In line with its commitment to encourage local talent, the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF) has honoured a group of Abu Dhabi students for their efforts to contribute to the arts in the UAE. Students from Abu Dhabi Men’s College (HCT) Faisal Al Saari, Saoud Al Mulla, Majed Al Marzouqi and Naif Al Mansoori received the annual ADMAF creativity award for producing the film “Story of a Nation” during a special ceremony held at the college on the 25th June 2009.
Established in 2004, the ADMAF creativity award is offered annually to outstanding creative students with the aim of supporting and promoting young national talent from Abu Dhabi’s universities. The award is valued at AED 25,000. The students also received the 6th Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Festival Award, designed by Chopard. Both awards were presented by ADMAF in the presence of Simon Jones, Director of the Abu Dhabi Men’s College. Both awards were granted to the same recipient, a testament to the quality of work and creativity demonstrated by the students.
Founder of the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation, H. E. Mrs Hoda I. Al Khamis-Kanoo, who presented the award, said:
“I am delighted to bestow the annual ADMAF creativity and the 6th Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Festival awards on this team of distinguished students. Encouraging home grown talent and creative thinking is at the heart of what we strive to accomplish at ADMAF and the creativity award is an important part of our efforts.
“Through the beautiful melody, carefully chosen words and archive footage, “Story of a Nation” lovingly depicts the history of our nation, the UAE. The students’ passion for the arts and for music is highly evident in their work and for that they are worthy winners of this year’s awards.”
‘Story of a Nation’ is a moving telling of the history of the UAE. The film takes in the four significant eras of the UAE – pre-unification, early unification from 1937, the death of His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nayhan, the late President of the UAE, and His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nayhan, the current President of the UAE’s rule to date.”
The film’s soundtrack was composed by HCT communications and technology graduate, Faisal Al Saari, who invited a poet from Sharjah to write the accompanying Arabic poem in four parts, and then edited together selected clips from the archives at Abu Dhabi TV to provide a visual backdrop to the song. The ADMAF creativity award and the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Festival award are integral components of ADMAF’s year-round education program, which seeks to inspire the future generation of Emirati artists by working closely with national universities and educational institutions. In addition to the extensive year-round program, ADMAF organises educational initiatives as part of the annual Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Festival, with the aim of educating the public about arts and culture.
