The renowned New York Film Academy’s Abu Dhabi branch is now a well-established part of the capital’s film scene. This year, NYFA is setting a couple of dozen graduates loose and charging them with pushing the local silver screen forward. We find out more.
The Academy is going strong; how many students are you graduating this year?
More than 25 filmmakers are graduating this year, as well as a few actors; pretty exciting times.
Is the local filmmaking talent well represented this year?
It is, and it’s getting better all the time. About half of our students are Arabs, and about half of those Emiratis; but we have people from all over the world: South Africa, Australia, Pakistan, USA, Iran, Poland, Ukraine and Switzerland, to name a few.
So you’re taking an active role in the industry’s development; can you see any positive changes yet?
Our students start getting freelance, temporary and permanent job offers even while they’re still studying at NYFA AD, because it’s pretty much the only intensive hands-on programme in the region. We teach the entire process of filmmaking, starting from screen writing, cinematography, sound, directing and digital editing.
So the industry really needed a programme like this.
Yes, getting offers like this – and this quickly – means the industry is hungry for educated filmmakers, writers and actors. And, thanks to our strong relationships with all the festivals, media and film production companies, we open the door for our graduate students after they get their solid knowledge and experience to step right into the established film industry.
Well, the industry could use an influx of talent; it has far more potential than this.
The film industry in UAE is not weak as such, but it is still a very new industry here, and a very fresh one. But a new era of films is right around the corner, and the opportunity to be part of it is a very exciting one. It’s growing fast, but in strong, solid steps, and we’ve noticed that the mentality of the region has changed in the past two years.
So when can we expect to compete with Hollywood?
We wish to create – and be part of – a platform called ‘Emirateswood’, a place like Hollywood or Bollywood that has the market and the industry to tell the region’s stories with international standards. These could reach regional and international audiences, and I believe that, with the Abu Dhabi Government’s vision and support, that could happen for real, and very soon.
We’ll keep our fingers crossed. Until then, though, we’re sure you have plenty of activities to keep us hooked…
We do; we run something called the Abu Dhabi Movie Club that brings together film lovers, filmmaking students, acting students, and the younger generation with the established film industry works and leaders to create a solid platform and productive channels. The Club now screen in the school, but, in the future, we’ll have different screening venues, either outdoors – such as in hotels or parks – and in other schools. All screenings will always be free. The school also actively supports the theatre in Abu Dhabi – last month we filmed the Wizard of Oz play in Al Muna School, and we supported The Seagull at One2One Hotel.
The New York Film Academy in Abu Dhabi’s graduation ceremony will be held on May 25-26, from 7pm onwards. Entrance is free of charge.
Two films you need to see at the ceremonies:
Saud Al Rashed Film
A flower of friendship starts blossoming in a dodgy prison cell, but it is soon threatened by a figure of power and oppression. The reason behind all the threats and troubles is a mystery.
Promised Land (Agnieszka Rudnicka)
Rob, a young overweening yuppie type who lives in Dubai suddenly finds himself on the desert highway far away from the city he calls home. With no telephone and no car, Rob needs to pit his wits against Mother Nature and his own flawed personality.
