The sixth edition of the annual independent cinema festival "Cinemas 2024" kicked off today, Monday, with a selection of award-winning films from the UAE, the region, and around the world, running until May 26 at Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi. The festival showcases films covering a wide range of cinematic fields, including drama, comedy, and documentaries, and features panel discussions with directors.
"Cinemas 2024" celebrates the best in independent cinema, with each film carefully selected for its impactful story and artistic value. This year's edition opens with the Emirati feature film "Delma" directed by Hamid Al Suwaidi. The festival also includes an impactful environmental documentary nominated for an Oscar titled "All That Breathes" by Indian director and video artist Shonak Sen, who is an Oscar nominee, as well as a science fiction documentary titled "Lead" by directors Sarah Emma Friedland and Rami Younes, and the Sudanese drama film "Goodbye Julia" by emerging talent Mohamed Kordofani.
The festival features a screening of a series of previous films by artist Lawrence Abu Hamdan and a collection of short films, including the short film "Larvae," which won the Golden Bear, directed by Michel and Nawal Khoury. Eskandar Qabti is acting as the coordinator for this year's "Cinemas" festival, being a filmmaker and visual artist nominated for an Oscar.
