The first Emirati film from Image Nation Abu Dhabi, Sea Shadow, will be hitting US shores this month at the prestigious 23rd Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival, taking place from January 5-16, 2012.

After a sold out World Premiere at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival in October 2011, and much critical acclaim following its UAE cinematic release, Sea Shadow has been officially selected to participate in the 2012 Palm Springs International Film Festival’s Arabian Nights showcase, with two screenings on January 12 and 14, 2012. Featuring eleven new films from around the Middle East, the showcase highlights the emergence of exciting new filmmaking talents from across the region.

Emirati Director, Nawaf Al-Janahi, who will be at the festival to present the film, commented: “After the success of Sea Shadow in the GCC, I am excited to present the film to a new, international audience. The Palm Springs International Film Festival is one of the largest film festivals in North America, with a lineup of new and celebrated international features. It is a great honor for Sea Shadow to be included in the 2012 selection, and I look forward to seeing the audience response.”

Sea Shadow was developed and produced by Image Nation Abu Dhabi, the local division of Image Nation which is committed to developing a film industry in the UAE and encouraging the growth of Emirati filmmakers by producing films with Emirati content and talent.

Mohammed Al-Otaiba, Head of Image Nation Abu Dhabi said: “It is a source of great pride that the first movie off our Emirati slate would be selected to participate in the Palm Springs International Film Festival. It is excellent to receive recognition from such an established international film body, renowned for its wide ranging selection of highly anticipated and diverse films. The festival is the perfect fit for Sea Shadow to debut to American audiences, and we wish it every success there.”

Sea Shadow is a quiet coming of age story which follows teenagers Mansour and Kaltham as they struggle with tradition and convention in their journey towards adulthood. The film was shot entirely in the UAE with the majority of scenes taking place in Ras Al Khaimah, and was released to audiences in the GCC in November 2011.

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