Emirati Filmmakers on Building a Local Cinema Ecosystem: ‘We Have a Long Way to Go’
Emirati filmmakers Khalid Al Mahmood and Abdulrahman Al Madani are presenting the only Emirati films in competition at the Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth. Their films arrive amid renewed momentum for local cinema, but the filmmakers say sustaining a home-grown industry still depends on better infrastructure, funding and ways to reach audiences.
Al Mahmood’s musical *The Mangrove House* follows two deaf brothers and their sister, while Al Madani’s family drama *Oug* received a grant from the UAE Ministry of Culture. Al Madani has also launched Meylas Aflam to give Emirati short films screenings beyond festivals; it has held four sold-out events this year, with discussions lasting up to an hour. He says his films have attracted millions of YouTube views, challenging the idea that local audiences are not interested in stories from their own lives.
In short
- Two Emirati films are competing at Sharjah’s youth film festival.
- Filmmakers say local cinema needs stronger infrastructure and support.
- Meylas Aflam has held four sold-out screenings this year.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The filmmakers’ experience suggests Emirati audiences will engage with local stories when they can find them, and that grants, screenings and discussion events can help turn individual successes into a lasting cinema culture. Building stronger funding, production infrastructure and routes to audiences could give local creators more chances to develop distinctive work and reach viewers.
The case against
A home-grown film industry needs sustained audiences and reliable demand, not only successful screenings or online view counts; those signals may not establish that a larger market can support regular production and distribution. Expanding public funding and infrastructure also involves choices about priorities and long-term costs, so a measured approach could help ensure support is viable and reaches audiences.
Explained simply
The UAE has a growing film scene, but making films regularly and getting them in front of viewers can be difficult. Filmmakers have pointed to gaps in funding and production facilities, as well as limited opportunities to screen local work outside film festivals.
Khalid Al Mahmood and Abdulrahman Al Madani are Emirati filmmakers whose work draws on family and community stories. Al Madani’s Meylas Aflam holds screenings and discussions for Emirati short films, while support such as a grant from the UAE Ministry of Culture has helped fund individual projects.
Their experience speaks to a wider question: whether interest in Emirati films can be matched by lasting support and more ways for audiences to see them. Sold-out screenings and online viewership offer signs of demand, while the filmmakers say the industry still needs to develop.