The second edition promises films that highlight the history of cinema.

Located on the east coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the town of Khor Fakkan boasts spectacular heritage and history. Amidst this setting, the second Arab Heritage Film Festival began on Monday.

Taking place till October 21, the second edition of the festival has been dedicated to the late artist Esmat Yahya, former dean of the Higher Institute of Ballet and the former president of the Academy of Arts.

The second edition promises films that highlight the history of cinema. “Lovers of heritage and cinema are in for a treat with the second edition of the Arab Festival of Heritage Film, which showcases a group of films that open up a new horizon in the history of Arab cinema”, shared Dr Abdul Aziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage and Honourary President of the Festival.

The film festival will highlight the Arab heritage through several documentaries and realistic heritage-related films in an attempt to explore the history and revive its gist, he mentioned.

The aim to host the festival at Khorfakkan is due to the city’s importance, strategic location and historical position, distinction in traditional handicrafts, and rich heritage of folk arts, folk stories, and tales.

The festival aims to encourage institutions, bodies, and individuals to draw interest in heritage documentary film, by achieving communication and interaction among stakeholders and creating a channel of communication between workers in the field of cinema and heritage.

By creating films that express our heritage and civilisation, the festival also aims to encourage the college's students and specialised art institutes who are interested in this field to expand their horizons in it.

Additionally, the festival will also have competitions for heritage documentary short films and heritage documentary feature films as it takes its course, along with honouring the eminent Arab personalities who have contributed to heritage in his or her field yearly.