The UAE hosted its first Italian–Emirati cinema event, “La Dolce Via Festival,” which aimed to support Emirati creatives through training led by Italian film industry experts.
The festival, held from November 24 to 26, took place across the venues including the Mohammed bin Rashid Library and the Cultural Foundation.
Festival launch and awards
The Embassy of Italy in the UAE and the Consulate General of Italy in Dubai participated in the event. Deputy Head of Mission Giacomo Buonaiuto and Consul General Edoardo Napoli attended the opening.
At the Mohammed bin Rashid Library, Mohammed al Murr, chairman of the Library, received the La Dolce Via Award alongside the Italian Consul, the President of the American University in the Emirates (AUE), Professor Muthanna G. Abdul Razzaq, Thoraya al Awadhi, Roberta Calarese, and Italian guests Gabriele Mainetti and Alessandro Preziosi.
Supporting Emirati talent
La Dolce Via Festival was conceived in 2023 by Benedetta Paravia, a Golden Visa holder recognized as a “talented pioneering individual.” The festival was promoted by A.N.G.E.L.S. – Associazione Nazionale Giovani Energie Latrici di Solidarietà APS, with the goal of nurturing young Emirati creatives and university students.
The initiative introduced new generations to Italian film culture and supported the development of a national film hub led by Emirati citizens. The festival encouraged collaborations, co-productions, and joint ventures between Italy and the UAE. Undergraduate and postgraduate students from arts, design, and media faculties participated in masterclasses and workshops taught by Italian directors and producers.
Masterclasses and workshops
This year, students from multiple Emirati universities, including the American University in the Emirates, engaged with director and producer Gabriele Mainetti, whose film trilogy was screened during the festival. Actor Alessandro Preziosi also participated, offering workshops and guidance for aspiring actors.
The festival was held under the patronage of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Tourism, and the Lazio Region. On the UAE side, it was supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Italy in Abu Dhabi, with media partnerships from RAI and Abu Dhabi Media.
Academic collaboration
On November 19, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between AUE and A.N.G.E.L.S., represented by Paravia. The agreement will create advanced specialist training programs in film for media and design students, offering opportunities to study in Italy within the framework of the festival. This was the fourth such agreement signed by Paravia.
“Since my arrival in the United Arab Emirates in 2002,” said Dr. Benedetta Paravia, “I have considered it both a duty and an honour to contribute to the development of this extraordinary country through Italian know-how. I have created initiatives to support Emiratization, having deeply understood the importance of this national project. Today, I work so that the students of today may one day win a Golden Lion in Venice as directors, producers or actors. The UAE is rich in extraordinary talent that deserves to be encouraged and guided towards advanced film education.”
Milestone for cultural ties
La Dolce Via Festival marked a milestone in cultural and cinematic relations between Italy and the UAE, representing the first film festival established collaboratively by the two countries. The festival combined screenings, masterclasses, workshops, and student-focused events to foster creative exchange and strengthen the Emirati film sector.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
