Diverse films from Kuwait offer window to country at Gulf Film Festival

2 features and 14 shorts showcase the creative depth of filmmakers that highlight a more nuanced representation of life in the Arab world, moving away from two-dimensional and obvious depictions of Arab society.

The two features from Kuwait are dark, thrilling and dramatic. Faisal Sham's "Al Donjowana" addresses the subject of love, deceit, hostility and murder, while Hasan Abdal's "One More Chance" delves into gangs, crime, investigation and robbery.

Seven of the short films will appear in the 'in-competition' programme, and one will compete in the student competition along with three 'in-competition' documentaries.

Several of the shorts deal with realization and commitment. Hind Al Awadi's "Eigengrau" is an experimental short that attempts to convey the urge to be heard when confronting one's private moments; Meqdad Al Kout's "Paradoxes" captures the lives of a group of people wretched with social deformities; "Tired" by Mousaed Khaled is a visual representation of the emotional characteristics of people around us; Meqdad Al Kout's "Mousaed in Screen-Three Shots and a Half" observes characteristics of an individual during a game of cards; "The Lost Years" by Abdul Rahman Al Khalifi deals with self realization and salvation; "Determination" by Faisal Al Duwaisan captures the killer instincts and the determination to succeed of an arm wrestler; Ahmed Hamada's "Eyesalt" is a monologue narrative of a chronic insomniac trying to unravel the mystery surrounding his disorder; "Sharq" by Erik Sandoval is the story of six friends on their search for the world's strongest soccer ball, beckoning them away from their familiar Bedouin deserts to the sprawling cityscapes of modern Kuwait; and Tarek Al Zamel's "In a Blink of an Eye" is a mystery drama that explores the importance of being responsible in life.

Abdulrahman Al Khamis's "Farewell my Angel" the lone entry to the In-Competition segment for students deals with the poignant issues of death and acceptance in a cruel world.

Themes for the documentaries seek inspiration from real situations and reflect the voices of the common man. "When the People Spoke" by Amer Al Zuhair deals with the subject of youth empowerment and the changes their combined power can bring to society; "Freedom Time" by Ahmed Hamada is a collection of memoirs regarding war and peace, narrated by 9 individuals from 9 different countries; and "Symphonic Poem" from Habib Hussein is a musical documentary about a Kuwaiti artist conveying the importance of music and harmony in today's world.

The inaugural edition of Gulf Film Festival is scheduled to take place between April 13 to 18 at the Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Center at Mall of Emirates.