Budding film makers invited to join the UAE's first women film maker Nayla Al Khaja for Tropfest Arabia workshops on short film creation

27 May 2011: In conjunction with renowned UAE producer and director Nayla Al Khaja, Tropfest Arabia will offer aspiring filmmakers in Abu Dhabi and Dubai workshops on short film creation. Workshops will take place on 29th May at the Kilachand Studio, DUCTAC, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai and 30th May at twofour54 (Green Building), Abu Dhabi. Both workshops will start at 7.00pm.

The workshops will commence with an introduction to Tropfest Arabia, which is the first short film festival of its kind in the region and will take place in Abu Dhabi in November 2011. One of the aims of Tropfest Arabia is to contribute to the development of the Arab film industry by providing an opportunity for the region's filmmakers to bring their short films to the community.

The two hour workshop will be supported by well known local producer and director Nayla Al Khaja who will offer aspiring filmmakers a chance to learn more about the film industry with in-depth tutorial sessions on short filmmaking.

The workshops will outline the short filmmaking process and expose participants to past submissions. It will also give participants the opportunity to raise questions and gain further insight into the Tropfest Arabia festival and the role that short films are increasingly playing in the region's growing media industry.

Tropfest Arabia aims to become one of the most influential and popular short film events on the region's film calendar. One of Tropfest Arabia's priorities is to help nurture the region's growing film making community by taking a grass roots approach and supporting talent that might otherwise be excluded from the region's film festivals.

In order to be eligible to submit a film to Tropfest Arabia ,  the film's director must be a citizen of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region including Algeria, Bahrain , Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestinian Territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, UAE and Yemen. Entrants must conform to the religious, cultural and political sensitivities of the region and films must be appropriate for public screening in Abu Dhabi.

To register for Tropfest Arabia workshops or to get further details on how to submit a film visit: www.tropfestarabia.com.

Follow Tropfest Arabia online at:

http://www.facebook.com/tropfest.arabia

http://twitter.com/tropfestarabia

http://www.youtube.com/user/tropfestarabia

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About Tropfest Arabia
2011 marks the first year that Tropfest has been held in the Arab world. Tropfest Arabia 2011 covers the Middle East and North Africa region and is open to Nationals of Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestinian territories (the West Bank and Gaza Strip), Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. The event is supported by twofour54 Abu Dhabi whose aim is to establish a sustainable Arabic media and entertainment content creation industry.

Tropfest Arabia's aim is to contribute to the development of the Arab film industry by providing an opportunity for the region's filmmakers to bring their short films to the community. As well as a public screening in Abu Dhabi in 2011, shortlisted films will be available for viewing online providing an excellent opportunity to showcase the talent that exists in the region.

Tropfest Arabia is an expansion of Tropfest, which is Australia's most prestigious short film festival and one of its most iconic cultural events. It is also the largest short film festival in the world.

The annual short film competition is open to anyone who wishes to enter - regardless of their background or experience. Tropfest Arabia films are unique in that they have all been made specifically for Tropfest Arabia and include the Tropfest Signature Item (or TSI), which changes each year. The TSI for the first running of Tropfest Arabia is "STAR".

For more information please call:
Ahmad Issa
Hill & Knowlton
Email: ahmad.issa@hillandknowlton.com
Tel: 050 325 2670

© Press Release 2011