Abu Dhabi Film Festival

UAE director Nawaf Al-Janahi presents SEA SHADOW at ADFF 2011

UAE native director Nawaf Al-Janahi held the premier to his latest film, SEA SHADOW (2011) at Abu Dhabi Film Festival on Wednesday, 19 October 2011 in the Abu Dhabi Theater.

After screening a Q and A took place. Read below!

Q: Was there a specific character in the script that touched you to want to make the film?

NAWAF: I love all my characters. All of them touch me and I touch them.

Q: I smelled a strong political message in your film. Was there and do you care to comment?

NAWAF: Okay, write about it please.

Q: There was no real drama in your film. Can you tell us why? Was it a conscious risk you the director, or Mohammed the writer, chose?

NAWAF: The reaction of the audience is the answer. But of course there is always a risk.

Q: What inspired you to make this film? Was it based on a particular painting?

MOHAMMED (screenwriter): Actually, the story has more to do with the place itself so the place goes through change. The movie is about the place and their lives and that's what echoes in the movie.

Q: Greetings and congratulations to director, cast and Imagenation for this beautiful film.

NAWAF: Thank you!

SEA SHADOW is a heart-felt coming-of-age story about 16 year old Mansoor who lives in a small village on the Emirati coast. Mansoor struggles between his bursting feelings of first love in a notably reserved culture and tradition where expressing one's feelings is not always easy. Instead of words, he turns to gift-giving to court the apple of his eye. But while first love brings new life, it also brings death and disappointment and Mansoor must come to terms with this rude awakening.

written by Vanessa McMahon

photos from premier night by Vanessa McMahon