Capturing the Heart and Soul of the UAE!

Abu Dhabi-Following the success of last year’s “I Love UAE” video competition, the initiative is being re-launched in 2012 with a revised name and an extended production period. The “We Love UAE 2012” competition encourages people from all over the UAE to express their love for the country they call home with a two-minute video.

Originally conceived as a standalone creative initiative, it became a significant contributor to the UAE’s 40th birthday celebrations, with the top entries broadcast on UAE TV stations. CEO of competition organizer BrandMoxie Sana Bagersh said interest and inquiry levels for a 2012 competition has been enormous, with schools and universities urging their students to participate.

“The ‘I Love UAE’ competition really struck a chord with the creative community. Many young people took up the artistic challenge, and their level of enthusiasm and passion was amazing.”

“Once last year’s competition was over we were asked by artistic groups and media departments at schools to run it again. We decided now was the time to launch the 2012 edition to give entrants the whole summer to prepare their submissions,” said Bagersh.

Dubai-based Alina Mustafina, last year’s winner in the “Me” category, said making her entry “Many Hearts – One Love” changed her life.

“I enjoyed making the video so much that I knew I had to give up my boring plans and study filmmaking.”

After completing her prize of a 12-week intensive course at New York Film Academy, Mustafina moved to Spain to study for a Masters in filmmaking, inspiring her husband to change his career direction as well.

“I would like to thank the ‘I Love UAE’ video competition team for changing my life in a positive and creative direction.”

The “Me and My School” category was won by Shabari Shankar, a student from the Abu Dhabi Indian School who produced an original composition with her bandmates.

The “We Love UAE 2012” competition will be accompanied by workshops and discussion forums. Last year’s seminar explored challenges and opportunities in the UAE film industry. The panelists, who were also the judges of the competition, were from The New York Film Academy, Image Nation, Zayed University, Abu Dhabi TV, The British School Al Khubairat and the American Community City.

The closing date for entries is 1 October 2012, with full entry details available at www.tempoplanet.com

“I LOVE UAE” COMPETITION AWARDS WINNERS Ceremony discusses ‘nurturing filmmaking in the UAE’

http://www.1888pressrelease.com/-i-love-uae-competition-awards-winners-ceremony-discusses-pr-336840.html

 

Abu Dhabi, UAE – The “I love UAE” video competition celebrating the UAE’s 40th anniversary concludes with the announcement of the winners and a debate by film experts and educationists on how best to nurture film making in the UAE.

The competition was launched to enable members of the community to express their love and appreciation for the UAE by creating short videos that celebrate the spirit and character of the UAE. The winner of the “Me” category was Alina Mustafina, and the winner of the “Me and My School Category” was Shabari Shankar from Abu Dhabi Indian school.

The competition, launched by the New York Film Academy Abu Dhabi, and Tempo, attracted considerable interest especially among young people who have taken up the artistic challenge. A ceremony was held at the Mamoura Auditorium last September 21 along with a debate on “How to nurture talent in film making in the UAE,” with panelists from New York Film Academy Abu Dhabi, Imagenation, Abu Dhabi Media Company, Zayed University, British School Al Khubairat and the American Community School.

“We are encouraged by the response and how groups formed together to produce to work together, and the way that some of the groups used software and technology,” said Simon Hunter, the President of the New York Film Academy Abu Dhabi, who will award the first prize, a 12 week evening film making course at NYFA Abu Dhabi, to the winner of the competition. The school competition category, entitled “Me and My School,” grants the winner a video camera from Tempo, and his or her class a full day film making workshop by NYFA.

Sana Bagersh, Managing Editor of Tempo said, “It was important for us to run this competition at this time because it is the UAE’s 40th anniversary and we wanted to give an opportunity to the community to express their voices.”

“The partnership with New York Film Academy Abu Dhabi helps raise the caliber of the competition and provides the winners with a great opportunity to learn the craft from a leading film school,” she added.

The event was organized by BrandMoxie, a leading advertising agency in Abu Dhabi that specializes in branding, public relations, and events management.