An Indian-origin filmmaker Suchetha Phule, who was the curator of Desert Flower International Film Festival said filmmakers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) need a platform to display their work.
Phule said that filmmakers in the country, whether they are nationals or expatriates, need a platform, as well as support from authorities and the private sector.
“It is sad that the city with such beautiful diversity has no institution or platform that can take their work forward and mentor them,” Phule said.
The festival is an initiative by Phule, supported by Dubai-based performing arts space – The Junction – which renders the facilities for film screenings. A total of five short films, made by both expatriate and local filmmakers, were showcased at the festival.
“We are producing brilliant talent and creative work by both local and (expatriate) filmmakers. But there is no support at all. The filmmaker has to invest in the film by him/herself and the struggle goes on,” said Phule. One of her films, “Nirrutar,” was also screened at the festival
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The curator believes there is a space after the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) was made into a biennial event. But, according to her, DIFF was not encouraging local talent in the way she believes it should have.
“DIFF preferred films with only one kind of filmmaker. It was not open to all kinds of local filmmakers. But, all said and done, even DIFF is out. We are without any festival these days,” she said.
Manahel Mahmood, an Emirati filmmaker whose film “Love Him as I Do” was one of the popular films at the festival, likewise deplored the patent lack of a platform for UAE-based filmmakers.
“Whatever we do, we do it by ourselves. Even for funding, it is very difficult to find full support for short films,” said Mahmood, whose film about the struggle of a mother with an autistic child cost her about $5,445 to complete.
“The UAE has a great treasure of diverse filmmaking talent. We can easily build a very successful local film industry, provided we get full support from the authorities as well as from the private sector.”
Rashmi Kotriwala, the co-founder of The Junction said: “There are very few platforms or events that focus on local films. If at all, they are sporadic. We are, therefore, trying to give a consistent push.”
-Sowmya Sangam
