From the classroom to Cannes: AUS student film makes it to Cannes Short Film Corner

Ahmad Al Ariqi had forgotten all about his application when the email arrived. A multimedia design student at AUS’ College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD), Al Ariqi had applied to ADMAF and the Institut Francais’ Young Filmmakers Circle, but had become so busy with his coursework and film projects, that he had somehow forgotten about the application.

“I submitted my materials and did the interview, but with all my university work and my capstone project, I honestly forgot about it. Then, unexpectedly, I received an email congratulating me on being selected for the Short Film Corner in Cannes. It was such an exciting moment,” remembers Al Ariqi.

The initiative, set up by ADMAF in partnership with the Institut Français in the UAE in 2024, supports emerging Emirati directors, screenwriters, producers and technical specialists with training, skills and access to new connections. This year, the partners issued an open call in March, inviting candidates to submit a short film, CV and motivational letter, which Al Ariqi’s lecturer at CAAD, Assistant Professor Mohamed Mamdouh, spotted and shared with his students.

Ahmad was selected based on feedback from ADMAF Advisor Salem Brahimi after a competitive call of eight applicants. 

Brahimi said that Al Ariqi’s film Customer Disservice, stood out from others, which earned him his place at the Cannes Short Film Corner. 

“His film is a huis clos, not an easy feat for any filmmaker. In just eight minutes, he builds pressure, sustains tension and places his character in a moral trap within the confined world of a phone scammer. This requires a true command of story, pacing and space. Making this film possible and getting Ahmad to Cannes involved many organizations and individuals: AUS, especially the College of Architecture, Art and Design, and Assistant Professor Mohamed Mamdouh, as well as the partnership between ADMAF and the Institut Français. It reminds us that it takes a village to raise a filmmaker.”

Brahimi added that there is a larger picture of representation here. 

“The work of this generation of Emirati filmmakers, like Ahmad, is nothing less than vital. Supporting young voices brings narrative sovereignty—owning how we are seen and how we see ourselves. ADMAF’s programmes, such as the Young Filmmakers Circle, have always nurtured young Emirati and Arab talent and paved the way for them to reach the international stage. That’s exactly what the Cannes Short Film Corner initiative has also achieved. I hope Ahmad will continue to push his craft forward.”

Al Ariqi, who graduated recently, reflects on his choice of film submission, saying:

“I decided to submit my first narrative short film Customer Disservice, which was really special to me because it was my first time working in this particular film style and exploring different techniques and skills I had,” said Al Ariqi. “The story follows a phone scammer who faces a moral dilemma, showing how guilt can be redirected, or shifted, in order to survive.”

“Given that the film had already won first place at the short film competition at Middle East Film and Comic Con, I felt it was the right project to present to the Young Filmmakers Circle, not only to get feedback from other seasoned professionals, but also to share it with a global audience,” he said.

Once Al Ariqi’s work was selected for Cannes, ADMAF and Institut Francais stepped in to sponsor Al Ariqi’s travel, organize logistics and facilitate introductions to other professional filmmakers—a rare opportunity for a young filmmaker.

“The participation of Emirati filmmaker Ahmad Al Ariqi in the Short Film Corner at the Cannes Film Festival perfectly reflects our commitment to supporting emerging talent. Through our valuable partnership with the ADMAF Foundation, we are opening doors to international opportunities and fostering cultural dialogue through cinema,” said Valérie Fouques, Audiovisual Attaché at the Institut Français in the UAE.

Al Ariqi’s film was originally created as part of one of Assistant Professor’s Mohamed Mamdouh’s courses in Fall 2024, alongside several classmates.

“I worked closely with my classmate Maryam Khalil, who is also a multimedia design major at the College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD), and with several other CAAD and AUS students, including interior design student Maryam Youssry, who worked on set design and Yazan Alkazimi, a computer science student, who acted in the film. Professor Mamdouh was always there to help, guiding me through every step, monitoring the progress, and giving me valuable feedback throughout the semester to make sure the final result did my ideas justice.”

“Opportunities like the Short Film Corner at Cannes are truly transformative for young filmmakers—they provide international visibility and help students understand the professional film world at an important moment in their creative journey,” said Mamdouh. “What stood out about Ahmad was his willingness to take creative risks and his openness to feedback and collaboration with his classmates. Creative teamwork is essential to producing innovative, high-quality films and is central to what we teach through our film courses at CAAD.”

“Being in Cannes was a really interesting experience,” added Ahmad. “I got to meet filmmakers from different backgrounds and other film professionals from around the world who gave me valuable feedback,” he said. “It can feel overwhelming at times, but it is definitely worth sharing your work and being exposed to new ideas. I also had the chance to meet directors and producers from the Arab region who were selected in the competition and among the festival’s winners, which was a really cool and inspiring part of the experience.”

Reflecting on his education, Al Ariqi draws a clear line between the classroom and the opportunity to showcase his film during the Cannes Film Festival.

“Now that I have graduated, I can see how everything is connected. CAAD’s courses provided me with a strong foundation that helped me create high-quality work, and the project-based courses in particular significantly improved my technical abilities. The lectures also helped to build up my film knowledge... I also benefited from the workshops and talks that the university offers, which connected us to new opportunities in the film industry. The past four years have really built my skills and confidence, which has for sure helped me stand out and feel confident being in Cannes as a young filmmaker, among more senior industry professionals.”

Al Ariqi’s message to current AUS students considering a future in film is:

“The industry is huge, and we need more filmmakers and great talent in the region. If you are interested and passionate about this field, you should go for it. Opportunities will open up as you keep growing and learning. All it takes is a decision—something that I and many of my classmates were once worried to make—but once we took the first steps, we all started to create amazing work and compete internationally with our projects, becoming part of an industry that once felt like a distant dream.”

Photo caption: Ahmad pictured with the iconic blue waters of the Côte d’Azur behind him.