Bahraini artists attend GCC film fest

Manama : The Gulf Film Festival witnessed the presence of Bahraini filmmakers, actors and actresses yesterday. Bahraini films were also played in the third edition of the Film Festival, which opened on Sunday in Abu Dhabi.

Notably, Bahraini actresses Haifa Hussein and Zahra Arafat were some of the celebrity attractions to the event. 

“The film industry in the Gulf region is showing promise in light of the socio-economic mobility in the region. This requires documenting and highlighting of cinematic art,” said UAE’s Culture and Knowledge Development Minister Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, who inaugurated the festival.

The festival, which concludes on Thursday, expects participation from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and UAE.

 “The UAE got together with the cultural ministers of the GCC and asked to host the third edition of the festival. We’re proud to have taken the initiative and sparked the return of this festival.” said actor-director Al Attar, Leader of the organizing team. 

“This is a very different cultural project that brings together the artistic output of the GCC countries in particular,” he added. 

The film festival is yet to be hosted in Bahrain, the inaugural edition was held in Doha in 2012 and the second edition was hosted in Kuwait.