Arab Film Studios(AFS) by Image Nation Abu Dhabi is back for the fourth year with its annual short film competition which sees amateur film makers from across the region compete for the Dh 50,000 development grant.
Launched in conjunction with twofour54, AFS provides opportunities for aspiring film makers to learn the tools of the movie-making trade and to get their break into the industry. Entries are open from now until early December 2014. Eligible contestants can enter by uploading short films between 1-3 minutes long on Vimeo with the caption “Use Your Imagination”.
These submissions can be filmed in any format from using mobile phones to HD cameras and can be in English or Arabic without subtitles.
Twelve successful finalists will be selected from the initial stage to take part in a three month multi-disciplinary training held in conjunction with twofour54. During this time, they will have the opportunity to learn from leading film professionals who will provide them with the inside knowledge of the film industry.
Following the bootcamp stage, contestants will be required to develop and produce their own short film with the help of mentors and skills acquired in the course of their bootcamp training. The films will be judged by a panel of industry experts from around the world to choose the winner, who will receive a 50,000 AED development deal with Image Nation Abu Dhabi.
Some winners from 2013 have been fortunate to make successful breaks into the film industry. One such contestant is Belal Anteple whose award-winning film Mr. Idea will be screened at this year’s Abu Dhabi Film Festival.
As Mohammed Al Mubarak, Chairman of Image Nation Abu Dhabi stated, “Image Nation Abu Dhabi continues to be committed to the development and support of aspiring filmmakers in the UAE, and Arab Film Studio is a key initiative in developing filmmaking talent. The competition provides a unique opportunity for aspiring filmmakers to learn from industry professionals and our trusted partners such as twofour54, who provide best in-class training and the experience to see firsthand what it takes to produce a short film from scripting to screen. We look forward to receiving our first submissions.”
For more information on entry and competition details, visit www.arabfilmstudio.com
