Eight filmmakers in the frame for DIFF’s Muhr Emirati Competition

Films from both new and established directors are in the running.

A scene from Abood Kandaishan. Courtesy Dubai International Film Festival

Eight new and established UAE directors are in the running for the Dubai International Film Festival’s Muhr Emirati Competition. They are:

• The feature film Abood ­Kandaishan, a touching comedy about friendship, directed by Fadel Almheiri.

• Ali Bin Matar's Chances Have Endings, a short psychological drama about a young man, whose problems go viral on social networks.

• Burden, a short documentary by director Suqrat Bin Bisher about a young Emirati man jailed for life and the effect this has on his family and friends.

• The Drive, written and directed by Mariam Al Nuaimi, tells the story of a man who encounters paranormal incidents during his drive home from work, but because he is so tired, he can't tell if they are real or not.

• Aisha Alzaabi's The Other Dimension is about a young troublemaker who becomes stuck between reality and fantasy after an accident, and struggles to get back to his real life.

• The Confession, directed by Mohammed Swaidan, is a drama about the worlds of crime and religion in Paris.

• Shahad Al Shehhi's Hidden is the story of a bored housewife, who decides she wants extramarital encounters to satisfy her sense of adventure.

• Finally, Khalid Ali's Love X-Large, is the story of an obese young man chasing the mirage of love.

Hidden and The Confession were the results of a five-week course the filmmakers attended at the Gulf Summer University Programme at La Fémis in Paris this year.

• The winners will be announced at the closing ceremony of DIFF’s 11th edition, which runs from December 10 to 17