Latest news with #Bekmambetov
Arab News
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Image Nation Abu Dhabi, Timur Bekmambetov pick eight UAE stories to lead screenlife rollout
ABU DHABI: Ben Ross, CEO of Image Nation Abu Dhabi, joined Kazakh-Russian film director and producer Timur Bekmambetov on Tuesday at the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi to discuss screenlife, a pioneering format developed by Bekmambetov that is coming to the region for the first time. Screenlife is a style of filmmaking where the entire story takes place on a digital screen — through text messages, video calls, social media and other everyday apps — reflecting how people communicate in today's tech-driven world. Notable examples include the horror film 'Unfriended' (2014) and the mystery thriller 'Searching' (2018). Ben Ross (L) and Timur Bekmambetov (R) at the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi. (AN Photo by Mohamed Fawzy) In the session, Ross and Bekmambetov announced that they have selected eight stories from UAE filmmakers to bring to life after the launch of the Screenlife Program in June 2024, which aims to help UAE citizens and residents master this new format and create authentic narratives with global resonance. 'We were drawn to it because it is so innovative and so forward-thinking,' Ross told Arab News. 'We enjoyed the screenlife movies, and it just felt like a natural step to evolve it into this region.' Bekmambetov emphasized the universality of digital communication. 'The digital world is the same universally. There is a different cultural element … but every family has a WhatsApp chat with hundreds of people on it. My family in Kazakhstan have one, and the internet in Abu Dhabi is the same,' he told Arab News. He said that the format is 'socially very impactful' and can give voice to those often left out of traditional cinema. 'Because it costs nothing, you can tell stories about your individual life with no money. It will help us to engage very different storytellers.' Ross noted that the selected projects reflect a wide range of stories. 'Every story that we have chosen ... stood out in its own way. There's a huge variety being told — it's not formulaic.' Bekmambetov also noted that Muslim women lead very different lifestyles, saying, 'maybe screenlife will bring their stories to life,' to which Ross added that some of the stories currently in development already do.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Image Nation Abu Dhabi & Timur Bekmambetov Unveil Winners Of First UAE-Based Screenlife Accelerator Program
EXCLUSIVE: Image Nation Abu Dhabi and director Timur Bekmambetov have announced the winners of the first edition of the UAE Screenlife Accelerator Program. The eight projects range from a supernatural thriller about a vlogger investigating a disappearance in the mountains of Oman; a sci-fi horror about a woman who resurrects a dead twin through an AI self-care App, and a digital scam caper set against the world of Dubai's high society. (scroll down for full list) More from Deadline 'LifeHack' Review: Latest Movie In Computer Screenlife Genre Is Best Yet, A Rocking And Riveting Cryptocurrency Heist Film - SXSW Timur Bekmambetov Launches The Black List-Style Platform Screenlifer With 'Howdy, Neighbor!' & 'CRTL' Timur Bekmambetov Signs With Artist International Group The joint initiative between the Emirati studio and L.A.-based Russian-Kazakh director and producer Bekmambetov, and his production company Bazelevs, introduced UAE nationals and residents to his innovative digital filmmaking format where stories unfold entirely on computer or smartphone screens. Following an intensive 12-week course, 13 filmmakers have been selected to produce a pilot of their concept. 'As Abu Dhabi and the UAE continue to establish its position as a leader in the creative industries, our partnership on Screenlife reflects our commitment to innovation in filmmaking, empowering emerging storytellers with the latest tools, and showcasing the UAE's unique identity through globally resonant stories,' said Image Nation Abu Dhabi CEO Ben Ross. 'We were overwhelmed with the level of talent we saw in the during the program – and look forward to bringing these projects to life.' Bekmambetov pioneered the Screenlife filmmaking technique to produce hits such as Unfriended (2015), Searching (2018), Missing (2023) and most recently the positively-reviewed Lifehack (2025). 'Screenlife isn't just a new storytelling language, it's a real tool for social impact. It democratizes access to cinema through technology and changes the idea that cinema belongs only to those with big connections and big budgets,' he said. 'Instead, screenlife makes cinema a platform for new voices and untold stories coming from emerging regions and underserved communities. All our best screenlife films were made by first-time filmmakers. And we hope this accelerator's finalist will soon be next.' The selected projects: Dir. Abdulbaset Qayed (UAE)A supernatural thriller that follows popular vlogger Omar and his partner Nixon as they investigate the vanishing of a young man in the mountains of Oman only to uncover the presence of a dark, otherworldly force. Dirs. Gorkem Sifael & Ozgur Akyuz (Turkey)A gripping psychological drama about a tech-savvy young woman who creates a powerful search software to find her missing mother only to have it turned against her by a manipulative stalker. Dir. Afra Al Marar (UAE)A junior music composer receives a mysterious unfinished song from a singer who dies just ten minutes later unraveling a trail of clues that lead to a shocking secret hidden within the music industry. Dir. Julie Sanchez (France)A psychological thriller set in unsettling digital world of an online psychologist, blurring the line between helper and the helped. Dir. Dana Ittani (U.S.