Cinema of the United Arab Emirates
Encyclopedia
The Cinema of the United Arab Emirates is minimal but expanding. There was only one full-length Emirati feature film as of 2007, Al-Hilm, about a group of frustrated actors/directors wandering aimlessly in the desert. However there are a large number of short films from the country (the makers of which have been dubbed the 'Emerging Emiratis'). In addition the UAE is a popular filming location for South Asian
films and television serials, mainly those of Bollywood
and the Pakistani Lollywood
.
The UAE holds annual film festivals in Dubai
and Abu Dhabi
, and a film studio (Studio City) has been purpose-built in Dubai to promote Emirati filmmaking.
In 2008 Emirati director Majid Abdulrazak produced a film version of Wilfred Thesiger
's Arabian Sands which was self-funded and employed actors from the UAE and Oman
in most of the major roles. The film has since been released on DVD
by Viva Entertainment
.
The second edition of the Gulf Film Festival
in Dubai (April 2009) premiered two UAE feature films. Al Dayra (The Circle
), by filmmaker and actor Nawaf Al-Janahi, told the story of Ibrahim, a poet and journalist who captures a thief and finds himself changing lives with him. Director and novelist Saleh Karama also showcased his first feature, Henna, in which the title character’s mother is sick, and her frequent fits have led to a divorce. Fatherless Henna has to find a way to relate to her new father-figure, a Bedouin
relative who arrives from the desert with his camels to visit the family.
The sixth edition of the Dubai International Film Festival
in 2009 featured further screenings of The Circle
and the premiere of City of Life
by Emirati director Ali F. Mostafa, which went on to achieve general release in UAE cinemas on 22 April 2010 - the first locally-produced film to do so.
South Asian cinema
South Asian cinema refers to the cinema of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives.The terms Asian cinema, Eastern cinema and Oriental cinema in common usage often encompass South Asia as well as East Asia and South East Asia...
films and television serials, mainly those of Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
and the Pakistani Lollywood
Lollywood
Lollywood refers to the Pakistani film industry based in the city of Lahore. The word "Lollywood" was first coined in the summer of 1989 in the now defunct magazine "Glamour" published from Karachi by a gossip columnist Saleem Nasir. The film industry in Lahore started in 1929 with the opening of...
.
The UAE holds annual film festivals in Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
and Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...
, and a film studio (Studio City) has been purpose-built in Dubai to promote Emirati filmmaking.
In 2008 Emirati director Majid Abdulrazak produced a film version of Wilfred Thesiger
Wilfred Thesiger
Sir Wilfred Patrick Thesiger, CBE, DSO, FRAS, FRGS was a British explorer and travel writer born in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.-Family:...
's Arabian Sands which was self-funded and employed actors from the UAE and Oman
Oman
Oman , officially called the Sultanate of Oman , is an Arab state in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the...
in most of the major roles. The film has since been released on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
by Viva Entertainment
VIVA Entertainment
VIVA Entertainment, Inc., also known as Viva Entertainment Group is a Philippine entertainment company. Its history started in 1981 when Vicente "Vic" del Rosario, Jr. founded Viva Films.-Divisions:*Viva Productions, Inc...
.
The second edition of the Gulf Film Festival
Gulf Film Festival
The Gulf Film Festival is an annual non-profit cultural event that aims to celebrate the highest standards of Persian Gulf cinema. The Festival takes place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, since 2008....
in Dubai (April 2009) premiered two UAE feature films. Al Dayra (The Circle
The Circle
The Circle is a peer-to-peer distributed file system written mainly in Python. It is based on the Chord distributed hash table .Development on the Circle has ceased in 2004.-Features:...
), by filmmaker and actor Nawaf Al-Janahi, told the story of Ibrahim, a poet and journalist who captures a thief and finds himself changing lives with him. Director and novelist Saleh Karama also showcased his first feature, Henna, in which the title character’s mother is sick, and her frequent fits have led to a divorce. Fatherless Henna has to find a way to relate to her new father-figure, a Bedouin
Bedouin
The Bedouin are a part of a predominantly desert-dwelling Arab ethnic group traditionally divided into tribes or clans, known in Arabic as ..-Etymology:...
relative who arrives from the desert with his camels to visit the family.
The sixth edition of the Dubai International Film Festival
Dubai International Film Festival
The Dubai International Film Festival is an international film festival based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Launched in 2004, it aims to foster the growth of filmmaking in the Arab world.-Overview:...
in 2009 featured further screenings of The Circle
The Circle
The Circle is a peer-to-peer distributed file system written mainly in Python. It is based on the Chord distributed hash table .Development on the Circle has ceased in 2004.-Features:...
and the premiere of City of Life
City of Life
City of Life is a 2009 multilingual Emirati film written, directed, and produced by Ali F. Mostafa. Set in the United Arab Emirates, the film revolves around three parallel lives, amongst many cultures in one city, namely, Dubai.- Plot :...
by Emirati director Ali F. Mostafa, which went on to achieve general release in UAE cinemas on 22 April 2010 - the first locally-produced film to do so.
