Films from Bahrain to make a mark at the Gulf Film Festival

The chosen movies tackle diverse themes such as love, struggle, adultery and women's emancipation within the rapidly changing socio-economic landscape of the Kingdom and the GCC region.

Six of the short films will appear in the 'in-competition' programme, and one will compete in the student competition.

"Four Girls" by acclaimed director Hussain Abbas Al Hulaibi has been selected as one of the entries in the feature films competition. The film tells the story of four struggling young women from different cultural backgrounds who unite to solve their financial crisis. The movie addresses the subject of women's emancipation, challenging prejudices and customs in a male-dominated society.

Several of the shorts deal with struggle and change: "The Coma" by Jamal Ghailan and first time director Sadeq Mohammad Jaafar Alsmak's "Expatiated" depict the unexpected turns in life and the uncertainty and intrigue they bring, while, Young Hussain Al Riffaei's "A Dinner" explores the taboo subject of adultery and its consequences in a Muslim state,presented as a dialogue between a girl and her family and Mohammed Rashid BuAli's "Absence" deals with the poignant subject of loneliness in a fast moving society.

In a different vein, "Bluetooth" by Nidhal Bader and debuting Abdul Ameer Howaidah's "Remote Control" highlight various usages for technology in present day society.

"Remains of a Wound" by Mohammed Ebrahim Mohammed depicts the strength and fight against suffering and is the lone selection to the in-competition shorts for students.

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.