Vox brings short films back into cinemas

Chris Newbould July 9, 2015

Vox cinemas is set to give audiences a blast from the past this weekend when it revives the tradition of screening short films before the main feature. The films are the winning entries from the Smovies competition, run in partnership with Brand Moxie. A total of seven films will receive airtime thanks to the competition, headed up by overall winner Faisal Hashmi’s The Spartan Surprise. Sadly, to the best of our knowledge, the renaissance won’t be accompanied by an intermission with Wurlitzer organ and ice cream salesgirls in full fifties regalia.

The contestants ranged from students to professional and amateur filmmakers, who each submitted a 45-second short clip. Awards for the competition include a grand prize of Dh 10,000 and runner-up prizes of cinema vouchers and other gifts. The main prize for the filmmakers was the opportunity to have their Smovies screened in VOX Cinemas in the UAE.

The jury of The Smovies included Emirati directors Nawaf Al Janahi, Khaled Al Mahmoud and Nujoom Al Ghanem, as well as filmmaking instructors and veterans David Moore, Greg Unrau, Mohannad al Bakri and Michelle Nickelson.

The second season of The Smovies, has been launched and will be a narrative challenge themed “The Message” or #SmoviesMessage, and entries submission is open. The deadline for Season 2 is August 15. See www.thesmovies.com for details.

Link: http://www.thenational.ae/blogs/scene-heard/vox-brings-short-films-back-into-cinemas

Raytheon International Inc. joins AmCham Abu Dhabi ‘WOMEN ACHIEVE’ Initiative

http://ameinfo.com/finance-and-economy/sme/entrepreneurship/raytheon-international-inc-joins-amcham-abu-dhabi-women-achieve-initiative/

Raytheon reassures its commitment to provide a work environment that is favorable to women’s development
AmCham Abu Dhabi announces that Raytheon International Inc. has become the latest signatory of WOMEN ACHIEVE, an innovative program established by its Women in Business Committee that promotes the professional advancement of women.
The program was developed to encourage companies and organizations to give women more opportunities to advance their careers by offering them positions of greater responsibility and leadership.
Raytheon is now the 38th organization that has joined an expanding list of leading companies that support the WOMEN ACHIEVE initiative including Accenture, AECOM, Al Noor Hospitals Group, AMIDEAST, Bechtel, BrandMoxie, Boeing, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, ExxonMobil, Institute of Management Accountants Middle East, Lockheed Martin Global Inc., Mubadala GE Capital, New York Institute of Technology, Northrop Grumman, Olgoonik Global Security, Parsons, Squire Patton Boggs LLP, and others.
As a supporter of the WOMEN ACHIEVE program, Raytheon reassures its commitment to provide a work environment that is favorable to women’s development by empowering women to refine their leadership skills and flourish in their respective jobs and areas of expertise. Moreover, Raytheon pledges to provide greater opportunities for women’s participation in training and career advancement.
“Our company strongly values the diversity of our global workforce around the world as a proven means to delivering success for our customers,” said Christopher J. Davis, President, Raytheon International Inc., in the U.A.E. “We are proud to support the AmCham Women Achieve initiative to help advance women in business, and spur new ideas and innovations for the U.A.E. in the global marketplace,” he added.
Bob Harward, Chairman of AmCham Abu Dhabi, commented, “We are delighted to have Raytheon sign WOMEN ACHIEVE. AmCham Abu Dhabi is proud to support innovative initiatives, such as WOMEN ACHIEVE, that foster positive change in the business community and realize the full capacity of talent available to grow industry.”
Established in January 2013, WOMEN ACHIEVE emphasizes seven key ideals, which direct companies towards acquiring a supportive work environment for the professional advancement of women. These ideals include encouraging women to grow through training, shadowing, coaching, mentorship and internship programs, as well as considering female candidates for new opportunities and the support of ‘rising stars’ into leadership positions. WOMEN ACHIEVE also encourages the induction of women to serve on boards of various organizations and advocates the importance of fair remuneration for female employees.
Participation in WOMEN ACHIEVE is open to entities of all sizes. Companies that are interested can elect to become signatories by contacting AmCham Abu Dhabi. In addition, WOMEN ACHIEVE signatories receive a certificate of acknowledgement from AmCham Abu Dhabi for their support and are eligible to use the WOMEN ACHIEVE seal on their communication collateral.

