Emirati Filmmaker Nayla Al Khaja Is Breaking Language Barriers With AI

In a pioneering move that underscores the evolving landscape of film production and distribution, Nayla Al Khaja, the acclaimed Emirati director of the film 'THREE' and UAE's first female filmmaker, has witnessed a huge success with the recent launch of the movie in 120 theatres across 7 nations in both Arabic and English.

Another highlight of the film, which was launched by HE Noura Al Kaabi, UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, is that it will now use artificial intelligence (AI) to study the voices of the actors for the first time in the history of Arab cinema and produce a Mandarin release.

Nayla has effectively leveraged artificial intelligence (AI) technology to dub the movie into Mandarin. This decision was driven by the aim to enhance efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and ensure a consistent tone throughout the film. Traditional dubbing methods, though effective, often fall short in these areas, especially when dealing with languages as complex as Mandarin. Overseen by Dongying Wang, the translation process was meticulously executed, ensuring a seamless transition for audiences.

Speaking exclusively with OneArabia.me, Nayla underscores the significance of AI-driven dubbing, which she says not only speeds up the process but also makes it more affordable, addressing the critical challenge of scalability. She noted that this technology can handle large volumes of content simultaneously, making it an ideal solution for films aiming for broader international reach.

“Few years ago, the AI voice overs or dubbing wasn't in the same place as it is now. As the UAE is at the forefront of innovation and technology, the first film to use AI in the region had to be an Emirati film. When the opportunity presented itself to dub the film THREE to many languages, I thought why not do it. Ultimately, we want more and more people to enjoy and see the film and Mandarin is one of those languages that is difficult to translate and our partners at Camb AI are confident in the technology, they felt pushed and challenged to make it happen.”

The director's belief in the continued use of AI in filmmaking underscores a forward-thinking approach. She sees it not as a replacement but added, “Stories and films are told because it is a multisensory experience. I can't predict what AI will be in the future, but audiences still want to connect to actors, to see raw emotions. AI will enhance the need for elaborate CGI spectacles, or elaborate transition shots, or removing unwanted elements within the narrative, or when the audio needs fixing. Everything requires human touch after AI inputs. Perhaps even analysing the story and removing or fixing potholes and offering suggestions. Again, AI not as a replacement but an enhancement tool.”

When Nayla began conceptualising THREE, the journey to producing was not without its hurdles, particularly in the realm of fundraising. She overcame these challenges through unwavering dedication, hard work, and showcasing their capability with a proof-of-concept short film titled 'The Shadow.' This pivotal step not only demonstrated the project's potential but also solidified the director's commitment to their vision.

On this she said, “It took a lot of dedication, commitment, hard work and patience. I had to prove to myself and to others around me that I am much more capable than just doing short films and concepts. The short film I shot called 'The Shadow’ (available on Netflix), a snippet of the bigger idea for THREE. We did a private screening of the short film, and this sparked conversations. It snowballed from there when I started getting interest from investors who supported my work. The rest as we say is “history”!”

The film explores themes of mental health and superstitions, subjects that resonate across cultures. Nayla emphasises that the use of AI technology to make the film accessible to Mandarin-speaking audiences is not just a technical achievement but a significant step towards cultural exchange and understanding. About using actual Mandarin-speaking actors’ voices, she added: “Camb AI used an actor’s own voices by sampling the film then converting those to authentic accents. It's truly amazing. Everything you hear comes from sampling the original actors' voices and morphing them into Mandarin.”

Speaking about her career graph, Nayla thanked the huge support she has received from HE Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of State at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “Her Excellency Noura Al Kaabi has always encouraged me in my 20+-year journey as a filmmaker and screenwriter. She has posted about the film THREE on social media and has given a boost to my work through the media outlets. I can't thank her enough.”

As the movie continues to garner immense support and popularity in the UAE and abroad, we can rightly say that the innovative use of AI in THREE not only showcases the potential of technology in enhancing film production and distribution but also sets a precedent for future projects. It exemplifies how embracing technology can break down barriers, making stories accessible to a global audience and enriching the cultural landscape.

Speaking about this groundbreaking release in Mandarin on March 22, she said: “The experience of making my first feature film was a great experience, I had great mentors or tutorships from some of the best in the film industry. I learned a lot and I will apply these learnings in my future projects. The number one lesson would be, the budget of the film, it is critical to use it in a sparing manner otherwise the costs spiral out of control.

“Another important point to look at is hiring the right people and crew for the projects, to avoid “too many cooks” scenario. Location also matters, where you shoot your film will dictate how your budget will be spent. Finally, before the release of the film, having the complete plan and roadmap, talking to the right people and submitting to the film festivals are crucial.”

THREE is slated to release on March 22 in Mandarin. The independent feature was shot in both Bangkok and the UAE over a period of 24 days. This film is produced by Nayla Al Khaja, Daniel Zirilli, Jean-Charles Levy and Sultan Saeed Al Darmaki. Serving as Executive Producers are Muna Easa Al Gurg, Jefferson Hall, Siddharth Thakker, Rasik Thakker and Sultan Saeed Al Darmaki.