The I-Film festival, with the participation of over 500 filmmakers, will hold its third edition in the 'Two Four 54' creative zone on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi from April 10 to 12. The festival, organized by the Innovative Film Academy in Abu Dhabi, confirmed during a press conference that the event will celebrate Emirati cinema and its creators, while also highlighting Indian and Arab cinema through a rich program of screenings and interactive events. Founder and director of the festival, Sarvana Prasad, announced that the festival will present lifetime achievement awards to Emirati actor Mansoor Al-Faili and Egyptian actress Eham Shahin, coinciding with Egypt being honored as the guest of the festival. A honorary award will also be given to Emirati director and producer Naser Al-Zahiri in recognition of his extensive cinematic career and influential contributions locally and internationally. The festival will open with the Emirati film 'Bab' by director Naima Al-Kadji, affirming the presence of local cinema. It will also feature the world premiere of the short film 'The Place U Call Home' and the musical film 'Light Safest', both produced by the IFA Academy and Media Mania. Prasad also explained that as part of its main program, the festival will host a business forum designed to facilitate dialogue between investors, producers, and Indian film bodies and their Emirati counterparts. This aims to explore opportunities for Indian-Arab co-production and attract international production to Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with local production companies in the UAE. The event will see the presence of a high-level delegation from the Film Federation of India, the Producers Guild of India, the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce, and the International Federation of Film Producers Associations. It will also feature a select group of experts from the Egyptian film industry, including producer Hisham Salim, actor and director of the Jalala Festival, Ashraf Sarhan, director Magdy Ahmed, composer Tamer Karouan, and several Egyptian film stars. Prasad stated: 'We are proud to celebrate Emirati cinema and its creators, with the participation of over 500 filmmakers and an expected attendance of over 5,000 students and creators. The festival continues to enhance Abu Dhabi's position as a regional and global hub for cinema and creativity.' He noted that the Innovative Film Academy, the festival's organizer, is an educational and creative production institution dedicated to nurturing talent, fostering innovation, and building a sustainable ecosystem for the film and media production industry in the UAE. Emirati actor Mansoor Al-Faili, president of the festival's competition jury, expressed his pride, stating that the recognition comes from a festival that places Emirati cinema at the heart of its focus. He also affirmed the role of the artist in preserving cultural identity and developing the cinematic landscape. Emirati director Naima Al-Kadji, the director of the opening film, said her participation is particularly important: 'Screening my film 'Bab' at the opening of an international festival in Abu Dhabi that celebrates Emirati cinema is a moment of pride for every local filmmaker. The festival's initiatives contribute to building a real bridge of communication between Emirati creators and the world.' Emirati director and producer Naser Al-Zaheri also expressed his happiness about the honor: 'The honorary award from I-Film represents as much a responsibility as it does an appreciation, and it is an incentive to continue to produce cinematic works that carry a human message and reflect the open cultural image of the UAE.' The competitions at the 'I-Film' festival include a short film competition, which has three categories this year: Emirati short films, Arab short films, and international short films. It also introduces new competitions, most notably in artificial intelligence, creativity challenge, photography, performance, and music.
