Dubai jewelry retailer Karat World Gold & Jewellery served as a presenting partner at the 12th Emirates Film Festival Awards, taking the stage to hand out the Best Actress trophy during the ceremony held July 26 at the New Covent Garden Theatre in Mall of the Emirates.
The award went to Ruwani Tebuwanage for her performance in “Police Seat,” one of the five principal honors presented on the night alongside Best Short Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Actor. Each winner received a bespoke trophy produced in partnership with Dubai-based Crystal Arc Factory, with designs drawing on Emirati landscapes and heritage.
Karat World was represented at the event by Managing Director Abdulla Al Maqddam, Public Relations Officer Fadhl Saleh Yousef Saleh, and Marketing Executive Wilbert Cantor. The company, which operates branches across Abu Dhabi and Dubai, framed its involvement as part of its interest in backing events that recognize creative achievement.
The festival’s wider slate was led by “Bukal,” directed by Epy Quizon, which won Best Film, with Quizon also taking Best Director. John Moreland Lynn was named Best Actor for “Quiet on Set,” Francis Gacer won Best Screenplay for “Tilamsik sa Dakilang Apoy,” and “Vera” won Best Cinematography. Filipino producer Aquino Plotado received the Best Film Producer award for “As the Call, So the Echo.”
Founder and CEO Ron Awa established the Emirates Film Festival in 2013 as an independent platform for emerging and established filmmakers, and has said he intends to grow it into a more globally recognized event by drawing entries from filmmakers worldwide in future editions.
