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Making a film about paedophilia is never an easy task, but to limit yourself to just six minutes seems impossible.
However, that's exactly what Emirati director Naila Al Khaja has managed to do with her first fictional film being screened in the Emerging Emiratis programme at DIFF.
The 28-year-old is buzzing as we catch up at the Madinat Conference Hall for a quick interview before she rushes off to do a press conference.
Her film Arabana (Wheelbarrow) tells the story of an 8-year-old girl who wanders off in search of excitement.
Naila said the "incident" of the film takes place in the short space of time between start to finish.
"It is about a child who does not understand the danger of getting close to a paedophile and she thinks that him holding her hand is a sign that he likes her," she said.
"It was very, very tough and challenging to put such a heavy film into six minutes.
"The best part is the last frame where it reveals what the child is going through."
Worldwide issue
Naila explained she chose to cover the sensitive subject because it is a worldwide issue.
"I feel it is something that is not spoken about," she said. "It happens in a lot of houses and there are different forms of child abuse, so I thought I would focus on this and raise funds for children who need attention."
In the process she has found a rising star in young actress Feryal Entizari who she describes as the "Dakota Fanning of the Middle East".
Recalling their first meeting at the casting, it was the 8-year-old's mindset that clinched the deal.
"She was the one I picked," said Naila, "because I asked her: 'do you enjoy acting?' and she said, 'well, it depends how much you pay'. She had attitude."
Inspirational
The director herself is a pioneering force at a relatively young age. In addition to winning the Emirates Woman of the Year Award in 2005 and a Lloyds Bank Inspirational Leadership Award, she is the first UAE woman to use 35mm film for her latest work.
While she names the likes of Tim Burton and Martin Scorsese as directors she admires, the inspiration that propelled her into the world of film was her own artistic work.
"I always wanted to be a recognised artist but I noticed at an early stage that my paintings were always as if they were stills from films — it's like, what's next?" she said.
"When you put paintings together you get motion. That's why I got into film, because it creates that platform to put pictures together."
With her creative vision and driving energy, Naila sets a fine example for aspiring Emirati filmmakers of the future.
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