Gulf film festival to screen in Abu Dhabi

For the first time, Gulf Film Festival (GFF) will play out in the capital alongside its usual Dubai venues. From April 12 to 14 at the Abu Dhabi Theatre on the corniche, the festival will screen films from established and budding filmmakers across the Gulf nations, organised by the Sultan Bin Zayed Centre for Culture and Media. The Dubai leg of the festival, from April 10 to 16 at the InterContinental Hotel, Crowne Plaza and Grand Festival Cinemas at Dubai Festival City, has 160 films in its official screening programme. "The Gulf Film Festival is unique in the world as the only dedicated platform where seasoned and emerging filmmakers from our region can share what's on their minds," said Abdul Hamid Juma, GFF chairman. The festival will also house several out-of-competition segments including a children's cinema programme, a special focus on French experimental filmmaker Gerard Courant and a special presentation of films developed during a masterclass with Abbas Kiarostami during the last GFF.