Film history in UAE thrills at ‘Al Marmoom: Desert Film Festival’ in Dubai

In line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to cement Dubai’s position as a global cultural hub and incubator of ideas, the three-day festival kicked off on Friday , bringing together emerging and established artists and filmmakers to reflect their vision of “Stories at One with Nature”.

Throughout the festival, which runs until December 11, audiences will witness exhibits and artwork that tell about local film history and evoke local cultural heritage.

According to Dubai Culture, “The festival is an innovative platform that enables filmmakers to showcase their unique ideas, in line with Dubai Culture’s commitment to promoting the local film ecosystem.

At the festival, Emirati mixed-media artist Ammar Al Attar brought the country’s film culture to the fore with his “A History of Film” exhibition, in which he retraces the origins of film and charts the weekly ritual of home theater. He presents them through a variety of images, alongside a series of hand-distributed records, collectibles, publications and movie flyers, as well as old movie posters from screenings at local movie theaters. He also revealed the antique equipment used to screen these films, announced codes of conduct and advertisements for local businesses, and Al Attar traced the material culture of cinema in the UAE.

The mural ‘Saif, Naama and Amna Playing’ by Emirati artist Fatma Al Ali represents an artistic study of the UAE film industry. The first cinema was opened in Sharjah in 1943 as Al Mahatta Cinema. It’s open-air and the seats are made out of gasoline cans. The mural reflects the qualitative leap that domestic theaters have witnessed, from bench seats to five-star seats. In the mural, Fatima Al Ali sought to highlight this history in an innovative way by presenting it as a picture from a book held by a child in a section of the mural that depicts young people as filmmakers, referencing the inspirational Future generations need to step in and understand the origins of the film.

Artist Shama Al Mazrouei’s public art installation Broken Phone is inspired by the old game of the same name. In it, she offers nostalgic descriptions of the cultural nature behind the games young people once played, making the installation seem like a visual study of social relationships and depicting pre-technological entertainment.

Artist Sara Al Khayyal presents her graphic work ‘Threads of Memory’ in the form of murals full of small details and geometric shapes, inspired by the aesthetics of Al Sadu craftsmanship, highlighting traditional masterpieces listed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

Under the skies of Al Marmoom, the history of the “Cultural Foundation” shines through in Ayesha Hadhir’s installation “Moving with the Dunes,” in which she narrates

Established in Abu Dhabi in 1981, the foundation is one of the country’s first cultural institutions. Aisha creatively used tiles from the old Cultural Foundation fountain in this piece. The installation acknowledges the importance and place of art and culture in the UAE. It reflects the transformed nature of the country from its founding to today.

Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA) Secretary-General Emirati photographer Ali bin Thalith documents the wildlife of Al Marmoom through his ‘Al Marmoom Greatest Wildlife’ exhibition , his photo collection highlights the unique environmental diversity of the reserve.

In addition to Lugaimat, Rigag bread and Arabic coffee, Dubai Culture has dedicated a Heritage Corner showcasing traditional handicrafts such as Al Talli, Al Sadu and Al Ghazal.

The festival is organized in partnership with several public and private entities in Dubai: Roads and Transport Authority, Dubai Municipality, Knowledge and Human Development Authority, Ministry of Economy and Tourism, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Ministry of Education, Emirates Airline, Careem, Meraas, American University of Dubai, Dubai Pride by Brands Dubai, Trust Your Water, VOX Cinemas, Weyyak, Zayed University, Nikon, Raindance, Project You, New Media Academy, GTV and Mohamed bin Rah Sid Space Center.