-Lebanese)A sharp and timely take on cybercrime, inspired by real cases following the story of online romance scams and the digital systems that ultimately bring justice to the victims. Dirs. Ekta Saran (India), Danielle Arden (UK)A satirical psychological thriller set against the polished backdrop of Dubai's high society, where a struggling single mother and designer falls prey to a digital scam that upends her carefully curated life. Dir. Aisha Al Aqel (UAE)A blend of science fiction and horror following Josephine as she resurrects her twin brother via an AI self-care app after his death on a spiritual trip, only to find that faith, grief and artificial intelligence create a dangerous and unstable mix. Finally, Yemeni Tammam Assi's Dir. Tammam Assi (Yemen)A digital thriller slate, where in the era of viral fame and digital deception, a woman's online entanglement with a dangerous imposter forces her to confront her deepest fears and fight for her family. Best of Deadline Everything We Know About 'The Phoenician Scheme' So Far Everything We Know About 'Another Simple Favor' So Far 'The Last Of Us': Differences Between HBO Series & Video Game Across Seasons 1 And 2
The National
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
2025 Abu Dhabi Book Fair: Eight must-see sessions spanning literature, history, cinema and design
Influential authors, actors and designers will feature at this year's Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. Running from Saturday until May 5 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), the latest event offers a dynamic programme of discussions spanning literature, culture and history. With the classic Arabic compilation One Thousand and One Nights designated as the festival's Book of the World, several sessions will explore its enduring influence. As for Caribbean culture named guest of honour, expect leading authors and cultural figures from the region to shine a spotlight on its vibrant creative life and formidable contributions to world literature. Here are eight sessions to check out at the book fair – all taking place on the Community Stage in Hall 10. Sunday, 8pm A stalwart of Egyptian television and cinema will grace the opening weekend of the book fair, with actor Hussein Fahmy – star of films such as My Blood and My Tears and My Smile and The Shame – reflecting on how One Thousand and One Nights inspired Egyptian authors and screenwriters, and how actors have drawn on its rich array of character archetypes for inspiration. April 28, 11am Egyptian-Canadian actor Massoud's top billing alongside Will Smith in the 2019 blockbuster live-action remake of Aladdin remains a cultural landmark in Hollywood, breaking yet another barrier for Arab actors seeking leading roles in major films. At the book fair, Massoud will recount his professional journey, from being typecast in a North American film and television industry still grappling with inclusivity, to filming Aladdin in Jordan – proving that hard work can make dreams come true. April 28, 4pm An audience with acclaimed Kazakh-Russian filmmaker Bekmambetov – the director behind cult hits Unfriended, Profile and Searching, all of which unfold entirely on a computer, phone or tablet. Describing his approach as 'screen life", Bekmambetov will discuss the technical challenges behind this distinctive format and the ethical questions it raises for viewers who, in many ways, become voyeurs in his films. April 29, 4pm From Iraq's Al Nouri Mosque to Lebanon's Baalbek, the Middle East is home to cherished landmarks increasingly caught in the crossfire of conflict and political instability. Noura Al Kaabi, UAE Minister of State, and Lebanon's Minister of Culture Ghassan Salame will discuss the global responsibility to preserve these sites and how collaboration is essential to maintaining and rebuilding landmarks that speak to the region's history and shared humanity. April 30, 8pm What is the role of museums in a technology-driven world – and can they serve as platforms for community building? These are among the questions to be explored when the heads of Abu Dhabi's landmark institutions – Louvre Abu Dhabi (Manuel Rabate), Zayed National Museum (Peter Magee) and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi (Mariet Westermann, global director of the foundation) – come together to discuss how these cultural spaces can foster deeper understanding between communities through the UAE's pioneering approach to tolerance and coexistence. May 1, 3pm The 21st century marked a turning point for Arabic literature, where conventions, from genre to narrative, were disrupted and reimagined. While the Arabic novel was once largely defined by political themes and questions of identity shaped by a turbulent colonial past, today's writers have pushed those concerns further to explore them through style, setting and form. The National will showcase that evolution by launching its list of the 50 most important Arabic novels of the 21st century in a panel session featuring literary critics Mohamed Abu Al Fadl Badran and Haytham Al Haj Ali, and Abu Dhabi Language Centre executive director Saeed Al Tunaiji. May 2, 6pm With his acclaimed book A Certain Idea of France: The Life of Charles de Gaulle, British historian and academic Julian Jackson has produced one of the most remarkable and exhaustive biographies of the former French president. In this session, Jackson reflects on the enduring lessons de Gaulle offers about being a leader in times of crisis. May 4, 6pm The pioneering Egyptian designer reflects on her 40-year career, in which she has created jewellery that fuses contemporary design with the sensibilities of Islamic craftsmanship. From learning the trade in Cairo's bustling Khan El Khalili market to establishing a brand favoured by celebrities and royalty, Fahmy shares the techniques and career lessons that helped make her one of Egypt's leading cultural ambassadors.
