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Supported by twofour54 creative lab, evocative documentary film ‘Feeding Five Hundred’, is eligible for awards in three categories: the Brief Encounters Grand Prix Award; the Audience Award and the Best Short Documentary

The documentary’s screening at 17:30, Wednesday 18th September, Watershed, Bristol, UK to be followed by a Q&A session with the filmmaker Rafed Alharthi

‘Feeding Five Hundred’, a short film directed by Emirati filmmaker Rafed Alharthi and supported and produced by twofour54 creative lab, has been officially selected to screen in competition at the UK’s prestigious Encounters Short Film & Animation Festival which takes place in Bristol, England, 17-22 September 2013. Now in its 19th year, the festival is the UK’s leading showcase and meeting point for emerging film talent and it is the country’s leading gateway to prestigious awards including the BAFTAs, Oscars and The European Film Awards. ‘Feeding Five Hundred’ is the first Emirati film ever to be selected for the festival and it is the only Arab film selected from the 2,372 entries this year.

Set in the UAE, ‘Feeding Five Hundred’ is an evocative documentary about one man’s passion, determination and struggle to feed 500 stray cats each day since 1995. The film, which is in Arabic with English subtitles, has already been screened at three international festivals this year and selected for a further four.  At the Encounters Short Film and Animation Festival, it is eligible for awards across three categories.

Noura Al Kaabi, Chief Executive Officer, twofour54 said:

“The selection of this engaging short film at such a prestigious international film festival is well deserved recognition for the filmmaker Rafed Alharthi, and for the creative lab community who supported and helped produce it.  The acclaim that the film is receiving demonstrates not just Rafed’s talent as a filmmaker, but also the caliber of productions developed by young UAE talent from twofour54’s creative lab community. It is very exciting that the first documentary produced by creative lab has been so well received, especially because it’s a genre that has great potential in the region.”

Liz Harkman, Managing Director, Encounters Short Film and Animation Festival, added:

“Encounters Short Film and Animation Festival is delighted to be welcoming the makers of ‘Feeding Five Hundred’ to Bristol this September.  As a committed supporter of emerging talent from around the globe, it’s great to see such strong work coming from the developing film industry in the Emirates.”

Twenty-five year old Emirati, Rafed Alharthi, commenced his career ‘on-screen’, first as a volunteer and later as a professional presenter on Abu Dhabi TV where he still regularly introduces his own show ‘Min Alkhater’.  After participating in the Young Media Leaders programme, run by twofour54’s training academy, tadreeb, Rafed developed a passion for documentary filmmaking.  ‘Feeding Five Hundred’ is his debut production.

Rafed said:

“It’s very exciting that ‘Feeding Five Hundred’ has been selected and I’m really looking forward to flying to the UK for the Encounters Short Film and Animation Festival where I hope to connect with other filmmakers and film industry professionals to explore other projects to further develop my career. I’d like to extend my thanks to the team at twofour54 creative lab who supported and produced ‘Feeding Five Hundred’.  I’m passionate about filmmaking and this could lead to anything!”

At The Encounters Short Film and Animation Festival, ‘Feeding Five Hundred’ is eligible for:  the Brief Encounters Grand Prix Award; the Audience Award and the Best Short Documentary.

‘Feeding Five Hundred’ has been screened or is due to be screened at other festivals in 2013. These are:  Ismaïlia International Festival for Documentary and Short Films, Egypt; Cinemadamare, Italy; Two Riversides, Poland; flEXiff – Cinewest, Australia; Nour Festival of Arts, UK; Beirut International Film Festival, Lebanon and Festival International du Court Métrage, France.

Established in 2010, twofour54 creative lab is an initiative that identifies, nurtures and guides young Arab talent looking to jumpstart a media or creative career.  Its film productions, in particular, have been very successful, achieving 177 film festival acceptances and 23 awards to date. ‘Feeding Five Hundred’ is the first documentary produced by creative lab.

See the trailer for ‘Feeding Five Hundred’ at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SGzE5ZAfnA

To find out more about creative lab log on to: http://twofour54.com/creativelab

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