The sixth Abu Dhabi Film Festival will award Egyptian actress Sawsan Badr a lifetime achievement award.

It is the first time since the festival began that an Arab celebrity will receive the award and Badr’s performance in Atef Hatata’s film Closed Doors will be screened at the festival.

Other awards will be contested at this year’s festival, which runs from Oct 11-20.

In the Narrative Competition, three Arabic directors will present world premieres of their films:

  • Nouri Bouzid (Hidden Beauties)
  • Moussa Haddad (Harraga Blues)
  • Rachidd Benhadj (Perfumes of Algiers).

The New Horizons Competition, which focuses on the first and second features from directors, will feature the world premiere of Coming Forth By Day from Hala Lotfy and The Citizen from Sam Kadi.

Annemarie Jacir’s latest film, When I Saw You, and Mohcine Besri’s feature The Miscreants, will also make up the New Horizons Competition.

The Documentary Competition comprises five films, three of which are world premieres:

  • Cursed by the Phosphate (Sami Tlili)
  • In Search of Oil and Sand (Wael Omar and Philippe Dib)
  • Mohammed Saved by the Waters (Safaa Fathy).

In the Short Film Competition, eight Arabic films will compete alongside international titles, two of which are Emirati.

The Emirates Film Competition this year features 46 films in total, including both narrative, documentary and shorts.

“We want the Abu Dhabi Film Festival to be the emotional home of Arabic cinema,” said festival director Ali Al Jabri

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