Emirati films
- Al-Hilm (The Dream) (2005)
- Manahi (2008)
- Arabian Sands (2008)
- Al Dayra (The Circle) (2009)
- Henna (2009)
- City of LifeCity of LifeCity of Life is a 2009 multilingual Emirati film written, directed, and produced by Ali F. Mostafa. Set in the United Arab Emirates, the film revolves around three parallel lives, amongst many cultures in one city, namely, Dubai.- Plot :...
(2010) - Moments Of Fiction (2011)
- Sea Shadow (2011)
Emirati short films
- The FallenThe FallenThe Fallen may refer to:* "The Fallen", a song by the rock band Franz Ferdinand* "The Fallen", a song by the metal band Suicide Silence* The Fallen , a series of novels authored by Thomas E...
(2008) - 100 Miles100 Miles100 miles is a movie created and written by Mustafa Abbas and starring Salma Othman. It premiered at the Dubai International Film Festival....
(2007) - Ahlam Fi Sundook (Dreams In A Box; 2003)
- Al-Rumram (1994)
- Ala Tareeq (On A Road; 2003)
- Amen (2005)
- Arabana (2006)
- Arwaah (Souls; 2004)
- Aushba's Well (2004)
- Cigarettes (2004)
- The Confrontation (1998)
- Hajess (Obsession; 2002)
- Mirrors of Silence (2006)
- Signs of the Dead (2005)
- Under the Sun (2005)
Films shot in the United Arab Emirates
- Dam 999Dam 999Dam 999 is a 2011 English 3-D UAE-Indian co-production film produced by BizTV Network, UAE and directed by Sohan Roy. The film is based on the award winning short documentary DAMs - The Lethal Water Bombs. and the Banqiao dam disaster of 1975 that claimed the lives of 250,000 people in China and...
(Hollywood; 2011) partly filmed in Fujairah, UAE - Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (American; 2010) partly filmed in Dubai
- City Of LifeCity of LifeCity of Life is a 2009 multilingual Emirati film written, directed, and produced by Ali F. Mostafa. Set in the United Arab Emirates, the film revolves around three parallel lives, amongst many cultures in one city, namely, Dubai.- Plot :...
(Emirati; 2009) filmed in Dubai - 36 China Town (IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n; 2006) partly fimed in Dubai - Balram vs. Tharadas (Indian; 2006)
- BoomBoom (2003 film)Boom is a Bollywood film that was released on 19 September 2003. It stars Amitabh Bachchan, Jackie Shroff, Gulshan Grover, Padma Lakshmi, Madhu Sapre, Katrina Kaif and Zeenat Aman. The film is directed by Kaizad Gustad and produced by Jackie Shroff's wife, Ayesha Shroff...
(Indian; 2003) - partly filmed in Dubai - Chalo Ishq LarainChalo Ishq LarainChalo Ishq Larain is a Pakistani film directed by Sajjad Gul and was released across Pakistan April 2002 starring Meera, Ali Haider and Zara Sheikh.-Filming locations:* Dubai, U.A.E.* Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir * Karachi, Pakistan...
(Pakistani; 2002) partly filmed in Dubai - Chetna: The Excitement (Indian; 2005) partly filmed in Dubai
- Code 46Code 46Code 46 is a 2003 British film directed by Michael Winterbottom, with screenplay by Frank Cottrell Boyce. It was produced by BBC Films and Revolution Films. It is a disquieting science fiction love story with themes that explore the moral impacts of advances in biotechnology. The soundtrack was...
(British; 2003) partly filmed in Dubai - Deewane Huye Paagal (Indian; 2005) partly filmed in Dubai
- Dil Vil Pyar VyarDil Vil Pyar VyarDil Vil Pyar Vyar is a 2002 Bollywood romantic drama film. It was dubbed into Tamil as . Composer R.D.Burman was one of the main inspirations for this movie. All the songs in this movie were composed by him.-Plot:...
(Indian; 2002) partly filmed in Abu DhabiAbu DhabiAbu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western... - Dubai Return (Indian; 2005) partly filmed in Dubai
- Family: Ties of Blood (Indian; 2006) partly filmed in Dubai
- Keif al-Hal?Keif al-Hal?Keif al-Hal? is Saudi Arabia's first big-budget film, produced by Ayman Halawani . Directed by Izidore Musallam, it stars Hind Mohammed, the first Saudi cinema actress....
(Saudi; 2006) - The KingdomThe Kingdom (film)The Kingdom is a 2007 film directed by Peter Berg and starring Jamie Foxx, Chris Cooper, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Ashraf Barhom, with Kyle Chandler, Jeremy Piven and Ali Suliman....
