Mansoor Al Dhaheri
Mansoor Al Yabhouni Al Dhaheri is an Emirati film producer and entrepreneur. He is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Film Gate Productions and Al Kalema Productions. Al Dhaheri is known for his contributions to the development of the film industry in the United Arab Emirates and has received international recognition for his work in filmmaking.
Early life and education
Al Dhaheri was born and raised in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the New York Institute of Technology and a Master of Fine Arts in Filmmaking from the New York Film Academy. He also received certificate in Advanced Project Management from Stanford University.Career
Film and media
Al Dhaheri launched Al Kalema Production in January 2012 and Film Gate Production in January 2018. His companies have produced a variety of films, TV series, and documentaries that reflect Emirati culture. His productions have appeared at international festivals including the Cannes Film Festival, Dubai International Film Festival, and Abu Dhabi Film Festival.Notable works
- The Platform
- Dreams Drawn by Dust
- Scattered Barriers
- House of Life
- Swim 62
- Abu Dhabi Success Story
- The Embrace of Zayed's Crescent
- Little Sparta
Awards and recognition
Al Dhaheri's work has been honored at numerous international festivals:- Gulf Film Festival – Riyadh – First Prize: Best Documentary Film for Swim 62
- New York Film Awards – Swim 62 won Best Director, Best Picture, and Best Documentary
- Documentaries Without Borders International Film Festival – Abu Dhabi Success Story won Outstanding Excellence
- Los Angeles Film Awards – Dreams Drawn by Dust won Best TV Series
- Dubai International Film Festival – Multiple Muhr Emirati Award nominations for Little Sparta, Unified Home, and Mirage.net
- Cannes Film Festival – Nominee for the SACD Short Film Award for Mirage.net
Controversy
In 2021, Film Gate Productions became the subject of public attention following the release of The Misfits, which depicted a fictional state named "Jazeeristan" as a sponsor of terrorism. The film featured a character resembling a well-known cleric associated with the Muslim Brotherhood, portraying him as a financier of global terrorism. The depiction was widely interpreted as a critique of the Brotherhood's regional influence.Claims of legal disputes were later made by Palestinian-Finnish co-producer Rami Jaber. However, official reports from Finland confirmed that Jaber was arrested in Oulu, Finland in July 2024 and charged with multiple financial crimes, including fraud and money laundering allegedly committed between 2015 and 2019. He remains in custody under investigation for what Finnish authorities have described as "serious and organized" financial crimes.