The UAE-made films screening this National Day: from 'History of the Emirates' to 'Botoula'

Documentaries, features and short films by Image Nation Abu Dhabi will be available to watch on various platforms

'History of the Emirates' will screen on National Geographic and Etisalat's eLife this National Day. Image Nation Abu Dhabi

Local productions made by Image Nation Abu Dhabi will screen this week to mark the UAE's 49th National Day.

Etisalat eLife's dedicated National Day on-demand channel will show History of the Emirates, Botoula, Lest We Forget and Back to the Wild as well as short films created by participants of Image Nation's development programme Arab Film Studio.

National Geographic will also screen History of the Emirates and Back to the Wild on National Day as part of its special programming.

History of the Emirates is a five-episode documentary on the history of the UAE, from the earliest human presence in the region to the national union in 1971, while Botoula is an 80-minute documentary that follows the story of young Emirati women aiming to compete in the World Pro Jiu-Jitsu competition.

'Botoula' is an 80-minute documentary that follows the story of young Emirati women aiming to compete in the World Pro Jiu-Jitsu competition. Image Nation Abu Dhabi

Back to the Wild, a 30-minute documentary telling the story of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi's reintroduction of the Scimitar-horned Oryx, which had been declared extinct in the wild, to a nature reserve in Chad.

Hana Kazim, manager of local film and television at Image Nation Abu Dhabi, said in a statement: “National Day is a moment to collectively celebrate the UAE’s rich history, culture and community. This selection of incredible content, locally produced by Image Nation, really reflects the diversity and character of life in our country with stories that span from ancient civilisations to the contemporary sport of Jiu-Jitsu, and from living heritage traditions like henna to ambitious efforts to preserve the world’s wildlife.”

Image Nation Abu Dhabi is also celebrating after its film, Rashid & Rajab, by Emirati director Mohammed Saeed Harib, was recently been picked up by streaming giant Netflix for worldwide release. The comedy film follows wealthy Emirati executive Rashid (Marwan Abdullah Saleh) and carefree Egyptian fast-food deliveryman Rajab (Shadi Alfons), who switch bodies – and lives – after a freak accident. The two men search for a way to return to their former selves in a humorous story that includes slapstick antics as well as a touching emotional journey.