Sole entry from Yemen at 4th Gulf Film Festival

Press release

Published April 13th, 2011 - 01:15 GMT

Director Khadija Al Salami’s documentary "Destructive Beast" is a hard-hitting take on how corruption affects the Yemeni people

The only entry from Yemen at the fourth edition of the Gulf Film Festival, to be held from April 14 to 20 under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, highlights the societal angst against pervasive corruption.

Director Khadija Al Salami’s documentary Destructive Beast is a hard-hitting take on how corruption affects the Yemeni people, echoing the sentiments of the youth from the country, which is currently witnessing an unprecedented socio-political crisis.

Competing in the Gulf Competition – Documentary segment of the festival, Destructive Beasts is marking its World Premiere at Gulf Film Festival, and the filmmaker promises several more films to come soon highlighting life in the country.

Providing rarely-seen insights on the impact of corruption on the daily lives of people, the documentary complements the overall trend of young filmmakers in the Arab world narrating their perspectives of the society through the camera.

The fourth Gulf Film Festival, open for free to the public, is screening 153 films from 31 nations including 82 entries from the GCC region. In all, 114 films from the Arabian Peninsula will be screened. The festival will open on Thursday (April 14) night with the Iraqi documentary film Child of Iraq (Barn Af Irak).

The fourth edition of the Gulf Film Festival will be held at the InterContinental Hotel, Crowne Plaza and Grand Cinemas at Dubai Festival City. The Festival includes a Gulf competition, student competition, out-of-competition segments including children’s cinema, a master class by renowned director Abbas Kiarostami and other special events.

The Gulf Film Festival is supported by Dubai Culture & Arts Authority and is held in association with Dubai Studio City. The box office is open from 10.30 am to 10 pm daily at the Grand Cinemas Dubai Festival City. All patrons are welcome to up to two tickets per person on a first-come, first-served basis.

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The Dubai Culture and Arts Authority

The Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) Was Launched on March 8, 2008 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Uae Vice President & Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. Dubai Culture Plays a Critical Part in Achieving the Vision of the Dubai Strategic Plan 2021 of Establishing the City as Vibrant, Global Arabian Metropolis That Shapes Culture and Arts in the Region and the World.