UAE filmmakers will compete for Best Feature, Best Short and Best Director as part of the Muhr Emirati Awards at Dubai International Film Festival this year. 13 directors will have a chance to win Dh75,000, Dh50,000 or Dh20,000 respectively. Diff, currently in its 13th edition, will be held between December 7-14 at Madinat Jumeirah.
1. Animal
By Nayla Al Khaja, which tells the story of a 7-year-old who grows up in a household with a sociopathic, narcissistic father, a selfish, weak mother and a flamboyant cook.
2. Little Sparta
By Mansour Al Yabhouni Al Dhaheri, is a patriotic film that adventures through historical eras in the Middle East with a focus on the UAE Armed Forces and their role as peacemaking mediators.
3. Only Men go to the Grave
By Abdullah Al Kaabi premieres his first feature length film, about the Iran-Iraq war. After one mother’s sudden death, her estranged daughters try to uncover her secret.
4. The Choice
A short film by Eman Al Sayed, tells the story of a daughter who must right her father’s wrongs before she is entitled to his inheritance.
5. Mahal Bu Tair
By Sager L’Khrebani Al Nuami, is a story of orphaned child Khalid, raised by his aunt, who experiences a life change upon finding a particular pearl.
6. Shrimp
By Yaser Al Neyadi, is another short film that bizarrely brings together a group of people who inexplicably share their darkest, most twisted desires.
7. A Night in a Taxi
By Aysha Al Zaabi, is a short non-fiction film that follows a taxi driver in Abu Dhabi who works night shifts. He listens to other’s stories, but at the end of the night, finds no one to listen to his own.
8. Honey Rain & Dust
The documentary by director Nujoom Al Ghanem — who is also in the running for the $100,000 (Dh367,219) IWC Award for an upcoming fictional film — follows three honey specialists in the region.
9. Mamsous
By director Shatha Masoud, is a short documentary that takes a look at three people who are living with clinical depression and panic attacks.
10. Kanadeer
By Ali Bin Mater, Abdullah investigates his brother Saleem’s mysterious death.
11. Lisa
A comedy-drama by Ahmad Zain, centres on a media student from the UK who studies at the New York University in Abu Dhabi. As part of her senior project, she films a documentary about an Emirati family.
12. Waiting List
By filmmakers Hani Al Shaibani and Khalid Ali, is a story of five determined individuals trying to turn their lives around.
13. The Worthy
Ali F. Mostafa enters the competition with his post-apocalyptic film which earlier premiered in London. It’s a dystopian thriller about survival as a group seeks refuge near a rare water source
“The category works hard to reinforce that home-grown filmmakers are at the forefront of the Festival; which is committed to fostering and promoting Arab filmmaking in the region,” said artistic director Masoud Amralla Al Ali.
Diff film ticket packages — and registration for professionals — are also available (10 for Dh275, 25 for Dh550, and a red carpet package with seven gala tickets for Dh500) at diff.ae.