Tamakkan Season Finale Focuses on Gender Differences in Negotiation

http://www.1888pressrelease.com/tamakkan-season-finale-focuses-on-gender-differences-in-nego-pr-567685.html

Abu Dhabi, UAE – Tamakkan’s season finale session on “Gender Differences in Negotiation” raised awareness about key variations in negotiations between the two genders and offered solutions to help individuals identify and mitigate weaknesses and get what they deserve at work, regardless of gender barriers.

The seminar discussed the differences in business negotiations by explaining the nuances in the way men and women discuss and present their cases at the work place. Speaker Giuseppe Conti, a lecturer at INSEAD and other leading European Business Schools, then went on to provide possible solutions for the problems faced by women when negotiating. The session sparked a lively debate between Conti and among audience members.

Tamakkan is a knowledge-sharing platform established by BrandMoxie, a leading advertising agency in the UAE. The initiative operates under the patronage of Fatima bintHazza Cultural Foundation (FHCB) and is supported by Aldar.

“I think a lot of women do not like to negotiate, and yet it is a crucial skill for everyone to have, as we are all constantly negotiating something in our lives. Tamakkan is happy to be collaborating with INSEAD to learn valuable insight that will help us overcome the fears and make us more effective negotiators,” said Sana Bagersh, Founder of Tamakkan and CEO of BrandMoxie.

Maysoon Barber, Business Director of Fatima BintHazza Cultural Foundation introduced the ongoing partnership of the foundation and Tamakkan: “Tamakkan and the Fatima Bin Hazza Cultural Foundation cross paths in having the same passion for sharing knowledge, fostering talent and supporting cultural initiatives.”

Maysoon Barber, Business Director of Fatima BintHazza Cultural Foundation introduced the ongoing partnership of the foundation and Tamakkan: “Tamakkan and the Fatima Bin Hazza Cultural Foundation cross paths in having the same passion for sharing knowledge, fostering talent and supporting cultural initiatives.”

INSEAD who brought speaker Giuseppe Conti also provided an insight on how they collaborated with Tamakkan for this session: “INSEAD actively promotes gender diversity within business by creating a learning environment that brings together people, cultures and ideas from around the world. The collaboration of INSEAD with Tamakkan is a platform to share knowledge, exchange ideas and best practice, while deepening our engagement with the local community.” said ZeinaSleiman, Associate Director, Institutional Relations and Alumni Affairs of INSEAD business school.

Giuseppe Conti, an ambassador of INSEAD and a recognized expert in the field of Negotiation shared valuable insights on gender differences in negotiation, with a focus on making women more effective and confident. “The focus of the session is the difference in men and women when negotiating for themselves, which impacts the gender gap between men and women”.

The session revealed that though men and women negotiate differently, negotiation effectiveness is not based on gender. Several propositions on better negotiation were discussed and debated throughout the session.

Tamakkan Focuses on Entrepreneurship Models and the Entrepreneur Mindset

http://www.1888pressrelease.com/tamakkan-focuses-on-entrepreneurship-models-and-the-entrepre-pr-564757.html

 

Abu Dhabi, UAE – Tamakkan’s session on “Embracing Success: Finetuning the Entrepreneur Model” offered insight on structures, mindsets, and experiences that align optimally to entrepreneurial success.

The seminar debated the various businesses models, along with methodologies, strategies, structures and the pros and cons required to consider before setting up a business in the UAE. The session also featured entrepreneur experiences and a scientific assessment of the entrepreneurial ‘mindset’.

Tamakkan is a knowledge-sharing platform established by BrandMoxie, a leading advertising agency in UAE. The initiative operates under the patronage of Fatima bintHazza Cultural Foundation (FHCB) and is supported by Aldar.

