ADFF closes, film sector gets boost
Over the next five years, Media Zone Authority will focus on promoting Abu Dhabi and the UAE as a hub for film and television production
The Media Zone Authority — Abu Dhabi has announced that the Abu Dhabi Film Festival (ADFF) is being brought to a close in order to focus on other initiatives to support local and Arab filmmakers, and attract more film productions to Abu Dhabi.
“Over the last few years we have built a strong foundation for a self-sustaining film and television industry. It is now the right time to deepen our commitment and further develop programmes to take the local industry to the next level,” Noura Al Kaabi, CEO of the Media Zone Authority, said in a press statement.
“We attracted several major international and regional productions to shoot in the emirate over the past two years alone, which brought large-scale investment, further built the film industry infrastructure in the region, and created significant opportunities for local talent. These projects include Universal Pictures’ Fast and Furious 7 and Disney’s Star Wars: Episode VII, as well as regional productions Al Ikhwa, Iftah Ya SimSim and ET Bil Arabi.”
Filmmakers will continue to receive financial support for films during their projects’ development through the SANAD Fund, and creative support through twofour54’s creative lab.
Media Zone Authority’s focus will now be on promoting Abu Dhabi and the UAE as a regional hub for film and TV productions through the Abu Dhabi Film Commission’s 30 per cent cashback rebate on all qualifying spends of films and projects shot in Abu Dhabi.
With films such as From A to B, directed by Ali Mostafa and co-produced by twofour54 and Image Nation, and Emirati first-time feature director Majid Al Ansari’s Zinzana, which is under production, Dh30 million was invested towards local production last year. Over the next five years, the Media Zone Authority partner Image Nation anticipates using more than Dh400 million in the UAE on film and television production and job creation. “Image Nation’s combination of Hollywood film relationships and its local talent and production knowledge is uniquely valuable to this new phase of our industry,” Mohammad Al Mubarak, chairman of Image Nation Abu Dhabi, said.
In its fourth year, Arab Film Studio will include both documentary and narrative programmes, and a new programme for Emirati high school students this summer at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.