IRELAND/UAE. Game of Thrones star Liam Cunningham was among the 200 guests in attendance at the Dubai Duty Free-sponsored Dublin Arabic Film Festival over the weekend.
The sixth edition of the annual festival ran between 4 and 6 October at the Irish Film Institute in Temple Bar, Dublin.
Photography: Conor Healy/Picture It Photography
Oscar-nominated film maker Jim Sheridan, Dublin Arabic Film Festival Director Zahara Moufid and the Irish Film Institute curated the festival. They were joined on the red carpet by Cunningham, Moroccan film producer Khadija Alami and Dubai Duty Free Senior Vice President of Marketing Sinead El Sibai, who attended the event on behalf of the airport retailer.
Dubai Duty Free has been the presenting sponsor of the festival since its inception in 2014, when it was opened by actor Omar Sharif.
Also in attendance were several ambassadors and business people from the Arab world, and representatives of the Arab Irish Chamber, who have a long association with the festival.
Photography: Conor Healy/Picture It Photography
Guests enjoyed a drinks reception on the red carpet before being invited to a private screening of the opening film of the festival, The Reports on Sarah and Saleem. Muayad Alayan’s drama is centred on the clandestine affair between a Palestinian deliveryman and an Israeli cafe owner.
After the screening, a VIP party was held for guests at the private St. Stephen’s Green Hibernian Club, where guests enjoyed wines supplied by Findlater & Co. and sampled Arabic supper bowls which included lamb tagine and Moroccan spiced vegetables served with couscous.