“In this session we wanted to focus on the various dimensions of SME success. Entrepreneurship is not only about business, but also involves various dimensions and aspects coming together, such as the business owner’s personality, mindset and approach.” said Sana Bagersh, Founder of Tamakkan and CEO of BrandMoxie

Stephan Mckenna, Senior Associate (Corporate) of Clyde & Co LLP presented the various business structures available within the UAE, and the factors to be considered as a business is set up as an SME. “There are numerous establishment options in the UAE so if you leave realizing you have options, sometimes you need to stop and think. It is important to know when it is appropriate to take advice from experts who can always steer you towards the right direction.” said Mckenna.

Nicola Ablett, Certified Practitioner of PRISM Brain Mapping revealed the underlying factors within the mind to map one’s strengths and build the entrepreneurship skillset. “PRISM brain mapping leads entrepreneurs like you to know who you are, and how you can function well in the right environment. Fifty percent of lies in our genes and the rest of lies in experience, development and exposure.”

Iain Cooper, Creative Partner and Founder of Lighthouse spoke about how he started Lighthouse, and the challenges he overcame along the way. “After starting out with the negativity of ‘Impossible is everything’, optimism is essential, which is not just blind faith, but tampered with reality.”

The Smovies Short Film Platform Launches Creative Filmmaking

http://www.1888pressrelease.com/the-smovies-short-film-platform-launches-creative-filmmaking-pr-560863.html

 

Abu Dhabi, UAE – The Smovies, an exciting platform that reinvents the short film competition, has been launched by BrandMoxie, a leading marketing firm, alongside its newly announced strategic partner VOX Cinemas which is owned and operated by Majid Al Futtaim Cinemas, the cinema arm of the wider Majid Al Futtaim Ventures group of businesses. As the Middle East’s largest and fastest growing cinema exhibitor, VOX Cinemas will support The Smovies by offering screening exposure to the winning entries of the competition across its cinemas in the UAE.

The Smovies will run three seasons of competitions, focusing on various themes from CSR, and National Day to road safety and other topics at the hearts of budding filmmakers. The competition has debuted with a cinema specific theme around which the first films will be created. “We are thrilled to be launching The Smovies, and are excited to be working with VOX Cinemas who are also believers in community engagement, and commitment to innovation and creativity,” said Sana Bagersh, CEO of BrandMoxie.

Commenting on VOX Cinemas’ involvement in the competition, Ashleigh Potts, Corporate Sales and Marketing Manager at Majid Al Futtaim Cinemas said, “The entire idea behind The Smovies is to make movie making easy and accessible to all. At VOX Cinemas we are dedicated to delivering innovative and customer-focused cinema experiences, which is why we look forward to being part of this concept and giving movie fans across the UAE the chance to be part of the thrilling filmmaking process with BrandMoxie.”

The Smovies’ first competition will run for about a month, with submissions uploaded to the platform’s own website www.thesmovies.com. The shortlisted entries will be judged by The Smovies’ jury of film experts. After the final selection of the top entries, members of the public will be able to vote for their favorite entries.

The winners of the competition will be awarded a grand prize of Dhs 10,000, with runner-up entrants receiving cinema vouchers among other gifts. The winners will have an opportunity to develop their idea into multiple vignettes, or ads, which will be screened across VOX Cinemas in the UAE.

“Technology has shaped the creation and consumption of video content today and one of the more exciting directions this has taken includes the rise of user-generated content, a dynamic phenomenon that we are embracing through The Smovies,” Ms. Potts added.

The Smovies will run two competition seasons after the VOX Cinemas competition. In July the competition will be narrative challenge and in October it will run a UAE-centred theme.

VOX, partner launch short film contest

ABU DHABI, April 12, 2015

Abu Dhabi’s VOX Cinemas and its strategic partner BrandMoxie have launched The Smovies, an exciting platform that reinvents the short film competition.

VOX Cinemas, owned and operated by Majid Al Futtaim Cinemas, the cinema arm of the wider Majid Al Futtaim Ventures group of businesses, will support The Smovies by offering screening exposure to the winning entries of the competition across its cinemas in the UAE.

The Smovies will run three seasons of competitions, focusing on various themes from CSR, and National Day to road safety and other topics at the hearts of budding filmmakers.  The competition has debuted with a cinema specific theme around which the first films will be created.

