Three GCC filmmakers shortlisted for IWC Filmmaker Award

Swiss luxury watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen and Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) have announced the three shortlisted projects in the line-up for the USD 100,000 prize for the third annual IWC Filmmaker Award. The shortlisted projects are Saeed Salmeen Al Murry’s Going to Heaven, Ahd Kamel’s Sandfish and Abdullah Boushahri’s The Water, with the winner set to be announced at a gala event on 11 December 2014 during the 11^th edition of DIFF.

The three projects in development will be assessed by a jury of film industry experts, who will consider the scripts and the overall potential of the projects. Last year, UAE director Waleed Al-Shehhi received the IWC Filmmaker Award from IWC Friend of the Brand and head of the jury, Cate Blanchett for his project Dolphins, which will screen at the Festival this December.

Karoline Huber, Brand Director of IWC Schaffhausen Middle East & India, commented on this year’s award: “We are delighted to partner with the Dubai International Film Festival to bring the IWC Filmmaker Award to the Gulf filmmaking community for a third year. Over the course of the past two editions, we have had the privilege of meeting some of the Gulf’s most prominent and up and coming filmmakers who introduced us to unique and captivating stories from the region. Witnessing their visions come to life has been an extremely rewarding and fascinating experience, and we are looking forward to further contributing to storytelling in the region.”

DIFF Artistic Director Masoud Amralla Al Ali commented: “The GCC is rich in stories, legends and traditions that are waiting to be told through the medium of film. Thanks to the IWC Filmmaker Award and our partnership with IWC Schaffhausen, we have created a platform that allows both emerging and established Gulf filmmakers to take their projects from script to screen.”