ADFF encourages independent cinema
The Abu Dhabi Film Festival, which kicks off Thursday night in what promises to be a glittering opening ceremony, will see a celebration of world cinema over the next 10 days in the capital, featuring some top names from Hollywood, Bollywood and beyond.
The total prize money for budding filmmakers this year has been upped to $1 million in total, which the festival’s Executive Director, Peter Scarlet, said by no means took away the true essence of this event – which was to provide a single and equal platform for all industry people.
“The idea behind a film festival is not just to promote big studios and multi-million dollar movies,” said Scarlet, prior to the opening night. “We want to showcase the independents, the shorts, the documentaries, all of which that are not allowed to find room in a commercial industry because its ultimately commerce that drives the choice of film that plays in cinemas.”
He highlighted that cinema today was all about the American movies that were being marketed as products rather than storytelling works of art.
“Most of them have lost their souls,” he said.
Scarlet mentioned that ADFF was in the process of putting into place year round initiatives that would allow films showcased at the festival to have a shelf life beyond the 10 days.
When quizzed if the possibility of showcasing a short film prior to the screening of a Hollywood blockbuster in cinemas was an idea worth considering, much like how it is done in multiplexes in Europe, Scarlet simply laughed.
“It is still too early to determine if our efforts will pay off, but there clearly is a thirst for good cinema in this market,” he said.
“I have to admit, I was sceptical last year when I took over the running of the film festival because I was told there was no audience in
Abu Dhabi for the independents. I’m glad I’ve been proven wrong.”
He added: “The plausibility of showing dual films simultaneously may be an impossible task right now, but one of things we are in talks for is setting up a permanent screen for independent films alone.”
Scarlet, who’s worked in film festivals around the globe, reiterated: “Moviemaking at the end of the day is about walking a tightrope between art and commerce. Films that play in malls are there to make money.
“We as key decision makers have the power to protect the filmmaking process that allows freedom for all sorts of films and genres to grow. We will know we’ve done a successful job when we can allow others to open their eyes to the excitement of world cinema.”