Al Ain Film Club’s inaugural Short Film Festival honours local talent

A SHORT FILM THAT highlights how poverty and unemployment could lead to crime swept Al Ain Film Club’s Short Film Awards 2014 with five wins.

The seven minute-short film Demolish - titled so as to urge viewers to demolish hunger and unemployment - won awards for Best Film, Best Director (Anu Ram), Best Actor (Soorya Prakash), Best Editor (Praveen) and Best Cinematographer (Roopesh Thikkoti).

The award function was held in conjunction with the inauguration of the Al Ain Film Club and its inaugural Short Film Festival at the UAE University in Al Ain last Friday.

The award jury comprised noted south Indian director I.V. Sasi, who inaugurated the Film Club and presented the main awards, and UAE-based Malayalam film and media personalities Moideen Koya and Rex George.

The competition segment received 35 entries of short films made by UAE-based Indians. Seventeen of them, which were shortlisted for the final round, were screened at the function hosted by Fidha Nazeer.

The other major awards announced included Best Actress, Merin, Second Best Actress, Devi Anil, Second Best Actor, Shamnas P.P, Second Best Film, Pranayakaalam, Best Child Artist (Male) Harikrishnan, Best Child Artist (Female) Amrita Arun, Best Script, Sathar Kanhangad, Best Music Score, Sajan Ram.

Actor Mohammed Aslam, child artist Adithya Shaji and short film The Light, won special jury awards. Noushad Valancheri, an executive member of the Al Ain Film Club, said the club aims to popularise short films in the UAE. “We have plans to reach out to a wider group of film enthusiasts and encourage amateur and professional short film makers of all nationalities.”(sajila@khaleejtimes.com)