A 90-minute feature documentary set inside the prisons of the Emirates, where punishment is not the end, but the point of departure for reconstruction, education and a second chance.
In the Emirates, a unique justice system turns convicted inmates into re-skilled professionals through education, therapy and social reconversion. Second Name follows three prisoners who are not only released from a cell, but from the weight of their own past – proving that a human being is not defined by their worst mistake, but by their next decision.
Format & scopeIn the Emirates, a unique justice system turns convicted inmates into re-skilled professionals through education, therapy and social reconversion. Second Name follows three prisoners who are not only released from a cell, but from the weight of their own past – proving that a human being is not defined by their worst mistake, but by their next decision.
PremiseWe follow three inmates – Khalid (hacking), Maria (unwitting smuggling) and Amir (street violence) – from the moment of conviction, through an intense rehabilitation program, all the way to their first day back in society. The prison system in the Emirates acts as a social reconversion hub: structured education, professional training, therapy, art and long-term reintegration plans.
The documentary is structured around a clear, cinematic four-act spine, allowing both festival and platform audiences to follow a strong emotional arc.
Minimal, ultra-cinematic look: wide shots of desert and futuristic skylines, quiet interiors bathed in soft light, long takes in group therapy, close-ups on eyes, hands, letters, small rituals of change.
Soundscape: minimalist score, deep low-end textures, and the real sounds of these spaces – gates, air conditioning, footsteps, breathing – used as emotional tension rather than exposition.
Not a film about crime, but about what we choose to do with people after they have fallen.
We move from shock and denial to fragile hope and new identity. Each character has at least one irreversible moment of inner shift, captured visually and emotionally. Final scenes are anchored in action – a contract signed, a hug, a mural unveiled – not in voice-over promises.
| Phase | Duration | Key outputs |
|---|---|---|
| Development | 3–4 months | Access agreements, character selection, research, script/treatment, financing package. |
| Pre-production | 2–3 months | Detailed shooting plan, legal & permits, crew & equipment, schedule, lookbook. |
| Production | 6–8 weeks (field) | Principal photography: prisons, homes, city exteriors, B-roll, interviews. |
| Post-production | 4–6 months | Editing, sound design, music, color grading, graphics, subtitles. |
| Festival & delivery | 3–6 months | Festival submissions, platform negotiations, delivery of masters. |
Below is a high-level budget structure. Values are placeholders and should be adjusted based on final scope, locations, crew size, travel and platform/funding requirements.
| Category | Example allocation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Development | 10–15% | Research, writing, access, travel for scouting, legal, pitch materials. |
| Pre-production | 10–15% | Scheduling, casting characters, permits, insurance, local coordination. |
| Production (shoot) | 30–40% | Cast/crew fees, camera, sound, transport, accommodation, local fixers. |
| Post-production | 20–25% | Editing, grading, sound design & mix, music, graphics, subtitles. |
| Marketing & Festivals | 5–10% | Poster, trailer, submissions, travel to key festivals, PR. |
| Contingency | 5–10% | Unforeseen costs, currency fluctuations, access delays. |
| Total | 100% | Exact figure to be confirmed (e.g. €2.000.000 – mid/high tier doc). |
We are looking for producers, co-producers, funds and platforms interested in building a powerful,
solution-driven documentary about justice, rehabilitation and second chances in the Emirates.
The core creative team (director, producer, DoP) can be tailored to match the needs of international partners
and local institutional stakeholders.
Full credits, bios, showreel links and a detailed financing / co-production proposal are available on request.
