Sharjah Media City (Shams) has revealed the names of the dream team that will take part in the Emirates Entertainment Experience. This project – the first of its kind in film and television production in the Arab world – was announced by Shams in collaboration with Arab Format Lab.

A unique project, the Emirates Entertainment Experience involves a team of filmmaking professionals who will inspire talented young creatives who want to pursue a career in filmmaking. The dream team is comprised of director Nahla Al Fahad (UAE), actors Habib Ghuloom and Abdullah Haider, writer Mohammed Hassan Ahmed, composer Moustafa Halawany (Egypt) and director of photography Michal Sosna (Poland).

The Emirates Entertainment Experience will culminate in an Emirati film created by UAE-based talents including scriptwriters, actors, directors and people with sound engineering, cinematographic, lighting, music composition, graphics and interior design skills, who will compete to make the film.

H.E Dr Khalid Omar Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Media City (Shams), said that the Emirates Entertainment Experience will include training, workshops and an awards ceremony. He added that the Emmy – award-winning project has been implemented in a number of countries. He invited creative and talented people to take part in this unique experience; the Experience’s slogan is ‘Cinema Starts Here’.

His Excellency was very happy with the dream team, which is an elite group of directors, actors and writers with proven track records in film and drama in the UAE and the GCC region. He emphasised that the team will add momentum to the project and ensure its success.

Al Midfa added, “The aims of this agreement are to develop the film industry’s infrastructure and nurture young Emirati and Arab talents in all areas of film and television production. We also aim to stimulate start-ups and provide them with long-term training, which will reflect our strategic goal. As part of the Emirates Entertainment Experience, Sharjah Media City will launch ‘films made by audience members’ for the first time in the Arab world”.

Arab Format Lab’s Chairperson Khulud Abu Homos expressed her pride in the people who were selected for the dream team, saying that the Emirates Entertainment Experience will enhance the Lab’s joint initiative with Sharjah Media City by recognising the creativity of young UAE and Arab talents and promoting their role in the community.

Mustafa Alaidaroos, Chief Operating Officer at Arab Format Lab, said that the announcement about the dream team is key to the success of this project, which includes producing the first film in the UAE and Arab world made by audience members, hosting filmmaking workshops and organising an annual pan-Arab ceremony to recognise talent in a range of filmmaking disciplines.