Business keeps UAE film festival ticking

Whether intentional or not, the third Middle East International Film Festival put the media spotlight back on filmmaking in the region, prompting the view that this is a sign of what is yet to come with the Doha Tribeca Film Festival, Cairo International Film Festival and Dubai International Film Festival

Most festivals, such as Cannes and Venice, attract attention due to their star power. But considering Omar Al Sharif was a no-show for his film Al Mosafer (The Traveller) on opening night, and George Clooney opted to be at Rome Film Festival during the Middle Eastern premiere – and closing gala – of his The Men Who Stare At Goats, Meiff has had to rely on the business side of the movie industry to pull in the international crowd.

Even stars such as Orlando Bloom, who attended Saturday's closing night, expressed their interest in doing business in Abu Dhabi. "I've got a production company that I started about two years ago, so I am looking at financing movies," said the Pirates of the Caribbean star. "This region is an exciting place for that kind of thing."

At the end of the day, while Hollywood is changing its business model due to investors pulling out thanks to the global financial crisis, the Middle East film market is relatively new, and regional investors are still willing to part with their money for new industries, particularly since the slump in real estate and shares occurred.

Abu Dhabi Film Commission's annual Circle Conference took place during Meiff this year and brought more than 40 industry leaders to the capital between October 9 and 11, focusing on the business and creative elements of making film and television content. Speakers during the event included New Regency Pictures Chairman Hutch Parker, Participant Media CEO Jim Berk and CBS Paramount Network Entertainment Group President Nancy Tellem.

"The Circle continues to be a tremendous opportunity for dialogue among the leading lights of the entertainment community. By bringing their global perspectives to Abu Dhabi, they've played a vital role in our efforts to stimulate a new level of entrepreneurship," said ADFC Director David Shepheard.

The conference's Shasha Grant – worth $100,000 (Dh367,295) in production funds – was awarded to Saudi director Haifaa Al Mansour for her film Wajda. The ADFC will work closely with Mansour to see the project into production.

Meiff also highlighted completed projects already funded by investors in the region. One festival gala came in the form of director Robert Rodriguez's children's film, Shorts, which was co-produced by Imagenation Abu Dhabi, part of Abu Dhabi Media Company, a film many say would not have been finished if not for funds from the region.

However, the biggest success story of this year's 10-day film festival has to be Son of Babylon, directed by Iraqi filmmaker Mohamed Al Daradji, which enjoyed its world premiere. Funds to finish the film had been gathered at Meiff, and it is the first full-length feature to be produced by UAE-based company Pyramedia.


Meiff Black Pearl award-winners

Best Narrative Film ($100,000): Hipsters (Stilyagi), directed by Valery Todorovsky

Best New Narrative Director ($50,000): Glendyn Ivin, Last Ride

Best Middle Eastern Narrative ($100,000): The Time That Remains, directed by Elia Suleiman

Best New Middle Eastern Narrative Director ($50,000): Pelin Esmer, 10 to 11 (11'e 10 Kala)

Best Actor ($25,000): Hamed Behdad, No One Knows About Persian Cats

Best Actress ($25,000): Alicia Laguna and Sonia Couoh, Northless (Norteado)

Best Documentary Film ($100,000): The Frontier Gandhi: Badshah Khan, A Torch for Peace, directed by TC McLuhan (Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, USA)

Best New Document-ary Director, ($50,000): Johan Grimonprez, Double Take

Best Middle Eastern Documentary Film ($100,000): On the Way to School (Ki Dil Bir Bavul), directed by Orhan Eskiköy and Özgür Doan

Best New Middle Eastern Documentary Director ($50,000): Mohamed Zran, Being Here (Zarzis), Tunisia

Best Narrative Short ($25,000): The Six Dollar Fifty Man, director Mark Albiston and Louis Sutherland

Best Documentary Short ($25,000): Wagah, directed by Supriyo Sen and Najaf Bilgrami

Best Middle Eastern Short ($25,000): Tripoli, Quiet (Trablos Al Hada), directors Rania Attieh and Daniel Garcia

 

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