The Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre will host the UK/UAE 2017 Short Film Festival, "Celebrating Cultural Exchange Through Film", as part of the UAE/UK 2017 Year of Creative Collaboration, led by the British Council in partnership with Image Nation Abu Dhabi, one of the leading media and entertainment companies in the Middle East.

Eight selected films by emerging and established filmmakers from the UAE and UK will be screened at the Feature Theatre of Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre this Thursday, 16th November, 2017.

The festival includes four Emirati films, "The Blind Side" by Aysha Abdullah, "Beshkara" by Abdulrahman Al Madani, "Kanadeer" by Ali Bin Matar and "The Other Dimension" by Aisha Al Zaabi. The British participation includes also four films, "Dear Mr. Shakespeare" by Shola Amoo, "Operator" by Caroline Bartleet, "Fish Story" by Charlie Lyme and "Saturday" by Mike Forshaw.

Omar Al Blooshi, Director of Marketing and Corporate Communication, said, "Hosting the UK/UAE 2017 Short Film Festival is in line with the zoo's missions in supporting cultural exchange and providing unique experiences to visitors. We appreciate the selection of the Sheikh Zayed Desert Centre to screen the films, as it includes the second largest screen in the Middle East. In addition, the centre offers educational and cultural exhibitions that make it an ideal site to host this type of festival that aims to promote the cultural and artistic movement at a local and global scale, and in Al Ain City in particular."

Hannah Henderson, Director of the UK/UAE 2017 Year of Creative Collaboration, said, "We are delighted to be screening the UK/UAE 2017 Short Film Festival programme. We are particularly pleased to be bringing the festival to an Al Ain audience as it journeys around the UAE. The festival aims to inspire the next generation of film-makers in the UAE, stimulate debate and exchange between UAE and UK film makers as well as build awareness of both the UK and the UAE’s film industry and film making talent."

The films that will be screened have been carefully selected by the organisers, Image Nation Abu Dhabi and the British Council, to spark the interest of local and international audiences .

The short film festival was launched at a Culture Exchange Through Film Symposium held in Abu Dhabi, which featured industry led panels with British filmmakers Shola Amoo, Mike Forshaw and Caroline Bartlett, alongside established Emirati filmmakers Nayla Al Khaja and Nawaf Al Janahi. The Al Ain screening will close the week-long festival which travelled to Ras al-Khaimah, Fujairah and Umm Al Qaiwain.

The UAE/UK Year of Culture, led by the British Council, falls under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and H.R.H. Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales.