The Abu Dhabi Theatre provided the perfect backdrop for director Nawaf Al Janahi's highly anticipated new film, which was shot in Ras Al Khaimah.
Al Janahi was joined by principal cast members Omar Al Mulla and Neven Madi, who although looking a little overwhelmed by the media frenzy, were happy to pose for photographs and chat to the tele-vision crews.
"It's very exciting to be here but I am also scared if people will like the film. I really hope so," 19-year-old Madi told journalists.
Also on the red carpet were Mohammad Hassan Ahmad, the film's scriptwriter, producer Daniela Tully and the rest of the cast including Abrar Al Hamad, Mariam Hussain, Bilal Abdullah, Aisha Abdul Rahman, Hassan Rajab, Ahmad Iraj, Ali Al Jabiri and Khadeeja Al Ta'ei.
Abu Dhabi-born Al Janahi was excited to be showing his film for the first time.
"It's a wonderful feeling and one I will never forget. I am very proud of what I have achieved for me but also for my country."
Al Mulla, 20, an Emirati from Sharjah, admitted he was "a bag of nerves".
"I just want people to like it," he said.
The first film by an Emirati director to be produced by the Abu Dhabi-based production company Image Nation, Sea Shadow is the latest in a growing number of feature-length films made in the UAE, by local filmmakers.
Seaside town
Set in a small seaside town in the northern emirate, Sea Shadow follows teenagers Mansour and Kaltham, played by Al Mulla and Madi, as they struggle with traditions and conventions while growing up.
Internationally-acclaimed director Michael Winterbottom and actress Tilda Swinton were also in the capital for the fifth installment of the annual festival, to pick up a Black Pearl Awards for their contribution to the film industry.
Winterbottom was up first with a ceremony at the Abu Dhabi Theatre last night — ahead of a screening of his latest movie, Trishna, starring Freida Pinto.
Speaking to Gulf News, Winterbottom recalled filming Code 46, parts of which were shot in the UAE.
"We shot a little bit of the Burj, in the desert and on the roads," he said.
Futuristic appeal
"A mixture of Shanghai, Rajasthan and India — which is where we shot Trishna — Dubai and then little bits of London for Code 46. Actually London was the hardest. To try and find bits of London which look like they come from the future was really tough, whereas in Dubai it was much easier."
Academy-Award winning Scottish actress Tilda Swinton, star of We Need To Talk About Kevin, which premiered in the Middle East at ADFF earlier in the week, will collect her award tonight at the closing night award ceremony at The Fairmont Hotel.
Sea Shadow will be released in cinemas across the UAE on November 17.
Reports from GulfNews.com.
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