Samsung and the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) are teaming up to give one lucky filmmaker the chance to attend next year’s Cannes International Film Festival, where their film will be screened at the Short Film Corner.
The Samsung Short Film Contest will put contestants through an intense one-day filmmaking workshop under the tutelage of the top Emirati director Nayla Al Khaja – whose short film The Neighbour won the Muhr Emirati Special Jury Prize at last year's DIFF – after which they will make a short film that will be judged at December's DIFF. There will be Samsung equipment as prizes for the runners-up.
This isn’t the only short film competition in the UAE, but Al Khaja explains that it is a little different to the others.
“First of all, it’s the only short film competition like this, that puts contestants through training to make a new film, that I’m aware of in Dubai,” she says. “The others are awards for existing short films, or are in Abu Dhabi with Image Nation or twofour54.
“Also, it’s not open to everyone, only people who have already experimented with film. You don’t need a formal education, but you have to have already made a short film as that’s what you need to submit to enter. We’ll be looking at those films and picking the best.
“We’re looking for films where a lot of effort has gone into it. You can really tell when someone has put their heart and soul into it. You can have a great creative idea but not make the effort and that shows.”
Al Khaja’s first task as the head of the new competition has been to promote it and try to gather as many entries as possible. To do this she has been speaking at universities, including American University Dubai and New York Film Academy Abu Dhabi, and also promoting the competition at her monthly Scene Club events in Dubai.
Following the selection of the successful filmmakers, Al Khaja will take them through an intensive, nine-hour workshop.
“There will be no more than 20 people in the workshop,” she says. “It’s easier to manage when you have fewer people and they get more out of it. It’ll be cool, too, as they’ll get to know each other in the workshop, so they’ll be able to collaborate on each others’ films.
“I’ll be talking about how to shoot in the UAE as opposed to anywhere else, how to make a short that looks professional within your budget, and offering lots of tips and tricks, info on who to approach in the market or in post-production.
“There’ll be some very valuable information to take further. They’ll then have two months to complete their new film.”
Samsung will be providing the contestants with the equipment to make the films, including the latest Galaxy Note 4 tablet.
Although the technology might not quite be in the Hollywood blockbuster league, Al Khaja is confident that it is up to the task.
“It might just sound like PR, but it’s a fact that Samsung’s phones take the best pictures,” she says. “They’re more responsive to light than their rivals. I’m looking forward to using them myself.”
The finished films will be screened at DIFF and judged by a panel headed by Al Khaja and the New York Film Academy Abu Dhabi artistic director Allan Nicholls.
Al Khaja is convinced that the prize the winner will receive is second to none.
“The main prize is great,” she says. “Even established filmmakers struggle to afford to go to Cannes, and Short Film Corner entrants actually get much better access to the industry than regular filmmakers. They get exposed to producers’ networks, see loads of films – it’s a great package.”
Al Khaja may be keeping her best hints and tips until the workshop next month, but she does have one piece of advice she’s prepared to offer in advance for would-be entrants: “One of you is going to go to Cannes next year, so go for it.”
• Entrants should submit their films to www.diff.ae/samsung-contest before Sunday
cnewbould@thenational.ae