From Arabic to international movies, the country is now a location for major productions, writes Alaa Karkouti
It will soon be a common sight. As you pass a certain Dubai road, a shop ping centre or may be Abu Dhabi Corniche, you will notice a lot of film scenes being shot there. It might soon become a usual event throughout the year.
In a few weeks' time, production of scores of films, including Arabic movies, will start in the UAE, and in an unprecedented abundance. The following are some of the important films that will start shooting in the UAE:
The star of America budget: $18 million (Dh66m)
Production company: IMGF (International Gulf Media and Film Development) The film is a remake of the German production with the same title that was made 60 years ago. It tells the tale of a pilot who fought bravely during the Second World War. The Dubai production firm represents the internationally known Equity company of Germany. The most recent IMGF production was Sylvester Stallone's Rambo 4.
IMGF is to choose between the Emirates and Morocco as the location for the shoot, after considering the facilities being offered by both the countries.
In the UAE, the company is waiting for the approval of Dubai and Abu Dhabi to select the final location, especially since the film needs settings that suit the Second World War ambience such as hangars, warplanes and runways.
Dubai with love budget: $2m (Dh7.34m)
Production company: Takhayal It is a film with several reallife stories of Dubai to be contributed by the public. The company has asked members of the public to send their stories in Arabic or English, and the deadline is tomorrow.
The names of winners will be announced on November 15. The script should be 15 pages maximum.
The company has even posted online special programmes teaching the public how to write scripts. The final result will be 10 separate stories taking place in 21st century Dubai.
Roumi budget: $28m (Dh102.8m)
Production company: Istar Films It is the biggest film production so far in the Emirates. It tells the story of Jalal Al Din Al Roumi, the great 12th century spiritual master and poetic genius of Arab history. Three-time Oscar winner Vittorio Storaro will be the cinematographer, while Indian-born Muzaffar Ali will be the director.
Ali has written and directed some 20 films. Shooting will start in the UAE in January next year.
The models budget: $2m (Dh7.34m)
Production company: Istar Films This is the second film to be shot by the Italian Istar Films in the UAE. It is a romantic comedy about three girls a European, an American and an Asian working as models in Dubai. It is an attempt to make a film that can guarantee success at cinemas across the world, whether it is the Gulf, Europe or the United States.
The film is in English and stars Arab and Emirati actors, among others. It will be shot entirely in Dubai.
TAJ budget: Unknown
Production company: Takhayal Taj Mahal is one of the seven wonders of the world and a renowned tourist attraction. The film is an adaptation of a novel by Indian script writer Timeri Murari who wrote The Square Circle in 1997. Not many production details are available apart from that it will be shot in the UAE.
Ro0yal photographer budget: $800,000 (Dh2.94m)
Production company: D-SEVEN This is a documentary on Noor Ali Rashid who will celebrate his golden jubilee as a photographer next year, thus being the oldest UAE and Gulf lensman. Emirati producer and director Nayla Al Khaja says the documentary will have pictures and information disclosed for the first time.
The one-hour documentary reviews the most important events in the country, especially during the period between 1958 and 1972, through Rashid's photographs. The film will be screened at UAE theatres.
Al Khaja is producing it in cooperation with Rif Film of Germany. In all probability, the film will be premiered on the UAE National Day next year.
Six days, six October budget: Unknown
Production company: Takhayal This is the first Arab film that tells the story of the October 1973 war in full. The film revolves around two pilots who took part in the victory secured in a few hours by the Egyptian Armed Forces on October 6. The war is seen as the biggest Arab victory in the 20th century, especially following the military setback of June 1967.
The Egyptian Armed Forces, celebrating its 70th anniversary, is offering testimonies and documents. Some scenes will be filmed in the UAE. 1919,
Story of rain budget: $5m (Dh18.36m)
Production company: D-SEVEN This will be the first feature film of UAE director Nayla Al Khaja who intends to release the film in 2009.
Shooting will start next year. The director says the film will have an Emirati identity, with events happening in the 20th century.
The film will be shot in full in the UAE.
Arabian sands budget: $10m (Dh3.67m)
Production company: Abu Dhabi Film Commission During the last Cannes Film Festival, the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage announced the establishment of the Abu Dhabi Film Commission. It also announced its first production, Arabian Sands.
The film will be directed by British director of Yemeni origin Bader ben Hirsi.
The film is about the life of British explorer Wilfred Thesiger, who travelled through the Empty Quarter of Arabia in the 1940s.
The film's title is that of a Thesiger book.
The comedie of errors budget: $6m (Dh22m)
Production company: Masterplan Film Production The film is an adaptation of Shakespeare's classic comedy, but set in Iraq. Briton Keri Collins, 29, is writing and directing his first featurelength film. It is obvious the film will be a satire on the Iraqi conflict, especially with the tagline: "Sorry, I thought you were someone else". It will be shot in Dubai.
News in numbers
21 will be the number of screens at the Cine Star complex in Cairo, up from the previous 13. It will be the largest complex in the Middle East along with the Grand Cinemas of Ibn Battuta Mall of Dubai (21 screens too)
19,000 dirhams reaped by French film La Mome (British title: The Passionate Life of Edith Piaf) at UAE theatres at the weekend. La Mome was the opening premiere of the last Berlin Film Festival. It has collected $10 million (Dh36.7m) in the US. The film is based on the autobiography of the famed French singer Piaf 65 per cent is the average drop in box office proceeds in UAE cinemas during Ramadan, compared with summer returns
5 million dirhams was the box office proceeds of Rush Hour 3 in five weeks. The number of tickets sold reached 166,000
5,517 dollars was the total amount reaped by Egyptian film Yacoubian Building in one cinema in London during the weekend in September. The film collected $3.5m (Dh12.85m) in Egypt, to occupy the first position among Egyptian films in 2006
3 million dollars is the budget of British TV movie The Young Cleopatra. Shooting will start in Egypt on November 4. It is part of a TV film series about world's historical characters
120 million dollars is the budget of Nefertiti. Shooting is to start in Egypt in spring 2008. The film tells the story of a queen from the days of the Pharaoh.
Emirates Today 2007
