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Submitted by admin on 26 July, 2010 - 07:32
Date: 
25 July, 2010

Assilah, Morocco - A variety of Emirati short films have been screened in Assilah as part of the 2010 Assilah Festival for which the UAE is the Guest of Honour. The films are part of the large Emirati artistic presence at this, the 32nd Assilah festival.

The screenings were held at the Adellah Guennon Square in Assilah’s medina with the films being projected onto one of the old medina walls. A total of nine short films were shown, dealing with subjects such as loss, hope and modernity.

The film that drew one of the most enthusiastic responses was Waleed Al Shehhi’s Bab, which is a 19-minute surreal drama about the human psyche. Also popular was Saeed Salman’s Bint Mariam – the story of a widowed young woman who goes on a journey of self-discovery.

The breadth of talent evident at the screenings is a testament to the unceasing work of those within the Emirati film industry to showcase their work to bigger audiences.

According to Al Shehhi, there is much work to be done: “We still face a battle to get recognition, but we help each other and of course festivals like this and the help of ADACH can make that struggle easier.”

The presence of Emirati filmmakers as well as artists, writers and intellectuals, officially delegated by the state, and their participation at the Festival gives Assilah's multi-ethnic and cultural public a glimpse of the latest developments on the Emirati art scene.

The public were also able to witness at first-hand the impact that ADACH has had in bolstering authentic Arabic music and sponsoring young talent. They have achieved this through the Beit Al Oud Al Arabi and the Al Ain Centre for Music in the World of Islam.

ADACH will also hold several workshops and art exhibitions, lectures and seminars. These will address the topics such as the book industry and publishing (especially the Abu Dhabi Book Fair), Kitab, Qalam and the Sheikh Zayed Book Award. There will also be a workshop addressing the current unique market for UAE handicrafts. The festival will run from July 10th to July 27th.

ADACH, along with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development and Masdar are representing UAE officially at the Assilah Festival as a guest of honour this year.