A three-day celebration of Emirati cinema, hosted by the Innovative Film Academy.
Abu Dhabi: The third edition of the I-Film Festival is set to open tomorrow at Yas Creative Hub, twofour54 on Yas Island, celebrating Emirati cinema and its creators over three days.
Running from April 10 to 12, the festival will showcase a diverse lineup of Emirati, Arab, and Indian films. It will open with the Emirati feature “Bab”, directed by Nayla Al Khaja, and conclude with “Samson of the Arabs” by Emirati filmmaker Nasser Al Dhaheri.
Organised by the Innovative Film Academy (IFA), with support from Abu Dhabi University and the Abu Dhabi Vocational Education and Training Institute, the festival will honour Emirati actor Mansoor Al Feeli and Egyptian actress Elham Shaheen with lifetime achievement awards. Renowned Emirati director and producer Nasser Al Dhaheri will also receive an honorary award in recognition of his distinguished career and significant contributions to cinema both regionally and internationally.
The festival’s opening will showcase the premiere of the short film “The Place U Call Home” and the musical “Light Safest”, produced by IFA Academy and Media Mania and created by academy students. The event will be attended by prominent Gulf, Arab, and international film figures, alongside a delegation from the Indian Film Federation and filmmakers from India.
In addition, the festival will host a dialogue forum bringing together investors, producers, and cultural bodies from the UAE and India to promote co-productions and attract international filmmaking to Abu Dhabi.
Saravana Prasad, Director of the I-Film Festival, said Abu Dhabi has established itself as a regional and global hub for the creative industries, attracting filmmakers from around the world to its diverse locations. He emphasized that the festival proudly celebrates Emirati cinema and its achievements on both regional and international levels.
Prasad highlighted the festival’s focus on joint productions between the UAE, India, and the Arab world, noting a milestone with the launch of the first Indo-Arab co-production, “Old Buddies”, starring Emirati actor Mansoor Al Feeli and Indian actor Nasser Mahboob.
He added that talent development remains a key priority. The Innovative Film Academy (IFA) in Abu Dhabi has trained over 1,000 students, received 108 short film submissions—including 20 AI-generated films—and supported more than 100 emerging filmmakers.
