The Gulf Film Festival (GFF) will be officially opened tonight in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) and Festivals Patron. The opening ceremony at Dubais Festival City will host a procession of the Arabian Peninsula and larger Middle […]
The Gulf Film Festival (GFF) will be officially opened tonight in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) and Festivals Patron. The opening ceremony at Dubais Festival City will host a procession of the Arabian Peninsula and larger Middle East regions biggest stars.
The sixth edition of the Festival, which is the annual celebration of Gulf cinema, is the largest yet, bringing some of the best and most talked about new films to the UAE, an impressive 169 quality films from 43 countries, of which 93 originate from within the GCC. The line-up will include 78 world premieres, 15 international premieres, 42 Middle East premieres and 6 GCC premieres.
Alongside the screenings there will be awards, master classes, networking sessions and a whole host of directors and producers in town all eager to share their latest work. It will continue until April 17 at Grand Cinemas Dubai Festival City, with all screenings free to the public.
At the opening ceremony, GFF will present Mohammed Jaber with a lifetime achievement award along with a stunning watch created by the Festivals Official Time Partner, IWC Schaffhausen, in recognition of the many accomplishments of Kuwaiti playwright, actor and screenwriter, a fixture of the Khaleeji cultural scene since the 1960s.
Abdulhamid Juma, Festival Chairman said: Our esteemed honoree this year is one of the artists who established the groundwork for the exciting, dynamic film community developing here in the GCC.
We at GFF are working year on year to build on this legacy and to accommodate the astronomical growth of the film industry in the Gulf, from promoting our established artists to developing up and coming talents.
GFF Festival Director Masoud Amralla Al Ali said: Each year our high expectations of audience turnout, enthusiasm and energy are far exceeded, and we are confident that 2013 will be no different. From increased industry activities to more free public screenings, we have done our utmost to welcome film lovers and industry professionals alike from the Arabian Peninsula and beyond.
The Opening Night film will be Wadjda, the first feature film shot entirely in Saudi Arabia by Haifaa Al-Mansour, who will be present. A project that began at GFFs Script Market in 2008, Wadjda has gone on to capture the hearts of audiences and critics alike across the world with its simple story of a determined little Saudi girl who goes to great lengths to buy her own bicycle despite possible social repercussions. The film has won numerous awards, including 3 awards at the prestigious Venice Film Festival as well as the Muhr Arab Feature and Best Actress awards at the Dubai International Film Festival in December 2012.
