The UAE has announced a new groundbreaking initiative, “Ticket to Bollywood” in a bid to help develop and nurture Emirati screenwriting talent in cooperation with international film production houses. Announced on 19th December 2022, the initiative provides Emirati scriptwriters with an opportunity to write a script for a major Bollywood movie.
So far, 10 Emirati screenwriters have been selected to proceed to the next stage of the talent initiative being organized by the Dubai Film and TV Commission (DFTC). With Bollywood being a huge movie and music genre across the Middle East, “Ticket To Bollywood” aims to expand the reach of Emirati creative talent by giving them a chance to write for the glamorous world of Bollywood, the world’s largest film industry in terms of number of movies produced.
The Emirati screenwriters shortlisted from the initial submissions attended an exclusive workshop featuring renowned Indian screenplay writer Althea Kaushal. Kaushal has worked on major blockbusters including rom-com “Happy New Year” directed by Farah Khan and starring Bollywood icons Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone, “Noor” starring Sonakshi Sinha and “Game” starring Abhishek Bachchan. Kaushal shared tips on writing a Bollywood script, pulling from her extensive storytelling experience in the film and ad industry, followed by an interactive Q&A.
Saeed Al Janahi, Director of Operations at DFTC, said in a released statement, “We were immensely delighted to see the positive response to “Ticket to Bollywood” as it demonstrates the scope and ambition of Emirati filmmaking talent.” He continued, “Althea Kaushal’s addition to our initiative will give the shortlisted writers an unparalleled opportunity to learn from an industry veteran as they embark on their own task of developing a Bollywood script in the final round. We are looking forward to seeing how this workshop will inspire our talent and impact the work they deliver – I am sure it will be a very competitive and difficult selection for the jury.”
The session provided the Emirati screenwriters with opportunities to learn about writing for movies, how to harness their creative talent and sharpen their narrative skills in preparation for the final round of the “Ticket to Bollywood” initiative. Following the workshop, the attendees submitted a story exploring topics of their choosing within the genres of drama, action, thriller or romance. The final scripts will be evaluated by a jury of industry experts with a chance to transform the selected scripts into Bollywood productions.
“The Ticket to Bollywood” initiative seeks to unearth gifted screenwriters who have the talent and ambition to excel on a global stage. Through further programmes like these, we will continue to provide exciting opportunities for Emirati creative talent to work with leading industry professionals and gain recognition for their craft,” added Al Janahi.
Dubai has been chosen by various major international production houses as a backdrop for their movies, attracted by its superior infrastructure, exceptional support services and exciting locales. Big-budget international blockbusters shot in Dubai include “Syriana,” “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol,” “Star Trek Beyond,” “Vanguard” and a host of major Bollywood movies.
DFTC was launched in 2012 to support the growth of the film production industry in Dubai and promote the emirate as a filming and production hub regionally and internationally. The Commission offers access to state-of-the-art digital solutions that enable production companies, freelancers and more to seamlessly search and apply for location permits across the emirate.
