Wow! What a place for a film festival! This was a special festival aimed at the discussions and concerns on new world cinema and most importantly, new pan-Arabic cinema.
When I arrived in Bahrain airport and passed through customs, the customs officer asked my reason for heading further for Abu Dhabi. I told him I was to attend the Abu Dhabi film festival for a conference on new Arabic cinema. He laughed in my face and said (I kid you not)...'Tut! Arabs will never have an Arabic cinema!'

Well, that shows how much he doesn't follow cinema at all. Much of my favorite cinema has come from the Arabic speaking world and it is only the beginning. We are in for a real treat. 

Read article on one of my favorite films of the year,

'The Circle' (2009) by Emirati director Nawaf Al Janahi

http://www.fest21.com/en/blog/vanessa_mcmahon/nawaf_al_janahis_the_circle

And stay tuned for upcoming interview with my friend actor 

Navid Akhavan and his role in the stunning Iranian film

'For A Moment, Freedom' (2008)