Abu Dhabi has reached the pinnacle of motion picture recognition by winning its first ever Oscar for “The Help” at the 84th Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles, said a senior Abu Dhabi Media official.

The film was co-produced by Image Nation, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Media, along with Participant Media.

The award was given to Octavia Spencer for Best Actress in a supporting role for her portrayal as Minny Jackson, a headstrong and outspoken African-American maid in Mississippi at the dawn of the Civil Rights era.

Commenting on the Oscar win, Image Nation’s chairman Mohammed Al Mubarak said, “We are extremely proud for Abu Dhabi to be associated with such a successful and recognized film.  I want to extend our heartiest congratulations to Octavia and all involved.'

'In 2011, we were happy to have the film’s producer Brunson Green in Abu Dhabi to meet aspiring filmmakers and we expect him to return in the near future to share his experience in the film industry,' Al Mubarak remarked.

'Brunson is a perfect example of how our international partnerships provide guidance and support to aspiring filmmakers from the UAE, he added.

Image Nation CEO Michael Garin said, 'Current Oscar not withstanding our commitment to Abu Dhabi and building the foundations of a motion picture industry remain the focus for Image Nation.'

One of the world’s leading feature film producers, Image Nation's mission is to build the foundations of a strong local film industry in the UAE, he stated.

'We hope that one day one of our Emirati filmmakers could be on stage accepting on Oscar for him or herself,' he added.-TradeArabia News Service