Satellite Voices

Dubai

Girl on Film with Butheina Hamed Kazim

May 20, 2011

The Emirati film producer launches a new initiative bringing local films to Dubai’s community

• Text by Kate Hazell

The Pavilion Downtown Dubai opens its four-month long series of film screenings this weekend presented by the Abu Dhabi Film Festival (ADFF) and in collaboration with film producer Butheina Hamed Kazim. ADFF @ The Pavilion Downtown Dubai will showcase highlights of the capitals festival to the Dubai community with the first film, "Ok Enough, Goodbye" by Rania Attieh & Daniel Garcia, kicking off tonight at 7.30pm. Satellite Voices talks to the series curator, film producer Butheina Hamed Kazim about the new exciting initiative.

Satellite Voices: Why did you decide to curate this film series?
Butheina Hamed Kazim: There are very powerful stories that have been captured and told throughout the past few years at the film festivals in the UAE that need to be given a platform to reach a bigger audience, watched, discussed and considered. That is the importance of bringing films to the audiences wherever they may be.

SV: What film are you most excited about and why?
Butheina Hamed Kazim: As the co-curator, it is very difficult for me to pick a favorite, but if I must, I am very excited about "Ok, Enough, Goodbye" because of its unconventional approach to a contemporary Arab story that is beautifully crafted and characterised by subtlety you rarely see in Arab film.

SV: What do you think about the local film industry?
Butheina Hamed Kazim: It’s at its infancy, and a very spoiled infancy at that! It is growing at a very fast pace and receiving tremendous support from private and government entities dedicated to encouraging talents. Having said that, it is important that to build a sustainable film industry to the truest sense, you need to focus on the creation and cultivation of a film eco-system - education, distribution, policy, regulation, platforms, technological advancement and other elements that impact the building of a compelling film environment.

SV: What does Dubai mean to you?
Butheina Hamed Kazim: Dubai is a beautiful and dynamic city in the UAE, the UAE is my home. 

SV: What inspires you about Dubai?
Butheina Hamed Kazim: The constant, almost unintended collision of past and present that results in colorful sparks shaping the future of the city and its people.