Tag: filmmaking

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The Smovies Kicks Off New Season

The theme promotes UAE’s diversity and tolerance

 

Abu Dhabi, UAE – The Smovies short film competition, conducted in partnership with VOX Cinemas and the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi, has launched its new one-minute film challenge themed “Culture and Understanding.”

 

The Smovies competition, initiated by BrandMoxie, a leading marketing and advertising agency based the UAE, as a way to encourage budding filmmakers, students, amateurs, and professionals to create digital content that can be showcased to local and international audiences. The Smovies winning film is screened across VOX theaters in the UAE.

 

“This year’s theme, #CultureAndUnderstanding, was inspired by the rich cultural diversity of the UAE and it reflects the country’s welcoming spirit and its support for deepening of tolerance between nations,” said Sana Bagersh, CEO of BrandMoxie and founder of The Smovies.

 

As part of the competition, The Smovies will provide film workshops led by experienced directors, including Los Angeles film agency CreatorUp on how to tell a story and capture a complete idea in a one minute format.

 

“VOX Cinemas is proud to be part of The Smovies as an essential platform for emerging filmmakers and creatives. We look forward to seeing the submissions for this year’s competition. Supporting regional talent and bringing their winning creations to VOX Cinemas’ screens is another way in which we’re delivering on Majid Al Futtaim’s commitment to creating great moments for everyone, everyday,” added Cameron Mitchell, CEO, VOX Cinemas.

 

Highlighting the U.S. Embassy’s ongoing partnership with The Smovies, U.S. Embassy spokesperson Nadia Ziyadeh stated that, “We are proud to have been a part of The Smovies over the last three years, and we look forward to the upcoming season of this innovative competition.”

 

With submissions limited to 60 seconds or list, filmmakers will have a unique opportunity to express their creativity in conveying this year’s theme, #CultureAndUnderstanding. The submissions can be made in the form of a story, a documentary-style presentation, a social commentary or a literary presentation.

 

The deadline for submissions is November 15, 2017. The short-listed entries will be judged by the Smovies’ jury of film experts: Emirati actor Mansoor Alfeeli (Zinzana), directors Majid Al Ansari (Zinzana), Khaled Al Mahmoud (Sabeel) and Nujoom Al Ghanem (Red, Blue, Yellow), as well as filmmaking instructors and veterans Imad DeirAtany, David Moore, Greg Unrau, Mohannad Al Bakri, Dahlia Mahmoud and Michelle Nickelson.

 

For more information or to participate, applicants can go to www.thesmovies.com as well as The Smovies Facebook page and group, and by emailing events@oquezo.com.

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Capturing the Heart and Soul of the UAE!

Abu Dhabi-Following the success of last year’s “I Love UAE” video competition, the initiative is being re-launched in 2012 with a revised name and an extended production period. The “We Love UAE 2012” competition encourages people from all over the UAE to express their love for the country they call home with a two-minute video.

Originally conceived as a standalone creative initiative, it became a significant contributor to the UAE’s 40th birthday celebrations, with the top entries broadcast on UAE TV stations. CEO of competition organizer BrandMoxie Sana Bagersh said interest and inquiry levels for a 2012 competition has been enormous, with schools and universities urging their students to participate.

“The ‘I Love UAE’ competition really struck a chord with the creative community. Many young people took up the artistic challenge, and their level of enthusiasm and passion was amazing.”

“Once last year’s competition was over we were asked by artistic groups and media departments at schools to run it again. We decided now was the time to launch the 2012 edition to give entrants the whole summer to prepare their submissions,” said Bagersh.

Dubai-based Alina Mustafina, last year’s winner in the “Me” category, said making her entry “Many Hearts – One Love” changed her life.

“I enjoyed making the video so much that I knew I had to give up my boring plans and study filmmaking.”

After completing her prize of a 12-week intensive course at New York Film Academy, Mustafina moved to Spain to study for a Masters in filmmaking, inspiring her husband to change his career direction as well.

“I would like to thank the ‘I Love UAE’ video competition team for changing my life in a positive and creative direction.”

The “Me and My School” category was won by Shabari Shankar, a student from the Abu Dhabi Indian School who produced an original composition with her bandmates.

The “We Love UAE 2012” competition will be accompanied by workshops and discussion forums. Last year’s seminar explored challenges and opportunities in the UAE film industry. The panelists, who were also the judges of the competition, were from The New York Film Academy, Image Nation, Zayed University, Abu Dhabi TV, The British School Al Khubairat and the American Community City.

The closing date for entries is 1 October 2012, with full entry details available at www.tempoplanet.com