Film Celebrating Religious Tolerance In The UAE To Premier At ADFF

A documentary highlighting the UAE as a beacon of religious harmony in a troubled region is set to make its screen debut next week at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival.

‘ONE’, by Abu Dhabi-based filmmaker Daniel Malak, celebrates religious tolerance in the Emirates by showing how the country’s Islamic and Christian communities manage to live happily side by side. It will screen twice during ADFF, as a contender in the short documentary category of the Emirates Film Competition.

The thought-provoking film features interviews with senior representatives of the UAE’s Islamic and Christian communities. It focuses on Dr Ahmed Al Mousa, an expert in Islamic Studies, and the Reverend Andrew Thompson, Senior Chaplain at St Andrews Anglican Church, Al Mushrif, and also includes His Eminence Ali Al Hashemi, Religious and Judicial Advisor at the Ministry of Presidential Affairs.

Throughout the 16-minute film, Dr Al Mousa and Rev Thompson stress the importance of focusing on what the two religions have in common, and respecting one another.

The film’s young director believes it provides a glimmer of hope at a time when many Middle Eastern countries are mired in conflict.

“This was a very important film for me to make, and I believe it carries a very positive message,” said Malak, 23, a graduate of the New York Film Academy, Abu Dhabi.

“Sadly, there’s a lot of unrest in the Middle East at the moment, much of it motivated by religious differences. I feel strongly that the UAE is a great example of how people from very different faiths in this region can live as one, and respect one another’s beliefs.

“I was brought up in this country as a Christian, and I have many Muslim friends and acquaintances, as well as friends from other religions.

“What came out during filming – and I happen to agree with this – is that by shifting the focus towards similarities instead of differences, there is absolutely no reason why people with different religious beliefs can’t forge strong and lasting friendships.

“It’s not about pretending that differences don’t exist; it’s about making them less important than the common ground you share.”

‘ONE’ was filmed over a two-month period in Abu Dhabi at locations including, the Mohammed Bin Zayed Mosque, St. Andrews Church, St. Antony Coptic Orthodox Church and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. The documentary is directed and filmed by Daniel Malak and was co-produced and co-edited by Malak and John Haddad, another young filmmaker based in Abu Dhabi.

Daniel, a multi-media producer for a company in twofour54, is no stranger to awards success; his first short film, A Million Thoughts, was made in 2011 and won the People’s Choice Award at the Resonate Short Film Festival.

Last year, his short documentary Little People was selected to be a part of Abu Dhabi Film Festival, competing in the Emirates Film Competition, and also screened at Cannes Short Film Corner 2013.

Malak has also made successful promo videos; the films A Majestic Journey and Our Beloved Home both aired on Abu Dhabi TV and other TV channels as part of the 40th UAE National Day coverage.

Other achievements include a music video for the Lebanese band Mashrou' Leila, which has more than 150,000 views on YouTube.

‘ONE’ will screen at Abu Dhabi Film Festival on Sunday, October 26th at 6pm, and again on Saturday, November 1st at 4:15 pm.

Emirate:  Abu Dhabi

Date: Oct 21, 2014

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