Overwhelming response to Gulf Film Festival's GCC road show

Organized by the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority (TECOM), the first annual Gulf Film Festival will be held from 12-17 April, and aims to develop the local and regional film industry by creating new avenues for filmmakers to screen their projects, and to celebrate excellence in Gulf cinema.

Ultimately, the GFF will function as the foremost platform for the international film community to discover and experience the unique vision of Gulf-based filmmakers.

Led by Masoud Amralla Al Ali, Director of GFF, delegates interacted with film industry colleagues in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman, and participated in the Kuwait Cinema Week.

Al Ali said: "During the road show, we aggressively pursued our mission to bring the best talent the region has to offer to the Gulf Film Festival. Interacting with members of the film community allowed us to discover the region's burgeoning talent and gauge the depth of their passion for the art. We are confident that with their participation, GFF will develop as a credible global platform for showcasing the region's cinematic capabilities.

"The feedback from the film community was overwhelming, and we believe the time is right to welcome a renaissance in Gulf cinema."

At the Fifth Muscat Film Festival in Oman, GFF delegation members met with Omani scriptwriters, producers, and filmmakers. The meeting set the stage for a collaborative venture between an Omani scriptwriter and filmmaker on a short film to be submitted to GFF.

In Bahrain, GFF held a press conference at the Bahrain Cinema Club, bringing together actors, producers, filmmakers and scriptwriters.

During its tour of Saudi Arabia, delegation members met with over 30 filmmakers, actors, talented individuals, media and leading cultural figures in Riyadh. Around 12 films confirmed submission to GFF. In Dammam, more than 60 people, including filmmakers, journalists, poets and writers attended a GFF meeting, with many filmmakers confirming their participation.

Kuwait was the last leg of the delegation's road show, where members participated in the Cinema Week 2008 from 3-7 February. The event, organized by Al Arabi Magazine in cooperation with Kuwait Cinema Club, showcased films from the Gulf states.

Al Ali also participated in an important panel discussion on whether film festivals in the Gulf add value to the film industry, or if they are merely for entertainment, organized by the Kuwait Cinema Club. GFF delegation members stressed the impact of the GFF on the development of the GCC film industry, which resulted in two new confirmed entries and six works in progress.

The Gulf Film Festival also welcomes contributions, offering donors throughout the region an opportunity to contribute to nurturing film making talent.