EXCLUSIVE: Picture Nation Abu Dhabi and director Timur Bekmambetov have introduced the winners of the primary version of the UAE Screenlife Accelerator Program.
The eight initiatives vary from a supernatural thriller a few vlogger investigating a disappearance within the mountains of Oman; a sci-fi horror a few girl who resurrects a useless twin by an AI self-care App, and a digital rip-off caper set towards the world of Dubai’s excessive society. (scroll down for full listing)
The joint initiative between the Emirati studio and L.A.-based Russian-Kazakh director and producer Bekmambetov, and his manufacturing firm Bazelevs, launched UAE nationals and residents to his revolutionary digital filmmaking format the place tales unfold completely on laptop or smartphone screens.
Following an intensive 12-week course, 13 filmmakers have been chosen to supply a pilot of their idea.
“As Abu Dhabi and the UAE proceed to determine its place as a frontrunner within the inventive industries, our partnership on Screenlife displays our dedication to innovation in filmmaking, empowering rising storytellers with the newest instruments, and showcasing the UAE’s distinctive id by globally resonant tales,” mentioned Picture Nation Abu Dhabi CEO Ben Ross.
“We have been overwhelmed with the extent of expertise we noticed within the throughout this system – and sit up for bringing these initiatives to life.”
Bekmambetov pioneered the Screenlife filmmaking approach to supply hits reminiscent of Unfriended (2015), Looking (2018), Lacking (2023) and most lately the positively-reviewed Lifehack (2025).
“Screenlife isn’t only a new storytelling language, it’s an actual instrument for social impression. It democratizes entry to cinema by expertise and modifications the concept cinema belongs solely to these with large connections and large budgets,” he mentioned.
“As an alternative, screenlife makes cinema a platform for brand spanking new voices and untold tales coming from rising areas and underserved communities. All our greatest screenlife movies have been made by first-time filmmakers. And we hope this accelerator’s finalist will quickly be subsequent.”
The chosen initiatives:
Disappearance
Dir. Abdulbaset Qayed (UAE)
A supernatural thriller that follows common vlogger Omar and his associate Nixon as they examine the vanishing of a younger man within the mountains of Oman solely to uncover the presence of a darkish, otherworldly pressure.
Stalker
Dirs. Gorkem Sifael & Ozgur Akyuz (Turkey)
A gripping psychological drama a few tech-savvy younger girl who creates a robust search software program to search out her lacking mom solely to have it turned towards her by a manipulative stalker.
Hidden Melody
Dir. Afra Al Marar (UAE)
A junior music composer receives a mysterious unfinished track from a singer who dies simply ten minutes later unraveling a path of clues that result in a surprising secret hidden inside the music business.
Possibly You Ought to Speak to Somebody
Dir. Julie Sanchez (France)
A psychological thriller set in unsettling digital world of an internet psychologist, blurring the road between helper and the helped.
Simply My Sort
Dir. Dana Ittani (U.S.-Lebanese)
A pointy and well timed tackle cybercrime, impressed by actual instances following the story of on-line romance scams and the digital programs that finally deliver justice to the victims.
Mom Scammer
Dirs. Ekta Saran (India), Danielle Arden (UK)
A satirical psychological thriller set towards the polished backdrop of Dubai’s excessive society, the place a struggling single mom and designer falls prey to a digital rip-off that upends her rigorously curated life.
Closure
Dir. Aisha Al Aqel (UAE)
A mix of science fiction and horror following Josephine as she resurrects her twin brother through an AI self-care app after his demise on a non secular journey, solely to search out that religion, grief and synthetic intelligence create a harmful and unstable combine. Lastly, Yemeni Tammam Assi’s
The Hyperlink
Dir. Tammam Assi (Yemen)
A digital thriller slate, the place within the period of viral fame and digital deception, a girl’s on-line entanglement with a harmful imposter forces her to confront her deepest fears and battle for her household.
