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Nayla Al Khaja | |
---|---|
Born | |
Nationality | Emirati |
Occupation(s) | Director, producer |
Spouse |
Christian Peter (
m. 2016) |
Relatives | 2 |
Nayla Al Khaja ( Arabic: نايلة الخاجة; born March 7 March 1978) is the first female screenwriter, director, and producer in the United Arab Emirates, [1]
Al Khaja pursued image studies and filmmaking in Toronto. [2] She earned a degree in mass communication from Dubai Women's College and completed her bachelor's degree in film studies [3] at Ryerson University in Toronto in 2005.
In 2006, her film Arabana premiered at the Dubai International Film Festival, where she was honored as the best Emirati filmmaker. [4] This recognition paved the way for a series of notable short films, including Once (2009), Malal (2010), and The Neighbor (2013).
Al Khaja's films, Animal and The Shadow achieved international recognition when Netflix acquired their rights in September 2022. This expanded her reach to a global audience. [5] [6]
In April 2021, media outlets reported Al Khaja's entry into series production. Her anthology The Alexandria Killings, will be directed by Terry George, with Al Khaja serving as executive producer and set to direct multiple episodes. [7]
In 2023, Al Khaja produced her debut drama, horror, and thriller feature film, Three. [8] It debuted at the third Red Sea International Film Festival that same year. [9] The horror-thriller explores themes of grief, familial bonds, and cross-cultural beliefs. Vox distribution released the film in the Middle East and North Africa 1 February 2024. [10] The film is the first Arabic production to utilize AI technology for voice localization, resulting in its release in Mandarin. Premiering in Chinese on March, Three is the first Emirati film to reach a global audience. [11]The feature film 'THREE' was showcased at the Moscow International Film Festival held in Moscow, Russia, on April 21, 2024. [12]
Al Khaja is developing a second fantasy-realism horror feature film, Baab, with A. R. Rahman [13] set to compose the musical score.
Title | Year | Al Khaja credit | Genre | Project type | Award(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sweet Sixteen | 1996 | Writer & director | Comedy | Short | |
3adi.com | 1998 | Director | Documentary | Short | |
The Will | 2003 | Producer | Documentary | Short | |
The Loss | 2005 | Producer | Drama | Short | |
Unveiling Dubai | 2005 | Producer & director | Documentary | Short | |
Arabana | 2006 | Writer & director | Drama | Short | Best Female Filmmaker – Dubai International Film Festival, 2007 |
Once | 2009 | Writer & director | Drama | Short | |
Malal | 2010 | Writer & director | Short | Production of the Year – Digital Studio Award, 2011; 1st prize, Muhr Emirati Category – Dubai International Film Festival, 2010; Best Script – Gulf International Film Festival, 2010; 1st prize, International Young Screen Entrepreneur – British Council, 2010; 1st prize, Emirati Short Film Script Competition – Gulf Film Festival, 2010 | |
Hi | 2012 | Writer & director | Drama | Short | |
Three | 2013 | Writer & director | Horror | Short | Hazawi Fund for Short Film – Doha Film Institute, 2013 |
The Neighbor | 2013 | Writer & director | Drama | Short | Best Short Film – Middle East Now Festival, 2015; Muhr Emirate, Special Jury Award – Dubai International Film Festival, 2015; Best Emirati Film – Abu Dhabi Film Festival, 2013 |
Animal | 2016 | Writer & director | Drama | Short (pilot for feature project) | Best women's issue short – Madrid Arthouse Film Festival, 2022; Best Short Cinematography – Arthouse Festival of Beverly Hills, 2021; Jury Award, Narrative Film – Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival, 2018; Jury Special Prize, Best Short Fiction – Italian Movie Award, 2017 |
The Shadow | 2019 | Writer & director | Drama, horror | Short (pilot for feature project) | Best Cinematography in Short – Dubai Independent Film Festival, 2022; Best Horror Short – Arthouse Festival of Beverly Hills, 2021; Best Fantasy / Horror Short – WorldFest Houston, 2020; Best United Arab Emirates talent – Al Ain Film Festival, 2020 |
The Road to Fulfilment | 2022 | Director | Documentary | Short | Documentaries and Reports: Environment, Ecology and Sustainability, Silver Dolphin Award – Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards, 2023 |
Three | 2023 | Writer & director | Drama, thriller, horror | Feature film |
As the CEO of Al Khaja Films (formerly D-Seven Motion Pictures) since 2005, Al Khaja has played a significant role in local film production. Her company has also produced commercial films. Al Khaja has directed commercials for brands and she served as a behind-the-scenes director on Star Trek 3, appointed by the Dubai Film and TV Commission.[ citation needed]
In 2007, Al Khaja founded the Scene Club (later changed the Scene), the UAE's first film club. [14] With a membership exceeding 22,000, the Scene Club has functioned as a cultural hub, introducing independent films to audiences in the UAE. [15] [16]
Al Khaja became the representative, brand ambassador, and endorser of companies through partnerships and promotions, including Apple, [17] Samsung, [18] Oppo, [19] Honor, [20] Du Telecommunication, [21] Porsche, [22] LG, [23] Canon, [24] Gucci, [25] Chopard, [26] Damas Jewelry, [27] Estée Lauder, [28] TAG Heuer, [29] Philadelphia Cream Cheese, [30] Neutrogena, [31] and Emirates airline. [32]
Al Khaja is proficient in five languages, and speaks on cinema, entrepreneurship, culture, youth motivation, and women's empowerment. She has given TED Talks. [33]
This article has multiple issues. Please help
improve it or discuss these issues on the
talk page. (
Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
Nayla Al Khaja | |
---|---|
Born | |
Nationality | Emirati |
Occupation(s) | Director, producer |
Spouse |
Christian Peter (
m. 2016) |
Relatives | 2 |
Nayla Al Khaja ( Arabic: نايلة الخاجة; born March 7 March 1978) is the first female screenwriter, director, and producer in the United Arab Emirates, [1]
Al Khaja pursued image studies and filmmaking in Toronto. [2] She earned a degree in mass communication from Dubai Women's College and completed her bachelor's degree in film studies [3] at Ryerson University in Toronto in 2005.
