Ep 10: Dubai Filmmaking, ft. Ali F. Mostafa

As the Dubai International Film Festival comes to town, the Dubai Wave Podcast is thrilled to present our world exclusive with Ali F. Mostafa, widely considered the greatest Emirati filmmaker. Writes Variety: Mostafa is “proven to be the Gulf’s first director of International standing.”

Produced by Dr. Spencer Striker, Digital Media Professor at the American University in Dubai, the show is created with the help of a talented student production team at AUD.

About Ali F. Mostafa
Ali F. Mostafa is a visionary Emirati director and producer. Having grown up in the UAE, Ali pursued his goal to be a filmmaker since he was a kid, eventually getting accepted into the London Film School in 2003. He set up his own creative studio, AFM Films, in 2007, delivering highlight films, short movies, documentaries, TV advertisements, and corporate movies. Ali's short graduation film Under the Sun was formally chosen and selected as best Foreign Film in festivals around the world. Under the Sun won 'Best Emirates Film 2006' at the Emirates Film Competition held in the nation's Capital, Abu Dhabi. Ali's work gained him recognition as 'Best Emirati Filmmaker' by the Dubai International Film Festival in 2007. Mostafa then directed the first Emirati blockbuster, City of Life, a complex portrait of the city of Dubai, told from three different cultural perspectives, and featuring such international stars as Natalie Dormer (Game of Thrones). In 2010, Advanced Studio magazine named Mostafa, 'Young Filmmaker of the Year.’

His sophomore film, From A to B, was the first Emirati film to open the Abu Dhabi Film Festival. His most recent feature, created by Image Nation Abu Dhabi, is one of the highest profile films ever produced in the Middle East, the dystopian spine chiller, The Worthy. Ali was awarded Man of The Year in 2014 by Esquire magazine's Man At His Best Awards for his accomplishments in helping build and develop a burgeoning UAE film industry.

About the Dubai Wave Podcast
The concept with Dubai Wave is to look at big picture Dubai. Each episode focuses on a unique topic, such as Dubai Fitness; Dubai Social Media; Dubai Food Scene; Dubai Music, etc., with the goal to illuminate a 360-degree viewpoint of all the exciting things happening here, the gem of the Middle East. The impressive guest list to date includes the founders of two of Dubai’s most popular food blogs (Dubai Foodie Scene); the founder of Dubai’s most influential MMA gym, Tam Khan (Dubai MMA); successful entrepreneur, Anas Bukhash (Dubai Entrepreneurship); the editor of What’s On Dubai, Laura Coughlin (Dubai Magazines); and the host of Virgin Radio Dubai, Brent Black, (Dubai Radio). Previously, Dr. Striker, with help from talented Digital Media and MBRSC students, launched a successful podcast called Digital Media & Tech in Dubai, focused on the Dubai tech industry, with eight episodes to date, featuring some of Dubai’s most exciting digital thought leaders.  

Hosted by:
Spencer Striker, PhD, Digital Media professor at the American University in Dubai
https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerstriker

& Basant Moghazy, Digital Media Student at AUD

Special Guest:
Ali Mostafa: pioneer of the Emirati film industry, changing the face of film and TV production in the Gulf. Winner of numerous awards internationally, Ali’s production company AFM Films continues to produce cutting edge work.

Website: http://www.alimostafa.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afmfilms/?hl=en
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2266823/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/afmfilms

Produced by:
Shoug Al Sayegh, AUD Digital Media student

Edited by:
Dina Bashaireh, AUD Digital Media student

Audio engineering by:
AUD Digital Media’s own Anil Mathew James

Special thanks to the AUD Marcom Team.