Organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), part of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT); the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair holds its 32nd session until 28 May 2023, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), with over 2,700 diverse events ranging from cultural, artistic, educational, and professional topics.
This year, visitors will enjoy a renewed cinematic experience with the "Black Box Cinema", presenting Arab films and spreading cinematic culture; an interesting programme that includes 15 short films from the Arab world, as well as 7 films from the Republic of Türkiye: ADIBF 2023’s Guest of Honour.
The UAE is taking part in 3 short films: "A Small Dream" about a young woman who has a small and seemingly simple dream of swimming in the sea. She faces obstacles and struggles to find the balance between fulfilling her dream and her fear of judgment. On the other hand, "Amber" tells the story of a barber who is caught in a deadly situation when he realises that his first customer of the day is not who he seems to be. The film "Unveiling Selma" tells the story of Selma, 35, who decides to free herself from housework, her neglectful husband, and her innocent daughter, in order to rediscover herself.
Saudi Arabia showcases 3 short films; "My Vibe" explores how the lives of three teenagers changed forever after a cinema theatre opened in Jeddah. "Othman", who is a parking lot security guard at a public hospital lives harmoniously with his cousin, before events shake him out of his customary complacency and forces him to face reality, while "Panting" follows Marco as he finds himself in a maze between reality and its virtual counterpart, seeking to find the girl he met on social media.
Visitors of the Fair will also have the chance to explore movies from Egypt, namely, "Big Day", a story of a wedding that goes the wrong way after rumours spread that the groom is planning to flee, "Liter of Gas", the story of an unemployed man who goes on a journey searching for gasoline for his car after a nationwide rise in oil prices, only to find himself exploring the socioeconomic injustices that caused this situation in the first place, and "Doors of Makkah" that recounts Makkah’s pathway to become a leader in her community creating a unique success story, facing marginalisation and challenges suffered by her women peers in Nuba, in addition to two Tunisian films, "Train" and "Flesh and Blood".
Bahrain is taking part with the film "The Sea Bride" that depicts the story of a young woman who must decide between surrendering to her family’s decision, society, and traditions, or rebellion. "This World Is Wonderful" from Kuwait, "Long Trip" from Iraq, and "Abed" from Jordan are shown as well.
