The UAE residents attending the Gulf Film Festival, which will be held from Thursday to April 15, will have reason to celebrate the selection of UAE films at the festival.
Two very different UAE feature films will compete in the Official Competition. In Maher Al Khaja's The Fifth Chamber-Ouija the Abu Fares family discovers dark and haunting secrets in their new house. The family's fears increase when the children find an Ouija board and unwittingly summon a vengeful presence.
Ali Shah Hatami brings his new feature, Sound of Life. The film follows a young boy who lives in Ras Al Khaimah and works at a mosque. One day, he decides to go to Dubai and watch a Harry Potter movie but has to be back in time at the mosque.
Only a Beginning by Noor Hamidaddin, UAE's entry in the documentary segment, explores the director's cultural identity, from growing up in the West and her life in an Arab World.
The short films in competition offer a thrilling buffet of UAE's cinema. In Mustafa Abbas' Rain the boss' daughter is accidentally killed and soldiers are sent after Timothy, who soon discovers the truth about the death.
Door by Waleed Al Shehhi charts a journey into the human depths through the search of the door of life. In Hani Al Shaibany's Young Sadness, an eleven-year-old boy starts to lose his hair… and the problems begin, while Butterfly Kiss by Nayla Al Khaja revolves around a 17-year-old girl transforming herself into a beautiful young woman and questioning her relationship. The Half Heart by Bilal Abdulla is about a lady who has committed a grave sin.
In Juma Al Sahli's Paradise Evening two Emirati soldiers are about to go through a unique experience during the Gulf War of 1990.
Night by Abdullah Al Ramsi tells the story of a man married to a difficult wife meets an opportunity that enlightens his future.
Key by Ahmed Zain explores the mysterious happenings in an old house and Widad by Manal Ali Bin Amro explores the innocent world of a heart.
The student short films range from the hilarious to the dark and dramatic. Na[y]el by UAE filmmaking trio Salwa Al Qushayri, Sameera Al Hosani, and Maryiam Al Yafie follows an Indian man who discovers that he is an Emirati and decides to meet his new family.
On a darker note, Adel Al Jabri and Tareq Al Hashimi's Abood, Hamood and Saloom shows the title characters as each reacts to – and worsens – an already bad situation. Wafa Faisal brings her Born 2B Victims, about three characters living in a merciless society who must go after the truth, no matter what the outcome.
In Amal's Cloud UAE filmmaker Rawia Abdullah portrays a girl waiting for a "jinx to melt and disappear", and in Hamad Saghran's Expectancy viewers are treated to the tension of life's changing moments. Student Documentaries also offer fresh viewpoints on Emirati life. Ahmadiya by Ebrahim Ustadi traces the journey of Al Ahmadiya, the first formal school in Dubai, and the evolution of modern education in the city.
The Diversity of Nationalities in the UAE by Mariam Alsuwaidi explores how the students and the teachers of a school in Sharjah make sense of Emirati identity, while Reflections by Muna Al Mazam asks what the different nationalities residing in the UAE think of the country's nationals.
On the tongue-in-cheek side, Finding Mr and Mrs Right – Dubai Style by Hind Al Hammadi and Elham Sharaf is a documentary about the trials and tribulations of Dubai's new generation as they search for their perfect match.
BMX in Dubai by Ahmed bu Humaid asks what drives the riders of BMX bikes and prompts them to perform crazy stunts.
Films for Children segment include A Monkeys Revenge; Intro; Fish and Frog; the Loyal Mongoose; the Three Scholars Who Made a Lion; The Monkey and the Bell and Dubaian.
The "Lights" programming segment also contains two UAE feature films. Al Dayra (Circle) by filmmaker and actor Nawaf Al Janahi follows Ibrahim, a poet and a journalist who captures a thief and finds himself changing lives with him. Director Saleh Karama brings his first feature Henna.
The title character's mother is sick and her frequent fits have lead to a divorce. Fatherless Henna will have to find a way to relate to her new father figure, a Bedouin relative who arrives from the desert with his camels to visit the family.
Also in the 'Lights' segment, Alia Al Shamlan, Mariam Al Nuaimi, Fatma Al Bastaki bring the short film Enigma, about a babysitter whose horror movie turns into a reality for the children he is taking care of. In Fadel Al Muhairi's Ras Harba, 15-year-old Khalifa seeks the help of an ex-con to train for the school football tryouts, causing worry for his family.
Al Musta'ar by Manal Ali bin Amro depicts a woman who finds her husband has been cheating on her. Al Al Jabri's Smoke shows what happens when a non-smoker confronts his colleague about his smoking problem. Elie Azzam brings White Lie, about two couples planning to have a wonderful evening until a dramatic incident happens, and Ahmed Arshi's The Plan takes the drama further, with a kidnap-and-ransom thriller.
Ahmed Zain, Ahmed Arshi explore an important place in the hearts of UAE filmmakers in their short documentary The Red Island in the Hearts of Filmmakers.
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