Dubai International Film Festival, DIFF, has announced Saeed Salmeen Al Murry as the winning filmmaker for the first Ministry of Interior Award for Best Societal Screenplay, an award worth $100,000. Al Murry received the award for his project ‘Going to Heaven', a screenplay highlighting a social issue through the eyes of a child.
Lieutenant Colonel Faisal Al Shimmari, Deputy Chairman of the Ministry of Interior's Cinema Awards Committee, said that the Best Societal Screenplay Award at the DIFF reflects the vision of the Ministry of Interior, MoI, to prioritise the promotion and establishment of the community's trust and partnership in every societal issue.
Lieutenant Colonel Al Shimmari said, "The ministry supports projects related to enriching the cinematic industry, and anything that contributes to building community awareness and to the discussion of important social issues. Film is a successful and guaranteed method for impacting others, as it directly addresses the conscience of the recipient and helps to engage the public in exposing negative, social phenomena and security challenges. It also promotes the sense of individual responsibility and positively develops their participation." Saeed Salmeen Al Murry hailed the continued efforts of the MoI in supporting the community through its multiple services. "Winning this prize increases the size of responsibility that I place upon myself as a director in order to achieve the difficult task of producing additional films that resonate well with the audience. This award is a strong motivation for fellow citizen directors to walk the same path," he said.
Al Murry pointed out that the UAE is well-known, and that its participation in international festivals widely opens doors to deliver realistic social messages and stories from the heart of UAE society. "Winning awards such as this will encourage those that work in this field to participate in local and international festivals," he said.
Masoud Amr Allah Al Ali, Artistic Director of DIFF, welcomed the new initiative presented by the MoI, which demonstrates the power of the cinema and its ability to communicate with society in a leading way.
He pointed out that the Ministry of Interior Award for Best Societal Screenplay is to "Honour the efforts of the filmmakers who are casting light on social issues, and fulfilling the main goals of the cinema and its role in serving our society." The script portrays the life of a child who yearns for the warm embrace of his grandmother, as his life is devoid of any tenderness.
The film features Sultan, an 11-year-old who lives with his father, Abu Sultan, a cruel stepmother, and Fatima, his seven-year-old stepsister. Sultan longs for the lost compassion of his mother, and the only respite he can find is through his love for the aquarium fish in his home. While Fatima tries to console and comfort Sultan, he still yearns for more. Learning that his grandmother lives in a remote area, he decides to embark upon a journey to find her.