“For a third successive year, we have received excellent submissions from the region and are as always greatly im-pressed with the way GCC filmmakers tell their stories. It gives us great pleasure and honour to be able to contribute towards supporting local talent and developing creativity, thus boosting the quality of filmmaking in the region as a whole,” commented Georges Kern, CEO of IWC Schaff¬hausen. Speaking at the event, Emily Blunt said: “What a great experience being part of the IWC Filmmaker Award jury has been. The region is a treasure chest of stories and thus the submissions were brilliant. I am proud to partici¬pate with such a noble initiative that supports the ambitions and aspirations of the region’s filmmakers. It was a real task picking out the winner from the entries received which each had the ability to touch the hearts and minds of audiences the world over.”
Actress Emily Blunt selected the winning project together with Georges Kern, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen, Abdulhamid Juma, Chairman of DIFF, Masoud Amralla Al Ali, Artistic Director of DIFF, Mark Adams, film critic, Karoline Huber, Brand Director of IWC Schaffhausen Middle East & India, and Marc Forster, IWC brand ambassador and award-winning film director. “I like the idea of an award for artists who contribute to local storytelling by letting their images speak. Filmmaking is still one of the most popular instru¬ments to entertain people because it can transform passion and love into a unique story and give local and regional cultures a voice,” said Marc Forster.
Guest of honour Emily Blunt was joined by international VIP guests and celebrities, including other notable IWC brand ambassadors, at the “For the Love of Cinema” gala dinner hosted by IWC and DIFF. Among the guests present were IWC brand ambassador His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz Turki Al Faisal, IWC brand ambassador and mas¬ter of ceremonies Raya Abirached, celebrities from the region such as Ali F. Mostafa, Diala Makki, Hussein Bazaza as well as international celebrities such as Lee Daniels and Virginia Madsen. The star-studded gala dinner was wrapped up with a solo performance by IWC brand ambas¬sador Aloe Blacc. Following the dinner, the doors opened for the after-party where Aloe Blacc and his band per¬formed for an additional 500 guests. The evening ended with DJ Jack E playing the latest hits till the early hours.
AND THE AWARD GOES TO …
This year, three filmmakers were shortlisted for the award: Emirati filmmaker Saeed Salmeen Al-Murry for his project “Going to Heaven”, Saudi Arabian filmmaker and actress Ahd Kamel for her film “Sandfish” and Kuwaiti director and producer Abdullah Boushahri for his project “The Water”.
Abdullah Boushahri was chosen as the winner by the re¬vered jury, and was presented with the USD 100,000 prize by Emily Blunt. Boushahri also received an exclusive IWC timepiece.
Abdullah Boushahri produced the feature length film “Losing Ahmad”, which made its world premiere at DIFF in 2006, going on to win the Best Documentary in the Gulf at the Emirates Film Competition 2007 and touring more than 30 international film festivals around the world. In 2008, Abdullah Boushahri was recognized as the British Council Award Winner of the year for his achievements. “The Water” tells the story of a sweeping wave of drought which hit the small city of Kuwait at the beginning of the last cen¬tury before the discovery of oil. In the city’s dry alleys we find Mohammed, a young man with a great, melodious voice, who is in love with a beautiful girl named Taiba. The two lovers face a multitude of social obstacles as the city’s residents turn to desperate measures to get water.
IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN
With a clear focus on technology and development, the Swiss watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen has been producing timepieces of lasting value since 1868. The company has gained an international reputation based on a passion for innovative solutions and technical ingenuity. One of the world’s leading brands in the luxury watch seg-ment, IWC crafts masterpieces of haute horlogerie at their finest, combining supreme precision with exclusive design. As an ecologically and socially responsible company, IWC is committed to sustainable production, supports institu-tions around the globe in their work with children and young people, and maintains partnerships with organizations dedicated to climate and environmental protection.
DUBAI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) is the leading film festival in the Middle East and Africa. Since its inception in 2004, the festival has served as an influential platform for Arab filmmakers and talent at an international level by spearheading the cinema movement in the region. The 11th edition of DIFF will take place from 10 to 17 December 2014. For more and updated information about DIFF, please visit www.diff.ae or join DIFF on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
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