Nahla Al Fahad is an award-winning Emirati film director and producer from Dubai and one of the region’s most influential creative voices in film, television, and documentary storytelling. A member of the Content Creation Advisory Council at the Dubai Media Council since 2022, she has shaped the UAE’s media landscape through groundbreaking work across cinema, commercials, and music videos. Her prominence was cemented with The Tainted Veil, co directed in 2016 and shortlisted for Best Documentary Feature at the 88th Academy Awards, earning four international awards and global acclaim.
Across her career, Nahla has directed five major television dramas broadcast across more than 20 Arab channels, and her first Emirati feature film, 218: Behind the Wall of Silence (2021), became a milestone for national cinema, winning honors at the Septimius Awards and securing recognition for Best Film Director at the Diyaa Awards. She has further expanded her international footprint through collaborations such as co producing the Malayalam feature Momo in Dubai, while serving on juries at leading festivals and collecting accolades including the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Murex D’Or International Festival.
At BRIDGE Summit, Nahla will discuss the evolution of Arab storytelling, the rise of regional production powerhouses, and the role of filmmakers in shaping cultural identity. She will also explore how UAE creators can expand globally through authentic narratives, international partnerships, and stories that reflect the region’s artistic ambition.
From auteur to audience co-creation: how AR/VR stages, immersive premieres, and regional studio growth can move Arab stories from local gems to global hits.
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