Haifaa Hussain, a popular Bahraini actress, will play the leading female role in the Bahraini feature film, The Sleeping Tree.

Filming is scheduled to begin later this month. Produced by Nooran Pictures and the Information Affairs Authority (IAA), The Sleeping Tree was written by Fareed Ramadan and will be directed by Mohammed Rashed Buali.

Hussain, a stage, screen and television actress, rose to prominence in 2005 for her leading role in the Arabic television series, The Orphan. Haifaa Hussain is popular throughout the Gulf region due to her leading roles in over 25 Arabic television series and participations in two important feature films.

Commenting on her role in The Sleeping Tree, Hussain said: "It’s a great opportunity to work on a Bahraini story and film. We need to support more filmmakers and artists and develop the industry further so our stories reach wider audiences around the world."

Supported by the Bahrain Development Bank (BDB) and Moirai Communications and sponsored by The House of Travel, The Sleeping Tree is the first feature film produced in partnership between Nooran Pictures and the IAA.

The Bahraini duo, Mohammed Rashed Buali and Fareed Ramadan, have worked together in the past on award-winning short films including Al Bishara, or The Good Omen. In addition, each has a string of films and international awards obtained for different ventures in the film industry. - TradeArabia News Service