The fourth edition of the Gulf Film Festival (GFF) will honour Kuwaiti thespian Mohammed Almunai with a special recognition award for distinguished services to the Arab film industry.

GFF 2011, which concludes today (April 20), is being held at the InterContinental Hotel, Crowne Plaza and Grand Cinemas at Dubai Festival City.

The 81-year-old cinema and theatre veteran is participating in the 2011 Festival as an actor in the Kuwait-Oman co-production Human Remains, a short film about a Kuwaiti Guantanamo Bay detainee and an American soldier who meet.

The film, directed by Jassim Al Nofaly and Meshal Al Hulail, is included in the Festival’s Gulf short film competition.

Almunai joins Emirati actress Mariam Sultan, Saudi director/producer Mohammad F Gazzaz, and Kuwaiti producer/director Mohammad Al-Sanousi who are being honoured this year for their contribution to Arab cinema. They will be honoured at the closing ceremony today at Dubai Festival City.

“It is our privilege to honour Almunai, who has been an indispensable part of the theatre, television and film scene of Kuwait for the past several decades,” said festival director Masoud Amralla Al Ali.

“He has served as an inspiration for several generations of Arab talent, who have drawn tremendous learning from his experience and commitment to the arts, and continues to do so today. His commitment to working with the young generation and lending his credibility, expertise and support to them is to be admired.”

The 81-year-old thespian is a veteran of the Kuwaiti theatre scene, and is founding member of the Kuwait Theatre Group, formed in 1964.

He has been the lead actor in more than 30 celebrated plays which have won acclaim across the Arab world. One of his award-winning plays was performed, due to public demand, in Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Syria.

Almunai, who has performed in the UAE, US and UK, has also been the lead on several television series. – TradeArabia News Service