The third edition of the Gulf Film Festival has put the spotlight on emerging trends in filmmaking by tech-savvy Arab youngsters who have come up with their selection of Horror, sci-fi and 3D films.

The festival is being held under the patronage of Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture),

While Arab cinema has traditionally explored socio-political issues, the new breed of youngsters is pushing their boundaries to bring in new cinema experiences to the Arab film industry. Among the new wave movies, currently being screened at Gulf Film Festival are science-fiction movies, futuristic thrillers and a 3D film.

Emirati film 'The Curse of the Devil,' marking its world premiere at GFF and directed by Maher Al-Khaja, portrays the story of a group of journalists who go to an island to explore the 'Red Area' known as the 'Kingdom of the Elves'.

When the group disappears it whips up a media frenzy as newspapers, magazines and local TV channels arrive on the island to search for the missing persons.

The island witnesses an intense battle between the humans and djinns. The film will be screened on April 12, 9.15 pm at Grand Cinema 5, April 13, 6.15 pm at Grand Cinema 10 and on April 14, 3.45 pm at Grand Cinema 9 of Dubai Festival City.

Saudi Arabian director Mohammed Helal’s Hidden Evil narrates the story of three families living together in a villa.

The villa is built over the ancestral graves of the families and is haunted. The families unite to discover the secrets behind their haunted home.

Hidden Evil, which marks its World Premiere in Dubai, will be screened on April 13, 9.15 pm at Grand Cinema 5 and on April 14, 6.15 pm at Grand Cinema 10.

GFF’s only 3D-movie, The Last Mortal Journey by Kuwaiti director Omar Al-Masab is the last journey into the next dimension as one that delves deep into the human mind. The film will be screened on Saturday at 7 pm and on April 11, 4 pm at Grand Cinema 4.

Emirati film Levity – Xero Error Minus 1 by Emirati-based director Ashraf Ghori explores the realm of science fiction. In the movie, scientists from the future sent the first naturally intelligent cyborg, XE7, back in time to record lost history. XE7 witnesses an unexplained natural disaster. The film is being screened on Saturday at 7 pm and on April 11, 4 pm at Grand Cinema 4.

Gulf Film Festival will be held until April 14 and is supported by the Dubai Culture and is held in association with Dubai Studio City.-TradeArabia News Service