RIYADH — The official shortlist for the first ever Small Screen, Big Film festival has been announced, featuring twelve short films created on smartphones by young people across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

The Festival takes place via the British Council’s YouTube channel between April 24 and May 4, when all 12 shortlisted works will be available for viewing across the globe.

The shortlisted films from the Kingdom are: “Do it” by Eman Aldweikh, “Fake Life” by Abdullah Zia and “The Taxi Driver” by Faisal Musa.

Four standout smartphone filmmakers will be chosen at the end of the festival for a one-to-one mentorship program with a British filmmaker, courtesy of the London Film School.

A new platform for young and aspiring filmmakers in the Gulf, Small Screen, Big Film is one of eight initiatives under the British Council’s Culture and Sports program, a three-year initiative aimed at promoting active participation in culture and sports to encourage greater youth engagement, team work, volunteering, female participation and leadership, diversity and inclusion.

The Small Screen, Big Film shortlist was selected by a jury comprised of renowned industry professionals: Emirati filmmaker Nahla Al Fahad; Emirati Director Abdulla Al Kaabi; award winning British filmmaker Asif Kapadia and English actress and writer Alice Lowe. — SG