastPro Magazine attracts largest TV broadcast audience at Summit and Awards
More than 200 people attended the summit and 300 people attended the gala awards.
Dubai, 24 November 2011: With more than 300 delegates from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain and UAE in attendance, the inaugural Broadcastpro Summit and Awards held at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel on November 23, 2011, recognised 14 outstanding achievements in both creativity in programming and technological innovations. The event was held under the auspices of the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU) and the keynote address at the summit and awards ceremony was delivered by Dr. Riyadh Najm, Vice President of ASBU and Deputy Minister of Technical Affairs, Ministry of Culture and Information, Saudi Arabia.
At the well-attended summit held earlier in the day, top executives of broadcast companies discussed issues from cloud computing, business intelligence for broadcasters, the future of television and archiving, among other issues. Landmark case-studies were presented in areas of establishing new channels and creating effective archives.
The awards ceremony began with the ‘MENA Broadcast Trendsetter’ category and the winner was Dubai Media Inc. for creating apps to ensure the distribution of content across multiple platforms.
Abu Dhabi Film Commission was recognised as the ‘Best Entity Promoting Local Film Production’ for its efforts in promoting local talent while Real Image TV Production walked away with top honours for the ‘Best Tech Production of 2011’ for a video on Toshiba, which combined live action and stereoscopic 3D.
The Jeddah Radio complex with its path-breaking solutions won the ‘Innovative Project Award’.
The ‘Best Director of the Year’ award went to Ahmad Ibrahem of Ashorooq TV for his special programme on Sudan. Qvest Media and TSL Middle East shared the honours for the ‘MENA Systems Integrator of the Year’.
The stereoscopic 3D lab at 2454 Intaj won the ‘MENA Special Recognition Award’.
For its very popular coverage of the English Premier League, Abu Dhabi Media was adjudged the winner of the ‘Best Sports Coverage’.
Nick Barratt of MBC was acknowledged by industry peers as being the’ Technical Achiever of the Year’.
OSN’s Hindistani walked away with a unanimous vote from the jury as being the ‘Best Arabic Drama Production of the Year’.
First Gulf Company was accorded special recognition from the jury and awarded the ‘MENA Business Excellence Award’.
For their landmark achievements in Libya, Al Aan TV was the Editor’s choice for the ‘Broadcast Achievement Award’. For his initiatives in creating ICHD, an initiative that will revolutionise the pay TV market, Irshad Contractor, CEO of ICHD was recognised as the ‘MENA Entrepreneur of the Year’.
Finally, for his leadership in the region’s broadcasting industry, Dr. Riyadh Najm, Deputy Minister of Technical Affairs, Saudi MOCI and vice president of ASBU was recognised as the ‘Broadcast Visionary of the Year’.
For reactions of winners and post-event details, visit http://www.broadcastprome.com
ABU DHABI, 27 November, 2011: Abu Dhabi Film Commission today announced the start of production for the six winners of the Aflam Qaseera (“Short Film”) Production Fund, a competition designed to promote emerging writers, directors and UAE based production companies in creating short films for international screenings and eventual broadcast.
The filmmakers whose films were selected for development are:
• Hamad Mansoor Alawar (Daddy's Abc)
• Jac Mulder (A Genie Called Gin)
• Mohamed Youssouf (Visa Run)
• Mohammed Al Otaiba (The Orphanage)
• Nizar Sfair (The Tooth Of Hope)
• Sana Bagersh (The Journey)
Each filmmaker will receive up to 100,000 AED in production funding. The films, which are 5 - 12 minutes in length, in English and Arabic and a mix of genres, were selected from a field of more than 90 candidates. Abu Dhabi Film Commission will work closely with the filmmakers to see the project through production and distribution. Aflam Qaseera is one of a number of efforts to support short film production in Abu Dhabi undertaken by the Film Commission, which also showcased 8 short films made in the UAE at the Short Film Corner at the Cannes Film Festival Marché du Film in May of this year.
When asked how did he find out about the programme and his feeling towards having his film made in Abu Dhabi, Mohammed Al Otaiba said “The Film Commission has been my first stop to learn about the industry here, and so far, it has been a fantastic journey. I must say that I am excited to be part of Aflam Qaseera. The film commission’s mentorship and expertise were extremely valuable in honing the skills of storytelling.”
Sana Bagersh the only female writer in Aflam Qaseera said "I'm really excited about the opportunity presented to me by Aflam Qaseera; very rarely does a writer have a chance to see his or her words translated into a visual medium. While it is true that not all written words lend themselves to motion pictures, I believe that there are some with a lyrical and emotive quality that can be transposed onto a cinema screen. I do hope that The Journey is one of those stories."
With all excitement to be the first project to start production as part of Aflam Qaseera, Jac Mulder said "The Film Commission in Abu Dhabi saw an opportunity of developing within the country and all citizens were offered a wonderful experience to tell the story from here! When a short story pulls in talent from L.A. and a city like Abu Dhabi (or the UAE) it embraces all film-makers then we have a beautiful film future!"
Mohammed Youssouf who is keep to put a smile on everyone’s face commented, “I am a story teller and this is a great chance to tell my story on film. I am thankful for the opportunity.”
Emphasizing on the responsibility to make the best out of this programme, Nizar Sfair said “ It is a great honor to be part of this project and we have a responsibility to make a great film. We all need to work together to create the maximum exposure for our films with the help of the Film Commission.”
Hammad Alawar commented on his story" This short film is dear to me because it reflects a lot of the fear fathers might come across, the troubles of changing diapers or feeding the baby all seem like a nightmare to any father!”
“Working with the Film Commission pushes you to create the best filmmaking art piece because of the ambitions and professional manner in which their team works according to. I sincerely believe this film will be a great success and an animated short film that people will come to love and admire no matter where they're from.” Added Alawar
“Short films are not just important calling cards for filmmakers, they also provide valuable experience for local production crews. By teaming up the Aflam Qaseera film makers with UAE production companies, we are also creating more local filming activity, which is contributing to Abu Dhabi’s growing reputation as a global production center.” Said David Shepheard, Director of Abu Dhabi Film Commission.
For more information about Aflam Qaseera and the Film Commission visit: www.film.gov.ae
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About Abu Dhabi Film Commission
Abu Dhabi Film Commission is part of the Media Zone Authority – Abu Dhabi. It was launched in 2009 and has a mandate to support the development of Abu Dhabi’s growing film & TV industry and promote the Emirate as a production and filming location. This forms part of the wider Media Zone Authority aim to support the development of a sustainable Arabic media industry and establish Abu Dhabi as a regional centre of excellence for Arabic media and entertainment content creation.
Contact:
Hind Al Hammadi – Abu Dhabi Film Commission
Mob +97150 8120964 Fax +9712- 4011701
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Bing Communications Group on behalf of Abu Dhabi Film Commission
Jonathan Bing
+310 310-3561
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
