COSMOS Embassy Film: Sharjah United Arab Emirates - A Documentary by Le Guess Who?
I stumbled upon this documentary about musicians in the United Arab Emirates made by COSMOS, an initiative by Le Guess Who?, bringing attention to local music scenes around the world.
The film is produced in partnership with Sharjah Art Foundation and features Hasan Hujairi, Safiya Alblooshi and WYWY.
Producing any form of art independently in the UAE that isn’t commercially viable and / or co-opted by an established government or commercial entity can feel very lonely. It is encouraging to see these artists creating paths for themselves, pursuing a career in a sound and music that is outside the mainstream, finding institutions that support them, and creating a community for themselves and like minded people.
This documentary follows a close-knit diverse group of musicians who make up varying alternative scenes within the music community of Sharjah and the United Arab Emirates. As society in the UAE comprises millions of people with diverse backgrounds, this documentary will highlight what it means to be both a local and a migrant artist.
The artists will reflect on the heritages and communities they come from, the locales they inhabit, where they see themselves within the larger music cosmos, and how all are interconnected and interdependent.