The Arabic-language feature directed by Ali Mostafa (From A to B) will debut at the prestigious festival this October

Abu Dhabi, September 7, 2016: Image Nation Abu Dhabi, a leading media and entertainment company, announced today that its latest feature film – The Worthy – will have its world premiere at the prestigious BFI London Film Festival (5-16 October) next month.

Directed by pioneering Emirati filmmaker Ali Mostafa, The Worthy is set in a dystopian future. After the vast majority of the world’s water supply is lethally contaminated, a small group of survivors who have taken refuge near a rare clean water source are thrust into a deadly game of cat and mouse and must defend their lives from infiltrators who aren’t what they seem.

The film marks Mostafa’s first action film and sees him re-team with several of his previous collaborators including actors Samer Al Masri (Bab Al Hara), Ali Suliman (Zinzana, Paradise Now) and Habib Ghuloom (City of Life), as well asregional producer Rami Yasin (Sea Shadow, Zinzana).

Ali Mostafa said;“After the European premiere of my last feature film (From A to B) at the BFI London Film Festival, I am really pleased to be returning to the festival for the world premiere of The Worthy, particularly for its important 60th anniversary year. As I was born in London it makes this an important festival for me and it is one of the most forward-thinking events in the film calendar which champions films from the Middle East.”

Mahmoud El Altrash, Samer Ismael (Omar) and Maisa Abd Elhadi (3000 Nights) also star in the film produced by Hollywood veterans Peter Safran (The Conjuring, Annabelle) and Steven Schneider (Paranormal Activity, Insidious) alongside Yasin.

Producer Peter Safran said: “The Worthy is an exciting new leap for Emirati cinema and I am so pleased to be a part of this project. The BFI London Film Festival will be a fantastic platform and I look forward to seeing the reaction of the audiences in London.”

The picture is Mostafa’s third feature film and second collaboration with Image Nation, following his debut movie City of Life and the hit road trip drama, From A to B.

Mohammed Al Mubarak, Chairman of Image Nation confirmed: “We are very happy to be working again with an outstanding Emirati talent such as Ali Mostafa. The production has combined regional knowledge with international expertise to make an exceptional, action-packed film, deserved of a world stage such as the BFI London Film festival”.

Added Michael Garin, CEO of Image Nation: “To have Image Nation films screened in London for the second year running is an incredible achievement for Arab cinema. International film festivals such as these are important for showcasing Emirati culture and regional filmmaking abilities to the rest of the world”.

The world premiere of The Worthy continues Image Nation’s strong line-up at the festival. Last year, the company screened a total of four films, including three European premieres – Majid Al Ansari’s Zinzana, From A to B and international co-production, He Named Me Malala, as well asHany Abu Asad’s The Idol.

The Worthy is slated to be released theatrically in early 2017, with a Middle Eastern premiere and further film festivals to be announced in the coming months.