A First in the UAE Film Industry

Nayla Al Khaja, CEO of Nayla Al Khaja Films LLC (NAKF) announced today the official launch of her Creative Studio, curated by IDdesign UAE and KARE. The date of 8 May is not fortuitous, as it coincides with the opening of the Cannes Film Festival 2018, for which Al Khaja won an accreditation during the latest Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF). Al Khaja will attend the Producers Network during the International Film Market and will pitch for her first feature film project, the first UAE project of this kind ever presented by a female Emirati filmmaker during this international event.

Nayla Al Khaja, the first female Emirati film Director and Producer, CEO of NAKF, is pleased to announce that she will attend the Cannes Film Market in France, from 9th to 14th May 2018, for a 5-day professional marathon along with the most influential decision-makers in the international film industry. The Producers Network is a big deal worldwide for key-players in the business of film production. For over 15 years, this exclusive program has been facilitating connections between cinema professionals to help boost film projects. Every year, the event welcomes more than 500 producers from all across the world – only la crème de la crème – for a series of meetings and events designed to encourage international co-productions and networking. Al Khaja declared “This is a tremendous opportunity, not only for the UAE film industry, but also for me as a film Director, as it is obviously a first in the History of the United Arab Emirates. I’m extremely grateful towards the international film professionals from different backgrounds who selected my project with the DIFF organizers, thus giving me a chance to become the voice of my fellow citizens and Emirati filmmakers in such a prestigious gathering.” Like the other Happy Few accredited participants, Al Khaja will be able to meet with potential partners that can move projects forward: co-producers, sales agents, festivals, film funds… Talking about the impact of the event on her career, Al Khaja continued: “I will definitely stay true to my life-long commitment to develop and promote worldwide the UAE film industry, while making the most of this milestone in my career. Overall, I’m proud and excited to remain a pioneer and represent my Nation in an event of that caliber.”

Nayla Al Khaja made this announcement during the official opening of her brand new Creative Studio in Dubai. Located in Sidra Tower, Tecom, the new facility will host the company’s creative team, in an inspiring layout, and will be a platform for mentoring Emirati talents. The relocation of Nayla Al Khaja Films, previously known as D-Seven Motion Pictures, has been decided and organized in order to accommodate the company’s new strategic orientations and its future developments. The Studio has been designed not only to become an incubator for Al Khaja’s ongoing and future projects, but also to serve as a creative hub for local talents. This new working space will eventually provide wannabe filmmakers and content creators with a place where they can come discuss their projects, receive advice and occasionally develop projects under the supervision of an experienced team and the support of Canon Middle East, Al Khaja’s partner for the past seven years.

The Studio will also enable NAKF to showcase its expertise to potential and existing clients and contribute to the promotion of the UAE film industry. “I have been blessed to find such a nice and well-served space, redesigned with the support of IDdesign and KARE. I really wanted to create a space where both my team and our visitors would feel at home and the IDdesign and KARE teams were really helpful in the selection of the right furniture and accessories and in the overall set-up for the Studio. I don’t think I could have found a better location and better partners for my plans. The Studio, its enhanced efficiencies and our equipment graciously provided by Canon Middle East, will help us continue to grow and develop to keep pace with our clients’ needs, allowing us to provide exceptional value and premium service along the way,” concluded Nayla Al Khaja. The Studio’s atmosphere has been thought of as a booster for conviviality and an intellectual exchange accelerator, since Al Khaja wishes, from now on, to essentially focus on her 4 cores of expertise: Film Director, Motivational Speaker, Influencer for Brands and Khaleeji Culture Consultant.

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