MUSCAT: Kuwait took home four awards at the 2025 Gulf Film Festival, held from November 16 to 19 at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Center. The festival was organized by Oman’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth under the umbrella of the Gulf Cooperation Council Secretariat. The documentary Baqshat Saad, directed by Mijbel Saad Al-Faraj, won the award for Best Documentary. The short film Tashathi, directed by Maryam Alabbad, received the award for Best Cinematography.
Best Director went to Hatim Hossam Al-Deen for the feature film Akh, while actor Hussain Alhaddad won Best Actor for his role in the same film. Kuwait’s official delegation was led by Assistant Secretary-General for the Arts at the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, Musaed Al-Zamel. The group included leading artists, directors, and filmmakers whose works were featured at the festival.
The Council selected participants following official guidelines, including honored guests Saad Al-Faraj and Mohammed Al-Mansour, along with festival attendees Faisal Al-Ameeri, Yaqoob Abdullah, Hussain Alhaddad and Abdullah Altararwah.
Kuwait’s entries included the feature film Akh; the documentaries Baqshat Saad and Everybody’s Watching; and short films Iz’aaj, Wal Na’am and Tashathi. — KUNA
