Karama [pictured] succeeds Ali Al Jabri as director of Emirates Film Competition, after Al Jabri promotion to ADFF director earlier this year.

Abu Dhabi Film Festival (ADFF) have announced the appointment of Saleh Karama as the new director of the Emirates Film Competition, effective immediately.

Karama, who succeeds Ali Al Jabri who was earlier this year promoted to director of ADFF, is an established Emirati novelist, playwright, screenwriter and director who was one of the founders of Abu Dhabi Theatre in 1977. His short film What Is Left? won the 2003 EFC and he was also awarded best director at the 2008 Middle East Film Festival for Henna.

Al Jabri commented: “We are proud and excited to have Saleh take on this new role. He has been a key figure throughout the competition’s rich history, whose knowledge and experience will help take the EFC to new levels. He has also been instrumental in developing the film scene in the region, and we are sure he will continue to champion local and regional cinema by curating a program of outstanding works to be shown at the festival each year.”

For the first time this year, the ADFF, which runs Oct 11-20, has come under the management of TwoFour54 as part of the plan to strategically align the festival alongside Abu Dhabi’s other media initiatives and related events.

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