Dubai’s debut animated feature tells the captivating tale of Bilal, a young boy forced into slavery, but who dreams of throwing off his chains and becoming a great warrior.

“Bilal” will receive the Animation That Matters award in Cannes May 18 and had it’s market premiere at the 69th Festival de Cannes yesterday, May 14, 2016.

The film is based on the life of the historical figure Bilal Ibn Rabah, an African slave who became one of the early followers of the Prophet Muhammad and the first muezzin in history to call for prayer.

Set in a desert valley in western Saudi Arabia, Mecca, during the earliest Islamic ages of 580-640 AD, Bilal finds himself in a place of greed and cruelty, where the local religion is worshipping pagan idols. The place is run by a capitalist merchant Ummaya and his son, Safwan, who reveals an even more evil mistreat and humiliation for the slave.

After an act of kindness, Bilal meets merchant Abu Bakr that shares revolutionary ideas about equality and freedom, who reminds him no one was born a slave. Ummaya eventually can’t refuse the double offer made by Bakr and sells Bilal, where the path towards his destiny,  joining forces with the Prophet’s followers to battle against evil, begins.

The film doesn’t embellish the religious aspect of the true story, it rather emphasizes on the growing strength to abolish slavery, against the adoration of false icons and wealth in Mecca. More so, with a timeless and powerful message of faith, hope and strive for equality, the film will certainly reach audiences worldwide; Especially in the Western culture, a practically unknown story, in these Islamophobia hard times, where misinterpretation is so frequent these days. this is a message we can all learn from.

Dubai-based Barajoun Entertainment with a dedicated team of 360 people involved in its creation, made the animation visuals and production value stunning.The figures are wonderfully drawn and often look as if real people were masked underneath. The epic battle scenes, galloping horses and the vast deserts sequences are also well conceived.

The style can in all fairness be compared to the best and known of Hollywood animation productions. This isn’t a surprise, as the film was mixed by Academy-Award winning Michael Hedges (“Lord of the Rings”, “King Kong”) who joined a team of professional artists, some of film director Peter Jackson’s has teamed up with in the past.

With an outstanding score by famous film composer, Atli Örvarsson,  the music compositions guides us through the emotional moments of Bilal that culminates of setting his chains free. Most of the recordings were done at the Abbey Road Studio, London with some sections recorded in Iceland. The musical score is a fusion of Middle Eastern elements fused with Norse and European sentiments.

The film message of remaining true to oneself, non discrimination and striving for social justice, in an materialistic environment, is a great reminder for all. “Being a great man means living without chains” reflects as much today as it did in the sixth-century Mecca.

Find more information of “Bilal” here
Film by Ayman Jamal  
Directors: Khurram H. Alavi, Ayman Jamal  
Screenwriters: Alex Kronemer, Michael Wolfe, Khuram H. Alavi, Yassin Kamel
Composer: Atli Orvarsson
Voice cast: Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Ian McShane, China Anne McClain, Jacob Latimore
Production company: Barajoun Entertainment
Rated PG-13, Runtime:105 minutes