21 films will be screened at the 3rd Baghdad International Film Festival

The Gulf Film Festival, widely regarded as the home of bold, contemporary and innovative cinema from the Arabian peninsula, put together the selection of short films, documentaries and feature films to represent the diversity of the region’s cinema and its growing talent base. All the films have featured in previous editions of the GFF, which concluded its fourth edition in April 2011. Seven of the films are participating in the Baghdad festival’s official competition – an additional three are in its Arab Women Directors competition. The only global film festival in Iraq, BIFF aims to set a benchmark of excellence in Iraqi cinema, providing filmmakers with a platform to showcase their works despite the challenges they face. The Festival also shines the spotlight on up-and-coming filmmakers, especially women filmmakers, with an exclusive segment titled ‘Women Behind Cameras.’ Masoud Amralla Al Ali, Festival Director, Gulf Film Festival, said: ” We are honoured to present a strong contingent of films from the Gulf Film Festival for the Baghdad International Film Festival, underlining the collaborative spirit among regional film festivals in promoting Arab cinema and presenting new film experiences to a wider audience.” Dr. Taher Alwan, Director, Baghdad International Film Festival, said: ” The support of DIFF and GFF, have created a benchmark that we in the Baghdad International Film Festival aspire to inculcate. We are sure that this partnership will evolve into a more successful collaboration”.