Dubai: The third edition of the Gulf Film Festival will open Thursday showcasing a vivid collection of 194 contemporary films from 41 countries over the next seven days at Dubai Festival City.
The festival is held under the patronage of Shaikh Majid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture.
The festival will open with the Emirati film, City of Life, directed by UAE national filmmaker Ali Mustafa and shot entirely in Dubai with a cast and crew drawn from around the world.
An array of Gulf film celebrities will walk the red carpet for the glittering opening ceremony.
Emirati actress Razieq Al Taresh, internationally renowned Iraqi actor and playwright Khalil Shawki and Kuwait's applauded actress Hayat Al Fahd will receive the Lifetime Achievement Awards, as part of the GFF Honouree Programme at the opening ceremony.
The 194 films being screened at Gulf Film Festival include 81 World Premieres, 11 International Premieres, 33 Middle East Premieres, 17 GCC Premieres and nine UAE Premieres, assuring a novel cinematic experience for film-goers. Entry to the film festival is free to public. In all, GFF 2010 will screen 128 short fiction films, 28 short documentaries, 8 features, 5 feature documentaries and 25 animation films.
Gulf Film Festival Chairman Abdul Hamid Juma said the festival has played a key role in elevating the appeal of cinema from the Gulf region.
"Over the past three years, the festival has achieved two tangible achievements. Firstly, it has set the base for a robust GCC film industry, as is evident in the number of films — 111 — from the region.
"Secondly, the festival helped audiences evolve as serious, discerning cinema lovers, which in turn inspires filmmakers to pursue their passion and convert their dreams into reality."
