Budding Emirati filmmakers might like to consider a new partnership between the French Embassy in Abu Dhabi and Image Nation, through which four Emiratis will attend a free five-week summer film camp at the leading Paris film school La Femis.
The intensive five-week course will begin on August 8, and each of the students will return with a completed short film to their name. Mohamed Bendjebbour, the French Embassy’s regional audiovisual attaché for the Gulf, explains: “When I arrived to take my post in fall 2012, I realised that the local cinema was just emerging but that there was a dynamic and talented young film community and a huge number of short films being made, including by self-taught filmmakers. At the same time, there was a strong will from the UAE authorities to nurture the development of local cinema and support the development of local talents. Education and training of locals are a priority to prepare the future of the country.”
France is the only country in the region to have an embassy position such as Bendjebbour’s, whose mission is dedicated entirely to film and television. “It was natural, as the third-biggest film industry in the world, that France should contribute to that and support young talents from the Gulf, in particular in the UAE. Also, youth here is very much influenced by Hollywood and we want them to at least have a wider scope of choice by learning filmmaking the French way.”
Image Nation Abu Dhabi, with its mission to develop the talents of local film makers and assist with the building of a sustainable local industry, was a natural partner in the project, Bendjebbour says: “It was only natural to approach Image Nation Abu Dhabi. Michael Garin, CEO of Image Nation, was excited about the project as soon as the ambassador of France, Michel Miraillet, explained it to him and decided to sponsor three Emiratis.
“Also, the ambassador convinced [the UAE president] of the French oil company Total, Mr Hatem Nuseibeh, to sponsor one further student. Femis is one of the top six film schools in the world and we are proud to welcome UAE talents this summer at the school to benefit from this prestigious and high quality education.”
• For details on how to enter, email alicia.gonzalez@imagenation.ae. Applicants must apply before 5pm on Thursday
cnewbould@thenational.ae