“We are thrilled to be launching The Smovies, and are excited to be working with VOX Cinemas who are also believers in community engagement, and commitment to innovation and creativity,” said Sana Bagersh, CEO of BrandMoxie

Ashleigh Potts, corporate sales and marketing manager at Majid Al Futtaim Cinemas said: “The entire idea behind The Smovies is to make movie making easy and accessible to all. At VOX Cinemas we are dedicated to delivering innovative and customer-focused cinema experiences, which is why we look forward to being part of this concept and giving movie fans across the UAE the chance to be part of the thrilling filmmaking process with BrandMoxie.”

The Smovies’ first competition will run for about a month, with submissions uploaded to the platform’s own website www.thesmovies.com.  The shortlisted entries will be judged by The Smovies’ jury of film experts. After the final selection of the top entries, members of the public will be able to vote for their favourite entries.

The winners of the competition will be awarded a grand prize of Dh10, 000 ($27,200), with runner-up entrants receiving cinema vouchers among other gifts.  The winners will have an opportunity to develop their idea into multiple vignettes, or ads, which will be screened across VOX Cinemas in the UAE.

“Technology has shaped the creation and consumption of video content today and one of the more exciting directions this has taken includes the rise of user-generated content, a dynamic phenomenon that we are embracing through The Smovies,” Potts added.

The Smovies will run two competition seasons after the VOX Cinemas competition.  In July the competition will be narrative challenge and in October it will run a UAE-centred theme. – Trade Arabia News Service

Link: http://www.tradearabia.com/news/MEDIA_279562.html

The Abu Dhabi International Poetry Festival to be Launched in March

http://www.1888pressrelease.com/the-abu-dhabi-international-poetry-festival-to-be-launched-i-pr-557671.html

 

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – In recognition of the UAE’s rich tradition of oral storytelling and poetry, the capital will host the inaugural Abu Dhabi International Poetry Festival on March 19, which will bring together some of the world’s leading poets, such as well-known Americans, Patricia Smith, Kane Smego and G Yamazawa, to participate in a rich and multi-cultural programme alongside recognized Emirati and regional poets.

The event will be the Middle East’s first-ever festival dedicated solely to spoken and written poetic verse and will feature an exciting blend of workshops, open mics, slams, and competitions followed by the grand finale of performances that will showcase the talent of leading Arab and Western poets.

Founded by Rooftop Rhythms and BrandMoxie, The Abu Dhabi International Poetry Festival is being hosted by the event’s patron, Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, with support from the US Embassy of Abu Dhabi and Fatima bintHazza Cultural Foundation.

Award-winning poet, Dorian “Paul D” Rogers, is the founder of Rooftop Rhythms, a well-known platform for nurturing poetry in the UAE. He shared the vision for the event. “Nothing captures the human experience and inspires the soul quite like poetry – it is a legacy for this great country. For us, holding the Abu Dhabi International Poetry Festival here is a way of bringing poetry to its very source.”

Sana Bagersh, CEO of BrandMoxie added, “We’re excited to be working with Rooftop Rhythms, Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, and our partners to celebrate the culture and tradition of the spoken word. We are all huge believers in community engagement and in nurturing creativity, and, with this, we’ll be reaching out to schools, universities, and community groups to make it an inclusive affair.”

The festival’s headliner is Patricia Smith, National Book Award finalist and three-time National Poetry Slam champion, who will be accompanied by fellow Americans, Kane Smego, and G Yamazawa. Home-grown local talent will also have a chance to shine, performing at the evening gala, as well as taking part in the daytime workshops, open mic events in English, French, and Arabic, and a poetry slam competition. The festival will provide free, writing and performance workshops, lectures, as well as a writing competition. This cultural celebration will be inclusive to all ages, attracting the participation of schools and universities, all the while providing positive, family-friendly entertainment.

Eisa Al Raeesi, Head of Student Affairs at Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi said, “Our university is committed to making Abu Dhabi a hub for cultural diversification as it is mentioned in the university’s moto, ‘A bridge between civilizations’. It is an honor to work hand-in-hand with our partners to realize this.

