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The Gulf Film Festival (GFF) is marking its fourth annual event in Riyadh, bringing together several pioneers of Gulf cinema to share their visions and experiences in film production across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
The festival began on Sunday and lasts for five days, amid the participation of 29 short and long narrative and documentary films competing for nine awards that cover categories related to filmmaking such as directing, photo shooting, music, and acting. It will also honor five significant cinematic characters from the GCC countries who brought regional cinema to international levels.
With a focus on promoting cinematic achievements from the Gulf region, the festival provides a unique opportunity for filmmakers to showcase their work and engage with audiences both locally and internationally. Through a series of screenings, workshops, and networking events, participants have the chance to exchange ideas, collaborate on projects, and explore new avenues for artistic expression.
Film Commission CEO Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Qahtani delivered the minister’s speech at the opening of the festival. In it, the minister said that “this edition of the festival represents a crucial milestone in cultural cooperation among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, and embodies our wise leadership’s commitment to enhancing collaboration among us”.
“This festival, which brings us together today, reflects the strong connection between ambition and the cultural strategy of the GCC countries, which play a significant role in enhancing cultural exchange, expanding infrastructure, drawing inspiration from successful experiences, and encouraging Gulf talents to offer more,” he said.
At the opening ceremony, a film was screened shedding light on the depth of Gulf cinema and the festival’s contribution to enhancing and enriching its growth trajectory.
The Film Commission is hosting the festival with the key objective of enriching the national cinematic scene, and providing creative platforms that empower talented individuals to showcase their innovative works and share their experiences with industry professionals.
The numerous Gulf filmmakers present at the festival engage in dialogue, attend workshops, and share their cinematic experience.
The rich and diverse program of the five-day festival features the screening of 29 films, three training workshops, and six cultural seminars exploring the cinema industry.
The delegation for the festival included the names of Director Manager of Communication and Media Management Yousef Al-Jamaan, Mohammad Al-Khaldi for Foreign Culture, and Areej Al-Hamdan from the Communication and Media Sector, in addition to a number of famous Kuwaiti actors and directors.
