Meylas Aflam – A Celebration of Emirati Short Films

An evening of cinema, conversation and discovery, celebrating the richness and diversity of contemporary Emirati filmmaking. The films:

Noor dir Carlos Thabit Al Mawaly (2024, 15 min)

A young Emirati forms a special bond with a damaged pigeon and discovers the true meaning of love and loss …

The Battle dir Eman Al Sayed (2023, 5 min)

A young boy uses his gaming skills to navigate the complex relationship between his parents – with unexpected consequences …

Unsaid dir Mansour Ahmed (2026, 15 min)

Two old friends reunite over coffee, food and a game of chess. As memories resurface, a buried truth from their past emerges – one that is communicated not through confession, but through the silence between them …

Yathoom dir Hana Kazim (2021, 15 min)

After a devastating car accident claims the lives of her father and brother, 18-year-old Layla is consumed by survivor’s guilt and struggles to reconnect with her grieving mother. Her memories begin to distort as the boundary between nightmare and reality dissolves, leading her towards a cosmic reckoning that could either shatter her world or set her free …

A Small Dream dir Sarra’a Al Shehhi (2022, 15 min)

Maitha is obsessed with a simple dream: to swim. Torn between social expectations and her own desires, the voice of her inner child only becomes louder as the obstacles increase …

Oug dir Abdulrahman Al Madani (2025, 10 min)

A childless Emirati couple set out to buy a gift for their newborn nephew, only to find themselves caught between family expectations and social pressure to have children. When the husband’s overbearing mother arrives unannounced, long-buried tensions rise to the surface …

The screenings will be followed by a panel discussion with the filmmakers, moderated by artist, film curator and writer Hind Mezaina.