Jeremy Jewett, Cultural Affairs Officer at the US Embassy of Abu Dhabi added, “The Abu Dhabi International Poetry Festival will be a fun cross-cultural celebration. There’s so much in poetry that links different people together no matter the language. We love to help support programmes that bring unique American artists and experts over to engage directly with locals. I’m really excited about the schedule that BrandMoxie and Rooftop Rhythms have put together and the American poets that plan to come to Abu Dhabi.”

Tamakkan Paves The Way For Entrepreneurial Success

http://www.1888pressrelease.com/tamakkan-paves-the-way-for-entrepreneurial-success-pr-556369.html

Abu Dhabi, UAE – Tamakkan successfully held its second seminar session of 2015 entitled: “The Path to Successful Entrepreneurship” wherein all attendees ranging from startups to big time CEOs were given helpful insights on the latest trends regarding the business scene within the United Arab Emirates. The seminar also focused on success stories of entrepreneurs in the country.

Tamakkan is a knowledge-sharing platform established by BrandMoxie, a leading advertising agency in the UAE. The initiative operates under the patronage of Fatima bintHazza Cultural Foundation (FHCB) and this event was supported by Pinnacle and Aldar.

“The path to entrepreneurship is rife with many roadblocks. However, a versatile entrepreneur can learn to navigate difficulties and to convert challenge to opportunity. We hope Tamakkan helps SMEs to do that.” said Founder of Tamakkan and CEO of BrandMoxie Sana Bagersh.

The event kicked off with Khalid Al Ameri, Emirati columnist and coach who shared anecdotes his own entrepreneurship journey.

“Entrepreneurship is not about the money – it’s about living my life by my own terms.” said Al Ameri who’s also a motivational speaker known for his aim to teach in the UAE public educations system for a year without pay.

Dr. Constance Van Horne and Dr. Victor Huang spoke about their research on the Entrepreneurial Framework of the UAE. They discussed the current economic state for startups and shed light on the entrepreneur mindset not just within the UAE but also around the world.

“You cannot use the static perspective – you have to think about the evolving nature of the business environment.” said Dr. Huang. Dr. Van Horne explained: “You have to adapt because customers change. Our needs change. Our demands change and new competitors cover the market.”

Tamakkan also featured three entrepreneurs who are making waves in Abu Dhabi – Founder and CEO of Mom’s Guide Abu Dhabi Esraa Rothman explained how she was able to start Mom’s Guide both without a solid plan and without paying a single dirham. “We’re only two and half years old. Did we pay to boost our posts in Facebook? No. This is organic growth. We have really high engagement because it’s natural and organic growth.” said Rothman.

Grafika Boutique and Seen owner Sumayyah Al Suwaidi told the story of how she was rejected by one well known fashion event in Dubai which led her to be inspired to launch the Abu Dhabi Fashion Days. “After having my store for 10 years, with all of the database of designers that I have, I did Abu Dhabi Fashion Days. I did it in March last year, did it November which was double the size of March and we’re doing it again in June which will be double the size of November.” said Al Suwaidi.

Co-Founder of Gulf Elite Mag Mohamed Amine Belarbi shared his entrepreneurial journey on the lessons he learned and is still learning to this day to the audience. “I had a lot of failures throughout these past whole years but in fact I feel that I will learn much more from these failures rather than from all of my successes combined.” Belarbi explained.

