The successfully organized Women in Cinema from the UAE, ideated and conceptualized by Manju Ramanan is now at the Meta Film Festival Dubai.
Under the aegis of the Indian Consulate, Dubai, on April 8th media personality Manju Ramanan hosted and organised an event titled ‘Women in Cinema from the UAE.’ The panelists included pan Indian actor/ dancer Kalpana Iyer, line producer Mini Sarma, Bollywood screenwriter Althea Kaushal, Film-maker Haseeba Freiha, Director of the Dubai Meta Film Festival Leila Masinei and Founder and MD Cinema Akil, Butheina Hamed Kazim. The event was sponsored and supported by KKDD Films, Khaleej Times, Playfield Entertainment, Innara, Al Ain Water, Cochin Harbour, Aroushi Beauty Salon and Spa and Bobby Sahotra. Dubai based entrepreneur who specializes in sustainable products, Guddi Bajaj helmed the operations of the event.
Shri Bijender Singh, Consul (Consular, Labour & MADAD) inaugurated the event with Dubai based businessman Rajan Lall and supported the initiative. “ It is great to see so many inspiring stories of women who are at the helm of film-making,” he said.
Social activist and film producer Smita Thackeray graced the event and addressed the audience. “I am very happy that women cinema in the UAE have come together to talk on issues common to all women film makers across the world. “ she said.
“This is a story that I would have otherwise written. It played out as an event and I thank the Indian Consulate Dubai, sponsors and friends for helping me put this event together, “ says Manju Ramanan. ” Apart from events that entertain, something we see all year long, I felt a need for events that push you to think and be empathetic towards each other. Most people perceive film makers to be a separate breed of people out there. They are amongst us, facing the same issues we do, yet create a magical world where we escape into. And many of them are women.” she adds.
“This event was meant to be. We worked tirelessly to put it out,” says Guddi Bajaj who managed the event.
Each of the women on the panel – an achiever in her field of work, took part in the discussion enthusiastically. The crowd that had mixed nationalities supported the women and shot questions at them that the ladiesanswered spontaneously. The event ran for an hour and a half and ended right in time for Iftar.
A separate group of enterprising and dynamic women from the cinema world will be seen in the second chapter of ‘Women in Cinema’ at the Meta Film Fest Dubai between -12 of November 2023 at Wafi City.
