Image Nation Abu Dhabi, the Middle East’s leading film and entertainment studio, in collaboration with Hollywood filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov and his production company, Bazelevs has unveiled the winners of UAE’s first Screenlife Accelerator Program. Launched in June 2024, the program empowered UAE nationals and residents to master the art of screenlife filmmaking format, where stories unfold entirely on computer or smartphone screens.

Following an intensive 12-week course designed to mentor aspiring filmmaking talents, thirteen filmmakers have been selected to produce a pilot of their concept. Amongst these thirteen finalists, eight standout projects have been named the winners of the programme, earning the opportunity and support to take their projects to the next level in script development.

Among the winners is Disappearance by Emirati filmmaker Abdulbaset Qayed, a supernatural thriller that follows popular vlogger Omar and his partner Nixon as they investigate the vanishing of a young man in the mountains of Oman only to uncover the presence of a dark, otherworldly force. Turkish duo Gorkem Sifael & Ozgur Akyuz impressed with Stalker, a gripping psychological drama about a tech-savvy young woman who creates a powerful search software to find her missing mother only to have it turned against her by a manipulative stalker. Emirati director and producer Afra Al Marar’s Hidden Melody tells the story of a junior music composer who receives a mysterious unfinished song from a singer who dies just ten minutes later unraveling a trail of clues that lead to a shocking secret hidden within the music industry.

French expat Julie Sanchez’s Maybe You Should Talk to Someone dives into the unsettling digital world of an online psychologist, blurring the line between helper and the helped in a twisting psychological thriller. American-Lebanese Dana Ittani’s Just My Type offers a sharp and timely take on cybercrime, inspired by real cases following the story of online romance scams and the digital systems that ultimately bring justice to the victims. Mother Scammer by Dubai based Ekta Saran and British expat Danielle Arden is a satirical psychological thriller set against the polished backdrop of Dubai’s high society, where a struggling single mother and designer falls prey to a digital scam that upends her carefully curated life. Aisha Al Aqel’s Closure stood out with its ambitious blend of science fiction and horror following Josephine as she resurrects her twin brother via an AI self-care app after his death on a spiritual trip, only to find that faith, grief and artificial intelligence create a dangerous and unstable mix. Finally, Yemeni Tammam Assi’s The Link adds another layer to the digital thriller slate, where in the era of viral fame and digital deception, a woman’s online entanglement with a dangerous imposter forces her to confront her deepest fears and fight for her family.

Ben Ross, CEO of Image Nation Abu Dhabi, said: “As Abu Dhabi and the UAE continue to establish its position as a leader in the creative industries, our partnership on screenlife reflects our commitment to innovation in filmmaking, empowering emerging storytellers with the latest tools, and showcasing the UAE’s unique identity through globally resonant stories. We were overwhelmed with the level of talent we saw in the during the program – and look forward to bringing these projects to life.”

Timur Bekmambetov, pioneer of the screenlife format, added: “Screenlife isn’t just a new storytelling language, it’s a real tool for social impact. It democratizes access to cinema through technology and changes the idea that cinema belongs only to those with big connections and big budgets. Instead, screenlife makes cinema a platform for new voices and untold stories coming from emerging regions and underserved communities. All our best screenlife films were made by first-time filmmakers. And we hope this accelerator’s finalist will soon be next.”

Bekmambetov is the pioneer of screenlife films in which the action is set from the point of view of smartphone and computer screens as characters utilize their devices that drive the narrative forward. His debut screenlife production – a teen horror pic UNFRIENDED (2015) – was picked up by Universal and went on to gross more than $65 million against a budget of $1 million. His next screenlife production, SEARCHING (2018) starring John Cho, became a sensation at the Sundance Film Festival, grossing over $75 million. This film has also spawned sequel MISSING (2023) starring Emmy-winning Storm Reid that grossed $48.8 million and topped Netflix US movie chart. His latest screenlife production – the digital heist film LIFEHACK (2025) – premiered this March at SXSW and received a sensational 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Screenlife films earned Bekmambetov’s production company Bazelevs a place in Fast Company’s Top 10 Most Innovative video companies in the world in 2021. Bekmambetov also published a guidebook on how to make screenlife films.

This milestone underscores Image Nation Abu Dhabi’s commitment to driving the future of filmmaking in the region. As the industry embraces new digital horizons, screenlife projects offer a fresh, cost-efficient way to craft impactful stories that resonate with today’s audiences. By championing this innovative format, Image Nation Abu Dhabi is not only nurturing homegrown talent but also positioning the UAE as a global hub for cutting-edge cinematic storytelling.