Meet one of the Arab World's most candid and talented young animators, Mohammad Fikree, who presented his work at CoE Animate 11, our animation-focused event held this September. 

Fikree, who went against his father's initial suggestions that he go into architecture, business, or engineering, says his career began when he drew comical figures making fun of teachers, for friends in school. After his friends encouraged him to start making movies, he has built a steady fledgling career as a composer and animator, debuting his first short animated film "MAD CAMEL" this year at the 4th Edition Gulf Film Festival, Zayed University Middle East Film Festival 2011, Cannes Short Film Corner 2011 and Abu Dhabi Film Festival 2011. 

The film, which you can see an outtake from here, took 1st place in Cannes Short Film Corner at the 'United Arab Emirates Films' section. Yet Fikree, still a student, at the SAE Institute in Dubai, retains a genuine and unfiltered approach to speaking about his work.