Towards building a sustainable regional film industry
All three films will be shot on location in the UAE and Oman, with filming commencing on the first project On Borrowed Time in September.
The film studio announced that Majid Al Ansari director of Zinzana, Netflix’s first UAE acquisition, will serve as executive producer of all three productions.
Majid Al Ansari said: “I am looking forward to furthering my filmmaking skills and collaborating with regional talent who I truly admire. To be able to work on such large-scale productions on a regular basis is testament to the growth of the regional film industry and the support that is in place.”
The first feature film titled On Borrowed Time is a feel-good comedy and will begin production on September 16th in Dubai. It will be followed by Rashid & Rajib, a body-switch comedy in November; and Scales, a dark mermaid drama, in early 2017.
Image Nation will be working with local production companies to create the films, and will be generating hundreds of jobs for people from the region.
Mohammed Al Mubarak, Chairman of Image Nation, said of the announcement: “By making and producing these films locally we are participating in the building of an entertainment industry and contributing to the economic development of the region, as well as providing invaluable job and training opportunities for talented Emiratis. All three of these productions will continue our course of creating compelling entertainment at a Hollywood standard, while reflecting the experiences and locations of the Middle East”.
This announcement follows an exceptional year for Image Nation with the completion of production on Ali Mostafa’s The Worthy– which is set to premiere to audiences this year – and the completion of Justice, the entertainment company’s landmark legal drama television series.
Michael Garin, CEO of Image Nation added: “This is an extremely exciting time for Image Nation as we go into production on three separate projects – the most the UAE has seen at any one time. Each of the projects show the calibre of talent we are working with across different genres and the subject matters give us a diverse slate of films. We will continue to push the boundaries in the region, showing the world that the UAE is a significant player in the worldwide film and TV industry.”
About Image Nation Abu Dhabi
Image Nation Abu Dhabi is one of the leading media and entertainment companies in the Arabic-speaking world. The company produces local and international films, documentaries and television content. In 2105 Image Nation launched the Arabic TV channel Quest Arabiya in association with Discovery Communications. Quest Arabiya reaches an Arab audience of 340 million people in 45 million homes in 22 countries across the Middle East and North Africa.
The company aims to build a sustainable film and television industry in Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates.
Image Nation’s slate includes Emirati-produced feature films (Zinzana, From A to B), cause-driven documentaries (He Named Me Malala, Every Last Child), insightful television shows (Beyond Borders, Hayati Walaskariya) television dramas (Justice) and award-winning international films (The Help, Flight, 99 Homes). Through its content, Image Nation is creating opportunities for local talent to tell their stories and gain the experience essential to sustain a local industry.