In 2006, her film Arabana premiered at the Dubai International Film Festival, where she was honored as the best Emirati filmmaker. [4] This recognition paved the way for a series of notable short films, including Once (2009), Malal (2010), and The Neighbor (2013).
Al Khaja's films, Animal and The Shadow achieved international recognition when Netflix acquired their rights in September 2022. This expanded her reach to a global audience. [5] [6]
In April 2021, media outlets reported Al Khaja's entry into series production. Her anthology The Alexandria Killings, will be directed by Terry George, with Al Khaja serving as executive producer and set to direct multiple episodes. [7]
In 2023, Al Khaja produced her debut drama, horror, and thriller feature film, Three. [8] It debuted at the third Red Sea International Film Festival that same year. [9] The horror-thriller explores themes of grief, familial bonds, and cross-cultural beliefs. Vox distribution released the film in the Middle East and North Africa 1 February 2024. [10] The film is the first Arabic production to utilize AI technology for voice localization, resulting in its release in Mandarin. Premiering in Chinese on March, Three is the first Emirati film to reach a global audience. [11]The feature film 'THREE' was showcased at the Moscow International Film Festival held in Moscow, Russia, on April 21, 2024. [12]
Al Khaja is developing a second fantasy-realism horror feature film, Baab, with A. R. Rahman [13] set to compose the musical score.
Title | Year | Al Khaja credit | Genre | Project type | Award(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sweet Sixteen | 1996 | Writer & director | Comedy | Short | |
3adi.com | 1998 | Director | Documentary | Short | |
The Will | 2003 | Producer | Documentary | Short | |
The Loss | 2005 | Producer | Drama | Short | |
Unveiling Dubai | 2005 | Producer & director | Documentary | Short | |
Arabana | 2006 | Writer & director | Drama | Short | Best Female Filmmaker – Dubai International Film Festival, 2007 |
Once | 2009 | Writer & director | Drama | Short | |
Malal | 2010 | Writer & director | Short | Production of the Year – Digital Studio Award, 2011; 1st prize, Muhr Emirati Category – Dubai International Film Festival, 2010; Best Script – Gulf International Film Festival, 2010; 1st prize, International Young Screen Entrepreneur – British Council, 2010; 1st prize, Emirati Short Film Script Competition – Gulf Film Festival, 2010 | |
Hi | 2012 | Writer & director | Drama | Short | |
Three | 2013 | Writer & director | Horror | Short | Hazawi Fund for Short Film – Doha Film Institute, 2013 |
The Neighbor | 2013 | Writer & director | Drama | Short | Best Short Film – Middle East Now Festival, 2015; Muhr Emirate, Special Jury Award – Dubai International Film Festival, 2015; Best Emirati Film – Abu Dhabi Film Festival, 2013 |
Animal | 2016 | Writer & director | Drama | Short (pilot for feature project) | Best women's issue short – Madrid Arthouse Film Festival, 2022; Best Short Cinematography – Arthouse Festival of Beverly Hills, 2021; Jury Award, Narrative Film – Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival, 2018; Jury Special Prize, Best Short Fiction – Italian Movie Award, 2017 |
The Shadow | 2019 | Writer & director | Drama, horror | Short (pilot for feature project) | Best Cinematography in Short – Dubai Independent Film Festival, 2022; Best Horror Short – Arthouse Festival of Beverly Hills, 2021; Best Fantasy / Horror Short – WorldFest Houston, 2020; Best United Arab Emirates talent – Al Ain Film Festival, 2020 |
The Road to Fulfilment | 2022 | Director | Documentary | Short | Documentaries and Reports: Environment, Ecology and Sustainability, Silver Dolphin Award – Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards, 2023 |
Three | 2023 | Writer & director | Drama, thriller, horror | Feature film |
As the CEO of Al Khaja Films (formerly D-Seven Motion Pictures) since 2005, Al Khaja has played a significant role in local film production. Her company has also produced commercial films. Al Khaja has directed commercials for brands and she served as a behind-the-scenes director on Star Trek 3, appointed by the Dubai Film and TV Commission.[ citation needed]
In 2007, Al Khaja founded the Scene Club (later changed the Scene), the UAE's first film club. [14] With a membership exceeding 22,000, the Scene Club has functioned as a cultural hub, introducing independent films to audiences in the UAE. [15] [16]
Al Khaja became the representative, brand ambassador, and endorser of companies through partnerships and promotions, including Apple, [17] Samsung, [18] Oppo, [19] Honor, [20] Du Telecommunication, [21] Porsche, [22] LG, [23] Canon, [24] Gucci, [25] Chopard, [26] Damas Jewelry, [27] Estée Lauder, [28] TAG Heuer, [29] Philadelphia Cream Cheese, [30] Neutrogena, [31] and Emirates airline. [32]
Al Khaja is proficient in five languages, and speaks on cinema, entrepreneurship, culture, youth motivation, and women's empowerment. She has given TED Talks. [33]