Ali Mostafa and Nawaf Al-Janahi who directed these pioneering films are recognized as significant filmmakers. The question for the future of the Emirati film industry, is who comes after them? Is there a pipeline of younger Emiratis who will write, direct, and produce the narrative films and documentaries of future film festivals?
Two recent graduates of Zayed University in Abu Dhabi – as well as the directors of the short films shown at ADFF and the Doha Tribeca Film Festival – suggest the answer. Yusra Abdul Qader, 24, and Duaa Mukhayer, 23, have been making films during most of their university career.
Like many young teenagers, Yusra “played” with video at home, but after she enrolled at Zayed in 2007, play became more serious. She and Duaa knew each other from going to the same high school and living in the same neighbourhood, but they weren’t friends. At Zayed they found a common interest in still photography and video and became close. Although Yusra’s specialization was Film and Broadcast and Duaa’s Multimedia and Print Journalism, they shared the desire to create digital content, and, as Yusra said, “we proved ourselves making films.”
Their senior capstone project, The Legend, is a film portrait of the Western region of Abu Dhabi where people stick to old traditions and live a simpler life. “We chose the name to make people curious about our project,” Yusra explained, and they succeeded in generating enough interest so that seven newspapers published stories about their film.
The Legend is entirely their work; they wrote the script; photographed the scenes; voiced over in Arabic; and provided English subtitles. Moreover, to fulfil capstone requirements, they also created posters, a photo gallery, and a book “to make it professional.”
Earlier video work began as projects for class. “Then,” Duaa remembered, “we started in video competitions.” In 2010 Yusra was named Best Student Videographer at Zayed University. They took 2nd or 3rd place two years in a row in the Habib Al Reda student competition, winning the Media Innovation Award. They won an award for the short film Mawaqif at the ZU Middle East Film Festival. In June they participated in the Dubai Festival of Student Films.
Now the next step is to complete The Legend. They like to use the cooler months from November to March for shooting their material. Editing and post production work fine when it’s too hot to be outside. They have been in discussion with funding sources, and they are thinking about starting their own production company.
“We need to see what the requirements are,” said Duaa. “We’re waiting for the right moment.” They say their parents are supportive and have been from the beginning. Meanwhile, the team of Yusra and Duaa is available for work as free lancers, to produce campaigns and informational packages for companies and organizations as they decide how to proceed with filmmaking and get into some of those major film festivals here and in the region.
By Alma Kadragic