Louis Berger, AmCham Abu Dhabi host “WOMEN ACHIEVE” event

http://louisberger.com/news/louis-berger-amcham-abu-dhabi-host-%E2%80%9Cwomen-achieve%E2%80%9D-event
ABU DHABI, UAE — Louis Berger welcomed a diverse group of businesswomen and men to discuss career management best practices and personal experiences at the WOMEN ACHIEVE “Managing Your Career” event last week, under the banner of AmCham Abu Dhabi’s WOMEN ACHIEVE Initiative. The event was jointly hosted by Louis Berger’s Women at Louis Berger Committee and AmCham Abu Dhabi’s Women in Business Committee, who created the WOMEN ACHIEVE Initiative to support women’s advancement into positions of higher responsibility and leadership.
Featuring leaders in planning, construction management, brand management and business operations, event panelists shared opportunities, challenges and decisions made throughout their career as experience-based examples of how organizations can better support leadership development across gender lines.
The panel was moderated by Sofia Berger, vice president of Latin America and the Caribbean for Louis Berger, and featured business executives and women managing some of the largest programs currently underway in the region.
• Kylie Bladen, project controls manager on the Doha Metro program for Louis Berger
• Virginia Borkoski, director on the Doha Metro program for Louis Berger
• Kathy Cusack, head of city design, sustainable planning and approvals for Masdar City
• Sana Bagersh, CEO of BrandMoxie and Chair of AmCham Abu Dhabi’s Women in Business Committee
• Thomas Topolski, Louis Berger executive vice president and managing director for the Middle East and North Africa, who also served as the executive sponsor for the event
Louis Berger, an AmCham Abu Dhabi member, hosted and sponsored the “WOMEN ACHIEVE” event as part of its Women at Louis Berger employee-led initiative, established to help women achieve their highest potential and contribute to the firm’s overall success. The initiative provides an open forum and support system through which all the firm’s employees can advance their careers.
“Identifying and retaining top talent is difficult, especially in the Gulf Cooperation Council region,” said D. James Stamatis, International president at Louis Berger, who provided the panel introduction. “Employers have a clear business case for supporting the development, acknowledgement and growth of leaders across gender lines. This is why Louis Berger has prioritized resources for the Women at Louis Berger initiative internally and for our partnership with AmCham’s Women in Business Committee.”
This is the third Women at Louis Berger Speakers’ Series event the company has organized, following the first in Morristown, New Jersey, and a second in Bucharest, Romania.

Tamakkan Ushers the New Year with Entrepreneurial Inspiration

http://www.pr.com/press-release/602637

Tamakkan, a knowledge-sharing platform established by BrandMoxie, a leading advertising agency in the UAE operates under the patronage of Fatima bintHazza Cultural Foundation (FHCB), and is supported by Aldar and AmCham Abu Dhabi.

Empowerment coach Randa Al Zein started the seminar with a presentation that “Resolutions Don’t Work, Commitments to Yourself Do!” in which she debunked prevailing assumptions about resolutions and goal keeping.

“Knowing what you want to do in life is not enough. You have to have a strong reason – one that resonates with you emotionally. That is the only way that you will move forward and take real action towards achieving your goals,” said Al Zein, who is founder of the Be You International Educational Consultancy. “Few are aware of this and that is why the old fashioned resolutions does not work.”

Jules Lewis, a motivational speaker specializing in leadership, adventure and wellness, outlined “The Four Keys to Peak Performance How to THINK, EAT, MOVE, and SLEEP like a Winner.”

“The ability to manage your personal energy is the key to success in business, sports and life. You can do this through tips, tools and strategies that can be effective for enhancing peak performance,” said the founder of Jules Lewis Consulting.

Tamakkan’s monthly seminars offer guidance to entrepreneurs on topics ranging from financing, marketing and product development, all the way to international business expansion, integrating new technologies and the importance of maintaining health and balance.

“Each January Tamakkan always focuses on kicking-off the year to a terrific start, and getting excited entrepreneurs focused on goal-setting, innovating and also on achieving a healthy balance between work and family,” said Sana Bagersh, Founder of Tamakkan, and CEO of BrandMoxie.

Maysoon Barber, Business Director at Fatima bintHazza Cultural Foundation, added, “At the foundation, we believe that spiritual and personal well-being go hand-in-hand with sustained entrepreneurial performance and commercial success. Entrepreneurs thrive in a community such as Tamakkan that not only covers business matters, but also acknowledges fears, hopes and aspirations.”

At the seminar, Tamakkan also shared the stories of inspiring initiatives kicking off in 2015. Emirati inspirational coach Omar Al Busaidy spoke about the launch of his book “Just Read It,” which is a collection of insights about emotional and social intelligence. Award winning poet Dorian Rogers introduced “The Abu Dhabi International Poetry Festival,” an event organized by his Rooftop Rhythms poetry platform together with BrandMoxie. In addition wellness coach Jody Ballard shared the inspiring challenge she is leading called the Women’s Heritage Walk, which is a six-day desert trek from Al Ain to Abu Dhabi that celebrates heritage and women’s achievement.