00:00I read the last selected four scripts. They're very interesting, very different from one
00:14from another. There are many criteria, obviously. It's a story, it's the writing, the originality,
00:23basically all criteria which makes a movie of quality. And I think with the committee
00:32which was together this afternoon, I hope we made the right choice.
00:37It's great, it's wonderful, and it gives you hope. It's so hard to raise the funding for
00:42films from this region, and for films, you know, fiction, feature films. And I'm mostly
00:50a documentary filmmaker, so this is my first fiction-feature film, although I'm an editor.
00:56So, you know, there's lots of difficulties, so actually to be at least in the running
01:01for this award is fantastic, because it would really kick off the production funding for
01:05this award. So, I don't think, you know, it's great. I mean, whether I win or not, it's
01:10great. It's not this far.
01:12I've been working very hard on this script. It's been two years I've been working on this,
01:17to see it, to give it away. It's like a baby of mine, almost, to give it away and see people
01:20reading it, and to remember reading it, and then give me feedback on it. That's also surreal.
01:25So, in either case, I'm really happy to be part of this, and to be shortlisted. It gives
01:30us credibility. I have so much gratitude for the Weidman Festival. Wherever I reach around
01:36the world today, or in the future, it's going to be from here, because this was my starting
01:41point. So, I'm quite glad to be back to the festival and to see what's going on.
01:46I think, like, everyone is already a winner. So, whatever the result is, like, it's winning
01:51for all the Gulf region. All the filmmakers are really good filmmakers, and they deserve
01:56all the success. We hope that all these filmmakers come to heaven, because in the Gulf region,
02:01we need more of feature films. So, this award will give more hope for more films to come
02:08from the region. So, whoever will win, it's a win-win for everyone.
02:12We started out with a very lack of understanding of film in this part of the world, and now
02:16we're seeing that there are film grants popping out all over the place. It makes us realize
02:20that there is support, and with the support, we're able to, you know, make our projects
02:24come to life.
02:25It's a privilege. I mean, to head up the judging panel for the emerging filmmakers, and to
02:33have a prize associated with the festival, I think is great. So, it's not just about
02:37the films that have been made, that are being judged. It's also about the next voices,
02:42the emerging voices. I think there's a real, well, it's, you know, obviously, I mean, I'm
02:46from Australia, too, which is a relatively small film culture, but I think there's so
02:52many voices here at the festival, and it's perfect that they're, from my, you know, outsider's
02:56perspective, that it's here in Dubai, you know, gathering together so many different
03:00cultures who are actually so diverse. I think there's so many ways that films are being
03:04made. I mean, so few people are actually shooting on film anymore. I don't even know
03:07why we're calling them films anymore, but it's a constantly evolving medium, and that's
03:13what makes it exciting and dynamic.
03:15Can you wave at us, please? Can you wave at us?
03:19On your right.
03:23That's incredible.
03:27Mr. Spacey, please.
03:29On here, please.
03:33Mr. Spacey, just in front of you.
03:36Ah, okay.
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