Teaser for ‘City of Life Continuum’, sequel to Ali Mostafa’s debut film ‘City of Life’,

A teaser for City of Life Continuum, the sequel to Ali Mostafa’s groundbreaking 2009 debut The City of Life, was screened today at the Arab Media Summit. 

The original film marked a milestone in UAE cinema as the first local production to achieve box office success, coinciding with the country’s early efforts to establish a domestic film and TV sector. 

Speaking during a session titled ‘City of Stories’ moderated by Ahmad Abdullah, Director of Dubai TV Channel, Mostafa said Dubai remains full of untold stories, and that only Emirati directors can truly portray the city’s soul and diversity. The session was held on the second day of the Film and Gaming Forum organised by the Dubai Films and Games Commission, under the umbrella of the Dubai Media Council. 

“We know our traditions, and if a foreigner wants to do an Emirati film, we should be the ones doing it—of course, depending on the story,” he said. The session was moderated by Ahmad Abdullah, Director of  Dubai TV Channel.

The session discussed City of Life Continuum, a sequel to The City of Life that aimed to showcase Dubai’s soul and diversity.

The movie is funded by Dubai Studios in its first major project and explores the lives of various nationalities in Dubai, portraying it as a character in its own right.  
The director stressed the importance of practical experience over theoretical knowledge in cinema and hinted at potential future projects, including a series leveraging the strong brand name The City of Life.

Mostafa’s 2009 first feature film The City of Life which made history as the first local production to achieve box office success as the UAE.
It is Mostafa’s fourth feature in a filmography which also includes From A to B, following three estranged friends who reconnect during a road trip from Abu Dhabi to Beirut, and the dystopian drama The Worthy.

“The film has lots of interesting characters, like a Nigerian, a Chinese lady coming to Dubai for the first time, one Egyptian who came from New York to start a new life. They change each other’s life without meeting one another,”  Mostafa said.

The cosmopolitan nature of Dubai has the potential for a series of episodes exploring different nationalities’ lives.

He advised new creators to do what they know best, emphasising the importance of personal experience and understanding in storytelling.

Mostafa hinted at doing part three of the movie. However, he said: “Even if I don't do part three, I could make a series. I could make a series of 10 episodes, with each episode featuring 10 different nationalities and how they lead life in Dubai.”