(American; 2007) filmed in Abu Dhabi - Kisse Pyaar Karoon (Indian; 2005) partly filmed in Dubai
- Lahoo Ke Do Rang (Indian; 1997) partly filmed in Dubai
- Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya? (Indian; 2005) partly filmed in Dubai
- MarketMarket (film)Market is a 2003 film directed by Jay Prakash and starring Manisha Koirala. The film follows the story of Muskaan Bano from her life in Indian brothels after being sold there by her Arab husband to her attempts at revenge later in life...
(Indian; 2003) partly filmed in Dubai - Mujhse Shaadi KarogiMujhse Shaadi KarogiMujhse Shaadi Karogi is a 2004 comedic Hindi film directed by David Dhawan. It was considered a big hit, being the third highest grossing film of the year in India. It received numerous awards and nominations.-Plot:...
(Indian; 2004) partly filmed in Dubai - NaamNaam (1986 film)Naam is a 1986 Hindi-language Indian feature film directed by Mahesh Bhatt, starring Nutan, Sanjay Dutt, Poonam Dhillon, Amrita Singh, Paresh Rawal and Kumar Gaurav.-Plot:...
(Indian; 1986) partly filmed in Dubai - Om Jai JagadishOm Jai JagadishOm Jai Jagadish is a 2002 Bollywood film directed by Anupam Kher and was his directorial debut. The film stars Waheeda Rehman, Anil Kapoor, Fardeen Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Mahima Chaudhry, Urmila Matondkar and Tara Sharma.- Synopsis :...
(Indian; 2002) partly filmed in Dubai - Pehla Pehla Pyar (Pakistani; 2006) partly filmed in Dubai
- Pyar Hi Pyar MeinPyar Hi Pyar MeinPyar Hi Pyar Mein is a 2003 Pakistani film directed by Fahim Burney. The film generated considerable hype prior to its release but was a commercial failure.-Plot:...
(Pakistani; 2003) partly filmed in Dubai - RiskRisk (film)Risk is a 2007 Bollywood movie directed by Vishram Sawant. It stars Randeep Hooda, Vinod Khanna, Tanushree Dutta, Zakir Hussain, Yashpal Sharma and Anant Jog in the lead roles. The movie is based on the Mumbai underworld...
(Indian; 2007) - El-Sefara fi El-Omara (Egypytian; 2005) partly filmed in Dubai
- Silsiilay (Indian; 2005) partly filmed in Dubai
- SyrianaSyrianaSyriana is a 2005 geopolitical thriller film written and directed by Stephen Gaghan, and executive produced by George Clooney, who also stars in the film with an ensemble cast. Gaghan's screenplay is loosely adapted from Robert Baer's memoir See No Evil...
(American; 2005) partly filmed in Dubai - Talaash: The Hunt Begins...Talaash: The Hunt Begins...Talaash: The Hunt Begins... is a Bollywood film starring Akshay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor in title roles. It is directed by Suneel Darshan and produced by Pahlaj Nihalani.- Plot Summary :...
(Indian; 2003) partly filmed in Dubai - Tarap (Pakistani; 2006) partly filmed in Dubai
- VishwavidhaataVishwavidhaata-Soundtrack:All songs were composed by A. R. Rahman. He reused the songs of the original film Pudhiya Mugam with a new song Humdum Pyaara Pyaara added. The lyrics were written by P. K. Mishra and Mehboob for Humdum Pyaara Pyaara....
(Indian; 1997) - Woh LamheWoh LamheWoh Lamhe... is a 2006 film starring Shiney Ahuja and Kangna Ranaut and directed by Mohit Suri. The film is a based on the true story of Parveen Babi's life, her battle with schizophrenia and her relationship with Mahesh Bhatt to whom she was a lover as well as a mentor in his struggling days.Bhatt...
(Indian; 2006) partly filmed in Dubai
Emirati directors
- Mustafa Abbas
- Abdullah Hasan Ahmed
- Nawaf Al-Janahi
- Khalid Al-Mahmood
- Hani Al-Shaibani
- Waleed Al-Shehhi
- Mohammad Al-Traifi
- Ali F. Mostafa
- Abdulla Al Kaabi
- Majid Abdulrazak
- Saleh Karama
- Mohammed Mamdouh
- Yaser Al Neyadi
External links
- Article about the UAE short film movement
- Article about the UAE short film movement
- Article on the 'Emerging Emirati' movement
- Al Jazeera article on 'Al-Hilm'
- IMDB entry for the UAE
- IMDB entry for The Circle
- Cinemas in the UAE - TEN Movies
- City of Life official film website
- Gulf Film Festival website
- Dubai International Film Festival website
- Abu Dhabi Film Festival website