Emirati Filmmakers Propose Introducing Cinema Education in Schools, UAE
Leading Emirati filmmakers have emphasized the importance of teaching cinema in schools as part of the curriculum to instill a love for film culture in young people. At a panel discussion during the Arab Media Summit, director Abdalla Al Kaabi urged for the adoption of an Emirati cinema class in schools since 2016, asserting that a lack of exposure to local stories and characters from an early age contributes to the limited success of Emirati cinema.
Al Kaabi highlighted the need for familiarity with homegrown cinema in schools to help shape a strong national film identity. "We need to embed the cinema culture all the way with different elements," he said, citing the numerous benefits of teaching cinema, including promoting film literacy, fostering creativity and storytelling skills, instilling national identity, and providing educational value.
The filmmakers pointed out that young Emirati filmmakers face many challenges, with one of the biggest being the 'culture' surrounding UAE-made cinema. Nawaf Al Janahi, an Emirati director, explained that people do not see Emirati cinema as normal because it is not integrated into the Emirati psyche. Hana Kazim, another Emirati producer and director, agreed, stating that telling local stories can attract more people to shoot films in the UAE, contributing to its soft power.
While the Emirati film movement is a few decades old, it still remains a niche within society. However, the industry is growing with the government's support, thanks to the introduction of film festivals throughout the Emirates, such as the Abu Dhabi Film Festival, the Dubai International Film Festival, and the Sharjah International Film Festival. In fact, in 2024, the UAE Media Council announced that the UAE accounted for 30 per cent of the Mena region's cinema market share.
By integrating cinema classes into schools, the UAE could tap into its growing interest in cinema and filmmaking, fostering a new generation of Emirati filmmakers and cultivating a stronger national film identity. With the country's focus on becoming a hub for quality education and its thriving film industry, teaching cinema in schools could provide numerous benefits for promoting film literacy, fostering creativity, instilling national identity, and providing educational value.
- The growing UAE film industry, strengthened by government support, could find new talent by incorporating cinema classes in schools to cultivate a new generation of Emirati filmmakers.
- The need for awareness of homegrown cinema is emphasized to help establish a strong national film identity, as suggested by director Abdalla Al Kaabi since 2016.
- To counter the limited success of Emirati cinema, there is a call for the adoption of an Emirati cinema class in schools to increase exposure to local stories and characters.
- In addition to promoting film literacy and fostering creativity and storytelling skills, teaching cinema in schools can provide educational value and instill national identity.
- By attracting more people to create films in the UAE, storytelling that reflects the local culture can boost the nation's soft power and position the country as a hub for quality education and filmmaking.
