Sarah Al Hashimi: Life Through the Lens

Trailblazing the UAE film scene

May 12, 2022

Mohamed Elashy

A pioneer in the Emirati film scene, Sarah Al Hashimi is the director making it her mission to narrate an accurate representation of her culture. Her storytelling showcases the progression of modern UAE society, with her films receiving accolades from international film festivals.

Introduce your film-philosophy in four words

Documentation, Experimental, Ironic, Cultural.

What makes your perspective unique?

Everyone’s perspective and stories are unique in their own ways. As a filmmaker, my perspective is unique because my home is considered a transient city for most people to come and go. Most people outside of the Khaleej (the Gulf) don’t really understand it because not much of it is shared. I have lived through a unique period in the history of my country. We have seen it transform from a humble desert in the Middle East to one of the top cities globally. I want to tell the stories of Emiratis who have lived through all this. I want to bring a humane side to our story.

What does the future of film look like to you?

I see an interesting period coming soon for films with accessibility to equipment, learning techniques and the internet. More and more people have chosen film as a medium to tell their stories. It will be interesting to see different perspectives from people who otherwise would not have had filmmaking as an outlet. Short films, YouTube films and even skits on TikTok all offer unique perspectives into the lives of others.

What made you realise you wanted to be a director?

My father was a documentary film director. We would create short skits with my sister and cousin when I was little. I think I loved the idea of storytelling and documenting through a lens. I grew up around studios and sets, exposing me to video cameras from a very young age. The older I got, the more stories I came across, and the more I was inspired to document scenes around me, even if it was only for myself.

What is your creative process like?

I love collecting stories from around and writing them on my phone, whether it’s a conversation I overheard at a coffee shop, walking along the beach or seeing an interaction between two people. I get my inspiration from everyday life and I have found that works best for me. I find it hard to force creativity; ideas come and go – sometimes, an idea pops up while I’m driving and I stop at the side to make a note of it to see if I can develop it into a project.

What other platforms are you considering beyond film?

I am currently doing the Shaikha Salama Emerging Artist Foundation (SEAF) fellowship. It’s lovely as I get to develop my skills beyond film. This could help me incorporate different art mediums into my films, and I find this to be a great opportunity to learn. I took pottery classes earlier in the year and want to create more art pieces using my hands and interpolate them with my storytelling.

When you’re finally able to look back at your body of work years from now, what would you have wanted to achieve?

I hope to have achieved variety in the stories I have shared and the mediums I have explored. I hope to have pushed boundaries a little further and taken risks regarding the stories I have shared, whether it was through film or a photo or art. And it would make me happy if even one of my films inspired young people to understand the importance of film and storytelling.