Layla Kaylif’s The Letter Writer was awarded the $100,000 IWC Filmmaker Award at a ceremony at the One & Only Mirage in Dubai on Thursday night.

Layla Kaylif

Kaylif received the award from actor Dev Patel. Palestinian filmmaker Hany Abu-Assad presided over a jury that also included IWC Schaffhausen CEO Georges Kern, Tunisian actress Hend Sabry, DIFF chairman Abdulhamid Juma and DIFF artistic director Masoud Amralla Al Ali.

Set in 1960s Dubai, Kaylif’s project tells the story of a boy who writes letters for illiterate travellers. Alcove Entertainment’s Amina Dasmal and Robin Fox are on board as producers.