2020/2021 Winners & Shortlists

Write a short summary of what happens in the film

Singing his woes from Rikrok’s perspective, a young customer finds his bank account cleared out, after responding to a ‘Dear Customer’ email requesting account information, an email that appeared to be coming from the bank itself. The older bank manager matter-of-factly declares: "It wasn't me" and rolls off to rap, in typical Jamaican voice and diction, how hackers are always prowling on unsuspecting individuals. The lyrics blatantly list out the fundamental do’s and don’ts of online banking for the benefit of the young customer and also the viewer.

Cultural / Context information for the jury

More than half the adult population in the UAE fell victim to cyber-crime last year. The country’s strong economy and diversity of residents made it an obvious target for cyber-criminals. To complicate the situation further, the rapid rise of online shopping across the Emirates has also put many consumers in the sights of scammers. Tackling this issue was of foremost importance not just for the bank but also the national police and Government.

Tell the jury anything relevant about the direction. Do not name the director.

The direction of the film required a fine balancing act between entertainment and education. The intent was to create something stark and fresh so that it becomes an absolute must watch, while also keeping the viewers hooked for the length of the video. Parodies often end up as just that; the director’s fine treatment of the film, elevated it to an iconic and important piece of communication that quickly became the talk of the town and the Internet.