Emirati sports drama 'Fan of Amoory' hits global festival trail

Amer Salmeen Al Murry's film released in UAE cinemas last February

Behind the scenes on the set of Fan of Amoory

Emirati sports drama Fan of Amoory is about to embark on a festival journey spanning three continents with a screening at The Paris Arab Film Festival in France on Wednesday July 4.

From Paris, the film will head to Malmo Arab Film Festival, India’s Jagran Film Festival, the Oran International Film Festival in Algeria, and Armenia’s Rolan International Film Festival between now and the end of the year. The film is currently the only Emirati movie slated to appear at any of the festivals.

Fan of Amoory, which had a release in UAE cinemas in February, tells the story of a young Emirati, played by Going to Heaven's Jumaa Al Zaabi, who dreams of becoming a professional footballer, inspired by his hero, UAE national team icon Omar Abdulrahman (also known as the titular Amoory). The youngster faces opposition from family, friends and neighbours, but clings onto his dream, with thoughts of his hero never far away.

The film was directed by Amer Salmeen Al Murry, who also produced his brother Saeed's multi-award winning 2015 drama Going to Heaven and produced by twofour54 Abu Dhabi-based Cinema Vision Films. It was among the most ambitious local productions to date, shooting for 39 days in multiple locations and featuring a large, largely Emirati, cast including veteran actor Mansour Al Feeli and more than 20 young footballers.

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Read more:

Football drama 'Fan of Amoory' signals next stage of maturity for Emirati cinema

Going to Heaven producer Amer Salmeen Al Murry: ‘Slowly Emirati cinema is becoming recognised’

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Al Murry said from Paris, where he has travelled to attend the film’s foreign festival debut: “I am happy of this success especially that our movie could transport our culture to others around the world and they will see our beautiful cities and landscape.”